I would like to thank Arghan the Crusader.
Much of this page comes from his hard work and research.
Here is a wonderful Virtue page. You can even find out which virtue you truly stand for.
For more information on the Virtues pick up an old Ultima IV manual.
The eight Virtues are very specific. Each virtue represents what is good about man. The Avatar was a being of good that attained the all the known Virtues. This is near impossible as some virtues are rooted in either Order or Chaos. These Virtues are not tangible items. They also are not anything you would actually get recognized for. Here are their brief descriptions.
The three basic components of the virtues:
Truth can only be understood by logic. It is the Principle of Order.
Love can only exist through emotion. It is the Principle of Chaos.
Courage relies on Orderly discipline as well as Chaotic enthusiasm. It is the Principle of Balance.
The Virtues:
City: Moonglow
Mantra: AHM
Character type: Mage
Word of Power: FALLAX
Honesty is the Virtue most associated with Truth. It is a Virtue of pure order. Since it is based on pure order, honesty does have a single flaw. It cannot distinguish between good and evil. To a seeker of truth both good and evil are but 2 parts of a larger whole. A truly honest person is incapable of being either good or evil.
City: Britain
Mantra: MU
Character type: Bard
Word of Power: VILIS
Compassion is is the Virtue most associated with Love. It is the Virtue of pure chaos. Like Honesty, Compassion is unable to distinguish between good and evil. To a follower of compassion good and evil are trivial attributes easily overlooked with the unblinking eye of compassion.
City: Jhelom
Mantra: RA
Character type: Warrior
Word of Power: KINOPA
Valor is the Virtue associated with Courage. It is neutral to and sees both Order and Chaos as potential friends and enemies. Valor is the Virtue of the individual. Valor allows the knight to lie to save an innocent or execute an innocent to stave off a greater disaster for the whole. Valor is neutral and hence is less tangible then Order or Chaos based Virtues.
City: Yew
Mantra: BEH
Character type: Druid
Word of Power: MALUM
Justice is comprised of Truth and Love. Since both these are direct opposites Justice is a Neutral Virtue. Justice is a Virtue based on balancing the heart and mind of mankind. Justice itself is always at odds for itself. Often a criminal is set free by the truth even if he is guilty. That same criminal may then be punished by an angry mob that follows their heart. Both these are justice each one simply leans a bit toward Order or Chaos. TRUE Justice is rare.
City: Trinsic
Mantra: SUMM
Character type: Paladin
Word of Power: INFAMA
Honor is comprised of Truth and Courage. This makes this Virtue Order based but with a little more flexibility. A follower of honor will perform a task if he is honor bound even if he believes it is wrong. To disobey would be an act of Valor but also an insult to his Honor. Honor must be tempered by Truth to allow the individual to decide if his path is appropriate. Often persons hide behind Honor to justify their actions. This is where Justice must be used to balance the blind Truth of Honor.
City: Minoc
Mantra: CAH
Character type: Tinker/Smith
Word of Power: AVIDUS
Sacrifice is comprised of Love and Courage. A person who follows the Virtue of Sacrifice will risk their life, soul, and possessions to help those in need. Often this is a Virtue associated with good. This is done without thought. Sacrifice is independent of these. It is a Virtue of complete independence to help those that need it.
City: Skara Brae
Mantra: OM
Character type: Ranger
Word of Power: IGNAVUS
Comprised of Love, Courage, and Truth. Spirituality is a Virtue that best describes the Virtues. Unlike Honesty, Spirituality seeks answers form external an internal sources. Only through a dedication to balance and truth can the Spiritualist survive. Spiritualist have a clarity of perception that allows them to think more like the Avatar then any other follower of a single virtue.
City: Magincia
Mantra: LUM
Character type: Shepherd
Word of Power: VERAMOCOR
Humility is independent of Love, Courage , and Truth. Often the Humble person is accused of being a coward. This is simply the incorrect perceptions of others that are rooted in a single virtue. A Humble person seeks answers from within but also listens to those around him. They realize that no one man is correct and a greater understanding comes from the whole. One who follows Humility is slow to take to action, if at all, but when they do their actions make profound impacts on the lives around them. Humility is the other half of a true Avatar.
