Orvus is a support character in A Crack in Time. As the brightest Zoni in existence and their leader, Orvus is the true creator of Clank and the architect of the Great Clock.
Due to the history of the fongoids and the Zoni, the fongoids see Orvus as a religious figure after he entrusted them with important information and artifacts such as the Zoni Vessel. Unlike the rest of his race, Orvus exhibits a unique personality and abilities, seemingly unaffected by the hive-mind state typical of the Zoni.
History[]
Ancient history[]
Orvus giving a presentation in the Great Clock orientation room.
Eons before the events of Ratchet & Clank, Orvus and the Zoni gifted the fongoids of the Polaris Galaxy with the ability to time travel. Over 3,000 years, the fongoids' overuse of time travel created multiple paradoxes, weakening the space-time continuum. This led to a rip in space and time that destroyed 83 celestial entities[1] and opened small anomalies to the Netherverse.[2]
Orvus designed and engineered the Great Clock to repair the rift. Operated by around 117,000 Zoni,[a] the Clock maintained temporal normality in the universe. Orvus strictly forbade the Great Clock from being used as a time machine,[1] citing the fragility of time.[4][b] Despite the events leading to the rip, the Zoni entrusted the fongoids with the Zoni Vessel.[5] Orvus monitored time from the Orvus Chamber within the Clock, to which only he had access.[4]
Over a thousand years before A Crack in Time,[6] Orvus appointed Sigmund, a cleaner bot from Viceron, as Junior Caretaker of the Great Clock.[1] The fongoids worshipped Orvus as a religious icon,[c] while the Zoni in most of the universe were considered mythological.[11]
Before A Crack in Time[]
Orvus's final message to Clank
Orvus created the soul of Clank, who was born in the Solana Galaxy.[12][13] Clank was designated as Orvus' heir, the only other being with access to the Orvus Chamber.[1][4] A digital simulation of Orvus was installed inside Clank's subconscious the day Clank was born.[14] Orvus left Clank a message in the Orvus Chamber, instructing him on the rules of the Great Clock, but giving him his fatherly blessing to choose his own path if it did not involve the Clock.[15] Orvus often spoke highly of Clank.[d]
On one of his last trips outside the Great Clock, Orvus may have encountered Angstrom Darkwater and gifted him a Fulcrum Star.[e]
Two years before A Crack in Time,[18] Dr. Nefarious tricked Orvus into meeting him on Zanifar, under the guise of a scientific meeting.[19] Orvus was captured and interrogated by Nefarious and Pollyx using the Hypersonic Brainwave Scrambler, as they attempted to gain access to the Orvus Chamber. While Nefarious failed to learn the location of the Orvus Chamber, he discovered that Clank was Orvus' heir.[20] Orvus' ultimate whereabouts remain unknown.[21]
A Crack in Time[]
Clank speaking with a version of Orvus in his memory banks.
Beginning in "Unlock Clank's Memory Banks", the digital simulation of Orvus trained Clank to use the Chronoscepter and to become the Senior Caretaker of the Great Clock.[14]
After Clank learned of Orvus' fate, he asked Ratchet to use a time portal on Zanifar to save Orvus from Nefarious.[22] Although Ratchet encountered Orvus in the past, he was unable to save him,[20] leaving Orvus' fate unresolved.[21]
Characteristics[]
Appearance[]
A statue of Orvus in the Temple of Zahn
Orvus differs slightly from other Zoni. He has blue-green eyes, a visible mouth, and wears a pointed headpiece with a yellow time-related sigil. His body is larger than that of other Zoni, clad in a metallic suit with wing-like appliances on his back. Orvus is often depicted wielding the Chronoscepter, which he later gave to Clank.
Personality[]
The Clock, much like time itself, is a gift and not to be tampered with. But like any father, my only wish is that my son does that which makes him feel whole. You are an intelligent and logical being, Clank. But intelligence and logic would have been wasted gifts without honor and loyalty. I am proud to see you came into those on your own. So, should the Clock be too small for your plans, I pray the cosmos light the way towards a future you yourself design. And remember, the universe has a wonderful sense of humor. The trick is learning how to take a joke.
While the other Zoni act as a hive-mind with little individuality, Orvus is expressive and unique. His sense of humor is a core part of his personality,[23][1] and he shares a similar laugh with Clank. Orvus is strong-willed about protecting his work, enforcing the rule that the Great Clock not be misused.[4][b] His willingness to entrust the Zoni Vessel[5] and meet with Dr. Nefarious for scientific purposes[19] demonstrates a degree of friendliness and forgiveness.
Orvus has great admiration and pride in Clank, his son. They share many qualities, including intelligence, a sense of humor, and a degree of naivety.[f] Orvus often spoke reverently of Clank,[4][d] perhaps why Clank alone was entrusted with the Great Clock. Ultimately, Orvus prioritized fatherhood over his ambitions, encouraging Clank to pursue his own path, even if it didn't involve the Great Clock.[15]
Abilities[]
As a Zoni, Orvus possesses typical abilities like teleportation, levitation, and manipulation of time and space. However, he is considered more powerful due to his independence from the hive-mind, and his intellect allowed him to oversee the flow of time.[g] Like other Zoni, Orvus' metal suit enables him to survive outside the Zoni dimension.[17]
Behind the scenes[]
Concept art.
