Word of Passage

The Word of Passage is a specific word required to enter the chamber of the Shrine of Singularity, wherein the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom is located in Ultima IV.

Etymology

The word itself, veramocor, is an amalgamation of three syllables, each corresponding to one of the Three Principles:

• Ver – Truth
• Amo – Love
• Cor – Courage

These segments, in turn, originate from the Gargish words ver, amo, and kor.

History

During Ultima IV, the Stranger, endeavoring to complete the Quest of the Avatar, was able to learn about the three syllables after some hints from Zair the Wise and his brother, Brother Zair. They told the hero that the three kings of the castles of the Three Principles knew each one part of the word. The Stranger talked to Robert Frasier of the Lycaeum, who knew the syllable ver; then the hero obtained the syllable amo from Lord Robert from Empath Abbey; and lastly, the Stranger talked to Sentri, who gave the aspirant hero the last syllable, cor. It is not explained how these three lords obtained the syllables.

Upon reaching the Codex chamber, the Stranger was able to successfully use the word – along with the Key of Three Parts and correct answers to several questions posed about the Eight Virtues and Three Principles – to have access to the hallowed book granted by the unseen sentinel acting as its custodian.

In Ultima V, the same Word of Passage was needed as a Word of Power to unseal the dungeon Doom. The Codex itself revealed this to the Avatar, after the hero had completed the quests ordained by the eight Shrines. It is not explained how the Word of Passage for the Codex was related to the unsealing of Doom, but since the dungeon was located in the center of the Underworld, created beneath the Great Stygian Abyss when the mystic tome was raised from its previous resting place, the seal to Dungeon Doom may be the very same ward that previously guarded the Codex.

Trivia

• In reality, the syllables of the Word of Passage correspond to Latin words: vērus (true), as in veracity (having truth); amor (love), as in amorous (feeling love); and cor (heart), as in courage (stout heart).