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

Shrines

Mainland shrines

Shrine of Sacrifice

NES location of the rune: Minoc forge

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

Rune of Sacrifice

LOOK? You see a fading man. NAME? I am Gimble. HEALTH? I am barely conscious. CONSCIOUS? I will soon sleep forever. Could you spare a gold piece, so I may buy a last drink? Y: Remember Azure knows of the Rune! N: ... JOB? I shall die soon. DIE? I suffer from a tsetse bite!

LOOK? You see a tinker at the table. NAME? I am Azure. HEALTH? O.K. JOB? I carve runes. CARVE RUNES? I carve runes for passage into the Shrines! Dost thou seek a rune? N: I see. Y: Which? SACRIFICE? Ask my sister, Mischief.

LOOK? You see a happy tinker. NAME? I am Mischief. HEALTH? O.K. I guess. JOB? This and that. THIS? And that... RUNE? The rune of sacrifice is hard to get. It lies within the fires of the forge! Hast thou the Rune? N: ... Y: Then ask Alkerion of the Stone!

Mantra and Shrine of Sacrifice

LOOK? You see a wandering tinker. NAME? I am Merida. HEALTH? Been better. JOB? I seek the wisdom of the Shrine of Sacrifice. SHRINE? But first I need the mantra! Know ye the mantra? N: The shrine is on a lake to the east! Y: Good! MANTRA? I am told that a hidden shepherd knows the mantra.

LOOK? You see a meek shepherd. NAME? I am Damon. HEALTH? Fine. JOB? I stand here and think. THINK? Oh, just about things. Can't a man just think to himself? Y: Well I hope so! MANTRA? Listen to the bard's song for in its verse lies the key!

LOOK? You see a cute bard. NAME? I am Singsong. HEALTH? Very well indeed! JOB? I sing songs! SING? I sing songs! SONGS? Very well: "The raven sings/ the raven saw/ and in the corn/ he sayeth 'CAH'. Dost you like it? N: Too bad... Y: Thanks.

Shrine of Justice

NES location of the rune: search this jail cell in Yew

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

Shrine and Rune of Justice

LOOK? You see a wandering druid. NAME? I am a druid. HEALTH? Well. JOB? I seek justice. JUSTICE? Learn at the Shrine! SHRINE?The shrine is to the east then north! Dost thou have the rune? N: Ask Talfourd for he knows of the Rune. Y: Now learn the Mantra, and seek the Green Stone in 'Wrong'!

LOOK? You see a wise judge. NAME? I am Talfourd. HEALTH? Well. JOB? I decide justice. JUSTICE? Justice is Truth in action! RUNE? It is hidden well! Can honestly claim to be guilty of no crime ever? N: Then do thy penance in a cell and, with the felon, search ye well.

LOOK? You see a big guard. NAME? I am a guard. HEALTH? Fit. JOB? We guard the jail. Hast thou come to turn thyself in? N: Just visiting, eh. Y: In which cell dost thou belong, felonies of misdemeanors? MISDEMEANORS? That'll be the left cell. FELONIES? That'll be the right hand cell. Careful in there!

LOOK? You see a poor beggar. NAME? I am a poor beggar. HEALTH? Well treated. JOB? I have sinned. SINNED? I have gotten chests in the townes and killed non-evil creatures. Should thou be in with the felon? Y: Thou art in the wrong cell. FELON? He is a mean, nasty, ugly villain!

LOOK? You see a mean nasty ugly villain! NAME? I am Vorpal. VILLAIN? That's me alright! HEALTH? Hungry! JOB? I eat people who bug me! PEOPLE? Like thee! Art thou here to bug me? N: Well thou art! Y: Eat death, scum puppy!

Mantra of Justice

LOOK? You see a thin man. NAME? I am Pinrod. HEALTH? Fine. JOB? I take council. COUNCIL? On justice. Fight ye for Justice? Y: Good, the druids chant the mantra! ON JUSTICE? Justice is hardest to find at the point of a sword, the steel is an agent of Justice, humanity the perpetrator!

LOOK? You see a chanting druid. NAME? I am Silent. HEALTH? Beh... Beh... BEH? Beh... Beh... JOB? Beh... Beh...

