Threat of the Trinity - A fan expansion for Ultima IV by Cambragol
A comprehensive walkthrough for this Ultima IV mod, featuring new quests, locations, and challenges on the path to Avatarhood.
Forward
"Threat of the Trinity is a tribute to one of the greatest and most influential RPGs ever made. It explores a simple 'what if' — what if an expansion for Ultima IV had been released in 1986? My hope is that anyone who cherishes their memories of the Quest of the Avatar can once again relive the magic of that youthful adventure, and set out on one more grand journey."— Cambragol, Threat of the Trinity Author
"...it was simultaneously ahead of its time and the perfect game released at the perfect time. Elevating the CRPG beyond the comfort zone in which it had begun to settle. In most of the ways that matter time has been exceptionally kind to Ultima 4, and further revealed what a special game it was. There would never again be anything quite like it, even within its own series it was simply lightning in a bottle...."— Majuular, Scholar of Origins
It's 2025, and things are depressing. The USA is in political turmoil. AI threatens many people I care about—taking away their livelihoods and eroding our creativity by removing a huge chunk of the human element of inspiration. Everything feels uncertain, overwhelming, and bleak.
Then my favorite podcast, Watch Out for Fireballs, uploads an episode about Skald: Against the Black Priory. I am immediately enthralled—hunting for secrets, experiencing its exciting combat, and absorbing its bleak storytelling.
Skald: Against the Black Priory - the game that started this journey for me
This leads me down a rabbit hole of games like Skald. I eventually find my way to retrospectives of the Ultima series and become captivated by them. Something about the history, the ambition, and the philosophy behind these games speaks to me. It inspires me to play each game in the series and even collect physical copies. I feel like a kid again, seeing these games in Babbage's at the mall—even though I would never have been able to comprehend them when I was so young. The anemoia is powerful.
The original Ultima IV box - a piece of gaming history
I find myself reinvigorated creatively. I start exploring personal writing again. I tinker with video game development. I discover a new love for running tabletop games. The simple act of engaging with these old worlds unlocks something in me that felt dormant. Not to mention a good bit of retail therapy when finding these old gems on eBay.
The box with the legendary cloth map of Britannia
The cloth map - every location marked in runic script
The simplicity of trying to be virtuous in Ultima IV brings me joy—a game from 1985 with no more complicated a message than "Be Good." In a world that often feels morally gray and exhausting, there's something profoundly comforting about a game that asks you to embody honesty, compassion, valor, justice, sacrifice, honor, spirituality, and humility.
The Way of the Avatar - the original player's guide with the cloth map
After completing Ultima 1 through 7, Serpent Isle, and the Underworld games, I start branching out. I play more classic dungeon crawlers like Eye of the Beholder, Might and Magic, and Wizardry. Each one scratches a different itch, but Ultima IV remains special.
Some of the "Feelies" that came with Ultima IV
One day, I see Threat of the Trinity announced on Reddit and boot it up soon after. I had never played an unpatched version of Ultima IV before (no graphics or music mods), but I find myself having a great time exploring all the new content—new dungeons, new artifacts, and new mysteries to solve.
The Book of Mystic Wisdom and the map of Britannia
The History of Britannia with dice and an Ankh - ready for adventure
This mod inspired me to create this site—to help future players who may get stuck in some of the same places I did. The Trinity's evil still seeps into this world and needs to be sealed once and for all. Explore new schools of magic and uncover the secrets beneath the caves and abandoned mines of Britannia.
I hope you enjoy this walkthrough and find it useful.
Good luck, Avatar!