Ormus

"I met Ormus on the docks of Kurast twenty years ago. He had a strange manner of speaking, one that my own comrades attributed to insanity. I, however, suspect that Ormus is a wise and incredibly gifted mage. His spellwork revealed him to be a member of the Taan clan, which focuses on the use of divination, scrying, and other abilities rooted in old Skatsimi mystical rites."

- Deckard Cain^(src)

Ormus
Title	The Mad Poet
Gender	Male
Race	Human
Affiliation	Taan Clan
Class	Mage Sorcerer Shaman Healer
Occupation	Mage
Status	Active
Appearances	Diablo II Diablo Immortal (mentioned only) Diablo IV (mentioned only)To Hell and Back Book of Tyrael (mentioned only)

Ormus is a Mage of the Taan Clan.

Biography

"You now speak to Ormus. He was once a great mage, but now lives like a rat in a sinking vessel. You have questions for Ormus and doubt in yourself. Ormus sees a strange dichotomy in you...as he does in all would-be heroes. Speak to him and he may grant you wisdom in turn. Or turn from him and seek wisdom in thyself."

- Ormus^(src)

By his own account, Ormus was once a great Mage. Judging from his dress and markings, Deckard Cain suspected that he was a member of the Taan Clan. Whatever the truth, in his middle years, Ormus found himself in Kurast, residing at the docks while the rest of the city started to be consumed by the surrounding jungle. By this point, Ormus had been watched by the Viz-Jaq'taar for many years. He provided instruction for a group of heroes pursuing the Dark Wanderer. When they returned with the Gidbinn, he was able to strengthen the spell protecting the docks from the jungle. After their defeat of Mephisto, he urged them to travel through the Infernal Gate to stop Diablo.

Around this period, Ormus took Karshun–an exiled Taan trainee as an apprentice. Seven years later, he received a request for aid from Cain. He sent Karshun in his place.

By 1336, Ormus was still alive, but no longer resided in Kurast.

In-game

Ormus
Ormus, mage of the Taan Clan
Appears in	Diablo II
Significance	Medium
Service(s)	gossip, Healer and Trade services, Quest initiation
Residence(s)	Kurast Docks
Starts quest(s)	Blackened Temple, The Guardian
Portrayed by	William Bassett

Ormus is one of the main vendors and healer in Act III of Diablo II. He gives the Blackened Temple, The Guardian quests, and also finishes the Blade of the Old Religion quest.

He wears a Usekh collar and a loincloth, and goes barefoot.

Dialogue

Main article: Ormus/Dialogue

Personality and Traits

"Oh, Ormus has been talking in riddles for years. I think he does it to cover up the fact that he's got nothing intelligent to say."

- Alkor^(src)

Ormus earned himself the moniker of "the mad poet," due to always talking in rhymes and riddles. Conversations with him were difficult as a result. Alkor suggested that his use of riddles was to hide that he had nothing intelligent to say. He had a strange manner of speaking, referring to himself in the third person, a trait that the heroes he encountered attributed to insanity. Deckard Cain however suspected that Ormus was a wise and incredibly gifted Mage, and that Ormus wanted those around him to think him mad. Ormus however, had little time for Cain, per his negative view on the Horadrim, claiming that pride had led the order to failure.

Ormus was a follower of Skatsim, and had a dim view of the Zakarum faith. By the Great Enmity however, he was more tolerant of outlanders and their beliefs.

Trivia

This section contains facts and trivia relevant to this article.

• Ormus has an armor to his name, namely Ormus' Robes, which is a Unique Dusk Shroud.
• A character named Ormus the Penitent appears in World of Warcraft. More than just having the same name, he provides player characters with rings from gaining reputation with the Ashen verdict within Icecrown Citadel. Similar to that of Diablo II in which he rewards players with a Ring for completing the "Blade of the Old Religion" Quest.
• Ormus has an apprentice named Karshun, who makes an appearance in Diablo Immortal.

Images

Ormus's character model in Diablo II: Resurrected

Ormus in Resurrected