Oversea shrines & swamp shrines

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

Shrine of Compassion

NES location of the rune: Britain Hotel

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

Mantra and Shrine of Compassion

LOOK? You see a tired shepherd. NAME? I am Shalimar HEALTH? Good. JOB? I watch over the children. CHILDREN? It takes a good deal of Compassion to deal with children! COMPASSION? Compassion strengthens the soul as knowledge tempers the mind! >>> Have any kids? Y: Thou dost know what I mean! N: Too bad.

LOOK? You see a small child. NAME? I am A Child HEALTH? O.K. JOB? I am learning Compassion. LEARNING? The solution to ones problems often lies in solving others! COMPASSION? Never care so much for thyself that thou cannot care for others! >>> Know ye the Mantra of Compassion? N: Ask Cricket! Y: Good.

LOOK? NAME? You see a bard in green. HEALTH? Shhh JOB? Shh, I'm playing! SHHH? Yes, shhh! >>> Now wilt thou be quiet? Y: Thanks. N: I am going to call the guards! MANTRA? The mantra for the Shrine of Compassion is 'MU'!

Rune of Compassion

LOOK? You see a poor beggar. NAME? I am Sprite. HEALTH? I fear I shall die of starvation! JOB? I have no job so now I beg! STARVATION? I have not eaten in a week! BEG? Please! Help me! >>> Wilt thou help me? Y: In return, I shall tell thee that Pepper knows of the Rune! N: I shall starve to death!

LOOK? You see a spicy woman. NAME? I am Pepper HEALTH? Healthy. JOB? I am a fighting bard. BARD? Bards know many things. >>> Dost thou seek something? Y: What might that be? N: Alas. I may have been able to help. RUNE? The Rune of Compassion lies at the end of a hall somewhere in this towne.

Shrine of Honor

NES location of the rune: Trinsic in the fields

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

Rune of Honor

LOOK? You see a scruffy merchant. NAME? I am Winthrop JOB? A trade in rumors. RUNE? There is a small child who knew named... Terrin.

LOOK? You see a cowering child. NAME? I am Terrin HEALTH? Scared! JOB? I ran from the bull! BULL? A big one, with long, pointy horns! >>> Is it gone yet? Y: Whew, I thought it would get me! RUNE? It is buried in the southwest corner of towne.

Mantra and Shrine of Honor

LOOK? You see a soulful fighter. NAME? I am Dergin HEALTH? Tired. JOB? I seek a place to rest. REST? I have quested long and hard. QUEST? I seek enlightenment at the Shrine of Honor! >>> Art thou enlightened in Honor? Y: Good. N: The Shrine lies to the south and west beyond the swamps!

LOOK? You see a searching paladin! NAME? I am Kline HEALTH? Well. JOB? I seek entry to the Shrine of Honor! >>> Know ye the two requirements to enter and use the Shrine? N: What dost thou think? Y: What are they? RUNE? A man named Winthrop knows of the Rune!

Sega Master System: There may be a bug here, because according to other guides, Kline is suppose to have a dialogue option MANTRA and he is suppose to tell you the mantra.

Shrine of Valor

NES location of the rune: use the Key on this door in Jhelom

NES location of the rune: first secret passage

NES location of the rune: second secret passage

File:U4 NES Rune 3Valor-4.png

NES location of the rune: search this room for the Rune of Valor (a ghost is in here until you speak with him)

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

Rune of Valor

Name: Lord Robert Sex: He Description: A mysterious warrior. Job: I battle for Lord British! Health: Outstanding! WARR: Thou must battle long and hard to be a warrior. BATT: Battles are few and too many! > Are you a valiant warrior? > > Yes: Thou dost deserve the rune, ask Nostro! > > No: Thou art a wimp!

Name: Nostro Sex: He Description: A withering soul Job: I built these passages and they walled me in! Health: Very near death! PASS: This passage runs around the city! RUNE: The rune is buried in a tower! > Wilt thou lead me out? > > Yes: I am saved! > > No: Thou art a cad! and I will still follow!

NB: you need to use dispel field to get past the force fields.

