Windemere (NPC)

While not appearing in Ultima V: Lazarus, Lord Windemere, and his backstory played an important role in the political climate of Blackthorn's ultimate rise to power over Britannia.

Born the son of the pirate Windemere, Lord Windemere's father had reached great renown and wealth by plundering merchant vessels of the Great Sea, eventually amassing sufficient wealth to purchase his own island, Windemere, on which he constructed a great palace of white marble. Born into wealth, Lord Windemere long held a grudge against Blackthorn and his Oppression. It was Lord Blackthorn's father, a judge in Yew, who put Windemere's father to death during unspecified legal proceedings when his crimes against the citizens of Britannia eventually caught up with him.

Four years prior to the Avatar's arrival to Britannia as chronicled in Ultima V, Lord Windemere had sought to establish a colony on the ruins of Old Magincia, hoping to finally put to rest the ghosts that haunted the once proud town. The town had prospered under the Lord's wise hand, and had attracted many settlers to the island. He had even set up a business agreement with Genne and Felicity to establish a tavern, The Humble Palate, on newly christened New Magincia. It was in this very tavern where Blackthorn's long time friend Shaana would meet her untimely death.

As Lord Windemere rose in political power, he eventually earned a position on the Great Council representing New Magincia, where he fiercely fought to increase the power of the mages in Britannia. This infuriated Blackthorn who represented the fighters and non-magical members of the land. With the loss of Lord British in the Underworld, Lord Windemere had tried to grab power for the Great Council to rule all of Britannia, a move which Blackthorn fiercely opposed, which soon led to open violence between the two parties.

Enraged by the death of Aegean, Windemere had sought to crush Lord Blackthorn's forces in Jhelom, but Blackthorne had managed to repel Windemere's invasion of the island, defeating the warrior Geoffrey in single combat. After Lord Blackthorn discovered proof that Lord Windemere had slaughtered innocents in his pursuit of power, he had the Councillor arrested. The other members of the Great Council allowed Windemere to be released in Blackthorn's absence, and the Councillor fled Castle Britannia.

Windemere eventually met his doom within the walls of his keep, after Blackthorn, enraged by the death of Shaana, sought to crush Windemere's fleet. Blackthorn launched an invasion of the island, and despite inferior numbers, used the power of the Shadowlords to crush Windermere's army to a man, destroying all within the island of Windemere.

Lord Windemere's skull was eventually saved for use by the sorceress Elistaria, who used it to summon and bind the demon Saer'bhan to Britannia.