Ori (Stargate)
Template:Stargate race The Ori (pronounced "OR-eye") are fictional characters on the Stargate SG-1 television program. Collectively, they are a group of "ascended" beings who use their advanced technology and spiritual knowledge of the universe to trick non-ascended humans into worshiping them as gods.
They were introduced into Stargate SG-1 in its 9th Season, replacing the Goa'uld as the show's primary antagonists. Whilst the Goa'uld relied almost exclusively on technology to portray godlike power, the Ori are one step further - beings of almost godlike power, but nevertheless not gods. The Ori fabricated a religion, called Origin, which they force on all non-ascended beings for the purpose of total control. The Ori try to destroy anyone who rejects their religion. A central theme that surrounds story arcs involving the Ori is that power does not make someone a god, nor does great power entitle anyone to be worshipped; rather, the way they use great power is the measure of how they should be revered.
The Ori and the Ancients
The Ori can be simply described as modern-day Ascended Ancients who disagree with the Alterans' viewpoints about interference with less developed sentient beings, science, and the importance of free will. As Ascended beings, they live on a higher plane of existence of great power and knowledge, and, due to their immense power and transcendental state, are as close to being "gods" as any non-deific being can be.
Differences in Beliefs
The Ancients in the Milky Way Galaxy call themselves Alterans; the Ori refer to them as "the Others". They originally were not distinguished from each other, and lived in the same society. At some point however, the Ori became more religious, whilst the Ancients became more scientific. Ultimately their viewpoints diverged so much that the two races split apart and began to oppose each other.
The Ancients are well known for their fierce belief in free will. As such, they do not interfere on lower planes of existence at all, even if something terrible is about to happen. In contrast, the Ori teach that failure to share the secrets of the universe to those on the lower planes of existence is an evil act, that anyone not following their religion must be eliminated (anti-free will), and they have no rules against taking direct control of living beings or completely changing them to behave as they desire. However, Orlin, an Ancient who retook human form to help the SGC, states that their religion ("Origin"), which promises its followers Ascension, in fact offers no such thing. Orlin goes on to explain that the Ori are able to drain power from their followers, and this is the real reason they created Origin, as the more followers they have, the more power they have.
The Ancients who came to the Milky Way decided to shield the second evolution of humans (i.e. current human culture) in the Milky Way Galaxy from the Ori. It is their policy that humans may find enlightenment through their own means, in the spirit of free will. Even though the Ancients do not believe in interfering in mortal affairs, it is speculated that they are responsible for generating the associations of fire and certain other characteristics (e.g. horns, spikes) with Demonic imagery in the Milky Way. This would be a method of shielding humans from the Ori, as the central symbols of Origin involve fire and (what we would call) Demonic costumes. For instance, the Doci, the leaders of Origin, bear a very close resemblance to a devil or demon. The worshippers of the Ori view fire as a cleansing symbol. As Daniel Jackson points out, there is no immediate illogicality with fire as a symbol of all that is good: it provides warmth, light, etc.
Ontological Comparison
Daniel Jackson speculates in "Avalon" that the Ori and the Ancients are on the same level of evolutionary existence, in as much as that both are Ascended. The Ancients have Ascended to a point of existence where they only exist as energy, which is manifested as light. The Ori have taken to manifesting as tendrils of flame and they appear to dwell eternally in the Flames of Enlightenment.
Although the Ancients (Alterans) as a whole refrain from interfering with lesser beings, a small few have taken it upon themselves to interact and even help lower beings to Ascend, a prerequisite of this assistance is that one must be pure of heart, however it is now known and demonstrated by the Ori that if one has the ability to Ascend "naturally" (with no assistance from other Ascendants) no such limitations exist.
Demise of the Ancients
It appears that the Ori sought to wipe the Ancients out; however, the Ancients fled to the Milky Way. It appears however that the final jump towards Ascension was made by necessity when the Ancients contracted a deadly plague of unknown origin. Daniel Jackson posits that the pre-Ascended Ori may have been responsible for this plague.