Mantra and Shrine of Valor

Name: Aesop Sex: He Description: A small man. Job: I search for valor! Health: Well enough. VALO: I find that 'tis easy to be brave from a safe distance! MANT: The mantra of valor is 'RA' use it in the shrine on the next isle! > Know what I mean? > > Yes: Thats my problem. > > No: Thou art brave!

Shrine of Honesty

NES location of the rune: three steps south of the brick tile near Mariah in Moonglow

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

Rune of Honesty

Name: William Sex: He Description: A child eating a sandwich. Job: Oh, not much. Health: Pretty good. SAND: It's a peanut butter and grape jelly on lightly toasted bread! RUNE: Search for the rune of honesty by Mariah's gold! > Wouldst thou like a bite? > > Yes: Yummy, huh! > > No: It's awful yummy!

Mantra and Shrine of Honesty

Name: Cromwell Sex: He Description: A regal paladin. Job: I speak of the virtues of honesty! Health: Well indeed. HONE: A few honest men are better than numbers! MANT: The mantra of the shrine of honesty is 'AHM'. > Dost thou strive to be honest? > > Yes: Then you will need the mantra. > > No: Shame!

Name: Calabrini Sex: He Description: A tall mage. Job: I bear greetings from the fair city of Moonglow. Health: Fine. INN : We have an excellent inn. HEAL: Our healer is one of the best! > Dost thou seek an inn or healing? > > Yes: Which? > > No: Perhaps, the shrine which lies on an isle to the north!

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 of Humility

Mantra of Humility

Town	Computer text	NES text
Magincia ruins	Casperin, a small ghost JOB? To haunt this shop. HAUNT? A lot of haunting goes on around here. Know thee why? N: Pride! Y: Pride is the surest measure of goals never attained! PRIDE? Seek ye the Mantra for Humility, ask ye Heywood!	N/A
	Heywood, a tall ghost MANTRA? Faultless knows the mantra of pride, ask him!	N/A
	Faultless, a tall ghost MANTRA? The mantra for pride, being the antithesis of humility, is 'MUL'.	N/A
Vesper village	Gem, a fair woman JOB? I do humble works. HUMBLE WORKS? I can help thee with the Mantra! MANTRA? Since Humility is the opposite of Pride, so is its Mantra! Know ye the mantra of Pride? N: When thou dost, reverse it! Y: Then reverse it for Humility!	N/A

NES location of the rune: use the Key in Paws

NES location of the rune: search here to get the rune

Rune of Humility

Town	Computer text	NES text
Magincia ruins	Ruskin, a blue ghost JOB? I now try to understand Humility. HUMILITY? The first test of a great soul is Humility! Dost thou seek to know Humility? N: ... Y: Thou shalt need the Rune! RUNE? Ask the snake of the Rune, just before it strikes!	N/A
	Splot, a weeping skeleton JOB? I regret. REGRET? I was proud; strip thyself of conceits, only the humble are pure! HUMBLE? The root from which all virtues grow! Dost thou seek purity? N: ... Y: Then ask the snake of the Rune and Stone!	N/A
	Nate, a mean looking viper! RUNE? The sacred Rune of Humility vanished from this city. Ask Barren in Paws!	N/A
Paws village	Barren, a hooded ranger RUNE? Search the hills in the south-east corner of town!	?
	Wheatpin, a meek shepherd HEALTH? Fine. Art thou looking for something? N: I see. Y: What? RUNE? Around there in the nook of the mountains!	?

