As said, here the first entry in the journal of the replaying “Ultima Ascension (also known as “Ultima IX”)”.
The adventure begins here on earth, in the house of our nameless hero. Nameless? Yes, unlike the older Ultima games, you cannot name your character. He will be referred to as “Avatar” (in the older games he was also called “The Stranger”).
Our hero is called by a mysterious voice that tells him that Britannia and Lord British need hem for his final task.
In the house of our hero you learn how to move around. How to pick up items. His first task is to collect a number of items that he will needs when he travels to Britannia. The items he needs are a tool-belt (for fast access to things as spells and potions), a back pack (for storing items), a compass, a journal (to make notes in, but also contains information about the world of Britannia. And you need the journal for action as saving and loading of the game), a gate key (to enter the park near the house) and some food from the kitchen.
All throughout the house (and later in the rest of the game as well) you can find books that you can read by clicking on them. The contains of these books may differ from fatal information to finish a quest to a nice story or just a joke.
So it is important to read these books.
Well, our hero is ready to leave the house…
Outside the house there is a practicing area where our hero can learn how to handle sword and a bow. It is very important to understand this well, because you really going to need in Britannia!. There are some crates around the corner of the house that you can crash with your sword. One of the boxes contains some money… and yes, you will need money in Britannia.
After practicing enough, you will find that the only way to leave the area is through the gate to the park. For this gate you need the key that you took along from the house.
Beware! In the park there aggressive beasts as rats and wolfs. They will attack on sight, so defend yourself. Walk around the park and kill all these aggressive beasts. It is also possible in the park to train your swim, climb and jump skills.
Then finally make your way to the Gypsy which have mostly already seen while walking through the park.
The Gypsy tells that Britannia awaits the Avatar. He will never return to earth, nor to Britannia. She leaves the why and how unclear.
The Gypsy will read the cards and by 7 questions based on the Virtues it will be determined how the Avatar will walks the roads of Britannia. It shows that the Avatar favors the Virtue of Compassion. So he will travel through Britannia as a bard.
When leaving the gypsy the gate that will bring the Avatar to Britannia is open. And the Avatar walks towards it to begin his journey.
But as the Avatar gets close to get gate, a gazer comes through and attacks the Avatar. Luckily is the gazer is a magical creature and therefore his powers on earth weakened. The gazer is easily defeated, but this must mean that the Guardian, the source of all evil in Britannia, must be aware that the Avatar is coming to Britannia…
Nothing can stop the Avatar anymore from entering Britannia….
To be continued!