Historical Information(1):
The origin of the Shrines:
The shrines predate the Age of Darkness(2). Although thier current names were inventions of our reigning Lord. So that everyone can identify them by their proper titles I've included their origns and thier purposes here:
Shrine of Honor -- Pillar of the Argonauts
Shrine of Valor -- The Sign Post
Shrine of Compasion -- Grave of Lost Souls
Shrine of Humility -- Southern Sign Post
Shrine of Honesty -- Tower of Knowledge
Shrine of Justice -- Pillars of Ozydamnus
Shrine of Sacrifice -- Pillars of Protection
Shrine of Spirituality -- Eastern Sign Post
Recent findings have unearthed a tome known as the Book of Amber Runes. Within its pages are located spells that fall outside that of our modern counterparts. Not to mention explain the origin of REPOND. Once a spell, is now being associated with certain "weapons of virtue". Another perversion of the old ways As repond predates the virtues by some 3000 years!!!!(3)
(1) Most of the information from the initial ultimas was sketchy to begin with, and each shard having its own legacy from their on out, I'm including this as one mans interpritation of the facts. I expect people will 'disbelieve' the story the way we tell it, but here it is none the less.
(2) Since Ultima 3 on never happend on the shards their was no ageS of darkness, there was only one, and that was when the Stranger(avatar) arrived to defeate Mondain. Ultima 2 did take place, since it occured on earth, the Shattered Legacy did not affect most shards, only one.
You'll also notice that I won't use the Avatar as a reference in our work. While many people claim to have achieved the level of Avatar of Virtue, the codex of ultimate wisdom has yet to be found, and none of them are beyond reproach, or capable of achieving the things the true avatar (the one from the games) has.
(3) Obviously, Britanian years, which would be over 200 earth years....(a 12 to 1 ratio of time exists in Britania compared to earth).