Shrine of Humility & Silver Horn

Town	Computer text	NES text
Magincia ruins	Banter, a crubling skeleton JOB? I once held the Silver Horn. SILVER HORN? The Silver Horn must be used to pass the daemon guard of the Shrine. Seek ye the Horn? N: ... Y: Ask Demitry! SHRINE? Wierdrum has been to the Shrine of Humility!	N/A
	Wierdrum, rattling bones. SHRINE? Yes, I have been to the shrine, it lies on the north bank in the isle of the Abyss!	N/A
	Demitry, a thin skeleton. HORN? The queen of Love has a lady in waiting, she can tell thee more of the Horn!	N/A
Empath Abbey	Suzanna, a lovely lady JOB? I am a lady in waiting. HORN? There is a paladin by the name of Malchor. He can lead thee to the Silver Horn!	?
	Malchor, a bold paladin JOB? I solve quests. QUESTS? My last quest took me near Spiritwood. Art thou on a quest? N: ... Y: Best of luck to thee! HORN? Some say that the Silver Horn is buried on a small isle off the tip of Spiritwood.	?
Vesper village	Joseph, a wise shepherd JOB? I am but a humble shepherd. SHEPHERD? I am on a pilgrimage unto the Shrine of Humility! Did thou know that there is no Shrine of Pride? N: ... Y: Very good. SHRINE? It is on the dark island!	?
	Simple, a slender shepherdess JOB? I seek the Shrine. SHRINE? The Shrine of Humility! HUMILITY? The Shrine lies on the north bank of the isle of the Abyss and is guarded by endless hoards of daemons! Know the isle? Y: Good. N: Southeast of Britannia!	Shepherdess (Simple?) The Shrine of Humility is on an isle south of Verity. There dwells a devil near, so beware!

Shrine, Rune & Mantra of Spirituality

NES location of the rune: notice the different tile; it's a secret to everybody!

NES location of the rune: search location in Lord British's Castle

LOOK? You see a stocky ranger (in Minoc). NAME? I am Mike Ward. HEALTH? Well enough. JOB? I am trying to get a room. ROOM? I have travelled clear from Skara Brae. SKARA BRAE? The Rune of our city is missing! Know thee of the rune? N: It is not in Skara Brae. Y: It is the key to the shrine of spirituality!

LOOK? You see a hungry beggar (in Skara Brae). NAME? I am Granted. HEALTH? I am not at all well. JOB? I beg for food and money. MONEY? To buy food! FOOD? To eat! Wilt thou give me food or money? N: ... Y: In return I will tell thee that the Ankh knows of the Rune *and my friend Ambule knows of the Mantra!

LOOK? You see a grimy beggar (in Skara Brae). NAME? I am Ambule. HEALTH? So-so. JOB? I beg but for a single gold piece! BEGGAR? Oh, please... Oh, please... Wilt thou please give me a gold piece? N: ... Y: Dear kind soul. MANTRA? Ask the child named Barren.

LOOK? You see a small child (in Skara Brae). NAME? I am Barren. HEALTH? O.K. JOB? No job. MANTRA? I know it well, it is "OM".

LOOK? You see a silver Ankh (in Skara Brae). NAME? I am the Ankh of Spirituality. HEALTH? Strong. JOB? I keep the secret of the Rune. MANTRA? OM? Search for the Rune of Spirituality in the treasure chamber of Britannia! Hast thou found the shrine? NO: Enter the gate of full moons! YES: Good!

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.

Summary table
Virtue	Actions to do	Actions to avoid
Honesty	Cheat not the merchants and peddlers for 'tis an evil thing to do! (i.e. pay their due to the merchants, give more than nothing to beggars)	Take not the gold of others found in towns and castles, for yours it is not!
Compassion	Give of thy purse to those who beg and thy deed shall not be forgotten!	Kill not the non-evil beasts of the land and do not attack the fair people!
Valor	Victories scored over evil creatures help to build a valorous soul!	To flee from battle with less than grievous wounds often shows a coward!
Justice	Kill not a non-evil beast for they deserve not death, even if in hunger they attack thee! (i.e. flee battle when attacked by non-evil creatures; let the Stranger be the last who leaves)	Attack not a peaceful citizen, for that action deserves strict punishment! To take the gold of others is injustice not soon forgotten. Take only thy due!
Sacrifice	To give thy last gold piece unto the needy shows good measure of Self-Sacrifice! To give of thy life's blood so that others may live is a Virtue of great praise!	For thee to flee and leave thy companions is a self-serving action to be avoided!
Honor	Seek ye to solve the many quests before thee and Honor shall be a reward!	Take not the gold of others for this shall bring dishonor upon thee! To strike first a non-evil being is by no means an honorable deed!
Spirituality	Seek ye to know thyself. Visit the seer often for he can see into thy inner being! Meditation leads to enlightenment. Seek ye all Wisdom and Knowledge!	-
Humility	Claim not to be that which thou art not. Humble actions speak well of thee!	Strive not to wield the Great Force of Evil for its power will overcome thee!

