If anyone cares, Portalarium have confirmed that Underworld Ascendant will also be tied to the same fiction universe as Richard Garriot's Shroud of the Avatar. SotA is an upcoming story-driven SP RPG/sandbox MMO hybrid.
We're especially excited to reveal that, just as the original Ultima and Underworld shared a connection on backstory and fictional elements, so too will Shroud of the Avatar and Underworld Ascendant. There is a portal between the two worlds, which over the ages travelers have crossed, some bringing with them artifacts and arcane lore.
https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?p=47929