Establishment Spotlight: Tel’Mithrim / Tel’Ruid – Lake Superior

It’s been far too long since I did a player-run establishment spotlight – Windamere Keep was the first and only proper one.

I was doing a bunch of wandering tonight, and came upon The Silver Arrow, one of the centerpieces in the player town of Tel’Ruid, a player village founded by Tel’Mithrim, a guild of UO players that actually predates UO by several years.

It’s interesting that as UO celebrates its 15th year this year, Tel’Mithrim is celebrating their 20th year as a guild. They are probably the oldest guild in existence in the world, since their history stretches back to their founding in August of 1992, when they were established as The Grey Company, a role-playing guild in Neverwinter Nights. Neverwinter Nights was a multiplayer game played through America Online…not quite the MMORPGs we are used to today.

In December of 1993, they were named as the largest and most successful guild in Neverwinter Nights, and in 1995 they were merged with two smaller Elven-oriented guilds, LER and the Elven Brotherhood, bringing the membership to around 60. Ironically, shortly before Ultima Online officially launched, Neverwinter Nights was shut down by America Online. This was a mixed blessing as the guild successfully made the transition to UO, although some were unable to. They settled in Yew, on Lake Superior, and have been there ever since, making the transition to Trammel when it opened up.

I’ve been through this area many times, and used to even spend a lot of time in-game with quite a few members several years back, going back to I believe 1998 or 1999. I’m pleased to see them still there east of Yew.

The Silver Arrow:
Ultima Online Establishment Spotlight - Lake Superior - Tel'Ruid
(Click on the image for a larger version)

A description from their own website:
Tel’Ruid is a village governed by Tel’Mithrim, a guild comprised of Elves on the shard of Lake Superior. It is a small, but close-knit community of several dozen individuals, all of whom share the Elves’ general values. Located deep in the forests east of Yew, the village is a safe haven away from the crowded cities of Britannia.

There are actually multiple houses related to Tel’Mithrim/The Grey Company, and in fact some are designed to overlap/”connect” in a way that makes multiple houses look like a single home.

Tel’Mithrim Hall
Ultima Online Establishment Spotlight - Lake Superior - Tel'Ruid

Really, you should just visit the area and wander around the water, as I know I’m missing houses related to Tel’Mithrim

Location:
* Silver Arrow: 75.50’N and 7.31’W (East of Yew)
* Tel’Mithrim Hall (74.42’N and 4.30’W
* Other buildings: 79.11′ N and 7.52’W, and 85.46’N and 4.13’W
* Near the Shrine of Justice

One of the best-looking dual-houses on LS:
Ultima Online Establishment Spotlight - Lake Superior - Tel'Ruid

Houses in the area (not all are related to Tel’Ruid):
* The Silver Arrow (Tel’Mithrim)
* Tel’Mithrim Hall (Galethien Elvade)
* TLC Embassy (Maggie Stweart)
* Shrine of Remembrance (TirNaNo’g)
* The Salty Daemon Mall in Tel’Ruid (The Daemon Co-Op)
* TGC Smithy (Valdolen)
* High Councilor, 8th Seat (Jerard Slasher)
* The Museum of Sosari [Tel’Ruid’ (TirNaNo’g)
* Thierna-No-Pge (Tel’Ruid) (TirNaNo’g)
* Ap Nudd Family (Tylwyth Ap Nudd)
* TGC Smith (Luthien Tinuviel)
* Nalynn’s Bows (Nalynn)
* Ariana’s Little Tel’Ruid House (Ariana)
* Mardraug (Thrand Graywolf)

Other nearby houses not related
* Dis Here Troll House, Pointy Ears Welcome (Thor Ironside)

Related Websites:
* The Grey Company (Tel’Mithrim) (main guild website)
* History and Introduction