User manual GAMES PC ULTIMA VII PART TWO

[. . . ] Beyond the Serpent Pillars by Erstam ­ Mage TM A Journal Describing this New World Rendered into English by Andrew Morris ­ Scribe Illustrated by Glen Johnson ­ Artist (assisted by Gary Washington and Steve Powers) Illuminated by Al Carnley ­ Designer Overseen by David Ladyman ­ Editor CONTENTS FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 LESSONS OF THE PAST . . . . . . . . . . . 3 First Age of Darkness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Second Age of Darkness . . . . . . . . . 4 Third Age of Darkness . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Further Ages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Ophidian History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Runic, Ophidian & Druidic . . . . 8 A GUIDE FOR TRAVELERS . . . . . . 9 Cities and Towns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Other Landmarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Tradesfolk and Commerce . . . . 10 Paths Through Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Arms and Armour. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 BESTIARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 1 MYSTIC ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Components of Casting . . . . . . . . 25 Spell Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Reagents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Words of Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Spells. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 First Circle of Magic. . . . . . . . . . 28 Second Circle of Magic . . . . . . 29 Third Circle of Magic . . . . . . . . 29 Fourth Circle of Magic . . . . . . 30 Fifth Circle of Magic . . . . . . . . . 31 Sixth Circle of Magic . . . . . . . . . 32 Seventh Circle of Magic . . . . . 32 Eighth Circle of Magic . . . . . . . 33 Ninth Circle of Magic . . . . . . . . 34 AFTERWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 CREDITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 FOREWORD Locating the Serpent Pillars took considerably less effort than I first expected, though even now I am still a bit dizzy from the trip. This new land beyond the Pillars is marvelous!Here, free from the tyrannical rule of Lord British, I can further my studies in magic. I know there is still much to see, far too much to observe without recordkeeping ­ for even my mind could not retain the memories of all I see. [. . . ] Apparently, some weapons blur the distinction, their versatility making them exceptionally valuable. Swords are very useful, as blades slice through skin quite easily. The main drawback, it appears, is that armour is very effective protection against them. In contrast, blunt weapons such as maces and clubs deliver their punch, limited though it might be, based on the brute strength of the wielder, nearly ignoring the protection of the target. The third weapon type, piercing, performs much like cutting weapons. Piercing weapons require less force to penetrate armour but leave more devastating wounds upon the flesh. And projectile weapons, often referred to as missile weapons, include any tool that permits the attacker to strike at a distance. As far as I can see, many of these weapon types do overlap. Most swords can cut and pierce; a two-handed sword can bludgeon and cut; an arrow is a piercing missile weapon; and a slung rock is a bludgeoning projectile. Presumably, it is up to the individual warrior to chose a preferred form of attack based on his or her personal strengths and weaknesses. To be candid, I find the Vas Corp Hur spell much more effective. 16 Acid Slug Alligator Giant Bat BESTIARY As I had expected, the fauna here bear much resemblance to the creatures we left behind. Once part of Sosaria, Serpent Isle has changed little since the days before Mondain. However, it behooves me to record the details of all observable life here, however common, if for no other reason than to compare it to that in Sosaria. There are, no doubt, indigenous lifeforms unknown to me. I leave it to the more adventurous to discover them and report to me their findings, that I may update this list in the future. Much larger than its cousin, the common slug, the acid slug prefers habitats far below ground. The creature's slimy covering is quite acidic, burning easily through metal and flesh alike. If it is like its Sosarian counterpart, fire is the most potent way in which to combat one. This large, amphibious lizard is quick and dangerous, utilizing all of its extremities in battle. As its name implies, this is an enlarged version of the common bat, a small flying mammal capable of sensing creatures in total darkness. Their nests are found most often in caves and other areas where little light is present. This ursine creature stands well over a man when fully upright. [. . . ] Starns DOCUMENTATION TEAM Manuals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew Morris Editing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Ladyman Interior Art. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen Johnson, with Gary Washington and Denis Loubet Map Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Manderfeld Manual Graphic Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Al Carnley Box Graphic Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jennifer Davis, Craig Miller ORIGIN Systems, Inc. ORIGIN warrants to the original purchaser of this computer software product that the recording medium on which the software programs are recorded will be free from defects in material and workmanship for 90 days from the date of purchase. If the recording medium is found defective within 90 days of original purchase, ORIGIN agrees to replace, free of charge, any such product upon receipt at its Factory Service Center of the product, postage paid, with proof of date of purchase. This warranty is limited to the recording medium containing the software program originally provided by ORIGIN. [. . . ]