Hardluck

Hardluck is Empath Abbey's Court Jester during the events of Ultima V.

Description
Upon identifying himself as such to the Avatar, he broke into a short jingle that the jester claimed to show that Blackthorn is not the true villain behind the recent events; he, like everyone else, is merely trapped under the control of the Shadowlords, and is the one chosen to do their bidding.

Ultima V: Lazarus
A jester at Empath Abbey, Hardluck introduced himself as a singer of songs, a teller of jokes, and a juggler of various shaped objects, although, he admitted the Abbey was really not the right scene for a person like himself. Asked to sing, Hardluck admitted he usually left such things to Tim, but he was willing to sing a song about Blackthorn, explaining that he was once a great man, but had been corrupted by the evil of the Shadowlords. Further pressed about Blackthorn, Hardluck explained that the liege still sometimes visited the Abbey to speak with Lord Michael, and he could not understand what connection existed between the two that prevented the king from merely taking the keep by force. He detains a "Mysterious gold key" that unlocks a treasure chest somewhere in the game, but as there is only an evil way to get the key I will not expand on the whereabout and content of the chest (it can be found in various walkthroughs).

The Ultima 6 Project
In The Ultima 6 Project, a tombstone in Empath Abbey reads, "Hardluck was a jester - Fellows many, he would pester. - One day he told a Chuckles' joke, - And received in kind, - A deathly choke."

Lore
''Blackthorn once was a good ol' man Upon good principles he would stand But then came the Shadowlords, full of evil Blackthorn's soul they came to steal All at once the Tyranny began All because of Fate's dark hand!''

- Hardluck's song, Ultima V