Orddu, Orwen and Orgoch

Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch are fictional characters in Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain series.

They are three witches who live alone in the Marshes of Morva. Although their identities are apparently fluid and interchangeable, each persona has a distinctive appearance: Orwen wears a necklace of milky stones, Orddu's hair is adorned with many ornaments, and Orgoch's face is shadowed by a black cowl. They were the original owners of the Black Cauldron and lent it to Arawn, who used it to create zombie-like warriors, the Cauldron-Born. Later, they reclaimed it, but were willing to relinquish it again in exchange for a magical price.

The Three Sisters, as they are known, are very mysterious beings. As one of the Fair Folk says to Taran, "It's more a question of what they are, not who they are." In one part of The Black Cauldron, they turn from ugly, ancient hags into three beautiful young maidens (from day to night). Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch can also turn into each other, swapping their identities between them. They appear to take delight in tormenting intruders to their lair with talk of turning them into frogs and stepping on them, smiling the whole time as though they talk about jovial things. It appears that Orddu is the leader of the three, Orwen is the most cheerful, and Orgoch seems to be the most disagreeable as neither of the other two sisters want to "be" her and people seem most perplexed whenever she agrees to do something without grumbling. She also has a strong love for food and would devour anything on legs.

Despite their strange demeanor, the witches claim to not be evil (instead, being interested in things as they are) and indeed seem to seldom carry out their transformation threats, at least to Taran and his friends. They show a dislike of the Cauldron-Born, claim that Arawn spoiled their Cauldron for any of its other purposes, and seem pleased when Taran tricked several Huntsmen into sinking into a bog (it was also implied that they transformed several previous Huntsmen into animals). They also seem to consider stealing the Cauldron back from Annuvin no trouble.

In the books

In The Black Cauldron, Taran and his friends travel to the Marshes of Morva to find them after learning that they are in possession of the Black Cauldron (which they are on a quest to destroy). The witches frighten and unnerve them, but then act very polite after learning that Dallben sent them. It is revealed that they found Dallben in the marshes as a baby and raised him as their own; however, they were forced to send him away after he accidentally ingested a potion that made him their equal in intelligence (as they said, it was too much wisdom in their house). They tease the group during the night by leaving the Cauldron in plain view, but enchanted so that when Taran and his friends try to take it, they cannot release it. After watching this, the sisters release them and agree to sell the Cauldron. After asking absurd prices (such as memories or the North Wind), they are satisfied with a magical brooch that Taran has. They also warn Taran that the only way to destroy the Cauldron is to have a living being voluntarily climb into it.

In Taran Wanderer, Taran goes to the Marshes first when he is on a quest to discover his parentage. As he has no payment, the sisters refuse to directly answer the question; however, they direct him to the Mirror of Llunet and leave him with the advice "The seeking counts more than the finding" and "every robin must scratch for his own worms".

In The High King, the witches make one final appearance near the end, this time in the shape of beautiful maidens (a form only glimpsed in The Black Cauldron). They give Taran a farewell present of an uncompleted tapestry which depicts his life's story. They tell him that they will leave on a journey of their own and when Taran asks for them to give him the answer of one final question as a last boon, they reply (a little sadly) "When in truth did we ever give you anything?" before vanishing.

The witches are Alexander's version of the Fates from Greek and the Norns from Norse mythology and represent the mythological archetype of a triple goddess.

In film

Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch appear in Disney's 1985 animated film The Black Cauldron. Eda Reiss Merin voiced Orddu, Adele Malis-Morey voiced Orwen, and Billie Hayes voiced Orgoch. They serve as minor antagonists despite giving supporting information to the heroes about the nature of the Black Cauldron. Their connection to Dallben is omitted from the film. Orwen (being the most benevolent of them) becomes infatuated with Fflewddur Fflam.

They first appear when Taran and his companions arrive at their house intending to find the Black Cauldron before the Horned King does. The witches are furious when the heroes accidentally free their collection of frogs so the leader, Orddu, threatens to turn the heroes into frogs. Not wanting to waste any more time, Taran decides to get down to business with the witches and informs them that he and his companions have come for the Black Cauldron. Orwen and Orgoch are alarmed at this; however, Orddu decides to handle this. She attempts to appease Taran and sends a collection of pots flying into the room. At the same time, Taran's magical sword starts to slice the objects. The witches watch in confusion as Taran tries to regain control of his sword. Having witnessed the sword's magical power, this prompts the witches to make a bargain with Taran.

The witches inadvertently teach Taran the seriousness of making decisions. Taran agrees to give them the sword, but doesn't plan in advance what to do next once he gets the Black Cauldron. Distracted by his aspiration to destroy the Cauldron alone, Taran does not consider asking the witches for their advice before accepting their bargain. Too late, the heroes find out that nothing can be done to destroy the Cauldron - unless a living thing climbs in out of its free will. Gurgi is about to climb in; however, he loses his courage when Orddu adds that once in the living thing would not come out alive. So Taran had traded his sword for nothing and the Cauldron would have been secure forever with the witches. The witches disappear in the clouds, laughing.

After the Horned King's defeat, the witches are seen again as they prepare to take away the now inactive Cauldron. Orddu even compliments Taran, calling him a hero. The now saddened Taran, however, insists that Gurgi was the hero. Having stopped dreaming of becoming a warrior he rejects the sword but agrees to give the Cauldron back in exchange for Gurgi's life. The witches are reluctant to do so, dismissing this as impossible. Fflewddur Fflam confronts them and accuses them of having no real power. Infuriated, the witches nevertheless honor their last request before disappearing in a destructive tornado. Gurgi wakes up shortly thereafter and the heroes, having finished their quest, return home.

While seen as antagonists, the witches can be considered neutral characters since they give the heroes helpful information and comply with their requests if not reluctantly. Although the witches feel insulted by Fflewddur's remark, they still bring Gurgi back. However, they were motivated by determination to prove Fflewddur wrong rather than sympathy for the heroes' grief. They lack the same desire for power and domination of the world that the main antagonist, the Horned King, has. However, they never choose a side between the heroes and the Horned King.

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