The plague that the Ori use against human non-believers is very similar in nature to what is known of the Ancient's plague. Orlin - a de-Ascended Ancient - said that the plague is made by modifying the DNA of a Prior, a missionary of Origin, and giving it to a "Patient Zero", who will feel no effects, to enable a wide spread of the virus. The virus not only rapidly evolves, but can also remain airborne across small distances making quarantine an almost impossible means of prevention. There was no known cure or vaccination prior to Season 9's The Fourth Horseman. Stargate Command was able to formulate a cure for the plague with the help of Gerak, leader of the free Jaffa Nation.
The Ori ultimately wish to destroy the Ancients once and for all.
Religion ("Origin")
The religion which the Ori wish to impose on all sentient beings is called Origin, or the Path of Origin, and it is their way to assert dominance by promising to guide humanity towards enlightenment (i.e. Ascension). Its central promises are supposedly false, and is nothing more than a way to garner worshippers, which in turn increases the power of the Ori. To grant Ascension to all their followers would mean sharing their power, an idea the Ori find less than appealing. Followers of the faith receive nothing whatsoever from the Ori.
It is a dogmatic, proselytizing faith, which comes with a holy book called The Book of Origin, and specialised missionaries called Priors, enhanced humans who are thus able to demonstrate some of the Ori's powers. Priors are responsible for spreading the Word of Origin, and only designate a people for destruction if they deny Origin outright. The Book of Origin contains tales of how the followers of the Ori returned to the path to enlightenment, and thus achieved Ascension.
The centre of the faith is the city of Celestis (also 'The Plains of Celestis': "The City of the Gods", according to the faithful), which apparently can only be reached by Ring Transporter or by a sort of mental teleportation which leaves the transported individual's body in the same place but brings their consciousness into the city.
The Ori keep human followers at a low level of development, on par with the Medieval period of English history. They use their powers to maintain a level of fear among the population, who worship the Ori as gods. Among the population of natives to the Ori home galaxy are a group of heretics who believe they are being suppressed, and seek to discover forbidden historical knowledge to show others that the Ori are, though powerful, not gods. These people are in a plight similar to that which the Jaffa were in. Individuals who show signs of doubt for the faith are deemed to be under the control of demons and are said to be "overcome". They are put through a Trial by Fire. It is only through the intervention of a Prior that anyone can escape this ordeal.
Symbolism
The central icon of this religion is fire, something which gives off light and warmth. The fact that on Earth this icon has some evil or Satanic associations in many modern religions prompted Daniel to posit that the Ancients had influenced this negative connotation in order to identify the threat the Ori pose.
The religion spreads its word through the use of simple, easy-to-grasp parables and aphorisms, using powerful and obvious symbolism and imagery of dark and light, the blind and the seeing, the right path and straying from it, and 'good followers' who have set shining examples of devotion and faith.
The Ori constantly assert that they "do not require blind faith." They generate true belief in potential followers by showing them real miracles (created through their great understanding of the universe).
Teachings
Some viewers have noted that many quotes from the Book of Origin bear resemblence to the Holy texts of many religions. Several lines from the Book of Origin, or otherwise repeated mantras, are heard on the show. These include:
Verses
- "Hallowed are the Ori." (this mantra is repeated by all believers almost as punctuation)
- "Hallowed are the children of the Ori." (this mantra is said by the priors, which followed by the next mantra):
- "Hallowed are we; hallowed are the Ori."
- "Those who reject the path to enlightenment must be destroyed."
- "The power and the greatness of the Ori cannot be denied."
- "Those who seek the path to enlightenment must not be led astray!"
- "Glorious are the Ori, who lead us to salvation, who did fight the evil that would doom us all to mortal sin. Did they defeat the old spirits and cast them out? And now, with the strength of our will, they do call upon us to prevail against the corruption of all unbelievers."
- "Fear not the Ori, fear the darkness that would conceal the knowledge of the universe. Believe in the truth of all things, and you too may find the path to enlightenment."
- "Guide us on the path that we may triumph over the enemy of our salvation and be with you in the end of ends on the planes of enlightenment."
- "Those who abandon the path are evil."
- "Blessed are those who walk in unison."
- "And the people shall deliver the wicked unto your divine judgement, where their sins shall be weighed in the balance of all that is just and true."
