Karma's Effect on the History of Ultima & The Karmic Law of Britannia
The first time we hear about karma's effect on the history of Ultima is in the Compendium of Ultima VI:
" The acquisition of the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom from the deep recesses of the underworld created a karmic imbalance in the universe, resulting in the emergence of three sinister Shadowlords from the shards of the black jewel of Mondain."
(Excerpt from the u6 compendium, page 3)
This excerpt from the u6 Compendium means the following two things:
- The acquisition of the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom created a karmic imbalance in the universe.
- A karmic imbalance in the universe, which resulted in the emergence of three sinister Shadowlords.
So it was the karmic imbalance, which made the three sinister Shadowlords emerge. But why did the karmic imbalance make the three sinister Shadowlords emerge? The answer to that question seems to be: In order to restore the karmic balance of Britannia. This answer is most fascinating, for it implies, that a karmic law is at work in Britannia. Yet, let us envision the karmic balance of Britannia as a pair of scales, in order to think this matter thoroughly through.
In one scale we have all the good karma of Britannia and in the other scale we have all the bad karma of Britannia. The scales are in perfect balance. As we saw from the from u6 compendium excerpt above, it was the acquisition of the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom, which created the karmic imbalance. The karmic balance of Britannia was unbalanced when the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom entered Britannia with its virtuous principles of Truth, Love and Courage. This added immensely to the amount of good karma in Britannia. To translate this to our image of the pair of scales, the arrival of the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom added a lot of weight to the scale, which held all the good karma of Britannia. Since the scale, which held all the good karma, was now much heavier than the scale, which held all the bad karma, the pair of scales became unbalanced.
Here the story could have come to an end with a Britannia full of good karma, if it had not been for the Karmic Law of Britannia. As the pair of scales became unbalanced, with a large amount of good karma, the Karmic Law of Britannia restored the balance by adding an equally large amount of bad karma to the scales through the emergence of the three sinister Shadowlords.
So this is how the Karmic Law of Britannia works, but what does it say? The exact wording can indeed be debated, but the content of the Karmic Law of Britannia amounts to this: "Pressure breeds counterpressure" and "The brighter the light, the deeper the shadow". The last formulation seems especially fruitful in connection with the emergence of the Shadowlords, as it adds explanatory depth: The three bright lights of Truth, Love and Courage cast the three deep shadows of Falsehood, Hatred and Cowardice i.e. the Shadowlords. The Shadowlords are the shadows cast by the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom.
General Objections to the Article:
Objection I :
The excerpt from the u6 Compendium does not mean two things, but only one thing.
Elaboration of objection I:
" The acquisition of the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom from the deep recesses of the underworld created a karmic imbalance in the universe, resulting in the emergence of three sinister Shadowlords from the shards of the black jewel of Mondain."
(Excerpt from the u6 compendium, page 3)
This excerpt only means:
- The acquisition of the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom resulted in the emergence of three sinister Shadowlords
And it does NOT mean:
- The acquisition of the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom created a karmic imbalance in the universe.
- A karmic imbalance in the universe, which resulted in the emergence of three sinister Shadowlords.
Quill Dragon's answer to objection I :
This understanding of the sentence is, as far as I can see, based on a wrong analysis of the grammatical structure of the sentence. It namely assumes, that the subordinate clause: "resulting in the emergence of three sinister Shadowlords from the shards of the black jewel of Mondain" points back to the subject of the main clause: "The acquisition". This does, however, not hold true. The subordinate clause: "resulting in the emergence of three sinister Shadowlords from the shards of the black jewel of Mondain" points back to the object: "a karmic imbalance in the universe". Therefore the grammatical structure of the sentence tells us to understand it like this:
- The acquisition of the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom created a karmic imbalance in the universe.
- A karmic imbalance in the universe, which resulted in the emergence of three sinister Shadowlords.
Objection II :
The excerpt from the u6 Compendium is a simple turn of phrase. Therefore there is no reason to heed this excerpt when trying to understand the lore of Ultima.
Or as the same basic objection was also put:
Objection III :
The excerpt from the u6 Compendium is not an expression of objective reality. On the contrary it is an expression of Lord British's subjective interpretation of the historical events of u5.
