Ultima Mythology
From TheUltimaSociety
The Ultima computer role-playing game series has such a rich collection of fiction that the game world's storyline can be examined as a complex mythological narrative. What are the common themes throughout the series? How do characters and plot develop in the presence of these themes? What are the ultimate lessons or inspirations that the player receives from these interactive mythological journeys?
Some scholars of classical mythology may scoff at this idea. Yes, Ultima is "just a game," and we shouldn't read too much into it. However, mythology is alive and well today, just as it was in ancient times. All that has changed is the diversity of methods through which mythological narratives may be shared today. Popular media sources such as television, movies, computer games, and the Internet provide most people of the 21st century with an endless array of stories about the nature and meaning of life. Therefore, whether we're just a fan who likes to talk about game fiction or someone who wants to look deeply into the themes that this series explores, examining the Ultima storyline from a mythological perspective can be a fun and rewarding experience.
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World History
The Ultimaverse contains many "worlds," with each world presumably being a planet of its own. However, most of the story unfolds in a land that is first known as Sosaria and later renamed Britannia in honor of Lord British, the recurring monarch of the series who is based on series creator Richard Garriott.
The Ultima Society, like most people attempting to outline a timeline of this mythological world, divide the history of Britannia into several different Epochs that roughly correlate with the three main trilogies of the original game series. These three Epochs are further divided into Ages that roughly correlate with one of the game's nine main episodes.
The following is a list of the Ages and Epochs in the History of Britannia:
- The Ages of Darkness
- In the Beginning. What is the history of Sosaria before the beginning of the Ultima series?
- The First Age of Darkness: The Reign of Mondain.
- The Second Age of Darkness: The Revenge of the Enchantress.
- The Third Age of Darkness: Exodus.
- The Ages of Enlightenment
- The First Age of Enlightenment: Quest of the Avatar.
- The Second Age of Enlightenment: Warriors of Destiny.
- The Third Age of Enlightenment: The False Prophet.
- The Ages of Armageddon
- Other Ages of Ultima
There have also been several timelines that have attempted to tie the events of these ages to specific dates on a Britannia calendar.
Classical Literature
Most of the storyline of Ultima unfolds in response to the actions of the player -- the Hero From Another World, later to be known as the Avatar. However, game manuals and in-game texts also offer us many insights into the story, some of which are essential to the development of the story.
One goal of the Ultima Society is to compile a complete collection of all "game fiction," including the text of all manuals, in-game documents, and game dialog. This "Classical Literature" will appear here.
Popular Literature
Ultima fan fiction is a growing body of Ultima literature that probably already exceeds the game fiction in amount and scope. This work by its very nature can't be considered "canonical." However, examining the themes that players themselves have chosen to explore is an excellent way of understanding the enduring impact of the original series.
One of the greatest online archives of Ultima fan fiction is the Dragon Press (http://dragonpress.ultima-dragons.org/), a collection of fan fiction maintained and collected by the Ultima Dragons.
If we really want to have fun, we can view all of these fan fics as popular literature, either historical or fictional, that was created by characters in the Ultimaverse.
Dialog on Ultima
The Ultima Society has created special forums for the discussion of Ultima Mythology (and gameplay, and all other aspects of Ultima). The site itself is also a Wiki, meaning that you can edit most or all of the pages if you get a username.
This entire Ultima Mythology section strives to view the Ultima storyline as a single coherent mythological narrative. However, the fact of the matter is that this narrative was pieced together over the course of twenty years, nine main game episodes, and various spin-offs. In light of this fact, some of the later episodes did a remarkable job of bringing continuity and coherency to an otherwise disjointed and incoherent narrative. However, there are still many gaps and unanswered questions. Therefore, the only way to resolve these questions is through forums where past and present participants in the game world can share their thoughts and feelings on these topics.
Over the course of the entire series, the people at Origin did a fine job of living up to their motto, "We Create Worlds." However, now that the main series is complete, the time has come for Ultima enthusiasts to complete and maintain the creative process.
We, the people who have journeyed so many times to Sosaria, Britannia, and beyond, create worlds. Whether this game's storyline has been a simple entertainment to us or a source of much thought and inspiration, the time has come for us to fill in the gaps and make the Ultimaverse truly our own. We have played the role of this Hero From Another World, this Avatar, for quite some time. Now, as the main series has drawn to a close, it is up to us to fill in any gaps in the mythology and continue developing this story for our own enjoyment and enrichment. In this way, the mythology of Ultima becomes truly interactive, and the spirit of the original game series continues indefinitely.
This is one of the main reasons why I've created the forums and the rest of the Ultima Society. Whether this is simply a passing amusement to us, or a fairly meaningful source of inspiration and discussion, I believe that all people who have enjoyed Ultima in some form can continue their enjoyment through the examination of this rich mythology. So, if you like this idea, be sure to visit the forums and/or get your own username today!
