Cain

From Editable Codex

Cain, also called the "Tortured One", is the dead alchemist of Skara Brae in Ultima VII. He gives himself all the fault for the fire, despite him actually being a victim of the mayor's stupidity. Is actually is essential for the quest, since he holds the answers to Life and Death.

Cain was Skara Brae's alchemist, but when he tried to mix Mordra's mixture to destroy the Lich Horance, everything blew up, because the incompetent mayor gave him the wrong quantities, and Skara Brae burned down. Cain gave himself all of the fault, torturing himself with it, hence his nickname. A little over 20 years before Ultima VII, Batlin visited Cain, and asked for the answers to Life and Death. When Cain made it clear that there were none, Batlin started his evil path.

In Ultima VII, the Avatar needed Cain, to get the answer for Alagner, to get his notebook. But Cain first demanded the city to be saved. When that was done, he revealed, that there were no answers, remaining in the city to atone for his imagined crime. Hopefully, seeing Skara Brae returned to life will lessen his imagined pain.

[edit] Trivia

• Alagner also must have met Cain, since he KNEW the answer to Life and Death already.
• Sadly, the Avatar can't tell Cain what really had happened (that would at least make him feel somewhat less guilty).