Thomas Blackstaff is a character in Stronghold 3.
Character
Blackstaff is a military leader with an ambiguous background.
He is a loyal and competent leader, who does not betray his brothers-in-arms and superiors. Having devoted most of his life battling outlaws, Blackstaff knows how to handle military situations and defend the innocent. Blackstaff has only one core objective: serving the country and the military royal to the throne, forever.
Blackstaff has an apparent weakness, where he fails to save his relatives from the grasp of the Brotherhood. Forced to leave Greyshore Island, he does not take his brother with his wife to the relative safety of his army, even after a few years.
Biography
Return of the Wolf
Thomas Blackstaff is one of the greatest military leaders in Britain, who controls his own castle and army in the Marshlands. Although he is a skilled asset in the Royal Army, he is charged with treason and forced to leave the army, severely damaging his reputation. Blackstaff forces himself into hiding, with is private army of Marshland Rangers.
The Boy learns of Blackstaff from Sir Longarm a few years later, looking for allies in order to repel the Jackal. Though Longarm warns him of Blackstaff's uncertain allegiance, the Boy seeks him out. He has to fight through Rupert Silverback's forward scouts, who took camp in front of Blackstaff's castle. Much to his luck, the castle opens and Blackstaff welcomes the Boy and his army.
The Boy unfolds his cards and assures a surprised Blackstaff that the Royal Court is ready to take him back, in exchange for his services alongside the Boy. Blackstaff inclines, however he says that he only holds up his end if the Boy saves him from the impending attack of Silverback. The two agree on it.
As the rebel army beats back the rodent's forces, the Boy goes after the Sultan to seek his support. After a treacherous run for the other fleeing rats, Roger Scabcoat and Greytail, Blackstaff is charged by the Boy to find the rodents and hunt them down, while the main army goes after the Jackal.
Blackstaff's Campaign
In pursuit, Blackstaff tracks Silverback with his army to his homeland, Greyshore Island. He learns from his brother that Greyshore is under the extortionate and oppressive control of a syndicate, the Brotherhood and the Archbishop, who also supports the rodents with military and economic assets. The civilians on the island are greatly dissatisfied with the de facto rulers, however they cannot bear arms against them due to the reigning terror.
Using the island to his advantage, Blackstaff gains the support of a local village and beats back Silverback's advancing army. Now with a foothold behind his back, he leads an attack against the Rat's castle and conquers it, killing its owner, which incites a great anger among the other Rats. They send an ultimatum, which Blackstaff declines, sparking a siege on Silverback's former castle by the joint task force of them and the Brotherhood. The attack is thwarted and Blackstaff gains the momentum.
Blackstaff finds that the Rats hide on the very lands of the Archbishop himself and immediately goes after them. After a prolonged battle, not only he disposes of the rodents, but he also manages to tackle the Archbishop and the commander of his armed forces. Both Brotherhood members are spared and they are sent back to the mainland for trial.
| Good characters | The Boy • Lady Catherine • The King of England • Thomas Blackstaff • The Iron Duke • The Sultan • Sir Longarm |
| Antagonists | The Wolf • The Jackal • Rupert Silverback • Greytail • Roger Scabcoat • Bishop Redham • Earl Swinefoot |