This shall be the last entry I make before following my kinsmen to a better life. 'Tis appropriate, I think, that I use a newly bound book with the finest vellum; after all, it may be an Age or more before 'tis found -- if ever.
Before I continue, I should write a few words about mine homeland -- Serpent Isle. Before the War of Imbalance, the dreadful war that did tear asunder our beloved homeland, Serpent Isle was a fair land indeed. The land was in Harmony: our people were at peace -- secure within our glorious subterranean cities. The arts prospered under the generous patronage of our most beloved Hierophant, blessed be his name, and no citizen went hungry or was bereft of a home. We were content and happy; we had no reason to suspect that our happiness would not continue indefinitely. We were so naive.
The War of Imbalance started simply enough, but by the time 'twas over most of our people were slaughtered, our cities devastated, and the land laid waste. I have been lucky, for I have survived to write about the tragedy. I cannot say the same thing about many of my friends -- they are all dead. Even as I write, the Adepts are scurrying about, preparing for the great ceremony that shall energize the Wall of Lights. Soon, I and my surviving comrades shall leave our shattered land, never to return. I am afraid of the future, but I know I cannot live in the past. I can only remember the past. I shall strive to remember the times of joy and try to forget the ashen, bitter memories of the war.
The Adepts are ready, they have begun the ceremony. I feel a great surge of power! The light! 'Tis blinding! The Adepts have succeeded. The Wall of Lights is so beautiful...
Ultima VII Part II: Serpent Isle
War of Imbalance
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All Books from Ultima VII Part II: Serpent Isle
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A Short Treatise on Combat Tactics & Habiliments of War
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A Soldier's Notes
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A Treatise on the Construction of Living Gems
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A Treatise on Torture
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And Light There Will Be
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Angus' Note
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Aram-Dol's Tests
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Ardiniss' Note
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Artifacts of Communion
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At Ease Handbook for the Commissioned Soldier
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Batlin's Contract
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Batlin's Note
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Beatrix's Diary
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Beyond the Sealed Entrances
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Body TransferenceThe Ultimate Warrior
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Bren's Diary
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Briggio's Book of Astonishing ThingsA compiled volume of items of interest both magical and mundane
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Broken Oar Inn
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Captain Hawk's Treasure
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Civil War or the Evil Forces of Chaos
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Columna's Diary
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Courageous Deeds
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Curriculum
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Delphynia's Answer
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Denizens of the Caves
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Denyel's Note
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Devotion
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Devra's Recipes
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Diary
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Diary of Diabolical Traps
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Disciplining Soldiers
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Drinking Songs Dupre Taught MeVolume Two - Roll Thy Leg Over
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Drinking Songs Dupre Taught MeVolume One - Maids in Trades
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Dupre's Letter
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Erax's Journal
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Erstam's Letter
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Ethicality
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Ethics
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Fighting Is an Art
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Filbercio's Love Letters
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Flindo's Letters
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Followers of Order
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Freli's Letter
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Frigidazzi's Invitations
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Frigidazzi's Note
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Funeral Ceremonies
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Gaunt's Vengeance
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Great Practical Jokes
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Guide to Knighthood
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Guidelines of Life
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Gustacio's Call
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Hazard's Ledger - Pelts
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Hazard's Note
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History of Serpent Isle
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Holy Books of the Ophidians
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Horn of the Gwani
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Horticultural NotesThe Berry Bush
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Horticultural NotesThe Mandrake Root
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Implements of Balance
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Iolo's Notes
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Is There Hope?
