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Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch, known as The Witches of Morva, are three neutral characters from Disney's 1985 feature film The Black Cauldron. Infamous for making bargains, they sold the Black Cauldron for Taran's Magic Sword.

Appearances[]

The Black Cauldron[]

In the film, as Taran, Eilonwy, and Fflewddur go looking for the Black Cauldron, they eventually find it in the three witches' possession. The witches are quite unwilling to give the Cauldron up; however, once Taran reveals he intends to destroy the Cauldron, they laughingly trade the Cauldron for his magical sword, but it is only after the trade that they cackling reveal the Cauldron cannot be destroyed; the only way to break its power is for a living being to willingly enter it, and that being would never be able to leave it alive. As it turns out, obtaining the Cauldron was not a smart move on Taran's part at all; with the Witches, it would've been secure forever, though now that it is his possession, the guards of the Horned King immediately come and take it.

After the Horned King is defeated and Gurgi has broken the Cauldron's power by jumping into it, the Witches appear to retrieve the Cauldron. Fflewddur stops them by asking for a bargain to return the Cauldron. Orwen offers Taran his sword back, but Taran declines in order to initiate a different trade: the cauldron in return for them restoring Gurgi. They are reluctant, but once Fflewddur accuses them of having no real power, the witches fly into a fury, vanishing in a tornado with the Cauldron and leaving Gurgi's body behind. Gurgi awakens soon after.

Gallery[]

Wiki
The Disney Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch.

Trivia[]

  • Originally, they were going to be joined as one in one skirt, before was changed in the final film release.
  • In the original books, the witches are Prydain's equivalent of the Fates, who similarly control the lives of mortals through the threads on their loom.
  • This was not Billie Hayes' (Orgoch) first foray as a witch, as she is most famous for her role as Wilhelmina W. Witchiepoo in the cult classic television series H.R. Pufnstuf.
  • Their role can be viewed as strictly neutral rather than heroic, antagonistic, or even anti-heroic; they never pick a side between the mortals and the Horned King.


v - e - d
The Black Cauldron logo
Media
The Black CauldronSoundtrackVideo gameChronicles of PrydainVideo
Disney Parks
Disney Animation BuildingCinderella Castle Mystery Tour
Fireworks: Wonderful World of AnimationWondrous Journeys
Characters
TaranPrincess EilonwyFflewddur FflamGurgiDallbenHen WenCatTalyllynMooseDallben's Farm AnimalsHorned KingCreeperCauldron BornHorned King's GuardsGwythaintsKing EidillegDoliFair FolkOrddu, Orwen, and OrgochThe Hunter (deleted character) • Arawn (deleted character)
Locations
PrydainCaer DallbenThe Horned King's CastleMarshes of Morva
Objects
The Black CauldronMagic SwordMagic HarpGolden Pelydryn
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