Guardian (Ultima)
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The Guardian from Ultima VII intro
The Guardian is the final villain of the Ultima series of computer role playing games. He is an extradimensional being that seeks to conquer Britannia and subjugate its people.
The Guardian first appeared in Ultima VII: The Black Gate, when he tried to use an organization that he convinced some Britannians to found, called "The Fellowship", to create a gate for him to enter. The Avatar discovered the plot and stopped him. The former leader of the fellowship, Batlin, fled to Serpent Isle; the Avatar found and stopped him, but at the cost of the life of his friend, Sir Dupre. In Ultima VII, VIII and IX the Guardian was voiced by the actor Bill Johnson.
The Guardian's appearance as a dumpy red figure led some Ultima fans to call him a big red muppet. Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle also has an alternate (Easter egg) intro where he tells Batlin his face is "most muppet-like". It's uncertain whether the fans came up with the comparison before Serpent Isle's release, or whether it came from the Easter egg.
In Ultima Underworld II, the Guardian created an impregnable dome of blackrock around Castle British, which the Avatar destroyed, after freeing several worlds from the Guardian's influence. These worlds included:
- The "Prison Tower" - Situated on Tarna, a world ruled by goblins
- Killorn Keep - Situated on a parallel universe opposite to Britannia.
- The Ice Caves - A frozen world littered with the remnants of a civilization destroyed by the Guardian
- The Scintillus Academy - A mage school, devastated by the Guardian
- The Tomb of Praecor Loth - A hero from the same world as Killorn Keep
- The World of Talorus
- The Pits of Carnage
- The Ethereal Void
In Ultima VIII: Pagan, The Avatar was then banished to the world of Pagan by the Guardian, who had conquered it centuries ago. The Avatar eventually defeated the "Titans", who the Guardian had tricked the inhabitants into creating, but ultimately ended up destroying most of their world. The Avatar became the Titan of Ether so that he could return home.
In the final game (Ultima IX: Ascension), the Guardian has established himself in Britannia, and the avatar must cleanse the shrines of Virtue and remove the Guardian's influence. The Avatar eventually defeated the Guardian with a contained spell of Armageddon, which led to his own ascension and the Guardian's defeat.