Father Orlando Ricci was an enigmatic young Spanish-born Vatican City priest who sought the assistance of archaeologist Indiana Jones in October 1937 to acquire information on a legendary warrior giant who fought during the Crusades.
By that time, however, Ricci had inserted himself as the head of a revived Cult of Mithras and had become obsessed with being granted enlightenment by his Roman god. He manoeuvred Jones into helping unlock centuries-old secrets beneath the Italian capital but his machinations ultimately earned Ricci an early demise.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Orlando Ricci was born in Seville, Spain on January 5, 1903. His formal education was overseas in Washington DC at the Catholic University of America. He eventually joined the clergy as a Vatican City priest, arriving with strong recommendations. There, Ricci became acquainted with fellow academics such as Fathers Morello and Borgnino while getting an office of his own at the Tower of Winds as he maintained his family estate at the nearby Palazzo Ricci. Although Ricci held a pronounced interest in esotericism, one particularly centered around ancient Roman mysteries, it was known to Vatican officials when vetting him for his role as a conservator and he was lauded for being able to keep his personal matters isolated from his work.[2]
Facing Indiana Jones[]
On October 23, 1937, having soon learned that a friend of Father Antonio Morello known as "Father Gallagher" wandering around the Holy See was actually a disguised Indiana Jones, Father Orlando Ricci asked the archaeologist to track down a mysterious artifact, given how Father Cesare Ventura had expelled him from the Vatican's grounds and alerted Prime Minister Benito Mussolini and his Blackshirts about his activities to the point of breaking into his house despite Father Johann Schwarz's investigation of his background not identifying any worrying elements or questionable circumstances. However, the man was secretly manipulating Jones in his position as the clandestine leader of a dangerous cult operating below Rome, Italy in a heretical effort to summon his god Mithras and achieve enlightenment. Once Jones recovered all three cylindrical pieces to form the Arcanum Tripartitus and came back to Ricci's office beneath his family estate, Ricci revealed his true allegiances at gunpoint, claiming the Tripartitus for himself and leaving Jones and Pio behind, locking them up in the office for good measure as he left them to reunite with his cultists.[2]
Death[]
His machinations ultimately backfired when Jones' pulling on the thread of the mystery unlocked the Monster's Gate and Ricci discovered that what he thought was the sacrificial bull required to meet Mithras was actually a sleeping giant. Entering into the Tauroctony Chamber, Ricci blindsided his part-time ally and called out to his god as he prepared to stab the Nephilim with the Golden Dagger of Mithras.[2]
Roused from his slumber, "Abgal the Minotaur" lifted the terrified cultist off the ground and killed him with his bare hands. Ricci's mangled corpse remained as Abgal carried himself and the trapped Jones up the chamber up into the Colosseum above and engaged the archaeologist in a duel that ultimately ended with the platform coming apart, sending Ricci's body to join Abgal in his grave.[2]
Personality and traits[]
As noted by Father Johann Schwarz of the Vatican's Secretariat of State, Orlando Ricci's skill as a conservator demonstrated exceptional ability and his investigation methodology reflected a meticulous attention to detail. Able to act with considerable discretion in personal matters, gaining the trust of not only Schwarz but of academics like Father Borgnino that enabled him to abuse his access to the Vatican Museums for his own ends, Ricci showed a marked interest in esoteric subjects which was but a hint to the depths to which his fascination with the Roman occult lay.[2]
A delusional fanatic, Ricci led the Cult of Mithras from the shadows of Rome, Italy deep within the Cloaca Maxima's tunnels, being responsible for the disappearances and murders of multiple individuals whom he deemed necessary for his plan to track down his sacrificial bull and honor his Roman god. While initially cordial and approachable to Indiana Jones, Ricci merely manipulated the archaeologist into assisting him in his goals. Once Jones was no longer useful, however, Ricci locked him up in his hideout and abandoned his pet parrot Pio in the process, proving his devotion to Mithras was paramount.[2]
Behind the scenes[]
Father Ricci is a character developed for the DLC story expansion for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle titled "The Order of Giants". He was reported to be a "young, cryptic priest" who sought Indiana Jones' help to track down a mysterious artifact before the DLC's adventure unravels.[1] His first name "Orlando" and his true allegiances were revealed upon the DLC's launch.[2]
Appearances[]
Sources[]
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Digital Art Book (First appearance)
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants Teaser Trailer and Release Date Revealed on Lucasfilm.com (backup link on Archive.org)
New Trailer Revealed for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants on Lucasfilm.com (backup link on Archive.org)
