Shadowlords

The Shadowlords are the main villans in Ultima V.

When the Gem of Immortality was shattered by the Stranger, three big shards of it went missing. Each of the shards opposed one of the Principles. The shards ended up in the Underworld, but they were safe there, until the Arart under Captain Johne was sucked into the Underworld by a whirlpool. John found the shards, and they drove him to temporary madness. He slew his three companions with them, and their blood fell on the shards. And from it, the Shadowlords were born:

Astaroth, the brother of Hatred.

Faulinei, the brother of Falsehood.

Nosfentor, the sister of Cowardice.

They wasted no time to spread their evil. Stealing the Vortex Cube from the Gargoyles, they next attacked Lord British in the Underworld, and imprisoned him in the dungeon Doom. Venturing to the surface then, they build their keep of Stonegate, their fortress. Then they corrupted Lord Blackthorn, making him cruel and evil, just to their liking. They themselves haunted the cities, to twist the inhabitants to their bidding, while enjoying the horrors of Blackthorn's dictatorship. It was a dark moment for Britannia.

This was the situation when the Avatar arrived in Britannia in Ultima V. After confronted with the fact, that the Shadowlords were indestructible, he/she learned about the nature of the Shadowlords as much as possible, and finally destroyed them by casting their shards into the flames of principles during their presence. But true evil can't be destroyed, as the Shadowlords were only physical manifestations of the darkness in men's hearts, where they continue to exist, as seen in Martian Dreams, where they confront the Avatar in his/her dreams.

Trivia

 * Defeating a Shadowlord in combat is almost impossible, so forget it.
 * The Shadowlords HAVE to be defeated, otherwise they block the entrance to Dungeon Doom.
 * In Stonegate, all remaining Shadowlords are always present.
 * If the Sceptre is in the Avatar's posession, a Shadowlord will steal it.
 * Between 12:00 and 1:00 in the night, a Shadowlord can't move.