Linguistic Dragon has found time to post another entry in his ongoing chronicle of his journey through Ultima 4. Much of this gameplay session involved moving between towns: monsters were slain, equipment was purchased, and companions were found and asked to join the party.

Now, Linguistic is trying to play through the games with the mindset that his character is the same person in each adventure. Not that the Ultimas track this, of course; what you do in one game has no impact on how NPCs react to you in the next game. But it made for this amusing sequence, even if the trepidation existed only in Linguistic Dragon’s head and heart:

It was with trepidation that Dupre, Iolo and I entered the city deep in the forest, and nearly everyone I talked to expounded to me on the nature and value of justice, which only deepened the guilt I felt for Aric’s past deeds here. It all came to a head when I was directed to talk to Talfourd about the rune, and he asked me a question: could I honestly claim to never have been guilty of any crime whatsoever?

I know I’d definitely appreciate a little understanding here.
I’d committed many within the boundaries of this very city. I told him the truth, and he sent me to do some time in a cell with the felons. And yet, there in the depths of my despair as I contemplated the nature of justice and how appropriate it was that I found myself here… there it was, right within the cell, the Rune of Justice. Perhaps there was hope for Aric yet.

So heartened, I left Yew behind to make my way to Jhelom, where I did indeed ask about sextants at the pub, and was informed that I could purchase them at guild shops – so long as I asked the proprietor in the right way. I made a note to do so at the earliest chance I got, one of those would certainly come in handy. While I managed to discover the mantra of valor, I couldn’t find anything out about the rune just yet – I’d have to come back later. A ranger on his way to Yew expounded on the finer points of his native Skara Brae, so I made that my next destination.

Do read the whole thing. And keep checking in on Linguistic’s journeys; he is headed for Magincia next.