Ultima VI: The False Prophet/Nystul's Quest

Nystul's Quest
Nystul

Nystul, a concerned looking mage: "Hail to thee Avatar, and well met. 'Twas I who learned of thy peril through my mystic arts, so that aid might be sent unto thee. Iolo, I saw that thou didst find a book. Might I examine it?"

Iolo: "Certainly, milord. Perhaps thou canst make better sense of it than I."

Nystul: "Strange... This has a picture on its cover of a gargoyle standing with one foot on the chest of a slain human. This is interesting. It's written in a language I know not. Take it to Mariah at the Lycaeum, the finest scribe on the great Council of Wizards. She has studied many languages, and perhaps she can decipher this book for thee."

Mariah

"Nystul sent word to me that thou hast a book written in a strange tongue."

"I'd be glad to look at it for thee." She examines the book. "Oh! I've seen this script before! I have part of an ancient silver tablet in my study with writing both in our language and this. I have learned only a little from studying it, but I can make out a few words. The title is 'The Book of Prophecies,' and it says something about 'the end of our world.' If only I had the other half of the tablet, perhaps I'd be able to decipher the rest of the book."

"I got my piece of the tablet from some gypsies whom I met at a pub. Mayhap they can tell thee where to look for the other piece. Bring both pieces of the tablet here and I will tell thee what I can."

Looking for the Gypsies

Anya, in Britain Pub: "They pass by Britain occasionally. I believe they travel on the King's Way."

Sylaina, in Empath Abbey: "They travel the road between Britain and Trinsic. Normally I like them. They're a merry lot. But one time a group of gypsies stole my prized locket!"

Dr. Cat, in Paws Pub: "Taynith is my dearest friend. Her gypsy band travels the King's Way. Once a week, she stops in to say hello."

Zoltan the Gypsy

"I'd be glad to help you out. But 'tis a hard life, sometimes, being a gypsy. You'd be willing to pay ten gold for the information, would you?"

"Some gorgio called 'Captain John' brought us the silver tablet and paid us to take it to the Lycaeum. While we were on the way there, we were ambushed by Captain Hawkins and his crew. The tablet was broken in two during the scuffle. The pirates got away with the bigger half. Hawkins took my finest earring as well - I spit on his mother's grave! Most likely they went to Buccaneer's Den with their loot. We took the corner of the tablet that they missed to the Lycaeum and sold it to Mariah."

Homer the Buccaneer

"I once sailed on the ship called 'Empire', under Captain Hawkins."

He regards you warily. "Who sent you? I see." He screws his face up into an even more suspicious expression than before. "Just why do you want to know about it, anyway? You're not a member of the guild. I don't have to tell you anything."

"Go ask Budo. And you didn't hear that from me, understand?"

Budo the Guildmaster

Suddenly the good-natured bumbler that stood before you has been transformed into a shrewd, sharp, dangerous looking man. He leans forward staring straight into your eyes as he asks "Who sent you? Uh-huh. Well... Were you hoping to join?"

"All right, maybe you've got what it takes. We'll see. To be a member of the thieves' guild, you have to get your own belt. Now we have a limited membership, so there's only so many belts in the world. If you want one of them, you have to 'retire' a member of the guild. Lucky for you, it just happens there's a member we'd like to see 'retired' soon. Her hideout is deep below Britain, in the sewers. You'd best watch out for the rats down there! One last thing... It would be an embarassment for the guild to have bodies turning up inconveniently. So don't get too violent unless you have to. I'll talk to you when you get back."

Afterwards
Budo, Homer