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Ori

Culture | Religion | Technology

Culture

General info | Invasion of the Milky Way

General info

According to Daniel and Vala's theory, the Ori were the Alterans (Ancients) who stayed behind in the home galaxy. When they ascended, they became the Ori. (Avalon part 2)

They consider themselves the true gods of their galaxy, and demand utter, unquestioning obedience and worship from everyone on the lower planes of existence, with the Book of Origin as the guide to worship/belief. (Avalon part 2)

They appear to actually believe themselves to be the creators of humankind in their galaxy, or at least are unwilling to admit otherwise even to a visitor from another galaxy who clearly understands what an ascended being is (Daniel). (Origin)

Depending on the evolutionary cycle -- which has never been made totally clear for Ancients and humans -- the could consider the humans in their galaxy to be the 'second evolution' of their kind, and could believe that they seeded the galaxy with humans (the way the Ancients seeded the Pegasus galaxy). Who knows.

They actually communicate directly with their worshippers, through the Doci (the head Prior), who can be possessed by them and speak with their voice. (Avalon part 2)

They believe the Alterans -- Ancients -- to be evil, for abandoning the path of enlightenment. Specifically, for shielding the people in the Milky Way (and presumably Pegasus as well) from the Ori, so that 'the truth of the universe has been obstructed'. (Origin)

With the Milky Way opened to them thanks to Daniel and Vala's mental visit, the Ori intended to bring everyone to the 'path of enlightenment' - worship of them in return for the promise of eventual ascension. (Origin)

The Plains of Celestis appear to be an actual physical place - the Prior, Daniel, and Vala arrived there via transporter rings. (Origin)

The City of the Gods,  on  the  Plains  of  Celestis, is where the Ori turn humans into Priors -- again, a physical place, an actual city (very pretty, all golden marble-type stone and fancy wrought-iron metalwork as accents). (Origin)

The Doci appears to dwell permanently in the City of the Gods, and is the voice of the Ori. (Origin)

The room where the Doci -- is (meditates? communes? I have no idea.) includes a gated-off section that consists of a short floor and a wall of flame that goes down very deep, called the Flames of Enlightenment. (Origin)

The Ori 'live' here -- not really, obviously, but it's their point of contact with the lower planes of existence. They 'erupt' from it as a golden glowy energy squid and possess the Doci when they need to speak physically to someone, and humans are presented to  the  wall  of  flame when they become Priors - the Ori flare up brightly (white) and do something physically to them to change them into the pale, dead-eyed Priors. (Origin)

Invasion of the Milky Way

Once the Ori found out about the Milky Way - thanks to Daniel and Vala's mental trip to their galaxy, and Daniel's explanation about who and what they were - they decided to bring the Path of Origin there, to save the galaxy from the evil in which it had been raised (i.e., the influence of the Ancients who let the galaxy's  people develop on their own). (Avalon part 2, Origin)

Before Daniel and Vala had even managed to leave the Ori galaxy, the Ori had sent through the first Prior to the Milky Way. He arrived on a desert world and began preaching the way of Origin to the humans he found there.  Mitchell and SG-12 met the Prior there, and after a little chat, he went back with them to the SGC, hoping to spread the word of the Ori to Earth. When Landry found out the truth about the Priors and the Ori, he tried to take the Prior into custody. The Prior, having failed his mission, very calmly self-immolated in a wash of flame, burning away to nothing. (Origin)

After the Administrator of Ver Ager was turned into a Prior for cleansing Ver Ager of unbelievers (burning alive Harrid and Sallis, the two whose bodies Daniel and Vala had inhabited), the Doci,  presumably  speaking  for  the  Ori, declared a holy war:   (Origin)

'Great holy armies shall be gathered and trained to fight all those 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.' (Origin)

Religion

Origin | The Book of Origin | Priors

Origin

Origin, or the Path of Origin, is the sole acceptable form of worship to the Ori - they demand utter adherence to it by everyone. Anyone who refuses to follow Origin must be destroyed. (Origin)

The central icon of the religion is fire. (Origin)

Origin is taught through the Book of Origin. (Avalon part 2, others)

The Book of Origin

General info | Readings

General info

The Ori, through their Priors, made sure that everyone on the lower planes of existence was given the Book of Origin -- creation myths and rules of worship (prayers, ritual, teachings) to bind them to the Path of Origin. (Avalon part 2)

The book teaches that the Ori created (human, at least) life. (Avalon part 2)

It also teaches that the Ori see and know all, both in the world and within people's hearts and minds. The belief is that if your heart is pure and your faith unwavering, death will bring you to the Ori. (Avalon part 2)

According to Daniel, the Book was mostly composed of teachings in the form of fairly simple fables with easily recognizable characters, meant to teach meditation on one's worth and significance, and the path of righteousness toward a higher state of being. (Origin)

