# Orthis — The Moon Maid character guide

> Orthis in The Moon Maid by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Lieutenant Commander Orthis, Or-this, The Or-this, Brother General Or-this, General Or-this

**First appearance:** 0002-i-the-flight-of-the-barsoom

## Who they are

A brilliant Kalkar commander whose intellect could have saved a conquered world, but whose treachery instead dragged both ships burning into the sea.

## In the story

### [Part I: The Moon Maid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_maid_se/chapters/part-i-the-moon-maid)

Supporting character involved in the events surrounding the Moon Maid's appearance.

### [The Flight of 'The Barsoom'](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_maid_se/chapters/i-the-flight-of-the-barsoom)

Brilliant but unscrupulous lieutenant commander; discoverer of the Eighth Solar Ray; co-supervisor of the Barsoom's construction.

### [The Heart of the Moon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_maid_se/chapters/ii-the-heart-of-the-moon)

Lieutenant Commander who sabotaged the auxiliary engine, Lunar Eighth Ray tank, and radio while under the influence of liquor.

### [III: Human Quadrupeds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_maid_se/chapters/iii-human-quadrupeds)

Lieutenant Commander under arrest; requests to speak to the captain and pleads for mercy, citing his intoxication and the need for every crew member.

### [In the Hands of the Va-Gas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_maid_se/chapters/iv-in-the-hands-of-the-va-gas)

Fights alongside Julian and is captured with him.

### [V: A Lunar Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_maid_se/chapters/v-a-lunar-storm)

Fellow captive; his wristwatch is taken by the chief; comments on the musical quality of the Va-gas language.

### [VII: The Moon Maid Escapes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_maid_se/chapters/vii-the-moon-maid-escapes)

Antagonist who claims Nah-ee-lah as his own and plots to lead the Va-gas to Earth using advanced weapons.

### [Ko-Tah Is Killed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_maid_se/chapters/xiii-ko-tah-is-killed)

Revealed as the Kalkar leader; bombards Laythe and demands Nah-ee-lah's hand in marriage.

### [Back to "The Barsoom"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_maid_se/chapters/xiv-back-to-the-barsoom)

Mentioned as the source of engine repair knowledge and as a threat to Laythe with modern agents of destruction.

### [Prologue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_maid_se/chapters/prologue)

Lieutenant Commander and arch-villain; returns from the Moon with Kalkar fleet; dies in explosion.

### [A Fight on Market Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_maid_se/chapters/iv-a-fight-on-market-day)

Present at the market; shows hostility toward Julian after recognizing him.

### [V: The Court-Martial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_maid_se/chapters/v-the-court-martial)

Presides over the court-martial as Brother General Or-tis, representing Kalkar authority.

### [I: The Desert Clans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_maid_se/chapters/i-the-desert-clans)

The tribe of Or-tis is the ruling house of the Kalkars, and Julian 20th's father fell before the lance of an Or-tis in the Great Feud.

### [IV: The Capital](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_maid_se/chapters/iv-the-capital)

The Kalkar ruler who offers peace to Julian but threatens him with The Butcher when refused.

### [V: The Sea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_maid_se/chapters/v-the-sea)

An Or-tis who forms a truce with Julian and escapes with him.

### [VII: Bethelda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_maid_se/chapters/vii-bethelda)

Bethelda reveals she is an Or-tis, linking her to the blood enemy of Julian's people.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_maid_se/characters/ortis
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_maid_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_maid_se/characters