Circle of the Black Thorn

The Circle of the Black Thorn is a fictional secret society in the television show, Angel. The members of the Circle, the self-fashioned Black Thorns, are considered to be the earthly instruments of the Senior Partners (the cabal of demons behind the evil law firm, Wolfram and Hart), charged with being the driving force behind Wolfram & Hart's apocalyptical plans and dedicated to maintaining "man's inhumanity to man" not from a belief in evil per se, but because being a Black Thorn allows them to amass power for themselves and wield said power with impunity. As an associated organization, Wolfram & Hart works closely with the Circle and performs a number of services for its members.