- "Life and death, light and darkness, hope and despair. The rift was created, and on that day, the Ori were born."
- "The hatred of those who strayed from the true path festered and bloomed in the dark corners of the Avernakis to which they have been cast!"
- "Consumed by this hatred, they poisoned all they touched, bringing death, darkness and despair."
- "The souls of their victims knew no peace, until the Ori came and whispered to them: 'Sleep, for the end draws near!' And on that day all will rejoice, when the Ori come and lay them low."
- "Those who follow the path of righteousness shall be raised up high."
- "Ours is not to question, but to rejoice in their service, for they are perfection."
- "Priors are beacons on the road to enlightenment."
- "Pity not the blind man, for he is hindered not by the visions of this world, but rather pity yourselves, for he will see the light before you do."
- "Those who reach enlightenment shall rejoice with the ori forever."
- "The book of Origin tell us that enemies of the Ori will show no mercy in their attempt to lead us astray from the true path, likewise we must attack with all the Strength which we have been given."
- "...and those who are prideful and refuse to bow down shall be laid low and made unto dust."
- "...then did Tilius say to the people of the low plains: seek not the wickedness amongst your neighbors, lest it find purchase in your own house." --quoted by Daniel Jackson in a (failed) attempt to convince the Ori fleet to abandon its invasion of the Milky Way at Battle of P3Y-229
- "Caelum videri esset. Et terra rus ad sidera tollere voltus. Ex uno discent omnes" --quoted by Prior announcing the divine nature of the Orici [[Flesh and Blood (Stargate SG-1)]
Parables - What They Are
- "As he lay there, dying in the sun, the sand of desert all around him, Hetaris spoke to the rock, not with his lips, but with his mind, and the rock wept tears of fresh water and his thirst was quenched."
- "When Hannor Mir fell from above and learned to fly on the way down, that was a miracle."
- "Amica strayed from the path of enlightenment. He was forgiven, and was allowed back on the path."
- "Egidius of Valdair needed to speak things that could only be spoken in the light of the fire." (to the Doci)
- "Adelenus chose to hunt the lion and was eaten by his prey."
- "The Ori fought the Alterans, to save their followers."
Quotations
- Prior: "Hallowed are the children of the Ori."
Crowd: "Hallowed are we. Hallowed are the Ori." - Doci: "Great holy armies shall be gathered and trained to fight all who embrace evil. In the name of the gods, ships shall be built to carry our warriors out amongst the stars and we will spread Origin to all the unbelievers. The power of the Ori will be felt far and wide and the wicked shall be vanquished."
Priors
The Ori are served by those called Priors, who act as the prophets, messengers and missionaries of the Ori by travelling to different planets and reading from the Book of Origin. Priors are artificially "evolved" humans, with 80%-90% of their neurons firing at any given time. This massive mental power allows them to perform miracles, read minds, and attack enemies, as they are closer to being Ascended. The Ori use the Priors to spread the word of Origin throughout the universe, and believe that any who reject Origin must be killed.
Daniel Jackson has speculated that the Ori included a biological mechanism within Priors that would ensure physical destruction by Ori fire if a Prior changed sides.
Orici
In episode "Flesh and Blood" of Stargate SG-1, the Orici was introduced as a female Human/Ori hybrid created to lead the Priors and the army of the Ori on a campaign for galactic domination. The daughter of Vala Mal Doran, she was named Adria and was rapidly aged by the Ori. Adria is programmed with the knowledge of the Ori (as much as humanly possible) and posses the ability to heal as well as several other abilities Priors poses. A Prior stated "ex uno discent omnes" or as Tomin translated "from one all will learn" suggesting she carries a tremendous amount of knowledge. Furthermore the Prior announced her part-divine, part-human nature saying: "et terra rus et sidera tollere vultus"-"the earth will rise his face towards the stars."
Technology
Not much is known of Ori technology, save that it is probably far more advanced than any in our galaxy. In Season 9, the show features powerful Ori weapons in Template:Sgcite, ships in Template:Sgcite and supergates in Template:Sgcite.
