Ultima VII: The Black Gate/Trinsic

Main quest
When you arrive you'll talk to Iolo about the murders. The mayor arrives shortly after and explains some more about the murders. Agree to investigate, but say you haven't looked at the stables yet (which you likely haven't). Go into the stable and grab the key by the body. Also be sure to get the bag of golden goodies in the upper room. Be sure to talk to Petre about the events.

Pocket the bucket of blood if you want to have some fun later.

Talk to mayor Finnigan about the key and he'll send you to Spark, the victim's son (in the north-east of town). Ask about his nightmares and the people that appeared in them (a man with a hook and a wingless gargoyle). Agree to let him join the party. Use the key you found in the chest upstairs and grab the contents.

Now go to the healer's (in the west of town) and talk to Gilberto, the guard standing there. Ask about the attack and the Crown Jewel ship, then talk to the other guard Johnson for more info. Gilberto tells you to ask Gargan about the ship, so go do that.

Gargan reveals it sailed to Britain but he doesn't know who was aboard. Go to the Fellowship Hall (town center) and talk to Klog about the murders and about Elizabeth and Abraham. Now talk to Gargan again and this time he will also mention Hook and the wingless gargoyle.

Now go and report to the mayor. He will ask a series of copy-protection questions:

Once he's satisfied he'll give you the password that will allow you to leave Trinsic.

Services
Instead of buying a sextant from Gargan, you can get one in the next town (Paws) for a fraction of the price.

Before you leave you can go get some equipment. The only item worth of note are the swamp boots (even Iolo mentions them when you arrive), but for the time being you might hold on to your money. Just remember that Dell's provisions shop is the only place where they could be purchased; more can be found for free in the dungeons.

Side quests
Ellen and Caroline have no significant dialogue.

If you hit the parrot in Spark's home (or any parrot in Britannia) with the gavel you'll be told of a secret treasure. According to the map, these coordinates are at sea near ../Serpent's Hold/.

In the weapons dealer shop, look for an almost hidden switch behind the black buckler to open the otherwise inaccessible northern room. Nothing honest can be done there, though.

Cheating
NOTE: you are NOT supposed to steal; if you keep doing it, your companions will eventually leave the party! Stealing is anyway unnecessary. You can find plenty of free equipment in Castle Britannia.

If you want role-play an un-virtuous "Avatar" unworthy of the name, head to the weapons shop and steal things when the shopkeeper's back is turned (or at nighttime). Look for an almost hidden switch behind the black buckler to open the otherwise inaccessible upper room. This is loaded with armour, arrows, and various weapons. You can steal the Sextant from Gargan's crates.

All these thefts are worse than optional, they should be avoided: your companions could even decide to leave the party.

Around Trinsic area
When you're ready head towards any gate and leave the town. Either tell the guard the password or just activate the chain to give it automatically. After this first time you can open or close any of Trinsic's gates without a guard challenging you. If you bought the carriage head NE from the gate to find it. Anyway, follow the road northwest.

On the way you'll come across a stage where some actors offer to perform a play for you in exchange for some small change. You can watch the play if you wish (it's optional); if you do you'll learn more about the Fellowship's teachings. Anyway, continue north to the swamp.

The next town you'll come to is ../Paws/. The plot will direct you here later, therefore now you can just continue north until you reach ../Britain/.

South of Trinsic is an hidden chest full of powerful equipment. This area is supposed to be explored later, after you visited ../Serpent's Hold/. If you want to make the early stages of the game a little easier, go find it.