Furthermore, the third meditation at most of the Shrines gives an important clue to complete the game:

Virtue	Third meditation
Humility	The black stone doth appear on the night of the new moons. Search beneath the moongates!
Spirituality	The Great Mountain holds the white stone at its heart!
Valor	First, ring the Bell of Courage at the entrance to the Great Stygian Abyss!
Honesty	Second, read the Book of Truth at the entrance to the Great Stygian Abyss!
Compassion	Third, light the Candle of Love at the entrance to the Great Stygian Abyss!

Compassion

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.

Details about score of Compassion:

1. DON'T : Kill not the non-evil beasts of the land and do not attack the fair people!
   • Fighting non-evil enemies -5;
   • Letting non-evil enemies run away +1;
   • Running away from non-evil enemies +2;
2. DO: Give of thy purse to those who beg and thy deed shall not be forgotten!
   • Giving money to the beggars +2;
3. Third, light the Candle of Love at the entrance to the Great Stygian Abyss!

• 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.

Honesty

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.

Details about score of Honesty:

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

Valor

Valor requires you to stand your ground whenever possible and not to flee from combat.

Details about score of Valor:

1. DO: Victories scored over evil creatures help to build a valorous soul!
   • Killing evil creatures +0 or +1;
2. DON'T : To flee from battle with less than grievous wounds often shows a coward!
   • Running away from evil creatures -2.
3. First, ring the Bell of Courage at the entrance to the Great Stygian Abyss!

Justice

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.

Details about score of Justice:

1. DON'T : To take the gold of others is injustice not soon forgotten. Take only thy due!
   • Stealing from chests -1;
   • Stealing from reagent sellers -10.
   • Paying reagent seller correctly +2;
2. DON'T : Attack not a peaceful citizen, for that action deserves strict punishment!
   • Fighting non-evil enemies -3;
3. DO : Kill not a non-evil beast for they deserve not death, even if in hunger they attack thee!
   • Running from non-evil enemies +2;
   • Allowing non-evil enemies to flee +1;

Sacrifice

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.

Details about score 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!
   • Running from evil creature -2;
   • Stranger dying in battle +1;
3. DO: To give of thy life's blood so that others may live is a Virtue of great praise!
   • Giving blood +5;
   • Refusing to give blood -5.

Honor

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.

Details about score of Honor:

1. DON'T : Take not the gold of others for this shall bring dishonor upon thee!
   • Giving gold to beggars +3;
   • Paying the reagent seller correctly +2;
   • Stealing from reagent seller -10.
   • Stealing from chests -1;
2. DON'T : To strike first a non-evil being is by no means an honorable deed!
   • Fighting non-evil enemies -3;
3. DO: Seek ye to solve the many quests before thee and Honor shall be a reward!
   • Finding some of the special items +5;

Spirituality

Spirituality requires you to complete spiritual tasks, such as meditating at shrines.

Details about score of Spirituality:

1. DO: Seek ye to know thyself. Visit the seer often for he can see into thy inner being!
   • Speaking with Hawkwind +3;
2. DO: Meditation leads to enlightenment. Seek ye all Wisdom and Knowledge!
   • Meditating 3 cycles at a shrine +3;
   • Saying the incorrect mantra at shrines -3.
3. (NES) The Great Mountain holds the white stone at its heart!

Humility

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.

• Note: in the Apple 2 version, if you continue to say you are proud you can get humility 8th without the shrine.

Details about score of Spirituality:

1. DO: Claim not to be that which thou art not. Humble actions speak well of thee!
   • Speaking humbly with certain characters +10;
   • Speaking proudly -5.
2. DON'T: Strive not to wield the Great Force of Evil for its power will overcome thee!
   • Use Mondain's Skull: all virtues reset to 0.
3. (NES) The black stone doth appear on the night of the new moons. Search beneath the moongates!