Batlin (Ultima)
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| Batlin | |
|---|---|
| Game series | Ultima |
| First game | Ultima VII: The Black Gate |
| Creator(s) | Richard Garriott |
Batlin is a character in the computer game series Ultima, first appearing in Ultima VII: The Black Gate and then in Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle (as well as being referenced in Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds). He appears as a fairly portly monk, with a goatee beard. His facial features strikingly resemble those of L. Ron Hubbard.
[edit] Overview
In Ultima VII: The Black Gate, Batlin is portrayed as the charismatic and good-natured founder of "The Fellowship", a religious order in Britannia that seeks to enhance the morality of society beyond the traditional Eight Virtues that Britannians normally follow. It is later learned, however, that his intentions were merely to infiltrate the minds of the population at large to prepare the coming of a mysterious, supernatural being known as the "Guardian" into Britannia as its new ruler.
As the Guardian's champion on this plane of existence, Batlin benefits from the Guardian's personal protection. He is invulnerable to harm being one of three who can survive the dreaded Armageddon spell (the others being Lord British and the Ferryman) and one of two (the other being the Ferryman) who is impervious to the demonic Blackrock sword obtained in The Forge of Virtue expansion. The sword gives some insight into Batlin's durability, explaining "he is protected by one much stronger than I." He also controls fairly powerful magic, and is quite adept at using the death bolt spell.
In the game's climactic battle, the Avatar and his companions confront Batlin and the Fellowship's Inner Circle in front of the Black Gate, the portal through which the Guardian is to enter Britannia. Batlin's lieutenants are struck down, but Batlin himself teleports away at the last minute.
In Ultima VII: Serpent Isle, the Avatar learns that Batlin has fled to Serpent Isle to continue attempting to summon the Guardian into Britannia. The Avatar pursues him there, and eventually learns that Batlin is attempting to open the Walls of Light, the doorway between Britannia and the Great Ethereal Void where the Guardian dwells. However, Batlin no longer wishes to free the Guardian, but instead is seeking the power of the Void for himself. Batlin succeeds in opening the Walls of Light, but the Guardian learns of his betrayal and disintegrates him for it.
The only known details of Batlin's past life comes from the Book of the Fellowship, which contains biographical information penned by Batlin himself. Here he claims to have been born in the town of Yew, and was raised by druids. Batlin also claims to have mastered all three of Britannia's disciplines (Fighter, Bard, and Mage), although this may simply be propaganda. Batlin will also reveal a short portion of his backstory, a "profound spiritual experience" also mentioned in passing in the Book of the Fellowship, to the Avatar after Armageddon has been cast (killing everyone in the game save for the Avatar, The Skara Brae Ferryman, Lord British, and Batlin), explaining that he visited the island of Skara Brae many years ago and spoke to the ghost of the alchemist Caine, called "The Tortured One" and asked him for 'the answer to the riddle of life and death' (something the Avatar himself does in a normal playthrough of the game.) The ghost gave him no answers, and Batlin realised (as the ghost would in fact tell the Avatar) that there simply are no answers to the riddle of life and death. Thus, Batlin concluded that there are "No meanings. No virtues. No values." Batlin applauds the Avatar on having reached the same conclusion, as evident by his/her use of the Armageddon spell, perhaps indicating that the head of the Fellowship is more than a little insane.
