Tales of the Potentials: The Black Sorceress

"The circle entwined; embrace this worthy one. The Thorn is power, and the power is absolute."

This orient was conceived by an inner circle that was forged in Los Angeles known as the Circle of the Blackthorn. Although it is unknown how far back the circle goes, it is said to be the "tip of the spear" for the Senior Partners, also known as the Wolf, Ram, and the Hart. They are the earthly instruments that maintain the line between man's humanity and inhumanity. Once a powerful law firm, Wolfram and Hart suffered a financial and mystical descent into the very thing they were trying so hard to bring to light: the inevitable Apocalypse. When the members fell one by one by the Champion's disciples, it was already too late.

The law firm was being brought to its knees with demons from various dimensions waging a bloodthirsty war to destroy Angel, and undo all the good he tried to do. After the deaths of Marcus Hamilton, Helen Brucker, and Archduke Sebassis, the Senior Partners retreated back to the planning table to devise an ace in the hole to cover up a major wrinkle in their apocalyptic endeavors. Each Blackthorn member had a unique trait derived from Zyloridian: a supernatural leash to keep the inner circle from overthrowing the Partners. Combined with the supernatural blood from Marcus, unflinching influence from Senator Brucker, and the will to command an army by the Archduke, their traits took on the form of a woman that was referred to as the "Prodigy of the Senior Partners".

Ruthless and unshakeable, the Black Sorceress is sent to an alternate reality to where the Apocalypse takes a turn for the worse when Angel, Spike, Gunn, and Illyria were gaining the upper hand. Before being sent to the alternate dimension, the Partners had this to say.

"The Vampire with a soul and the Slayer horde must be wiped from the face of this planet. Through you, we can restore man's inhumanity to man, and rebuild the world from its fallacies to our own truth. Be relentless, but also be mindful. One sidestep, and balance will descend further. Go in the name of our order. You are our Prodigy."