Orb of the Moons

The Orb of the Moons is a ancient artifact whose origin is unknown. The power of the orb lies in its ability to create a red moongate, which can transport one to places on the same world, to other worlds, and to other times. The placement of the orb relative to the caster is the key to determining where the red gate will lead. Travel to other worlds is only possible with much experience, therefore, in Britannia the orb is usually useful only for travelling to specific locations.

The Orb of the Moons in Ultima VI

The Orb of the Moons was first encountered Ultima V, left behind by Lord British in his Sandalwood Box. The Avatar returned it to its rightful owner, as the Orb of the Moons was the only way for Lord British, the Avatar, and the Companions to escape from Dungeon Doom. Lord British's implied that the orb had been in his possession for a long time by this point.

Two more orbs appeared in Ultima VI. The second orb appeared in the stone circle behind the house of the Avatar on Earth, as part of a trap from the gargoyles to catch the False Prophet. After explanations from Lord British, the Avatar used it quickly travel around Britannia. Since the Avatar wasn't skilled at using the orb, it wasn't possible to leave Britannia. Later, after the Codex had vanished, a red moongate revealed that Lord Draxinosum also had an orb.

The Orb of the Moons in Ultima VII

In Savage Empire, an accident with the orb sent the Avatar to Eodon.

In Martian Dreams, the Avatar followed specific instructions in order to use the Orb of the Moons to travel backwards in time.

In Ultima VII, the Avatar forgot to take the Orb of the Moons to Britannia, thus Lord British lent the Avatar his. It still worked the same, although the disturbances from the Sphere Generator sometimes made the moongate repels the Avatar. With the destruction of the Sphere Generator, the orbs ceased to function, and Lord Draxinusom's orb even exploded.

The Orb of the Moons reappeared in Ultima IX, wherein it was perfectly spherical and functioned in a different manner. Instead of being able to form a moongate anywhere, it could only be used at a circle of stones to teleport the Avatar to a different circle, providing the mantra of the corresponding city was spoken and its adjacent Shrine had been cleansed.

Trivia

• While never mentioned in the games themselves, Richard Garriott raised the concept of the Orb of the Moons, as well as the moonstones, being formed out of blackrock in his interview with Caroline Spector for Ultima: The Avatar Adventures.

• With the appearance of the orb, the gate travel spell lost its usefulness, since the orb functions the same way -- even better -- without needing mana or reagents. It is useless in Ultima VI, disappearing afterwards, and is only seen once in Ultima Underworld II.

• A "real" Orb of the Moons trinket was shipped with every Ultima VI when it was first sold.

• See Orb of the Moons Locations for how to use the orb.

External links

• Locations for the Orb of the Moons in Ultima VI