Lord Blackthorn

Lord Blackthorn is the central villain of Ultima V. He also makes an appearance in Ultima IX.

Blackthorn's real-life counterpart is Starr Long, one of the long-time Origin employees, best known as the co-creator of Ultima Online.

Blackthorn was prior to Ultima V, a close friend of Lord British, and known as a very virtuous and wise man. So it came as no surprise that Blackthorn was chosen to rule by Lord British, while he would explore the Underworld. However, the Shadowlords, once they had captured Lord British, started to twist and poison his mind, and in the end, Blackthorn bacame cruel and evil.

He codified the Virtues into draconian laws, and errected a horrible dictatorship under the influence of the Shadowlords. This was the state of things in Ultima V, when the Avatar arrived. Blackthorn tried to imprison Lord British forever, as he also told the Avatar under the impression, that the Avatar had joined the Opression (a lip-service done by the Avatar). But Lord British was freed, and the Shadowlords destroyed. Blackthorn, now free of their influence, became aware of what he had done, and accepted Lord British's offer of exile to redeem himself and give the people of Britannia the peace they deserved after the horrors of the dictatorship.

Walking through a red Moongate, he ended on the Serpent Isle. There, he lived with the Xenkan Monks for an undefined span of time, again becoming a humble and virtuous man. He left the monks to go on his own travel shortly before the Avatar arrived on the Serpent Isle. What happened to him after this, is not known.

Trivia

 * Blackthorn held the Shield of Valor, before acting as the ruler in Lord British's abscense. The shield is found in Ultima Underworld I.


 * Blackthorn appeared as villan in Ultima IX, but many were unhappy with this turn of events, since there was no explanation, and Blackthorn had become a humble man in Ultima VII/2.