Ultima
Ultima (later Ultima: The First Age of Darkness) is the first game in the Ultima series, developed by Richard Garriott. The game was one of the first commercial computer role-playing games and is considered an important and influential turning point for the development of the genre in the following years.
Story
Greetings, noble one! Our land needs a brave hero, one who will face dangers too terrible to contemplate. A plague has struck the realm, a scourge has come upon the land! Our villages lie plundered, ruinous mountains of ash where once lived farmers of sound heart and mind, where once lay fields of grain and fruit, where cows and chickens grew fat on the bounty of our fair Sosaria. All kinds of evil and vile creatures are attacking our people and ravaging the land. This is the work of someone so evil that the earth trembles at the very mention of his name. Mondain, the sorcerer, has made good his wickedness. Our nobles squabble among themselves, and each has retreated to his castle, hoping to watch the downfall of his rivals. The Evil One has imposed one curse after another, unleashing upon the realm an army of creatures and beasts so bloodthirsty and evil that our defenseless people fall like grain before the reaper's scythe. These denizens of the underworld rule all that is manageable, save for the strongholds of nobles obsessed with their own ambition. Nowhere in our once peaceful land can a traveler find safe passage or lodging except in the strongholds of self-proclaimed kings - and they demand hard work for their indulgences. Only the young Lord British remains unwavering in his vision of a peaceful and united Sosaria. In his castle and his city, the people find pure-hearted allies and supplies for the needs of those who have chosen to fight for the realm. Help us to free our land from the scourge that has afflicted us, O Exalted One. We beseech you, for without your help we will perish before the onslaught of the malevolent necromancer. Kill the evil Mondain!