- "It’s time you learn that money is might!" —Before battle with Omar
Morlock is a character in Octopath Traveler. He claims ownership of the entire town of Quarrycrest and its mines, and is the main antagonist of Tressa's Chapter 2. He has a bodyguard called Omar, who serves as the boss of this chapter.
Profile[]
Appearance[]
Morlock is a portly man with a gray beard. He wears a gray shirt and brown pants, with a white cape and a large hat.
Personality[]
Morlock is an extremely self-centered and greedy man who exploits his workers by paying them a tenth of what their gold is worth. He embraces the philosophy that "money is might" and seeks to profit off every opportunity, though he himself is quite cowardly, as demonstrated by him fleeing Quarrycrest when Tressa defeats his bodyguard.
After kidnapping Ali, Morlock remarks, "You won't sell for much, but it's better than nothing." This statement suggests that Morlock is willing to sell his enemies into slavery, making him even more morally corrupt.
Story[]
Morlock is first seen in Quarrycrest alongside his bodyguard, Omar, as the self-proclaimed owner of the entire town and mines, taking any gold found by his workers and giving them a pittance in exchange. He claimed to have chased out the former "stubborn old landlord" to have gained this lucrative position.
After hearing about the success of a couple of merchants selling skystones in the town, Morlock confronted them with Omar, with the latter telling the merchants that the skystones now belong to Morlock. After Ali, one of the merchants, argued against it, he has Omar subdue him and taken back to his manse to further break him physically and mentally. Before departing, he confiscated Tressa's merchandise and gave her 500 leaves for it.
Back at his manse, he marveled at his fortune and as he taunted Ali further, he is confronted by Tressa, the second merchant from earlier about how he treated Ali and his workers. Outraged, he sent Omar to battle her to teach her a lesson. After his defeat, he and Omar retreat from the manse and leave Quarrycrest, to wander the lands of Orsterra. According to his biography,he often gives the mercenary the most unreasonable requests, hoping to get his money's worth before Omar's contract ends.
Quotes[]
- "You won't sell for much, but it's better than nothing." —To Ali
- "Omar! I say, where are we headed now? Are you listening, Omar!?" —In Lower Bolderfall
- "Traveling with only Omar for company can be quite tiring." —When Guided\Allured
- "Do not leave me here like this!" —Parting Ways while Guided
- "You would leave me just so? How impertinent!" —Parting Ways while Allured
- "It would not hurt if I were to take my safety into my own hands!" —When Challenged
- "Why must everything get in my way? It is not fair!" —When Provoked
- "H-how dare you lift a finger against me!" —Failing a Path Action
Gallery[]
Etymology[]
"Morlock" is a surname of German origin, derived from the Middle High German words "mor" (meaning "swamp" or "marsh") and "loch" (meaning "hole" or "pit"). Over time, this term became a nickname for those with black hair. Morlock's name likely represents his muddy morals, as well as his control over the holes and pits of Quarrycrest's mines.
His name may also be a reference to the Morlocks in HG Wells's book The Time Machine, in which Morlocks are a fictional antagonistic species that toil underground.
Trivia[]
- Morlock can be found outside the Tavern in Lower Bolderfall alongside Omar after Tressa's fourth chapter.
- Morlock is one of the few antagonists in Octopath Traveler not to be directly fought as a boss. Like most NPCs, however, he can be fought in a one-on-one battle through Olberic's Challenge or H'aanit's Provoke path action.
- Oddly, Morlock has separate dialogue for Parting Ways while Guided and Allured despite using the same initial dialogue for both.