Readings from the Book of Origin

... So said [someone] before the Battle of Ages. He spoke to the sky and said, 'And the people shall deliver unto you the wicked for your divine judgement, where their sins shall be weighed in the balance of all that is just and true.' (Avalon part 2)

Read by the village Administrator when Vala/Sallis was being brought forth to be placed in the sacrificial altar to be burned alive as a heretic. (Avalon part 2)

Quoted again in part by the Prior who asphyxiated Fannis with the power of his staff. (Origin)

'Amica was forgiven his transgression and returned to the Path.' (Origin)

Quoted by a Prior trying to sway Daniel and Vala to the Path of Origin. (Origin)

'Like Egidius of Vil Dare, I need to speak things that can only be spoken in the light of the fire.' (Origin)

Daniel, referring to the Book to convince a Prior to let him speak to the Doci. (Origin)

'As he lay there, dying in the sun, the sands of the desert all around him, Petrus spoke to the rock, not with his lips but with his mind, and the rock wept tears of fresh water and this thirst was quenched.' (Origin)

A prior preaching to desert-dwelling humans in our galaxy, trying to convert them to worship of the Ori. (Origin)

'The Book of Origin says, Those who seek the path of enlightenment must not be led astray.' (Origin)

Quoted by the Doci, explaining Origin to Daniel. (Origin)

'When Hannor Mir fell from above and learned to fly on the way down, that was a miracle.' (Origin)

Quoted by the Prior who had been brought to the SGC in hopes he could help them figure out why they couldn't dis-attach the communication device from Daniel and Vala. (Origin)

This may not be a direct quote, but rather a paraphrased parable about Hannor Mir.

'Glorious are the Ori, who lead us to salvation, who didst fight the evil that would doom us to mortal sin, did they defeat the old spirits, and cast them out, and now, with the strength of our will, do they call upon us to prevail against the corruption of all unbelievers.' (Origin)

Probably not a direct quote from the Book, but what the Administrator of Ver Ager said when Daniel and Vala were about to be burned to death. It had the feel of a traditional saying/ritual. (Origin)

'Guide us on the path, so that we may triumph over the enemy of our salvation and be with you in the end of ends on the Plains of Enlightenment.' (Origin)

The Administrator of Ver Ager, reading from the Book just before Daniel and Vala were to be set on fire to 'cleanse' them. (Origin)

Priors

General info | Doci

General info

Not Ori themselves, but the primary (human, but altered) servants of the Ori. (multiple eps, beginning in Avalon part 2)

Priors are regular humans who, if they serve with enough distinction, are brought to the City of the Gods and presented to the Flames of Enlightenement, and told to 'let its  power wash over you'. The Ori within the flames flare up with a white light and do something physically to change the person (always male, to date) into a Prior, with waxy skin and dead white eyes, and not much in the way of expression. (Origin)

Each Prior carries a long staff with a twisted top that holds an oval 'gem' - some sort of crystal, by the look of it. This gives them their power. (Avalon part 2, Origin)

The first Prior to go to the Milky Way went to P3X-421 and began preaching to the local humans there. Dr. Lindsay was also there, and sent word back to the SGC about it. Mitchell and SG-12 met the Prior on 421, and after a little chat, he went back with them to the SGC, hoping to spread the word of the Ori to Earth. When Landry found out the truth about the Priors and the Ori, he tried to take the Prior into custody. The Prior, having failed his mission, very calmly self-immolated in a wash of flame, burning away to nothing. (Origin)

The Administrator of Ver Ager became a Prior after 'cleansing' his village of the unbelievers Harrid and Sallis -- burning them alive (with a Prior's help) for having been 'overcome'. (Origin)

Doci

(pronounced 'doh-sigh')

The 'boss' Prior, the one who speaks the word of the Ori. (Origin)

This is literal. Part of the City of the Gods includes a wall/well of fire, which appears to be where he calls to the Ori when he needs them. It/They manifest as a golden fiery version of the Ascendants' white glowy energy squid, and possesses him. His eyes glow golden and he literally speaks with the voice of the Ori. (Origin)

He wasn't terribly impressed with Daniel's impassioned statements about how all people should be allowed to seek enlightenment or not of their own free will, and that ascended beings should be respected but not revered. (Origin)

After the Administrator of Ver Ager was turned into a Prior, the Doci declared a holy war: 'Great holy armies shall be gathered and trained to fight all those 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.' (Origin)

Technology

General info

General info

Ori tech is at roughly the same level as Ancient tech - rings, stargates. (Avalon parts 1 & 2, Origin, others)

Priors are given staffs that are capable of a lot of technological things, from healing to destruction. (Avalon part 2, Origin)

A Prior healed Vala completely when she was burned to death, including repairing her clothes. (Avalon part 2)

A Prior killed Fannis by asphyxiating him, apparently just with the power of his mind and/or staff. (Origin)