Batlin (Ultima)

General CVG character
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name= Batlin


caption= Batlin as he's depicted in "Book of the Fellowship" ("" documentation)
series= "Ultima"
firstgame= ""
creator= Richard Garriott
artist=
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Batlin is a character in the computer game series "Ultima", first appearing in "" 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.

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 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 killed, 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 kills 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.

References

* "Ultima VII: The Black Gate" (Origin Systems, 1992) and the accompanying documentation, in particular "Book of the Fellowship"
* "Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds" (Origin Systems, 1993) and the accompanying documentation
* "Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle" (Origin Systems, 1993) and the accompanying documentation