Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar/The Shrines of Virtue

Shrine of Sacrifice
All information about Sacrifice can be learned in the town of Minoc, north-east of Britain.



Shrine of Justice


All information about Justice can be learned in the town of Yew, north-west of Britain.

Oversea shrines & swamp shrines
The ship is necessary to get to any of these shrines. Or you can use the moongates.

Shrine of Compassion
All information about Compassion can be learned in the town of Britain.



Shrine of Honor
All information about Honor can be learned in the town of Trinsic, South of Britain.



Shrine of Valor
All information about Valor can be learned in the town of Jhelom, South-west of Britain (across sea).



Shrine of Honesty
All information about Honesty can be learned in the town of Moonglow, East of Britain (very far away).



Hidden shrines
These two shrines are more difficult to find. Not only their location is an obstacle, but also the fact that information about them is found in more than just one city, unlike the other shrines.

Shrine, Rune & Mantra of Spirituality


In the Sega Master System port, the Ankh does not reveal the location of the Shrine of Spirituality.

Practicing the Virtues
For most of these you must take 16 steps in the open world before you can earn credit again. For example, if you speak humbly to a man you earn credit for Humility; leave town, take 16 steps, then come back in town: you can then earn more credits by talking to the same man.

It is easy to lose progress on any of the virtues. However, gaining progress is much more difficult since you have to wait between attempts to get the full effect.

Once you have mastered the virtues, you will need to conquer the Great Stygian Abyss and view the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom.

Honesty
Meditation at the shrine of Honesty:
 * 1) DON'T : Take not the gold of others found in towns and castles, for yours it is not!
 * 2) * Stealing from chests -1;
 * 3) DO: Cheat not the merchants and peddlers for 'tis an evil thing to do!
 * 4) * Giving reagent seller correct money +2; overpaying might give +3;
 * 5) * Underpaying the reagent sellers -10.
 * 6) Second, read the Book of Truth at the entrance to the Great Stygian Abyss!

Honesty is performed by being honest; by providing correct answers to questions and by not attempting to cheat shopkeepers. Make a tour of the four apothecaries buying every time a few reagents from each of them. For a list of the apothecaries, check the Britannian Yellow Pages.

Compassion
Meditation at the shrine of Compassion:
 * 1) DON'T : Kill not the non-evil beasts of the land and do not attack the fair people!
 * 2) DO: Give of thy purse to those who beg and thy deed shall not be forgotten!
 * 3) Third, light the Candle of Love at the entrance to the Great Stygian Abyss!

Compassion involves donating gold to beggars and sparing the life of non-evil creatures. Giving money is in contrast with buying good equipment and magic reagents, therefore this Virtue is likely to be mastered late. Make tours of the beggars around Britannia. For a list of locations of the beggars, see the Britannian Yellow Pages.
 * Giving money to the beggars +2;
 * Running away from non-evil enemies +2;
 * Letting non-evil enemies run away +1;
 * Fighting non-evil enemies -5;
 * Note: snakes, seahorses, bats, insects, rats, spiders are Non-evil;
 * NES Note: non-evil enemies don't run, but they might also not affect Compassion.

Valor
Meditation at the shrine of Valor:
 * 1) DO: Victories scored over evil creatures help to build a valorous soul!
 * 2) DON'T : To flee from battle with less than grievous wounds often shows a coward!
 * 3) First, ring the Bell of Courage at the entrance to the Great Stygian Abyss!

Valor requires you to stand your ground whenever possible and not to flee from combat.
 * Killing evil creatures +0 or +1;
 * Running away from evil creatures -2.

Justice
Meditation at the shrine of Justice:
 * 1) DON'T : To take the gold of others is injustice not soon forgotten. Take only thy due!
 * 2) DON'T : Attack not a peaceful citizen, for that action deserves strict punishment!
 * 3) DO : Kill not a non-evil beast for they deserve not death, even if in hunger they attack thee!

Justice requires you to perform just acts and to spare the life of non-evil creatures. Like Honesty, make tours of the four apothercaries and buy a few reagents from each of them. For a list of the reagents sellers, see Britannian Yellow Pages.
 * Running from non-evil enemies +2;
 * Paying reagent seller correctly +2;
 * Allowing non-evil enemies to flee +1;
 * Stealing from chests -1;
 * Fighting non-evil enemies -3;
 * Stealing from Reagent sellers -10.

Sacrifice
Meditation at the shrine of Sacrifice:
 * 1) DO: To give thy last gold piece unto the needy shows good measure of Self-Sacrifice!
 * 2) DON'T : For thee to flee and leave thy companions is a self-serving action to be avoided!
 * 3) DO: To give of thy life's blood so that others may live is a Virtue of great praise!

Sacrifice involves self-sacrifice, such as donating blood or protecting other party members with your life. The Stranger can give blood to the healers if he is in quite good health. The cities of Skara Brae and Jhelom feature a healer and a cheap inn where the party can rest, making them suitable locations where to improve Sacrifice quickly.
 * Giving blood +5;
 * Stranger dying in battle +1;
 * Running from evil creature -2;
 * Refusing to give blood -5.

Honor
Meditation at the shrine of Honor:
 * 1) DON'T : Take not the gold of others for this shall bring dishonor upon thee!
 * 2) DON'T : To strike first a non-evil being is by no means an honorable deed!
 * 3) DO: Seek ye to solve the many quests before thee and Honor shall be a reward!

Just defeating evil enemies should be enough to master the Virtue of Honor. See the Side Quests page to fulfill the requirements for Honor even faster. Honor requires you to honor agreements.
 * Finding some of the special items +5;
 * giving gold to beggars +3;
 * Paying the reagent seller correctly +2;
 * Stealing from chests -1;
 * Fighting non-evil enemies -3;
 * Stealing from reagent seller -10.

Spirituality
Meditation at the shrine of Spirituality:
 * 1) DO: Seek ye to know thyself. Visit the seer often for he can see into thy inner being!
 * 2) DO: Meditation leads to enlightenment. Seek ye all Wisdom and Knowledge!
 * 3) (NES) The Great Mountain holds the white stone at its heart!

Spirituality requires you to complete spiritual tasks, such as meditating at shrines.
 * Meditating 3 cycles at a shrine +3;
 * Speaking with Hawkwind +3;
 * Saying the incorrect mantra at shrines -3.

Humility
Meditation at the shrine of Spirituality:
 * 1) DO: Claim not to be that which thou art not. Humble actions speak well of thee!
 * 2) DON'T: Strive not to wield the Great Force of Evil for its power will overcome thee!
 * 3) (NES) The black stone doth appear on the night of the new moons. Search beneath the moongates!

Humility requires you to avoid pride and answer questions humbly. Some of the characters you can talk humbly to are Flamis in Yew, Julio the Bard in Britain, Patric the Shepherd in Moonglow.
 * Speaking humbly with certain characters +10;
 * Speaking proudly -5.


 * Tips
 * In the Apple 2 version, if you continue say you are proud you can get humility 8th without the shrine.