Ortega
| Ortega | |
| Dragon Quest III Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake | |
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| Sprite(s) |   
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| Japanese name | オルテガ |
| Romaji | Orutega |
| Race | Human |
| Family | Wife Child |
| Voice actor | Dave Jones II (III-HD) Daisuke Yanase (Live Spectacle Tour) |
Ortega is a character who debuted in Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation. He is the father of the Hero and a famous hero in his own right. He departed from Aliahan at the king's request that he slay the archfiend Baramos before his evil machinations bring chaos to the world. By the Hero's 16th birthday, Ortega was believed to have fallen into the Great Pit of Giaga and died, and so the Hero set out to finish their father's quest.
Appearance and personality[edit]
Ortega was originally depicted as a blue-coloured pallet swap of the common hood monster, owing to the fact that the 2-megabit Famicom cartridge was completely full and no personal sprites could be implemented for him. This would change in the 1991 American release under the name of Dragon Warrior III, where the expanded cartridge size allowed Chunsoft artist Hazuki Kurikara to design his first official appearance. This 8-bit design would be referenced by Heartbeat for the 1996 Super Famicom remake of the game, with the largest difference being that his weapon was switched from a sword to an axe and his main colour shifted from blue to light-brown.
In app of his appearances Ortega is a muscular, heavily scarred man nearing the final stages of middle-age in all of his appearances, having irregularly spiked hair and an unkempt beard. His clothing varies between the two designs, such as in the American version of III released on the NES in 1992 he is depicted wearing a set of blue armour with matching greaves and wrist guards and a plain sword. Ortega's modern design eschews this outfit for a simple brown tunic, matching belt and boots, and a golden tiara that matches the silver one worn by his child. The sword has been replaced by a gargantuan axe as large as Ortega's torso with golden trim set into the bit and handle, wrapped with a blue fabric that matches the gem set into the end knob. Complimenting this is a black circular shield that also has golden trim.
Despite looking the part of a fearsome barbarian Ortega maintains a jovial demeanor and easily makes friends during his globetrotting, leading to him being beloved by countless people the world over. Ortega is the concept of the selfless hero personified, being a man ready to put aside his own happiness for the sake of the greater good when the entire world is threatened even though it deeply pains him to leave behind his wife and child. He shoulders this herculean task alone on the basis that he is the only man remotely capable of it, never once attempting to force the burden on to a companion or party of allies, with a dauntless stoicism seen in his unflinching gaze. Though this lone wolf tendency is born out of a sense of personal responsibility rather than pride or arrogance, it never the less would prove disastrous for the man later in his life and is the very reason why the King of Aliahan implores Ortega's child to take on a band of comrades before venturing out on their own quest.
Appearances[edit]
Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation[edit]
When the Hero was just a newborn, Ortega bid farewell to his beloved wife and left on a quest to destroy the archfiend Baramos. He is shown in an intro movie in III, fighting a dragon on top of a volcano which ends with both of them falling in. The intro is further expanded in the Super Famicom and Game Boy Color remakes, showing Ortega travelling the world on his quest before finally reaching the volcano and the fateful battle.
Prior to this, Ortega visited nearly every town and significant location that his offspring later would, fostering a reputation as an incredible hero. Of particular note is his time spent in Mur after being discovered unconscious outside the village, where the children were in awe of him and gave him the nickname Peredvizhnik ("wanderer"). One such youth, Petya even viewed him as a surrogate father figure. Touched by the kindness of the children, Ortega left Petya his helmet as a keepsake.
After falling through the mantle of the upper world after his volcanic skirmish, Ortega found himself in Alefgard without his memories. Learning of the plight of the people, he made his way to Rimuldar and took upon himself the quest of defeating Zoma, eventually making his way to Zoma's Citadel and confronting one of Zoma's underlings, King Hydra, just moments before his child arrives.
The fight with King Hydra would be Ortega's last, his body so badly burned that he was unable to see nor hear and begins speaking to the Hero as he senses someone is near. In his final moments, he regains his memory and with his dying breath tells the Hero that he is Ortega of Aliahan and if they ever travel there, to tell his wife and child what happened, that he's sorry he failed, and that he couldn't be there for them.
As Ortega is a non-playable character, the fight between Ortega and King Hydra is fully scripted. This fight cannot be won by Ortega, however through randomization, it can last for upwards of five minutes, and ultimately will end regardless once Ortega is out of MP . In the original NES Version of Dragon Quest III, after being killed by King Hydra, a special "Ortega's Death" theme played. However, this song was removed from subsequent ports of Dragon Quest III.
Ortega is shown using these spells during his fight with King Hydra.
Resurrection[edit]
If the Hero and party defeat the dragon goddess Xenlon, they are offered a wish to bring Ortega back to life. If this wish is granted, Ortega is restored to life outside of Aliahan and stays at the house with the Hero's mother. This only applies in the remake versions of Dragon Quest III, as Xenlon does not appear in the original release.
Ortega has no memory of his death in Zoma's castle or his time spent in Alefgard, but is happy to be home. He states how proud he is of the fine young man/woman his child has grown into, and declares that it is time for the new generation to take care of the worlds plights while he hangs up his sword--though he does admit he'd love to adventure with his child but cannot bear the thought of leaving his wife alone again after so long. Ortega will also quietly ask if there is a way to get his wife to ease up on the blabbering as she fills him in on what he's missed.
