Changes: Orb of the Moons

Revision as of 22:13, 4 October 2015

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

U6orb — 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 it was the only way for Lord British, the Avatar, and the companions to escape from Dungeon Doom. Lord British implied that the orb had been in his possession for some time by this point.

Two more orbs featured in Ultima VI. The second appeared in the circle of stones behind the Avatar's house on Earth, as part of a trap devised by the gargoyles to ensnare the False Prophet. After explanations on its workings from Lord British, the Avatar employed it for efficient travel around Britannia. Since the hero was not skilled at using the orb, departing the land was not possible. Later, after the Codex was sent to the Ethereal Void, a red moongate heralding the appearance of Lord Draxinusom revealed the gargoyle king also possessed an orb.

U7orb — 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 neglected to take the Orb of the Moons to Britannia, thus Lord British lent the hero his own. Disturbances from the Sphere Generator sometimes made its use unpredictable, with the summoned moongates often repelling the Avatar. With the destruction of the Sphere Generator, the orbs ceased to function and Lord Draxinusom's 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

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-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#Red Moongates|Moongate]], which can transport 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 determine where the red gate will lead to. Travel to other worlds is only possible with much experience in using the Orb. Therefore, on [[Britannia]] the Orb is usually only useful for travels to specific locations.
+The '''Orb of the Moons''' is an ancient artifact of unknown origin. The power of the orb lies in its ability to create a red [[Moongate#Red Moongates|moongate]], which can enable transport to places on the same world, to other worlds, and to other times. The placement of the orb relative to the caster is key to determining where the gate will lead. Travel to other worlds is only possible with much experience; therefore, in [[Britannia]] the orb is most often used only for travelling to specific locations throughout the land.
-[[Image:U6orb.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The Orb of the Moons in Ultima VI]]The Orb of the Moons was encountered the first time in [[Ultima V]]. Left behind by [[Lord British]] in his [[Sandalwood Box]], the Avatar returned it to its rightful owner. The Orb of the Moons was the only way for Lord British, the Avatar and the Companions to escape from Dungeon [[Doom]]. As implied in the game, the Orb was in Lord British's possession for a long time by then.
+[[Image:U6orb.jpg|right|thumb|200px|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 it was the only way for Lord British, the Avatar, and the [[The Companions of the Avatar|companions]] to escape from [[Doom|Dungeon Doom]]. Lord British implied that the orb had been in his possession for some time by this point.
-A second and third Orb of the Moons 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 travel around in Britannia much faster. Since the Avatar wasn't skilled at using the Orb, it wasn't possible to leave Britannia. Later, when the Codex had vanished, a red Moongate revealed that [[Lord Draxinosum]] also had an Orb, this the third ever discovered.
+Two more orbs featured in ''[[Ultima VI]]''. The second appeared in the circle of stones behind the Avatar's house on [[Earth]], as part of a trap devised by the [[Gargoyles|gargoyles]] to ensnare the [[False Prophet]]. After explanations on its workings from Lord British, the Avatar employed it for efficient travel around Britannia. Since the hero was not skilled at using the orb, departing the land was not possible. Later, after the [[Codex of Ultimate Wisdom|Codex]] was sent to the [[Ethereal Void]], a red moongate heralding the appearance of [[Lord Draxinusom]] revealed the gargoyle king also possessed an orb.
-[[Image:U7orb.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The Orb of the Moons in Ultima VII]]In [[Savage Empire]], an accident with the Orb sent the Avatar to [[Eodon]].
+[[Image:U7orb.jpg|right|thumb|200px|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 ''[[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 with him/her to Britannia, thus Lord British lent him/her his Orb. It still worked the same, although the disturbances from the [[Sphere Generator]] sometimes made the Moongate repel the Avatar. Sadly, with the destruction of the Sphere Generator, the Orb ceased to function. Lord Draxinusom's Orb even exploded.
+In ''[[Ultima VII]]'', the Avatar neglected to take the Orb of the Moons to Britannia, thus Lord British lent the hero his own. Disturbances from the [[Sphere Generator]] sometimes made its use unpredictable, with the summoned moongates often repelling the Avatar. With the destruction of the Sphere Generator, the orbs ceased to function and Lord Draxinusom's 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.
-This was the supposed end of this great artifact, although it can't be ruled out that sometime in the future, it can regain its power.
-The Sphere in [[Ultima IX]], which was called an Orb of the Moons, neither resembled the real Orb, nor had its powers.
 == 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]]''.
-* A number of players were unhappy with how the Orb of the Moons worked in Ultima VI, claiming that it ruined the travel and exploration aspect. Others were just glad to get rid of too much traveling, and that they could concentrate on the main plot.
-* With the appearance of the Orb, the [[Gate Travel]] spell lost its usefulness. It is useless in Ultima VI, and disappears after it, and is only seen once in [[Ultima Underworld II]]. This is, because the Orb functions the same way, even better, without needing mana or reagents.
+* With the appearance of the orb, the ''[[Gate Travel|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 [[Collectables & Trinkets|trinket]] was shipped with every ''Ultima VI'' when it was first sold.
-*It is actually impossible to win Ultima VII without the Orb. (as it is needed to visit the [[Etheral_Void#Shrine_of_Spirituality|Shrine of Spirituality]])
-* A "real" Orb of the Moons was shipped with every Ultima VI, when it was first sold.
+* See [[Orb of the Moons Locations]] for how to use the orb.
-* See [[Orb of the Moons Locations]] for how to use the Orb.
 ==External links==
-* [http://www.ultimainfo.net/Codex/U6Orb.htm Locations for the Orb of the Moons in Ultima VI]
+* [http://www.ultimainfo.net/Codex/U6Orb.htm Locations for the Orb of the Moons in ''Ultima VI'']
 [[Category:Items]]
-[[Category:Age of Enlightenment]]
-[[Category:Age of Armageddon]]
 [[Category:Ultima V]]
 [[Category:Ultima VI]]
-[[Category:Ultima VII]]
 [[Category:Savage Empire]]
 [[Category:Martian Dreams]]
+[[Category:Ultima VII]]
+[[Category:Ultima IX]]
+[[Category:Trinkets]]
+[[Category:Ultima VII on SNES]]