Ultima VI: The False Prophet/The Shrine of Sacrifice

Minoc
After freeing the Shrine of Justice and provide swamp boots for everyone, it is now time to visit Minoc, the town of Sacrifice.

There are two roads to get there from Yew: one is short but dangerous, the other one is long and quiet.
 * The dangerous road: leave Yew to the north-east, and get to the pier. Use a boat to cross the bay, then continue south along the "Long Haul" road to the south until you cross a ford, where the road joins back with the long optin. The danger is across the sea: you might meet sea serpents and krakens, but a row boat has no means of defense.
 * The long road: walk back all the way to Britain, then corss the town and leave to the east. At the fork before the Shrine of Compassion, go north instead, cross a bridge and continue east until you see the signs for the "Long Haul" road.

Where the two roads join, continue to the east through Kafiristan Pass, then follow the road all the way north and across a swamp. You will eventually reach Minoc.



Buy as many empty jars from Dale the glassblower as you can carry: you can sell them back to Zeke in Empath Abbey.

Julia is one of the original eight Companions, and she can join your party. She has the same sprite as Jaana and comparable strength, but much lower dexterity. If you ask her to leave the party, she will refuse to join again. Still, her usefulness in the party is limited.

Gwenno is a character featured since Ultima 3; she is the wife of Iolo the bard. In Ultima 6, she has the same sprite as her husband, but lower attributes. Both Gwenno and Iolo can cast magic spells.

The mantra
The Lord Mayor's house is the first building you can see when you enter town from the south. Isabella is the mayor of Minoc: ask her about the mantra and the Rune. She will gladly tell you that the healer Tara knows the mantra of sacrifice.

The rune
Isabella tells you that the Rune of Sacrifice is kept by the Guild of Artisans in town. The guildhouse is the building just west of the mayor's. The guildmaster is Selganor. He will start by asking you some questions about magic (they are actually copy-protection questions, and the answers are in the manual).

Once you answer correctly, he will inform you that in order to get the Rune of Sacrifice, you should first become a guildmember. In order to do so, you should make a panpipe and become able to play "Stones" on it. Luckily, he gives all the necessary instructions to do so. First of all, talk to Julia the artisan: she lives in the north-east house of Minoc. Julia asks you a yew board to make the panpipes. You should go back to Yew and ask wood to the Mayor Lenora; the stern lady will direct you to Ben the logger who lives west of her hall. After you buy a log, you should cut it into a board. A sawmill is just east of Minoc, along the road that crosses the swamp eastward. Talk to Aaron, and he will gladly cut the log into a board. Now talk to Julia, and she will carve the board into a set of panpipes.

You have your panpipes, now you should learn to play it. Ask Gwenno about the song "Stones", and she will also teach you how to use the keyboard to play any instrument in Ultima VI. "Stones" is actually one of the themes in the game. All this accomplished, go back to Selganor and play "Stones" for him. When you do it correctly, he will make you a guildmember and entrust you with the Rune of Sacrifice.

The shrine
The Shrine of Sacrifice is in the Drylands east of Minoc. Follow the Mudfish Road eastward across the swamp, then "hug" the mountains until you find a narrow pass to the other side. Continue east in the desert until you see the Shrine... or the Gargoyles see you.

Defeat the Gargoyles, then use the mantra and the rune to free the altar from the violet force field. If a character meditates at the Shrine of Sacrifice and his/her experience is sufficient, he/she will gain Strength +1 and Dexterity +1. This is a good shrine for all the characters who cannot use magic.