Quill Dragon's answer to objection II and III :
This is a very valid concern. The excerpt from the u6 Compendium could in theory be either a "simple turn of phrase" or "an expression of Lord British's subjective interpretation of the historical events of u5", since the u6 Compendium was after all (within the framework of the fiction that is the Ultima lore) written by Lord British himself, mainly in first person narrative and in his own hand:
"I, Lord British, write this exhortation in my own hand that you may, my virtuous Champion and Avatar, might gain a full appreciation of the significance of the times which face us."
(Excerpt from the u6 Compendium, Introduction)
Yet, the objections are, as far as I can see, to be answered with a no. No the Karmic Law of Britannia is not "an expression of Lord British's subjective interpretation of the historical events" and therefore neither a "simple turn of phrase". If the Karmic Law of Britannia was an expression of subjective interpretation or a simple turn of phrase, then the u6 Compendium would be the first and only place we would encounter the notion of a Karmic Law of Britannia. Yet, that is not the case. The Karmic Law of Britannia must exist objectively and thus be more than a simple turn of phrase, since we seem to encounter it again during the Third Age of Armageddon (u9):
SHAMINO: "The Guardian is part of you, or at least he was once part of you. The Guardian is the result of what happened when you became the Avatar: the evil side of you was stripped away, and eventually it coalesced into the Guardian."
AVATAR: "So you're telling me that the Guardian is my evil twin?"
SHAMINO: "I wouldn't say that he's your twin, but he is, or was, a part of you."
(Excerpt from in-game u9 conversation)
In this conversation we are again confronted with the situation of "Pressure breeds counterpressure" and "The brighter the light, the deeper the shadow" or in other words: The Karmic Law of Britannia. When the Stranger became the Avatar his/her evil side was stripped away. This did not add good karma to the karmic balance, like the acquisition of the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom did, but it removed an amount of bad karma, which resulted in the same basic situation: A karmic imbalance. The Karmic Law of Britannia's response to the karmic imbalance, generated by the Strangers avatarization, was very similar to its response to the arrival of the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom, namely to allow the shadow of light a life of its own. In connection with the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom this meant the emergence of the three sinister Shadowlords and in connection with the Avatar it meant the emergence of the Guardian. The basic plot of u9 therefore seems to validate the content of the excerpt from the u6 Compendium.
Note of Observation :
As I find the Karmic Law from the u6 Compendium at work again in u9, it has been suggested by some of the u9 sceptics, that my article is trying to validate the possible inconsistencies of u9 through the use of the u6 Compendium. That is an accusation, which I must reject. Within the framework of this article it is the u9 plot which validates the excerpt from the u6 Compendium and not the other way around. It is true, however, that the reappearance of the Karmic Law of Britannia in the u9 plot should call for reconsideration within the camp of u9 sceptics. It might still be a valid position to reject parts of u9, but the total rejection of all parts of u9, without exception, seems to have lost some of its credibility.
Objection III-1 :
The Compendium was not written by Lord British or any other from the core team.
Quill Dragon's answer to objection III-1 :
It is true, that the u6 Compendium was written by a member of the u6 team, who was called Greg Malone. Yet, Greg Malone was as much a part of the team, which wrote u6, as any other member of the u6 team. Furthermore the u6 Compendium is ascribed to Lord British and is a piece of fully original, Richard Garriott sanctioned and endorsed Ultima material. What makes you think, that Richard Garriott would have allowed the u6 Compendium to be ascribed to his alter-ego Lord British and published together with u6 if he did not fully agree with its content?
I do not quite understand what you mean by "Core team". Let us look at the credited Ultima teams over the period of time from Ultima 4 (u4) to Ultima 7 (u7):
This is the team, which was credited for writing Ultima IV - Quest of the Avatar (u4):
Lord British (aka Richard Garriott)
Roe R. Adams III
Dave Albert
Denis Loubet
Patricia Hunter
Marsha Meuse
Chuck Bueche
Steve Meuse
Kenneth Arnold
Bob MacMillan
Brendan McSheffrey
John McSheffrey
Jeff Hillhouse
Donna Gagne
Juli Rappolt
Robert Garriott
These are the people, who were credited as part of the u4 team and who were later credited as part of the u5 team:
Lord British (aka Richard Garriott)
Denis Loubet
Steve Meuse
Kenneth Arnold
These are the people, who were both credited as part of the u4 team, then the u5 team and later credited as part of the u6 team:
Lord British (aka Richard Garriott)
Denis Loubet
Kenneth Arnold
These are the people, who were both credited as part of the u4 team, then the u5 team, then the u6 team and later credited as part of the u7-Black Gate team:
Lord British (aka Richard Garriott)
Denis Loubet
Now when you say the "Core Team" do you then mean Lord British (aka Richard Garriott) and Denis Loubet? If that is the case then I think you will have to deem all the Ultima games (except Akalabeth) invalid as source material for the Ultima lore, since none of them were written solely by Lord British (aka Richard Garriott) and Denis Loubet.
