Part 45: Chapter 5, Part 10

Moonglow is the most distressingly untested part of the entire game. It's full of glitches, the gameplay is brutally painful and time-consuming, and there are an enormous number of things that can cause crashes. It's a good thing I keep frequent and numerous save files because a runtime error obliterated my latest one. If I had forgotten how unstable Ultima 9 is this thread would be over right now.




: You don't know, you've never seen the Avatar. He could just be some stranger.
: We'll ask him then! Hey mister, you're the Avatar, aren't you?
: How did you know who I am?
: See? I told you he was the Avatar!
: Word gets around pretty fast.
: Yeah, we heard that you were here the minute you got in town!
: Can you give me some information?
: About what?
: About Moonglow.
: Sorry, we don't know anything about Moonglow.
: Yeah, we're not from there!
: Bye Avatar!






Our safest bet is to follow up on the lead Duncan gave us and talk to this Tydus fellow.




: Why were you expecting me?
: I am Tydus, caretaker of the Lycaeum.
: By consulting the Oracle, I know of my tomorrows before they occur.
: Why did you set Duncan against me?
: Why no, of course I would do no such thing. Poor Duncan merely misunderstood what I said to him. I told him that you would be along to help me with his dagger.
: He must have thought that I said you would have his dagger. A simple mistake, that is all.

...

: Hey Tydus, since you always have to tell the truth... can I have your Mandrake root?
: Why... um... certainly!




: Thanks! So, how does one find the Lycaeum?
: Grr. I know what you seek, Avatar. You seek the mantra of Honesty and you hope that the Oracle will provide you with it.
: I can assure you that it will not, but I do not blame you for trying. I have a task in mind; think of it as a small fee.
: If you perform this task for me, then I will grant you access to the Oracle.
: But, isn't the Oracle available to everyone?
: I am the only mage capable of conferring with the Oracle.
: What is your fee?
: If you procure the staff of wisdom, I will reveal the Lycaeum to you and within it, the Oracle.
: Where will I find the staff of wisdom?
: The staff of wisdom is located in a cave, southwest of Moonglow. You will know it by the marble statue which stands at its mouth.
: Then I shall seek out the staff. Farewell.
: Farewell, Avatar.




On our way out of town we are again approached by this hideous man-child.

: What is it now, boy?
: There are bad men at my house attacking my mother!
: They're going to hurt her! Please help!






: You again.
: I'm really sorry that I got mixed up, sir.
: What do you mean you got mixed up?
: I thought that those were bad men and that they were going to hurt my mom, but I was wrong.
: So you sent me off on a wild goose chase.
: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I just got mixed up, honest. Please don't be mad. Please?
: You're sorry, huh?
: I really am, honest. Please don't be mad at me. I feel really dumb 'cause I got all mixed up, but I was afraid after what happened to my father.
: I don't think that I've seen your dad yet.
: Oh, he's around, and he's getting better, too! I promise I won't get mixed up any more!
: I've got to go. Goodbye.

Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.