Editing Ultima (series) (section)

====The Age of Enlightenment: ''Ultima&nbsp;IV–VI''====
''[[Ultima&nbsp;IV: Quest of the Avatar]]'' ([[1985 in video gaming|1985]]) marked a turning point in the series from the traditional "[[hero]] vs. [[villain]]" plots, instead introducing a complex [[alignment (role-playing games)|alignment system]] based upon the [[#Virtues|Eight Virtues]] derived from the combinations of the Three Principles of Love, Truth and Courage. Although Britannia now prospers under Lord British's rule, he fears for his subjects' spiritual well-being and summons the Stranger again to become a [[spiritual leader]] of Britannian people by example. Throughout the game, the Stranger's actions determine how close he comes to this [[ideal (ethics)|ideal]]. Upon achieving enlightenment in every Virtue, he can reach the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom and becomes the "Avatar", the embodiment of Britannia's virtues.

In ''[[Ultima&nbsp;V: Warriors of Destiny]]'' ([[1988 in video gaming|1988]]), the Avatar returns to Britannia to find that after Lord British had been lost in the [[Underworld]], [[Lord Blackthorn]], who rules in his stead, was corrupted by the Shadowlords and enforces a [[political radicalism|radically twisted]] vision of the Virtues, deviating considerably from their original meaning. The Avatar and [[The Companions of the Avatar|his companions]] proceed to rescue the true king, overthrow the tyrant, and restore the Virtues in their true form.

''[[Ultima&nbsp;VI: The False Prophet]]'' ([[1990 in video gaming|1990]]) details the invasion of Britannia by [[Gargoyle]]s, which the Avatar and his companions have to repel. Over the course of the game, it is revealed that the Gargoyles have valid reasons to loathe the Avatar. Exploring the themes of [[racism]] and [[xenophobia]], the game tasks the Avatar with understanding and reconciling two seemingly opposing cultures.