Orvus was designed with large eyes to visually resemble Clank and shares Clank's signature laugh to establish a connection between the two.[29]
Orvus' character was inspired by a combination of senior writer T.J. Fixman's grandparents.[30]
Notes[]
Annotations[]
- ↑ During the events of A Crack in Time, 117,000 Zoni operated the Great Clock, with their numbers dwindling due to the Hypersonic Brainwave Scrambler.[3] The exact number of Zoni currently operating the Great Clock or residing in their own dimension is unknown.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Orvus reiterates that the Great Clock is not meant to alter time, as "the slightest misuse of its power can rip the very fabric of existence".[4] This restriction may also have been to prevent potential misuse of its power.
- ↑ Fongoids appear to worship Orvus and the Zoni, using the phrase "Praise Orvus" commonly,[7][8] and building statues in the Zoni's honor. The Zoni were also referred to as deities by fongoid Grimroth Razz,[9] whose brother Felton Razz had migrated to the Solana Galaxy from Polaris,[10] in Ratchet & Clank (2016 game).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Orvus presumably followed Clank's adventures, expressing great pride in Clank to Sigmund,[4] and later praising Clank in a recording for his honor and loyalty.[15]
- ↑ Angstrom Darkwater claims "their leader" gave him the Fulcrum Star.[16] It is unknown if Darkwater was referring to Orvus or the leader of a small group of Zoni. Orvus is known to have left the Great Clock only three times,[17] but as the Zoni are a hive mind and have no other known leaders, it is likely he was referring to Orvus.
- ↑ Clank displays intelligence and an inquisitive nature throughout the series,[24] traits he shares with Orvus, who built the complex Great Clock.[17] Clank's humor is also a key part of his character.[25] Orvus showed naivety in meeting with Dr. Nefarious for "science" despite Nefarious' history as a villain,[19] and Clank has also shown naivety, such as trusting Captain Qwark when Ratchet did not.[26]
- ↑ Dr. Nefarious describes the Great Clock as a "marvel of science and sorcery, engineered by the brightest Zoni in all of existence".[27] Given Orvus' role in designing and building the Great Clock,[1][28] Nefarious was likely referring to Orvus, though he may have meant "Zoni" collectively.
Citations[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 A Crack in Time script § "The Great Clock and You"
- ↑ Into the Nexus script § "Find Vendra and Neftin (gameplay)"
- ↑ A Crack in Time script § "Follow the Caretaker's Instructions (gameplay)"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 A Crack in Time script § "Unnecessarily Evil Initiative Omega-91"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 A Crack in Time script § "Search the Temple of Zahn (gameplay)"
- ↑ A Crack in Time script § "The Great Clock: Sector Four"
- ↑ A Crack in Time script § "Locate the Missing Children (gameplay)"
- ↑ A Crack in Time script § "Travel to the Past (gameplay)"
- ↑ Ratchet & Clank (2016 game) script § "Return to the garage (gameplay)"
- ↑ Ratchet & Clank (2016 game) script § "Find the technician (gameplay)"
- ↑ A Crack in Time script § "Epic Fairy Tale Style"
- ↑ A Crack in Time script § "Travel with Sigmund to meet Orvus (gameplay)"
- ↑ A Crack in Time script § "The Caretaker's Awakening"
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 A Crack in Time script § "Unlock Clank's Memory Banks (gameplay)"
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 A Crack in Time script § "The Last Lombax"
- ↑ Quest for Booty script § "Find the Mayor (gameplay)"
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 A Crack in Time menu § "Galactic Trivia"
- ↑ A Crack in Time script § "Explore the Fongoid Village in the Past (gameplay)"
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 A Crack in Time script § "Sigmund's Secret"
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 A Crack in Time script § "A Nefarious Revelation"
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Fixman 2017
- ↑ A Crack in Time script § "The Obsidian Eye"
- ↑ A Crack in Time script § "The Great Clock: Sector Four"
- ↑ Up Your Arsenal script § "Repair the Laser Defense Shield (gameplay)"
- ↑ Going Commando script § "And I need it delivered..."
- ↑ Ratchet & Clank (2002 game) script § "Step into the Ring of Heroes..."
- ↑ A Crack in Time script § "All the Time in the Universe"
- ↑ A Crack in Time script § "Travel with Sigmund to meet Orvus (gameplay)"
- ↑ The Art of Ratchet & Clank, p. 179
- ↑ Kubak12, 2015
References[]
- Games
- Insomniac Games (2008). Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 3.
- Insomniac Games (2009). Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 3.
- Bibliograhpy
- Sony Interactive Entertainment (2018). The Art of Ratchet & Clank [Book]. Dark Horse Comics. ISBN 978-1506705729.
- Websites
- Kubak12 (2015, July 10). "T.J. Fixman interviewed by fans!". From Ratchet Galaxy. Archived from the original on November 7, 2019.
- Fixman, TJ [@TJFixman] (2017, August 11). #OrvusLives [Tweet]. Twitter.