All Aliahan NPC dialogue, save for the Mini medal collector and old man by the well, is affected by Ortega's revival. Even the King of Aliahan snaps out of his depression when news of Ortega's return reaches him, but insists that he rest before meeting with him to discuss Zoma's declaration of war.
Known visits[edit]
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake[edit]
Ortega is the star of several new written for the game, giving players a deeper insight into the man who carried the fate of the world on his shoulders:
- The opening cinematic from the Super Famicom version has been split up, with the segment where the Hero's Mother asks Ortega to delay his journey until their child is older now playing during a flashback as she prepares the teen to speak with the King of Aliahan. The portion where a merchant and masked thug present the custom-made helm for Ortega to the Hero's Mother now plays when the Hero returns home after obtaining it.
- Ortega encounters the wandering swordsman Simão during his travels, befriending him after an intense duel where both men are astounded by the other's skill. They travel the world for some time before Simão catches wind of the impostor king in his native Manoza while Ortega worries that the horde of monsters has begun tracking them down. The two decide to split up for a time to make them more difficult to track and plan on rejoining before facing Baramos, with Ortega considering taking up an alias to keep a low profile.
- The dwarf living in the eponymous shrine travelled with Ortega for some time after his split with Simão. One night around a campfire, the dwarf remarks that Ortega's helm has seen better days and boasts that he could fix it up if he had any of the mythical zenithium ore. Learning of the metal and its miraculous durability puts the wandering hero in good spirits, reflecting on his dream of bringing peace to the world and being able to return to his family at last. Placing a hand on the battered helm, he states his intent to give it to his offspring once the long journey is over.
- Ortega's time in Mur is now shown via cutscenes wherein he saves the fishing village from a legion of monsters that pursed him into the north. It is elaborated that he left his helmet to Petya as a keepsake due to it being damaged beyond repair, and in the English localization it is implied that he took the name Peredvizhnik from the local word for wanderer as his alias.
- The nondescript monster that fought Ortega on the rim of Mt. Necrogon in the Super Famicom version has been fleshed out into the Garboyle character, chiefest of Baramos' subordinates. The closing of their fight has been reversed, with Ortega charging the monster to force it into the volcano after being swarmed by its minions.
- The King of Alefgard recognizes the Hero as Ortega's child, and reveals that Ortega fell into the underworld some decade prior to the Hero's arrival. He was rescued by a guardsman and was nursed to health within the castle, but lost his memories save for his name. Though his memories had faded his sense of duty and justice did not, departing the castle to slay Zoma.
- A faerie living in the Shrine of the Spirit will recognize the Hero as Ortega's child and explain how he saved her when she was ambushed by monsters. She spoke with him for a time before he resumed his mission, learning that he lost his memories; she warns the Hero of the real possibility that Ortega will not be able to recognize his own flesh and blood, and implores the Hero help her savior.
- Ortega left behind a diary in Rimuldar along with his recovery ring. He writes that he sees Aliahan in his dreams, though he has forgotten its name, and that fragments of his memories have begun to return. He recalls that he was the finest warrior in the land, who departed on a long journey to rid the world of encroaching evil, which steels his resolve in the present. On the final page Ortega writes of three faces he cannot place, being his father, wife, and child; he is unsure if they are his family or simply close to him, and he solemnly concludes that if they are his kin then they must surely resent him for choosing his mission over them.
The final addition to Ortega's story takes place after his fatal encounter with the King Hydra in the depths of Zoma's citadel. If the player is wearing the Auroral Helm when speaking with the blinded Ortega, the familiar touch of his beloved helmet tells him he is with his child at last.
Dragon Quest of the Stars[edit]
Ortega appears as a playable character for the first time in the mobile phone title, and with the exclusive vocation of Hero's Father. He can be recruited by the player in the Dragon Quest III scenario prior to the battle with King Hydra. He can be spared his fate thanks to the player's actions and his clothing is also available as cosplay gear.
Dragon Quest Rivals[edit]
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Trivia[edit]
- The opening movie to the 25th anniversary compilation of the Erdrick Trilogy shows a life-size carving of Ortega in the Hero's home, explaining how they can recognize their father despite his departure so early in their life.
- Ortega's Helm is the only part of the Erdrick Equipment set that originally belonged to the Hero's family, making it a true heirloom for future descendants.
- Ortega's Helm doesn't exist in the NES version. In its place is a novelty item called the joker's soaker.
- In the original Famicom version, his appearance in the battle with the King Hydra is that of a palette-swapped Robbin' 'Ood. In the English-language NES version, his appearance was changed a unique sprite based off of a male Warrior wearing blue armor. The Super Famicom and Game Boy Color Versions give him his own overworld icon and his battles are depicted as cutscenes that do not use the regular battle screen. Data in the game's ROM suggests that Ortega was originally planned to use Robbin' 'Ood colors and fight King Hydra in a normal battle screen, but this plan was scrapped in favor of the distinct design and cinematic battles.
- Ortega is not shown using any spells in the HD-2D version of the game
Gallery[edit]
Fighting atop the pit of Giaga in the NES version
Battle sprite
- Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Battle sprite in Japan.
Ortega's main HD sprite sheet
With helm
Wounded in Mur
Appearance in Stars.
Artwork in Rivals.
Tact official art.
Tact portrait.
Reference sketch for his American NES sprite.
Concept art by Hazuki Kurikara
Ortega being featured in a Weekly Shonen Jump preview of III-HD
Fan art by Yumiko Murakami for the 38th anniversary
