Vardion
| Vardion | |||||
 Vardion, from Ultima VIII | |||||
| Species: | human | ||||
| Profession: | Sorcerer | ||||
| Appearances | |||||
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Vardion is the First Acolyte of the Cabal in Daemon's Crag. He appears in Ultima VIII.
Description[edit]
Vardion was the grandchild of the mage Mordra, who had told him stories about her travels across the planes before her eventual relocation to Britannia and her subsequent death there. A traditionalist amongst the insular sorcerers, Vardion would prove terse and distrustful of the Avatar when first approached, but would become friendlier should the hero claim to be a world traveller.
Once Vardion felt he could see potential in the Avatar, he would ask an errand be performed on his behalf: discovering the truename of his rival, Bane, whom he claimed was involved in a plot to unseat Master Malchir. In exchange, Vardion promised to take the hero on as his apprentice, and would reveal his own truename (Morduin). Upon informing Vardion of Bane's truename of Sabriane, Vardion would use this knowledge to summon a daemon to slay her. Malchir would thereafter admonish Vardion for these impulsive actions, but would grudgingly allow him to train the Avatar as Bane's replacement in the cabal.
When the Avatar eventually slew Malchir in the course of a duel for possession of the Tongue of Flames, Vardion would offer congratulations upon returning to the enclave, and would bow in recognition of the hero's mastery.[1]
Siding with Bane[edit]
Should the Avatar take the side of Bane in the dispute between her and Vardion, the two rival mages' roles would be reversed: Bane would slay Vardion and take the hero as her disciple.[2]
This course of events, however, would enrage the acolyte Gorgrond, who would resent the Avatar's participation in Vardion's death and condemn Bane for leading the cabal into conflict with Tenebrae.[3]
Lore[edit]
| “ | This segment of history, if it can be called such, belongs more in a work of fiction than in this objective treatise of our land and our culture. However, at Vardion's rather persuasive — and sorcerous — insistence, I have included it within these pages. Though the veracity of the source is unknown, Vardion claims these stories, as told by his grandmother, Mordra, must have some bearing on reality or she would not have passed them on. Vardion is a great and widely respected sorcerer, and even the Thaumaturge Mythran speaks highly of the aged woman, yet one must wonder about the truth of tales describing this other world, the one called Britannia. – from The Chronicle of Pagan (Ultima VIII)
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Trivia[edit]
- Vardion's truename, Morduin, means "Dark Flame."[2]
- Vardion's fascination with his grandmother's stories led Bentic to include a brief history of Britannia in his Chronicle of Pagan, which he claims he inserted at the sorcerer's insistence.[4]
- Upon learning of the Avatar's homeland, Earth, Vardion will assume that it is a dark and desolate place, given his experience with Lithos' element on Pagan.
- Making two mistakes while summoning Pyros will result in Vardion's death if he is present.
- Should the Avatar side with Bane against Vardion. Bane will not clean up the resulting mess when moving into Vardion's house, which causes quite a bizarre effect that was lampshaded in at least one let's play video.
External Links[edit]
- Bane destroys Vardion (YouTube)
- Vardion destroys Bane (YouTube)
References[edit]
- ↑ Vardion. Ethereal Software’s Ultima VIII transcript. Ultima VIII.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bane. Ethereal Software’s Ultima VIII transcript. Ultima VIII.
- ↑ Gorgrond. Ethereal Software’s Ultima VIII transcript. Ultima VIII.
- ↑ Morris, Andrew P.. "Britannia". The Chronicle of Pagan (Ultima VIII). Origin Systems Pages 10–11.