Story
The Ori were first encountered by Daniel Jackson and Vala Mal Doran using an Ancient communications device. The minds of Daniel and Vala were transported to the Ori's home galaxy. There, they inhabited the bodies of Harrid and Sallis, a married couple who belonged to a secret underground of heretics who reject the path of Origin. The existence of this device suggests that the pre-Ascended Ancients who migrated to our galaxy wished to stay in contact with their brethren across the universe. [1]
Daniel's use of the communications device brought the existence of humanity in the Milky Way Galaxy to the Ori's attention. Because they believe that all humanity is their creation, the Ori have decided to spread their doctrine to the unbelievers. It is the dawn of a new age for the Ori. They've begun dispatching their missionaries, called Priors, through the Stargates and building spaceships with highly-trained militia for their holy war in the Milky Way Galaxy. [2]
Initially, the Ori sent individual Priors to worlds in the Milky Way to try to convert the inhabitants. Where initial calls to worship the Ori fail, a Prior has been known to unleash devastatating plagues, then healing the populace and raising the dead in order to seal a world's devotion to the Ori. [3]
Recently, the Ori attempted a full-scale invasion of the Milky Way Galaxy by collapsing an entire planet into a micro-singularity, which could then be used to power a massive Stargate, between 300 and 400 metres in diameter, connected to the Ori home galaxy indefinitely. SG-1, with the help of Vala, managed to thwart the Ori's plan, but not long after they attempted to create another 'Supergate'. [4]
With the conversion of Gerak to Origin, and his transformation into a Prior, the Ori had potentially gained a foothold in the Free Jaffa Nation. Gerak eventually chose the Free Jaffa Nation over the Ori and in helping Earth with the plague, was consumed by Ori fire. It was revealed in "The Fourth Horseman (Part 2)" that the Ori intend to destroy the Ancients.
Recently, the Priors of the Ori have attempted to convert the Rand Protectorate to the belief of Origin however this failed and the planet Tegalus has its Stargate now buried after a war with its neighbouring nation of Caledonia. Not only that but on many worlds that Priors have visited, they have left a bio-engineered asexual insect life form that feeds voraciously on crops. However, the bugs are capable of changing their physiology to allow them to eat different things when their food source runs out, and that can include meat. Currently, attempts are being made by the SGC to combat this new threat.
Meanwhile, in the Ori galaxy, Vala reluctantly becomes an undercover agent and learns of the Ori's plan. She makes contact with the SGC through the same communications device that she and Daniel used when they first discovered the Ori, and offers what may be the first glimpse of these beings as they manifest in her nightmare.
Daniel Jackson later uncovered a phase-shifting device created by the Ancient, Merlin, to hide a weapon he was creating from the other Alterans. The information in the phase-shifter revealed that the weapon was hidden on Camelot. Once they reached the legendary home of King Arthur, Daniel Jackson and Cameron Mitchell managed to unlock Merlin's secrets, revealing a hoard of treasure, but not the device capable of neutralizing the Ori. They discovered that Arthur had left long ago and hidden the secret of the weapon on three different planets.
In the meantime, a Jaffa vessel managed to locate the new Ori Supergate. The combined firepower of several Ha'tak vessels were unable to damage the supergate; as a result, Samantha Carter, assisted by the Asgard Kvasir, tried to dial out before the Ori could dial in, but was unsuccessful. The four Ori ships that came through were able to withstand the combined firepower of several Ha'tak vessels of the Lucian Alliance and free Jaffa, two Daedalus-class (BC-304) battlecruisers (the Odyssey and the Korolev — at this time the Daedalus was still in the Pegasus galaxy), and an Asgard O'Neill-class battleship. The main weapon aboard the Ori Cruisers appears to be much the same as the superweapon in Ethon. The Ha'tak vessels were unable to withstand fire from this weapon, and the Tau'ri ships fared little better, managing to take only two (this is based on the fact that when the Odyssey took a direct hit from an Ori ship a crewman commented that shields were down to 50%) and at the very most three direct hits. Many of the Ha'tak vessels were destroyed, as well as the Korolev. It is unknown how well the Asgard warship was able to fare against the Ori. The Ori ships suffered no apparent damage.
