Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar/Side Quests

All information to get the rare items is already in the game, if the Stranger talks with every character. Although the NES remake has shorter dialogues, most information is still found in the same towns and also at the same pubs.

Magic reagents

Nightshade fungus

Virgil reveals the coordinates of the nightshade fungus.

See also Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (NES)/Side quests#Nightshade fungus

The first clue about the nightshade fungus comes from Presto, a druid in the Skara Brae apothecary; he directs you to the pub in Vesper, then the companions are directed to Virgil, a mage in Trinsic.

All the thread can be followed by moongates: start in Skara Brae, take the moongate to Minoc and visit Vesper, then the Minoc moongate to Trinsic, and you are already rather close to the coordinates of the fungus.

Three spells only require Nightshade fungus:

1. Jinx: useful against large numbers of enemies;
2. View: useful, but it might be more convenient to buy magic gems instead;
3. Kill: not useful, ranged weapons are more reliable.

Mandrake root

Calumny reveals the coordinates of the mandrake root.

See also Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (NES)/Side quests#Mandrake root

The trail for the mandrake root picks up in the same city where the previous one ended: Trinsic. Swindrik directs the Companions to the pub in Paws, where a tip of 99 GP reveals that Calumny of Yew holds the final information.

Calumny tells you the two locations of the spots where mandrake root grows: in the plains south of Minoc and in the "Fens of the Dead" (the swampy delta south of Paws), but the latter location is easier to identify. As the Nightshade fungus, Mandrake root can only be found "on the darkest of nights".

Purchase a good stock of ginseng and garlic in Paws, and mix a good number of "Cure" spells. Even better: purchase reagents for just 8 Cure spells, overpay the apothecary, and restock after every trip to the Blood Plains, so to improve Honesty and Justice.

Seven spells require Mandrake root:

1. Jinx: useful against large numbers of enemies;
2. Negate: useful against enemies that cast debuff spells (sleep) on the Companions;
3. Resurrect: absolutely necessary, although hopefully used not often;
4. Gate travel: use sparingly, because walking allows to fight and earn experience and gold;
5. View: useful, but it's more convenient to buy magic gems instead;
6. Tremor: not useful, ranged weapons are more reliable;
7. Iceball: not useful, ranged weapons are more reliable.

Spell recipes

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Original spell quests

Undead

This spell is left as a riddle for the player. In order to solve the riddle, the player should read carefully the manual.

Excerpts from the manual

About undead enemies and the Repel Undead spell
These once-dead beings take many forms, the most common being the animated skeletons of orcs and goblins, or the ghoulish forms of flesh-eating corpses that have been summoned from the land of shades to wreak havoc on the living. These apparitions are cowed by the light of righteousness and fight as warriors in a trance. You must use your knowledge of the properties of magical reagents to determine which two will lend force to your enchantment of Undead turning.
About the reagents
Garlic is used in all spells of the warding variety, be they the warding off of common and magical sickness or the repelling of beings once dead. Sulfuroush ash is useful in the casting of Energy Fields and Magic Missiles, as well as in spells requiring a quick burst of light or a sustained glow. Praise the wizard who realized the mystic secret of spider silk, for it is to him or her that we owe the knowledge of binding and restraining spells. Ginseng is most useful for spells of a healing or narcotic nature, such as Cure or Sleep enchantments. Blood moss is used in the spells of movement, from the simplest levitation to making the very earth tremble. Black pearls are vital in the casting of spells that are hurled from the mage's person and must travel to a final destination. Mandrake root is the most powerful known substance in the weaving of magical spells. The chief magical properties of nightshade fungus are connected with the use of poison and the creation of illusions so real that they can lay the mightiest warrior to the ground

Therefore, in order to make an Undead spell, garlic and sulphurous ash sould be mixed.

Resurrect

Shazom, a dying young wizard (in Moonglow) JOB? I am apprentice to the great wizard Nigel! HEALTH? I will soon die. DIE? Pass on. NIGEL? I will soon need to use the spell he calls 'recall'. Hast thou met Nigel? NO? He lives at the Lycaeum. YES? Seek him out for he will teach thee.	N/A
Nigel, a noble wizard (in the Lycaeum) JOB? I teach magical spells. SPELL? I have a specialty! Dost thou know what it is? YES? What do I call the spell? RECALL? Yes, resurrection! It takes ash, ginseng, garlic, silk, blood moss, and mandrake!	A bearded mage (in the Lycaeum): I am Nigel, master of all wizards! My magic is strong enough to raise the dead! Life, thou knowest, is given only unto the highest of wizards, and it requires garlic, moss, fungus, and... hmph, well... and... and Marina of Empath Abbey will tell thee its final ingredient! I am quite busy right now, no time for chitchat!
N/A	A beardless mage (in Empath Abbey): Hello! I am Marina Mandracha, in the service of Lady Marcy.