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Iskeriss's Journal
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Journal
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Journal of the King of the White Dragon
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Karnax's Diagnosis
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Knight's Test
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Leon's Note
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Letter From Marsten
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Letter From Pomgirdun
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Letter in Freedom
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Library of the Order Hierophant
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Lord British's Tyrannical Adventure
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Love Letter
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Love Sonnets
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Magic Candles
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Magic Scrolls - a Primer
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Melino's Note
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Memoirs
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Minax's Poem
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Mine Experiments
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Mine Experiments
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Musings
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My Diary
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My Journal
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My Journal
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My Journal
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My Journey
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My Life
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My Life and My Beliefs
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My Notebook
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My Records
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No Such Thing as Fairies
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Note From Cantra
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Notes
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Notes to Myself
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Observations of Painby MageLord Filbercio
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On Accessing the Serpent Gate
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Our Blessed Serpent Isle
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Our Great Leaders
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Outpost Note
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Parting Verses
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Pendar's Treasure
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Penguins of the North
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Phil's Guide to Unfinished Usecode
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Philiphus's Wisdom
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Pikeman's Diary
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Pirate Diary
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Principles of Balance
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Principles of EconomicsBy Hyle
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Purlonio's Tale
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Recipe Book
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Report on the Cleansing of the Fiend's Domain
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Report on the Shasrajah
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Rest House
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Ritual of Reunification
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Ruggs' Love Letter
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Serpent Armor
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Servants of Order
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Ship's Logbook
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Silverpate's Treasure
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Sleeping Bull
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Stefano's Note
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Strength Through Ethics
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Symbols of the Serpent
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Temple of Balance
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Temples of Chaos
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Temples of Order
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Tenets of Discipline
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The Art of Winemaking
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The Book of Discipline
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The Book of Prophecies
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The Chaos Gate
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The Crying Lute
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The Doctrine of Chaos
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The Dwellers of Serpent Isle
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The Great Hierophants
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The Great Hierophants
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The House of the Unicorn
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The Importance of Meditation
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The Lost Orbs
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The Magic Compass
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The Power of Magic
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The Rites of Cremation
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The Serpent Lamp Posts
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The Shrine of Balance
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The Sleeping Bull
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The Sleeping Soldier
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The Structure of Order
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The Symbol of Discipline
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The Test of Purity
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The True Believers
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The Voice
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The War of Order and Chaos
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Treasure Map
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Trout Surprise
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Vetron's Guide to Weapons and ArmourTheir Effectiveness and Value
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War of Imbalance
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Warriors of Fortune QuarterlyThe Adventurer's Guidebook
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What Is Order?
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Xenka's PropheciesScattered Verses, Part III
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Xenka's PropheciesScattered Verses, Part II
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Xenka's PropheciesScattered Verses, Part I
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Xenka's VisionsScattered Verses, Part V
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Xenka's VisionsScattered Verses, Part IV
Ultima VII Part II: Serpent Isle
Back in Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness, one section of the game world was known as "The Lands of Danger and Despair". Shamino, a recurring character in the Ultima series, was a ruling lord here. The Lands of Danger and Despair vanished after the conclusion of Ultima I and became Serpent Isle, separated from Sosaria, as the world of Britannia was called before Ultima IV.
The original inhabitants of Serpent Isle, the Ophidians, had a culture where serpents played a central role. They eventually became polarized as the forces of Order and Chaos, respectively, and fought a great war that destroyed their culture and left their cities and temples in ruins. Order "won" the war, destroying the Chaos Serpent, but thereby upsetting the natural balance to the point where the entire universe is unraveling. (It turns out that the "Great Earth Serpent" that guarded Exodus's fortress in Ultima III was actually the Balance Serpent that Exodus had ripped from the void, triggering the war between Chaos and Order in the first place.)
Much later, Serpent Isle was re-settled by humans who had left Sosaria voluntarily, or who had been exiled. An alternate name for Serpent Isle is "New Sosaria", a reference to the original homeland of these settlers. Many of them referred to Lord British as "Beast British", and had a very low opinion of him. After he united the lands, and with the establishment of the eight virtues, those unhappy with his rule fled to Serpent Isle. Unlike Britannia, which has eight cities representing the eight virtues of the Avatar, Serpent Isle has three city-states, each with their own beliefs, which are warped versions of the Britannian principles of Truth, Love and Courage.
"Ultima VII Part II: Serpent Isle" is a trademark of Origin Systems, Inc. All of the original content for this game is copyrighted to Origin Systems, Inc.
Content Sources:http://www.notableultima.com