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 became cruel and evil.

He codified the Virtues into draconian laws, and erected 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 Oppression (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 rather than face the judgement of the Great Council, whom he had persecuted or jailed during his rule.

Walking through a red Moongate created by Lord British's Orb of the Moons, he vanished from Britannia to an unknown location.

It is known from a book on Serpent Isle that he lived with the Xenkan Monks for an undefined span of time, becoming a humble man by their accounts. He left the monks to go on his own travel before the Avatar arrived on the Serpent Isle. What happened to him after this is not known. (Some fans, particularly those who ignore Ultima IX, consider Blackthorn to still reside on the island - he is the nameless Xenkan monk who observes the salt tides.)

In Ultima IX, Blackthorn returned to the Britannia as the Guardian's left hand. (Most fans found this turn of events extremely curious, considering how Blackthorn apparently left the Monk Isle as a better person!) He was ultimately killed by Lord British.

Trivia

 * If you are captured in Castle Blackthorn without a Black Badge and the password of the Oppression, your party will face Blackthorn's torture chamber. It is possible for your party members to face permanent death here, though the Avatar him/herself is never killed.
 * Blackthorn held the Shield of Valor, before acting as the ruler in Lord British's absence. The shield is found in Ultima Underworld I.
 * Blackthorn is impossible to kill in combat in Ultima V.