I would argue that the evidence thus far is that Virtuebane/Virtue Bane UO is bent on conquest, domination, and death, rather than an instrument of divine retribution.
Note
this, for example:
“You bring me many questions and frail theories and far too few results.” Growled Virtue Bane. “Have I not sent my hellhounds to protect your soldiers? Have I not sent my dragons? My demons? These bring your soldiers power and security. Have I not given you previously hidden knowledge of the secrets of blackrock? These things have real value. Have I not been generous to all your requests? If you wish the Bane Chosen to be exalted in my new kingdom, you must deliver on your promises! If you do not get me results soon, I will take back all that I have given you with interest!”
Also note the attempt to corrupt the Book of Truth.
And
this:
He stood atop the altar in the rain and looked out into the darkness. Past his ancient hellhounds. Past the ring of demons with bloody swords. He looked at the army that stood behind them in attention, his most loyal followers. He looked into their souls and grinned.
He raised his massive arms in triumph and roared. “Behold, the time of Virtuebane is at hand! Go forth and receive your destiny!”
There was a great cheer from the soldiers and they raised their torches in defiance of the rain.
Virtuebane clenched his rain soaked fist, and lowered his brow, “The soldier who brings me the Crystal of Duplicity will be assured a place at my right hand in the new Sosaria!”
If there was any kind of divine retribution, it would have been the initial smashing of Magincia, not the occupation and invasion we're seeing now. The Virtuebane of Ultima lore is inspiration and source material for this one.
Not to mention that, for my part, my memory of
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar tends to recall Virtuebane in a more malicious light than others' memories tend to.
My in-character dialogue, though, has incorporated this argument. Not as something Galen believes in in-character, but something he knows will be suggested and that he argues against. The phrasing is usually something like "it is not for demons to render divine judgment" and/or "Magincia's fate is ours to decide, not theirs.
I'm curious how Virtuebane will explain the fall of New Magincia. Greed for rubbles? Annoyed devs who wanted to wipe a town no matter how players would struggle against it?
Remember, New Magincia hasn't been seen yet. In Ultima lore, that's what is built in-place of the Prideful city of Magincia, which is what was destroyed by Draconi, I mean by demons, years ago. As to why Magincia fell at all?
The way I always understood it was less that the demons were rendering divine judgement than that destroying the Prideful was simply more....More interesting to them. Not to mention that, by coincidence perhaps, it was Magincia's Moongate that the Shadowlords first decided to try and penetrate our world through.
And, ironically, it was someone else's Pride, exhibited through the Blackrock Detecter in Moonglow, that finally let them in.
-Galen's player
