Virtues of Ultima Online
There are no Gods in Ultima Online, the religion is based on the ideology of The Virtues rather than on theology. They are what is believed to be the 8 aspects of a good life. The Virtues were introduced by Lord British, under the guidance of the Time Lord. They believe that the multitude of shards can only be reunited if they become one through the Virtues, that if all their inhabitants become one with their counterparts on the other shards in mind and in hearth, they will be reunited in body.
Linking the Virtues are also 3 Principles – Courage, Love and Truth. To keep these Principles, the construction of 3 keeps was ordered. The Empath Abbey protects the flame of Love, the Lycaeum holds the research Truth, and Serpent’s Hold holds Courage.
To each Virtue is associated a city, which lives around it. Each Virtue also has an opposite, a taint, which is also the name of a dungeon in Britannia (except for Pride). Lord British has ordered the construction of 8 shrines, one for each of the Virtues, scattered accross the realm. These shrines are magical and will resurrect lost souls that come to them, but only those of good or neutral notoriety. (Except the shrine of Chaos, which resurects anyone).
Furthermore, each Virtue has a color and a mantra.
The Virtues:
Compassion
Compassion is Love of others
Town: Britain
Companion: Iolo
Class: Bard
Dungeon: Despise
Anti-Class: Brigand
Anti-Virtue: Despise
Mantru: Mu
Color: Yellow
Derived From: Love
Honesty
Honesty is respect for Truth
Town: Moonglow
Companion: Mariah
Class: Mage
Dungeon: Deceit
Anti-Class: Daemon
Anti-Virtue: Deceit
Mantru: Ahm
Color: Blue
Derived From: Truth
Honor
Honor is Courage to seek and uphold the Truth
Town: Trinsic
Companion: Dupre
Class: Paladin
Dungeon: Shame
Anti-Class: Gargoyles
Anti-Virtue: Shame
Mantru: Summ
Color: Purple
Derived From: T/C
Humility
Humility is the opposite of Pride, which is the absence of Truth, Love or Courage
Town: Magincia
Companion: Katrina
Class: Shephard
Dungeon: None
Anti-Class: Noble
Anti-Virtue: Pride
Mantru: Lum
Color: Black
Derived From: None
Justice
Justice is Truth, tempered by Love
Town: Yew
Companion: Jaana
Class: Druid
Dungeon: Wrong
Anti-Class: Goblin
Anti-Virtue: Wrong
Mantru: Beh
Color: Green
Derived From: T/L
Sacrifice
Sacrifice is Courage to give oneself in name of Love
Town: Minoc
Companion: Julia
Class: Tinker
Dungeon: Covetous
Anti-Class: N/A
Anti-Virtue: Greed
Mantru: Cah
Color: Orange
Derived From: L/C
Spirituality
Spirituality is to seek Truth, Love and Courage from one’s own self and the world around
Town: Skara Brae
Companion: Shamino
Class: Ranger
Dungeon: Hythloth
Anti-Class: N/A
Anti-Virtue: Sacrilege
Mantru: Om
Color: White
Derived From: T/L/C
Valor
Valor is Courage to stand up against risks
Town: Jhelom
Companion: Geoffrey
Class: Fighter
Dungeon: Destard
Anti-Class: Dragon
Anti-Virtue: Dastard
Mantru: Ra
Color: Red
Derived From: Courage
Arguing that the Virtue system was not upholding the individuality of each citizen, Lord Blackthorn created his own Virtue, Chaos, and erected the corresponding shrine in a bold act of protest against his liege and friend Lord British. For the sake of diversity the Chaos shrine will resurrect anyone.
More recently, the founding of the Guards of Virtue announced yet another chapter of the conflict tearing apart the friendship between British and Blackthorn.
A third doctrine also emerged in the realm, Balance. The principle of Balance embodies both Chaos and the Virtues, good and evil. A hidden city, Wind, was founded on the principle of Balance. It is mostly inhabited by scholars and scribes, and soon became the city of knowledge. Wind is an underground city, and the entrance was made accessible only to learned mages.