Specific u5 Objections to the Article:
Objection IV :
The excerpt from the u6 Compendium is wrong. The Shadowlords were not created by the Karmic Law of Britannia. The Shadowlords did not exist at all until Captain Johne killed his three companions.
Quill Dragon's answer to objection IV :
Let us take a look at what Captain Johne tells you when you meet him in the underworld (u5):
JOHNE, CAPTAIN JOHNE: "Years ago, my ship was swallowed by a massive whirlpool. The remains of my ship washed up on this isle with myself and three others. When I recovered, I explored my surroundings, and found a great gem broken into three shards. The Shards, full of evil, drove me to kill my three companions, and from their blood sprang the three Shadowlords. Taking the Shards deep into this underworld, they entrapped Lord British, and hold him in their power. They spare me only to taunt me with such news until my dying day."
(Excerpt from the in-game conversation of u5)
What he says seems to fall into two sections:
- The Shards, full of evil, drove me to kill my three companions,
- and from their blood sprang the three Shadowlords.
"The Shards, full of evil, drove me to kill my three companions,"
So the Shards drove him to kill his three companions. How can shards drive you to do something? As far as I can see they can only drive you to do something if they have a kind of "will" i.e. they want you to do something. In the case of Captain Johne the shards did not want him to do just anything. They wanted him to kill his three companions. Now why would they want him to do that?
"and from their blood sprang the three Shadowlords."
When Captain Johne slew his companions the three Shadowlords sprang from their blood.
So BEFORE Captain Johne slew his three companions the three shards drove him to kill them. Before the three Shadowlords appeared the three shards wanted Captain Johne to kill his companions. How indeed could the three shards of the Shadowlords have the will to drive Captain Johne to kill his companions BEFORE the Shadowlords sprang from his companions' blood?
The u6 Compendium seems to explain this riddle to us: The three Shadowlords existed BEFORE Captain Johne killed his three companions. Here is a possible timeline of the happenings:
Ultima 4 - Quest of the Avatar
The Stranger uncovers the Codex and becomes the Avatar. In the time between u4 and u5 the excerpt from the u6 Compendium takes place:
" The acquisition of the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom from the deep recesses of the underworld created a karmic imbalance in the universe, resulting in the emergence of three sinister Shadowlords from the shards of the black jewel of Mondain."
(Excerpt from the u6 compendium, page 3)
The three Shadowlords are now brought into existence, but in some kind of incorporal state it seems.
Ultima 5 - Warriors of Destiny
Captain Johne arrives at the three shards with his three companions. At that time the three Shadowlords are already there, but they are incorporal (and most likely invisible since Captain Johne does not seem to see them until they spring from his companions' blood). In their incorporal state they drive Captain Johne to kill his companions. From the three companions' blood they seem to gain physical form. Their essence seems to be the three shards, for after they have gained physical form and can thus move the shards, from which they sprang (see the u6 Compendium excerpt), they move these shards "deep into this underworld", as Captain Johne puts it. That the shards represent the essence of the Shadowlords seems to be confirmed by the fact, that the destruction of the shards destroys the Shadowlords (u5).
To sum up: The Shadowlords had come into some kind of incorporal existence before Captain Johne arrived at the shards. Captain Johne was only their tool to gain physical bodies so that they could affect the physical world through direct interaction. What truly brought the Shadowlords into existence was the Karmic Law of Britannia in its attempt to re-establish the karmic balance, which was disturbed by the acquisition of the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom.
Objection V :
After the Shadowlords were destroyed (u5) the Codex still remained in Britannia. This should mean, that the karmic imbalance, which lead to the emergence of the Shadowlords, should also remain. Why didn't the Karmic Law try to remove this remaining imbalance?
