Ormus

v • t • e
Ormus
Type	Religious organization
Head of State	Patriarch
Leader	Julius XVIII (formerly); Sergius XIV (formerly); Sergius XVII (Episode I & II); Heinlein (Episode III)
Notable people	Margulis; Pellegri; Orgulla; Richard; Hermann; Sellers (informally)
Headquarters	Michtam; Ormus Stronghold
Affiliates	U-TIC Organization; Immigrant Fleet; Hyams

Ormus is a covert religious organization that holds close ties to the Immigrant Fleet and is one of the primary antagonistic forces in the Xenosaga series. Their goals vary from ultimate power over the Relics of God to returning to the land of Lost Jerusalem. Ormus's symbol is an upside-down cross and an elm tree.

Branches and departments[edit]

Ormus' organizational structure is said to resemble that of the Vatican during the Middle Ages. This is most notably seen in Ormus' leadership. The Patriarch (referred to as the Pope in Xenosaga's Japanese releases) sits at the highest position of Ormus' hierarchy, followed by Cardinals such as Heinlein. Ormus also has various branches and departments that serve their own unique purposes, each having specialized organizational structures within them.

Inquisitors[edit]

On paper, the Inquisitors are a sub-group of the Special Missions Office within Ormus' Department of Absolutions. However, their operations are practically independent from the Curia, and their role within the organization is integral. The Inquisitors are in charge of the guarding of holy relics (such as the Relics of God) and the judgement of heretics. They are led primarily by Cardinal Heinlein, and commanded by Chief Inquisitor Margulis. Margulis' right hand, Pellegri, as well as Pellegri's subordinates, Richard and Hermann, are notable members of this group. The Inquisitors retain two sets of hierarchical ranks: one for their operations as a military group, and another for within Ormus. Special ranks within Ormus include Chief Inquisitor, Chief Soldier-Priest, and High Priest.

U-TIC Organization[edit]

Main article: U-TIC Organization

Formerly a research organization entirely independent from Ormus' operations, it was radicalized and militarized in the onset of the Miltian Conflict after years of influence from Patriarch Sergius XVII. Chief Inquisitor Margulis stands at the head of the organization as its supreme commander. Its structure is devoid of the religious influence seen throughout the rest of Ormus, and it's likely many of its members are unaware of Ormus' existence beyond U-TIC's connection to the Immigrant Fleet. Commander Andrew Cherenkov and Lieutenant Commander Vanderkam are notable members of this group.

Department of Sacraments[edit]

The Department of Sacraments is a ministry that has been tasked with overseeing the advancement of unique sacraments and various regulations administered in Ormus since the era of Lost Jerusalem. Because the Pilgrimage Meeting, which requires the use of the Original Zohar, is one such sacrament, study of the Zohar and the Vessels of Anima is under the jurisdiction of this department. Sellers holds a seat in this ministry as Assistant Director.

Hyams Group[edit]

Main article: Hyams Group

Publicly known as Hyams Heavy Industries, Hyams Group operates as the primary business arm of Ormus. Cardinal Heinlein stands as the current CEO. Because it functions as a legitimate conglomerate rivaling Vector Industries, its secret funding of Ormus' illegal actions is disguised by a plethora of dummy corporations. One such corporation, Hayes Porter Services, has none other than Hermann of the Inquisitors as its CEO.

Story[edit]

History[edit]

Ormus was founded over 6000 years prior to the story of Xenosaga, supposedly before the death of the messiah during the ancient era of Lost Jerusalem to pass on and manage the words of God, Lemegeton, as well as to protect the Relics of God. Their organizational structure resembles that of the Vatican of the Middle Ages. Ormus was the first to leave Lost Jerusalem, hidden amongst the Immigrant Fleet in a ship known as the Pleroma. Ormus then settled on the planet Abraxas. The descendants of the Immigrant Fleet, called the People of Zohar, carried on Ormus' values from then on. The asteroid base, Pleroma is named after the aforementioned ship and was used as a place of worship for years until it was abandoned.

After the Miltian Conflict, learning from their failure, Ormus assigned all their illegal activities on the U-TIC Organization, while maintaining legal activities through Patriarch Sergius by manipulating the Federation Parliament.

Episode I[edit]

Although Ormus doesn't make a direct appearance, their public military force, the U-TIC Organization and the asteroid base Pleroma make an appearance in the story.

Episode II[edit]

Ormus as a whole is explored more in-depth with the debut of its key members, including Patriarch Sergius XVII, and the Inquisitors. After Albedo opens the way to Old Miltia, Sergius spearheads an operation to recover the original Zohar and Proto Ω. However, they were contested by the Federation and Second Miltian fleets, despite this, they manage to make their way down to the surface and recover both the Zohar and Proto Ω which gave rise to the Ω System. Sergius intends to use both the Zohar and Proto Ω to exterminate the Gnosis and rule the galaxy with an iron fist. However he was betrayed by his chief Inquisitor Margulis who conspired with Heinlein to have him die a martyr to install the latter as the new Patriarch. In the end, Patriarch Sergius is killed by the Testaments after being defeated by the party, allowing Heinlein to take complete control of Ormus as planned.

Episode III[edit]

Pellegri sends Richard and Hermann to deal with the Federation fleet at Rennes-le-Château, while Margulis philosophies before being interrupted by a U-TIC soldier who informs them of the Durandal's arrival at that region. Margulis then orders the soldier to set a course to Rennes-le-Château via, the Prodigium. Ormus ambushes, Asher, Zebulun, and Reuben above the Floating Landmass. Margulis's E.S., Levi personally duels Reuben but is defeated. Margulis attempts to enter the landmass, only for Heinlein to call him back. Throughout the entire game, Margulis often reports in to Heinlein who frustrated by the latter's bizarre orders.

Ormus later participate in a three-way battle between the Federation, Gnosis, and themselves around Abel's Ark as the party infiltrates Merkabah and the hijacked Durandal. The three-way battle continues after the party escapes Abel's Ark and land on Michtam. Eventually, Heinlein is revealed to be Wilhelm who reveals that he established Ormus 6000 years ago and their true goal: to protect Lemegeton left behind after the death of the Messiah, and that the supposed goal to return to Lost Jerusalem is a lie. After this revelations, Ormus's chain of command collapses completely, with many of its key members' faith shattered completely, losing a purpose and chooses to die by the party's hands during their exploration on Michtam. What become of Ormus after the events on Michtam is unknown.

Database[edit]

Episode III

Ormus

The religious order that unites the Immigrant Fleet.

The general term for the religious order that unites the Immigrant Fleet. It has an organizational structure resembling the Vatican of the Middle Ages.

It was established long ago, during the Lost Jerusalem era, and already existed as a group by approximately A.D. 40. Its main goal was to protect the sacred relics and the words of God that had been left by the Messiah; it holds different doctrines, taken from the world religions that would later break off from it, and carries out its own set of sacraments.

Xenosaga I & II

オルムス

移民船団を統べる教団の総称。
中世バチカンに似た組織構造を持っている。
その設立は古く、ロスト・エルサレム時代、西暦40年頃には既に組織として存在しており、救世主の遺した神の言〈ことば〉、聖遺物を護る事を主目的とし、後に分派した世界宗教とは異なる教義を持ち、独自の秘跡〈サクラメント〉を執り行っていた。