Gate travel

Jingles, a young mage (in Paws) JOB? I seek the wisdom of magic. MAGIC? My master knows the gate travel spell! MASTER? My master is Mentorian. Dost thou know him? NO? He lives in a hidden village in Lock Lake reachable only by ship, ask of the gate spell!	N/A
Mentorian, a tall wizard (in Cove) JOB? I study the magical arts. ARTS? There is truth in magic! Dost thou disagree? NO? Good. GATE? Since thou dost bear the ankh, I shall tell thee. A gate spell requires ash, pearl, and mandrake root!	A bearded mage (in Cove): Ah, seeker, we meet at last. I am Mentarion, master of the Gates! Know now that sulfur ash, black pearl, and manroot are necessary for the Gate spell.

Improved spell mixes

• quickness
• sleep
• magic missile

Master System spell quests

• quickness
• sleep
• iceball

NES spell quests

See also Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (NES)/Side quests#NES exclusive spell quests

In the NES remake, there are more spells to be found: sleep, reflect, negate, destroy, jinx, squish, tremor and defeat.

Mondain's skull

See also Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (NES)/Side quests#Mondain's skull

Sebastian, an injured person (Britain) JOB? I know a terrible secret! SECRET? Mondain's influence has not left the world! MONDAIN? An artifact remains! I heard at Buccaneer's Den! Wilt thou find and destroy it? YES? Then ask at the pub there of the skull!	An injured person (in Minoc): Ungh... Oooh... Ohhh... Oww... The pirates' pub... Mondain... Ohhh...
A reaper (Castle Britannia, beyond locked door) JOB? I kill adventurers! KILL? There is a thing which can kill many! THING? Knowledge of it is found at Buccaneer's Den! Will you seek this thing? YES? It brings great power!	Reaper (Castle Britannia, beyond locked door): Heh, heh! When the skull of Mondain is used in towne, it feels good! Dost thou also enjoy the destruction of pitiful innocents? No? "Thou art a wimp!" (Humility +5) Yes? "Heh, heh! Another friend of evil!" (Humility -5)
Servile, a meek shepherd (Vesper) JOB? I can help thee! HELP? I know of the skull of Mondain the Wizard! SKULL? To use it for any reason is a sign of great evil, and no virtue! Hast thou heard of it? YES/NO? It is an evil artifact!	N/A
Ragnar, a solemn ranger (Buccaneer's Den) JOB? I travel. TRAVEL? The lands of Britannia. Art thou here looking for information? YES? On what? SKULL? Be warned that if thou dost ever use the skull, except to destroy it, all thy virtues will be lost!	A pirate (in Buccaneer's Den): Mondain's skull, ye say? Ye do not want it! East of serpent's Hold, in the midsts of three volcanoes. Ye do not want it. Now go away!
The Captain (Buccaneer's Den) 99GP TIP, SKULL? ...	N/A
Jude, a ragged soul (Minoc) JOB? To redeem myself! REDEEM? I will not speak of my sin! SKULL? I used it! If I help thee wilt thou swear to only use it at the mouth of the abyss to destroy it? YES? It can be found at lat-P'F" long-M'F" on the darkest night!	A tinker (in Minoc): Ah, to wield the Skull of Mondain! To level a city, to slay all within! Such power I can scarcely hope to claim!

Mystic arms

See also Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (NES)/Side quests#Mystic arms

Seesha, an injured fighter (in Castle Britannia). HEALTH? I have a grievous wound. WOUND? Deep. JOB? I fight for my country. COUNTRY? Britannia. Fight ye for Britannia? NO? Hmm. YES? Then seek out the smith named Zircon in Minoc for he made the mystic arms, only they will save thee in the abyss!	An injured person (in Minoc): I can neither walk nor work, kind friend. Please, a single coin... No? A good day to you, still. Yes? Ah, my thanks. Zircon awaits the bearer of the scale!
Zircon, a seasoned blacksmith (in Minoc). JOB? I forge weapons. WEAPONS? I make the very best! Seek thee a weapon? NO? Hmmm. YES? Ask at the counter! MYSTIC? Ah, yes, the mystic weapons and armour, my greatest work! Those I gave unto Sir Simon and Lady Tessa.	A tinker (in Minoc): I am Zircon, a very busy smith! A very, very busy smith! ...
Lady Tessa, a wise lady (in Paws). JOB? I am the keeper. KEEPER? I cannot say. MYSTIC? Mystics can be found by an eight parts avatar! Hast thou attained enlightenment in all eight virtues? YES? The mystic weapons lie in the training room of Serpent castle!	A woman in pink (in Vesper): I am told the scale of a legendary snake is in the mountain!
Sir Simon, a wise lord (in Paws). JOB? I am the keeper. KEEPER? Of what I cannot say! MYSTIC? Mystics can be found by an eight parts avatar! Hast thou attained enlightenment in all eight virtues? YES? The mystic armour lies in the center of the oak grove!	A fighter (in Paws): Hail, strong warrior! Dost thou fight for Britannia? No? Then depart from my sight! Yes? The mightiest arms lie in the castles of Truth and Love.
Scatu, a tall mage wearing strange armour (in the Lycaeum). ARMOUR? I wear mystic armour. Art thou a partial avatar? NO? Alas. YES? When thou art eight parts avatar, seek Zircon in Minoc and ask of mystics! JOB? I advise. ADVISE? Thou would be well advised to visit the Seer often!	A druid (in the Lycaeum): The Sword of Paradise lies atop the magical altar above. Only a master of the eight Virtues may claim it!