Quill Dragon's answer to objection V :
The answer to this objection seems to be found in "Worlds of Ultima - Martian Dreams". On Mars the Avatar meets the Shadowlords again in the Dream World. Here Faulinei, Shadowlord of Falsehood, says to the Avatar:
FAULINEI: "It is futile to attempt to destroy us. Your feeble 'virtues' are found in the hearts of all people, but so are our virtues, their opposites."
(Excerpt from the in-game conversation of WoU2)
This seems to imply, that the Shadowlords were not completely destroyed in u5 after all. They cannot be destroyed, it seems, as long as the Codex exists. Thus, in order to maintain karmic balance, the Karmic Law did not need to replace the Shadowlords with another evil. The Shadowlords had never truly disappeared and therefore there was no need to replace them with anything.
Objection VI - The Sutek Counter Theory :
Sutek tells you in u5, that "When Mondain's Gem of Immortality was destroyed, its shards still harbored unspeakable evil". Could it not be, that the it was this "unspeakable evil", which was "harbored" in the shards, which drove Captaine Johne to kill his three companions. Thus there is no need for any Karmic Law to explain what drove Captain Johne to do the killing.
SUTEK : "I have been scrying for the nature of the three Shards! I have learned they were formed at the time of the first Dark Lord. When Mondain's Gem of Immortality was destroyed, its shards still harbored unspeakable evil! They lay festering deep within the earth, but now their malevolent power has been unleashed will the world. The Shards and the Shadowlords can and must be destroyed! The Shards must be recovered from their resting places in the boundless Underworld, and cast into the Eternal Flames of Truth, Love, and Courage... Even as each respective Shadowlord stands nigh will the flame of the Principle it opposes. Take now this knowledge and use it well!"
(Excerpt from the in-game conversation of u5)
Quill Dragon's answer to objection VI - the Sutek counter theory :
This is a theory alright, but it is a theory, which seems to lack foundation in the Ultima lore when compared to the Karmic Law theory. The Karmic Law theory has at least one passage in Ultima lore, which beyond reasonable doubt seems to support it (i.e. the excerpt from the u6 Compendium). That is more than can be said of the Sutek counter theory.
Sutek's formulation "When Mondain's Gem of Immortality was destroyed, its shards still harbored unspeakable evil!" is vague. Sutek does not say anything about the nature of this "unspeakable evil". Therefore we do not know if he is talking about a sentinent evil (like the Shadowlords) or if he is simply refereing to the inert evil of the shards, as the artefacts of evil they are. The Skull of Mondain could equally well be said to "harbour unspeakable evil" as it was an extremely evil artefact. Yet, that did not mean, that the Skull of Mondain was able to drive anyone to do anything. Only the owner's inner power hunger could drive him/her to use the Skull of Mondain. In Captain Johne's case, however, the will to kill his three companions did not come from within himself. It came from without himself. It came from the three shards:
JOHNE, CAPTAIN JOHNE: "The Shards, full of evil, drove me to kill my three companions"
(Excerpt from the in-game conversation of u5)
Furthermore I find, that the Sutek counter theory should be exposed to the same type of critisism, which the Karmic Law theory has been exposed to. This means, that the Sutek counter theory has to justify, that Sutek's formulation: "When Mondain's Gem of Immortality was destroyed, its shards still harbored unspeakable evil!" is more than "a simple turn of phrase" or "a subjective interpretation of historical events". In other words: What justifies, that we try to understand Sutek's words in the way the Sutek counter theory suggests we should?
Lastly the Sutek counter theory should be asked to explain how it can defend a position, which seems to be in direct conflict with other parts of Ultima lore e.g. the u6 Compendium. And should it be, that the Sutek counter theory rejects the u6 Compendium as a valid part of Ultima lore, then it should be asked to explain in detail how it tells valid and invalid Ultima lore source material from each other.
Specific u6 Objections to the Article:
Objection VII :
When the Codex was placed in the Ethereal Void, the karmic imbalance, which it generated in Britannia, should disappear as well. As the karmic imbalance disappears the Shadowlords should also disappear, as they, according to the u6 Compendium, emerged as a result of the karmic imbalance. Yet, you still meet the Shadowlords in the Dream World on Mars (WoU2), which takes place after u6. Why didn't the Shadowlords disappear when the Codex left Britannia?
