Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar/The Great Stygian Abyss

The black stone of humility
Seven stones were found in the seven dungeons (the White Stone, too, more or less), but the Virtues are eight: the Black Stone of Humility is still missing.

As per any stone, information about it can be found in the corresponding city. In this case, it is the ruins of Magincia. As per the White Stone, there is a thread to follow. Start by talking to Splot, a skeleton in Magincia ruins; he will relay the Stranger to Nate the Snake, in the same city; then, travel to Britain and leave a 99 GP tip at the bar: the Stranger will be directed to Merlin of Cove. Alternatively, the same information can be obtained by meditating for three cycles at the Shrine of Humility.

The Black Stone of Humility can be found by stepping into the Moonglow Moongate when both moons are dark, then search the ground.

This last stone is only used in the Great Stygian Abyss.


 *  ADVANTAGEOUS BUG ALERT: in some ports (which ones?) there is a bug that allows to navigate the Abyss without stones, but you still need seven of them in order to get the Key of Three Parts; therefore, in said ports, the Black Stone of Humility is optional.

Getting ready: checklist


Requirements to enter the Abyss:
 * Owning a ship enhanced by the magic ship wheel (see ../The Strongholds of the Principles/);
 * Holding the Bell of Courage, the Book of Truth, and the Candle of Love (see ../The Strongholds of the Principles/);

Requirements to enter the Chamber of the Codex (as told by the Ankh in Cove):
 * Being an eight-parts Avatar, at level 8, with a party of eight Companions (see ../The Shrines of Virtue/);
 * Holding the eight Stones of Virtue (see ../Dungeons/);
 * Holding the Key of Three Parts (see ../Dungeons/).
 * Knowing the Pure Axiom (see The unfinished thread);
 * Knowing the Word of Passage (see ../The Strongholds of the Principles/).

The Great Stygian Abyss
The shortest sea route to reach the Great Stygian Abyss starts from a peninsula east from Minoc (north from Vesper). Remember to use the magical ship wheel to strengthen the hull of your ship (as Allen from Cove instructed you). Sail straight north; when you reach the three volcanoes, turn east. On the west coast of the Dark Island, enter a gulf, where a pirate fleet waits in ambush. Defeat the ships and land at the innermost end of the fjord. The entrance to the Abyss is in the middle of a lava field.

At the entrance of the Great Stygian Abyss, ring the Bell of Courage, then open the Book of Truth, then light the Candle of Love. The aforementioned order is learned by meditating three cycles at the Shrines of Compassion Valor, and Honesty.




 * Level 1

''As thou doth approach, a voice rings out: "What Virtue dost stem from Truth?" HONESTY: The voice says: "Use thy Stone." BLUE: The altar changes before thyne eyes!''


 * Level 2

''As thou doth approach, a voice rings out: "What Virtue dost stem from Love?" COMPASSION: The voice says: "Use thy Stone." YELLOW: The altar changes before thyne eyes!''


 * Level 3

''As thou doth approach, a voice rings out: "What Virtue dost stem from Courage?" VALOR: The voice says: "Use thy Stone." RED: The altar changes before thyne eyes!''


 * Level 4

''As thou doth approach, a voice rings out: "What Virtue dost stem from Truth and Love?" JUSTICE: The voice says: "Use thy Stone." GREEN: The altar changes before thyne eyes!''


 * Level 5

''As thou doth approach, a voice rings out: "What Virtue dost stem from Love and Courage?" SACRIFICE: The voice says: "Use thy Stone." ORANGE: The altar changes before thyne eyes!''


 * Level 6

''As thou doth approach, a voice rings out: "What Virtue dost stem from Courage and Truth?" HONOR: The voice says: "Use thy Stone." PURPLE: The altar changes before thyne eyes!''


 * Level 7

''As thou doth approach, a voice rings out: "What Virtue dost stem from Truth, Love and Courage?" SPIRITUALITY: The voice says: "Use thy Stone." WHITE: The altar changes before thyne eyes!''


 * Level 8

''A voice rings out: "What Virtue exists independently of Truth, Love and Courage?" HUMILITY: The voice says: "Use thy Stone." BLACK: The altar changes before thyne eyes!''

The final test of virtues

 * 1) What dost you possess if all may rely upon your every word?
 * 2) What quality compels one to share in the journeys of others?
 * 3) What answers when great deeds are called for?
 * 4) What should be the same for lord and serf alike?
 * 5) What is loath to place the self above aught else?
 * 6) What shirks no duty?
 * 7) What, in knowing the true self, knows all?
 * 8) What is that which sefs are born with, but nobles must strive to obtain?
 * 9) If all esle is imaginary, this is real...
 * 10) What plunges to the depths, while soaring on the heights?
 * 11) What turns not away from any peril?
 * 12) If all eight virtues of the Avatar combine into and are derived from the three principles of truth, Love and Courage, then what is the one thing which encompasses and is the whole of all undeniable Truth, unending Love and unyielding Courage?

Eventually, [Y]ell the Word of Passage ("Veramocor!") and enter the Chamber.