The man peered out the window. Outside the Tower, the winds began howling. With a sigh, he drew the curtains close, shuffled back to his desk, and continued scribing a Chronicle of the events and people that shaped the world that was once known as Sosaria...

THE CROSSING

In another world, an idealistic youth was growing discouraged. All around him, he saw people pursuing personal wealth and power. Where were the heroes fighting for justice and prosperity for all people? Was there no leader willing to seek the way to a better world for everyone?

The youth took to spending his days roaming the hills. One autumn day, he came upon a rock-bordered clearing surrounded by towering oaks. From a bed of dry leaves, the glint of metal caught his eye. It was a silver medallion in the shape of a great serpent. In his hand, the medallion felt unusually warm.

Suddenly a line of blue light rose from the leaves, expanding into a door of light. The youth stared, astonished, then stepped through.

The door disappeared and autumn with it. Green fields now surrounded the youth. Feeling the medallion still in his hand, the youth slipped it into his pocket. He detected a wisp of smoke rising above a grove of trees in the distance, and headed toward it.

There he surprised a slender, blond man chopping wood. As the man looked up, the axe struck the wood awkwardly, glanced off, and opened a gash in his leg. The youth rushed forward to help but the man put his hand up. Concentration replaced the pain that had flashed across his face. He knelt, touching his injured leg with one hand, tracing intricate patterns in the air with his other, and softly murmured. The bleeding stopped. The man stood up, brushing wood chips from his clothes. He smiled broadly at the youth's amazement, then spoke with a deep voice.

"Aye mek mye leg feelle na panne, and ayee haellede it, too. Aye ought ha' kwit myne axynge. But aye dinna ken thou'rt icumen."

The youth's eyes grew huge. He actually understood this strange, new language.

"But how did you heal your leg?"

The man's eyes twinkled.

"Why, 'tis th' simplest of spelles. Nay?" The man's name was Shamino. That night, the youth stayed in Shamino's house. The youth told Shamino about the land from which he came. Shamino could not fathom such a land, but believed the lad was sincere and telling the truth.

"What again was the name of thy birthplace?"

Cambridge," the youth replied, "in the British Isles."

Shamino thought for a minute, "I like that. I shall call thee British." The youth laughed, but accepted his new name.

Initially, British looked diligently for a way to return to his homeland, but over time his need to return to his own people lessened. It was only after he gave up looking for a way back that he discovered one.

British made the journey several times. In fact, it's believed he brought back close friends to dwell with him in his chosen world -- Iolo the Bard and the knight Dupre are almost certainly his landsmen.

Among the evidence of this is the aging process. It appears that a decade in our world is equivalent to a single year in the homeland of British. He and his countrymen age at one tenth the rate at which we age.

Through the years, British's deeds demonstrated wisdom and bravery. As respect for him grew, British became leader of a region of Sosaria including many city-states, and was awarded the title Lord British.

Part One: The Age Of Darkness

The History of Ultima was compiled using digitised Ultima Game Manuals. The digital versions were created by Micro. Materials displayed have been edited solely by the author. Ultima and Lord British are registered trademarks of Richard Garriott. Avatar is a trademark of Origin Systems, Inc. All contents ©1998 Hii King Chou. All Rights Reserved. GameRifts was granted permission for use.