Quill Dragon's answer to objection VII :
It seems unclear if the Ethereal Void should or should not be considered a location outside Britannia or inside Britannia. This is because the Britannian Shrine of Spirituality is placed inside the Ethereal Void. So when you stand at the Britannian Shrine of Spirituality, inside the Ethereal Void, are you then in Britannia or not? It seems that you are and that you are not at the same time.
I am not sure if there is a final answer to this question, but it seems, that while the war between the humans and the Gargoyles was ended by placeing the Codex inside the Ethereal Void, it did not remove the karmic imbalance generated by the Codex.
Specific u7 Objections to the Article:
Objection VIII :
Why does the Karmic Law of Britannia extend beyond the realm of Britannia to create the Guardian?
Quill Dragon's answer to objection VIII :
That is a good question. I do not know the answer, for it has, as far as I know, never been given. Yet, notice how there is a parallel between the emergence of the three Shadowlords in Britannia and the emergence of the Guardian in Britannia: They both needed help from people inside Britannia in order to begin their reign in Britannia.
The three Shadowlords began as incorporeal entities, which needed the help of a person inside Britannia in order to begin their reign in Britannia. That person was Captain Johne. The three incorporeal Shadowlords drove Johne to help them:
JOHNE, CAPTAIN JOHNE: "Years ago, my ship was swallowed by a massive whirlpool. The remains of my ship washed up on this isle with myself and three others. When I recovered, I explored my surroundings, and found a great gem broken into three shards. The Shards, full of evil, drove me to kill my three companions, and from their blood sprang the three Shadowlords. Taking the Shards deep into this underworld, they entrapped Lord British, and hold him in their power. They spare me only to taunt me with such news until my dying day."
(Excerpt from the in-game conversation of u5)
Then in u7 the Guardian also needs the help of people inside Britannia before he can begin his reign in Britannia. Batlin and the Fellowship lend their aid and constructs The Black Gate, through which the Guardian must enter. The Guardian also makes use of talking to people in an incorporeal way through the "inner voice".
TIMELORD: "Thine only hope of leaving Britannia at the conclusion of thy quest is to use The Guardian's own vehicle for entering the land -- The Black Gate. The Guardian's followers are building The Black Gate of blackrock and will be using magic and natural elements to activate it."
(Excerpt from the in-game conversation of u7)
As I said there is, as far as I see, no direct answer to your question, but you might be on to another feature of how the Karmic Law of Britannia works. If you find out more I would very much like to hear about it.
Specific u8 Objections to the Article:
Objection IX :
If the Guardian was meant to re-balance the karmic balance of Britannia then why does he attack other worlds such as Pagan?
Quill Dragon's answer to objection IX :
The answer to this question has to remain speculative in nature, yet consider this: The Avatar did not just save the world of Britannia. He also saved the world of Eodon (WoU1) and Mars & Earth (WoU2), to name a few. So when the Avatar begins to defend and save worlds beyond Britannia is it then not sensible to imagine, that the Guardian is given the oppotunity to attack and destroy worlds beyond Britannia in order to set the karmic score even?
The Conclusion:
Many of the objections raise questions, which our present knowledge of the Ultima lore seems to have problems answering. Perhaps the future and our continued study of the Ultima lore shall one day make it possible for us to answer even these questions.
Yet, none of the objections seem to bring forth evidence, which speaks against the existence of a Karmic Law of Britannia. Nor do they deliver a consistent counter-theory, which is able to both explain the excerpt from the u6 Compendium, as well as establishing an explanation for the events surrounding the emergence of the three sinister Shadowlords.
The assumption of the existence (and importance) of a Karmic Law of Britannia, is, however, able to both explain the excerpt from the u6 Compendium, as well as establishing an explanation for the events surrounding the emergence of the three sinister Shadowlords.
Therefore the acceptance of the existence of a Karmic Law of Britannia seems to be the most fruitful approach, since it is the approach, which is able to handle the largest amount of source material within one consistent theory.
Epilogue :
I am far from sure, that this small article ponders this matter in all its aspects, but I think, that it may light the way for those, who wish to look further into the matter of Karma and Karmic Law in Britannia.
I wish to to thank the Horizons Tavern community in general and Houston Dragon in particular, for raising the objections to this article.