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| “ | Curien, Goldman, it's time for humans to decide: Extinction or evolution? | „ |
| ~ Thornheart in the intro to House of the Dead: Scarlet Dawn. |
| “ | Goldman took evolution to be biological adaptability, [sic] but I consider it to be truly about the human mind. Arrogance, greed, envy, rage, lust, veracity, laziness... All great expressions. We need to get rid of the dead wound. It's time to carry out Noah's Ark! Let's start a new evolution! | „ |
| ~ Thornheart. |
Thornheart is the overarching antagonist of the House of the Dead series. He is a businessman who walks with a noticeable limp. He is also a survivor of an unknown rare disease and the mastermind of the 2006 incident at the manor using his biologically-engineered creatures, and also a previous collaborator with the now both deceased Dr. Roy Curien and Caleb Goldman.
He first appeared as a minor antagonist in The House of the Dead III, The House of the Dead 4, Special and as the main antagonist of The House of the Dead: Scarlet Dawn.
History[]
Background[]
There is little known about Thornheart's life. According to Kate, his ancestors founded the DBR Corporation in 1880, and he was thought to have died due to a rare disease. He was also in a partnership with Dr. Roy Curien and Caleb Goldman, whose research led to two zombie attacks in 1998 and 2000 respectively, which ended in both men being killed. The degree of Thornheart's involvement (if any at all) in those two incidents is uncertain.
Pandora's Box[]
In 2003, three years following Goldman's demise, Goldman launched another zombie invasion beyond the grave and hoped to revert humanity back to their natural state. He planned for this to be used with the Pandora's Box, which included a new experiment which would decimate most of humanity. The plot was foiled by agents Kate Greene and James, with the latter sacrificing himself.
Following the event, Thornheart enters into his office and settles into a desk, calling Goldman as a "soft individual" as he states that humanity needs no hope, before subtly reminding that a "true ending" is in the works, adding that "there is more than one Pandora's Box."
Later on, he visits the laboratory where the protagonists Kate Green and G fought The Magician, saying that Pandora's Box has ended but wonders if there is any hope left, declaring the continuance of the "The Wheel of Fate". The Wheel of Fate would later be revealed to be a rebirthed Curien, which during the time, was still in the stages of growing at the EFI Research Facility, and being prepared for awakening at some point in the future.
Stepping into the spotlight[]
In 2006, three years following Goldman's second attempt to devolve humanity, Thornheart unleashes a hoard of zombie creatures at a dinner party at Scarecrow Manor, saying "There is more to come! Run until you die!" Kate Green and Ryan Taylor begin to deal with the zombie creatures. They later find a picture of Thornheart along with the late Dr. Roy Curien and Caleb Goldman, with Kate saying that in the year 1880 the organization his ancestors made was "The beginning of everything".
He then sends more of his undead minions against the world but is eventually confronted by protagonists Kate Green and Ryan Taylor. In the game's standard ending, he can be heard saying, "It's impossible to change a predefined future.".
Following the Wheel of Fate's defeat[]
In 2019, thirteen years following the attack on Scarecrow Manor incident, a much younger and healthier looking Thornheart is seen walking into the chamber where the Wheel of Fate was defeated and picks up a glowing canister revealed earlier as Daniel's cure. As he holds it in his hands, he chuckles to himself saying, "It appears that he didn't understand its true purpose," and then walks off.
Personality[]
Thornheart was shown to harbor a strong contempt for humanity, believing they are beyond hope, unlike his colleague Goldman. It has yet to be revealed what his motives and goals are, as well as his previous ties to both Curien and Goldman.
Quotes[]
| “ | It appears they didn't understand its true purpose. | „ |
| ~ Thornheart in the one of the endings from The House of the Dead III. |
| “ | Goldman, you are soft. These wretched humans have no need for hope. Soon the true end shall begin. There is more than one Pandora's Box. | „ |
| ~ Thornheart in one of the endings from The House of the Dead 4. |
| “ | So Pandora's Box has been closed. That is if there is any "hope" left. The Wheel of Fate cannot be stopped | „ |
| ~ Thornheart in the good ending from The House of the Dead 4: Special. |
| “ | There is more to come! Run until you die! | „ |
| ~ Thornheart as he releasing his creatures onto the civilians. |
| “ | If human beings are going to die, just let them die. Finally...the new human evolution has begun! | „ |
| ~ Thornheart. |
| “ | Goldman and Curien were gone, but I was reborn from a fatal disease. I choose to be alive! | „ |
| ~ Thornheart. |
| “ | Can't you see it? The future looks plural, but in truth--there is just one! I can see it with my eyes! | „ |
| ~ Thornheart. |
| “ | It is the time...The time for new life to be born in a new evolution! | „ |
| ~ Thornheart. |
| “ | It's impossible to change a predefined future. Your ordeal has only just begun. | „ |
| ~ Thornheart in the standard ending House of the Dead: Scarlet Dawn. |
Trivia[]
- The character's appearance has altered between games. In The House of the Dead 3 (although barely seen), his model depicts him as a man in his 40s. But in the prequel The House of the Dead 4, he appears slightly more middle aged around his 50s. In his full debut in The House of the Dead: Scarlet Dawn (which takes place between the previous two games) he is shown to be very old in appearance and inhuman looking. It is unclear if these massive changes are a retcon on the developers part or has an in-universe reason.
- His appearance and voice in The House of the Dead 3 and 4 resemble The G-Man, a mysterious entity of the Half-Life series.
- His laugh in his ending in The House of the Dead III somewhat resembles Goldman's laugh from The House of the Dead 2.
- The House of the Dead fans referred to Thornheart commonly as the "Mystery Man", who often speculated on his identity. Popular theories included Thornheart being Goldman or Harry Harris from The House of the Dead 2, or Papa Caesar from The House of the Dead: Overkill. Only after the story developed further was the identity and the Thornheart story finally revealed.
- Thornheart is the first main antagonist to canonically survive in the House of the Dead series.
- Thornheart is considered to be the Greater Scope Villain of the House of the Dead series, due to his ancestors founding the DBR, working behind the scenes of the third and fourth games, and using the research of Curien and Goldman to further his own goals.
- He is established as the most evil antagonist of the House of the Dead franchise. Despite Curien and Goldman's evil deeds the former went mad due to trying to save his son, and the latter still had hope in humanity and wanted to stop them ruining the world. Thornheart didn't believe humanity had any hope and wished instead to annihilate them.
- He is the only main antagonist to appear in more than two games, appearing in four games in total (although three of them were cameos as he didn't take a central role until the fifth game). This succeeds Curien and Goldman, as both only appear in two games. Unknown to fans, if he ever returns in the next House of the Dead game in the future, the only remaining Tarot Card (for the boss character) haven't been used was "The Devil".
- There is a strong possibility that Thornheart resurrected Curien as the Wheel of Fate just as Goldman was also implied to be the one who did such work. This is evident at the end of the fourth game's mini-sequel called "Special", where he limps into the Magician's laboratory, stating that Pandora's Box may be closed but declares that "the Wheel of Fate cannot be stopped". It could be implied that with Goldman dead, Thornheart secretly continued this work.
- It is unknown to Thornheart will make his return in the future House of the Dead game, he will antagonizing the AMS agents in dangerous mission and his game.
External Links[]
- Thornheart on the Pure Evil Wiki
- Thornheart on the Wiki of the Dead Wiki
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