Completion certificates

Ultima VI certificate

For Ultima III through Ultima VII, Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss, and Ultima VIII, players were invited to report to Lord British (Richard Garriott) at Origin after completing each game; in doing so, they would then be mailed a commendatory completion certificate. Such certificates were also issued for the first Ultima Trilogy compilation, while none were officially produced for Ultima Underworld II or Ultima VII Part Two, despite falling within the span of games for which they were offered.

With Origin's closure, completion certificates have since become desirable as collector's items. In 2015, however, Garriott pledged to continue honoring certificate requests such that signed reproductions may now instead be obtained by sending him, care of Portalarium, Inc., a stamped, self-addressed envelope with proof of completion.^[1]

Description[edit]

Completion certificates are written in immersive style, personalized with the original recipient's name and, in most cases, signed by Garriott as Lord British.

Noteworthy content[edit]

Several points of particular interest can be observed in some certificates:

The Ultima V certificate takes a somewhat more personal tone from Lord British, in light of his rescue from otherworldly imprisonment.
As well as Lord British's own remarks, the certificate for Ultima VI carries a message in Gargish from Lord Draxinusom.
The certificate for Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss is penned by Baron Almric and presents an official declaration of the Avatar’s innocence in his daughter Arial’s kidnapping, as well an expression of sorrow over his accusations to the contrary.
In the Ultima VII certificate, it is revealed the moonstones have been destroyed and, as a consequence, efforts are to be undertaken in assisting the stranded Avatar's return to Earth.
The Ultima VIII certificate indicates the Avatar remains absent from Britannia upon entering the blackrock Obelisk.