A bit of (undead) help...

[Quickleaf]

I've got an NPC in my game who is basically a tragic undead on "cold storage" in a special mortuary temple. He's an important part of the story but I don't know what *kind* of undead he is.

His background is he was a half-elf bard who wrote trashy sensationalist accounts of (supposed) romantic conquests under the nom de plume "Prince Charming." However he fell in love with another NPC and cleaned up his ways; however he kept up the secret writing. When his beloved discovered his hobby in a fit of jealously she put a curse on him (she was a sibyl and daughter of the Norns), severing the thread of his destiny which trapped him between life and death. Realizing her mistake too late she went to a "dark power" who agreed to revive the bard for a price. And the bard came back as an undead version of himself.

Any idea what type of undead would be a good fit?

Btw I'm leaning away from vampires since there's another major vampire NPC in the campaign already.

 

[SkredlitheOgre]

Vampire would work. A Devourer would also fit the bill because a Devourer has lots its soul, which you could equate to your heroine 'severing his thread.' Instead of looking for his soul, he's searching for his destiny. Or her.

A Bodak might also work. In 3.5, anyway, bodaks were described as being 'slightly fiendish' as well as undead, so that might fit your 'dark power' angle.

 

[Jeff Carlsen]

You might consider a wight. It appears to remain intelligent.

From the PFSRD:

Wights are humanoids who rise as undead due to necromancy, a violent death, or an extremely malevolent personality. In some cases, a wight arises when an evil undead spirit permanently bonds with a corpse, often the corpse of a slain warrior. They are barely recognizable to those who knew them in life; their flesh is twisted by evil and undeath, the eyes burn with hatred, and the teeth become beast-like. In some ways, a wight bridges the gap between a ghoul and a spectre—a warped animated corpse whose touch steals living energy.
​

 

[Squire James]

I suppose Revenant might work, if you feel he's vengeful enough. Or perhaps a ghoul with class levels.

 

[Loonook]

I personally would go with keeping him some sort of unique creature but give him the abilities of a dirgesinger (Quintessential Drow) in lieu of normal Bardic music. Seduction, an ability that could be seen as messing with someone by explaining the feeling of being separated from life... Inducing feelings of dread and hate... Could be fun. I would also give him an ability similar to the kiss of succubi/incubi that was the origin of the backfired curse. The ability is not useable on his former belobwd and was her original intention (he would be the only one for him)... However her magic backfired and this happened.

Slainte,

-Loonook.

 

[Tharian]

...but give him the abilities of a dirgesinger (Quintessential Drow) in lieu of normal Bardic music.

To follow on what Loonook was saying, you might also take a look at Ultimate Magic and review the Dirge Bard. It may not be the exact fit you're seeking, but it might help.

 

[Loonook]

To follow on what Loonook was saying, you might also take a look at Ultimate Magic and review the Dirge Bard. It may not be the exact fit you're seeking, but it might help.

Yeah, but the point I was making was not to fit into the undead/dirge thing... But this class and its abilities are fantastic fits for the archetype

 

[Quickleaf]

A Bodak might also work. In 3.5, anyway, bodaks were described as being 'slightly fiendish' as well as undead, so that might fit your 'dark power' angle.

Interesting idea, I didn't think of bodak at all. Would fit the tragic nature of the NPC, but a bodak bard seems sort of a stretch since, well, borane kill on sight. Would be neat if he has some massive cloak/mask or is disguised by illusion so that only by the end of a performance is his nature (and death aura) revealed.

I suppose Revenant might work, if you feel he's vengeful enough. Or perhaps a ghoul with class levels.

Revenant is a possibility, just I didn't see him as being driven by revenge. Actually, I should have posted this in the OP, but it was this NPC's idea to enter "cold storage" to stop himself from doing evil with the last vestiges of humanity he had left.

I personally would go with keeping him some sort of unique creature but give him the abilities of a dirgesinger (Quintessential Drow) in lieu of normal Bardic music. Seduction, an ability that could be seen as messing with someone by explaining the feeling of being separated from life... Inducing feelings of dread and hate... Could be fun. I would also give him an ability similar to the kiss of succubi/incubi that was the origin of the backfired curse. The ability is not useable on his former belobwd and was her original intention (he would be the only one for him)... However her magic backfired and this happened.

I'm not familiar with Quintessential Drow. But the basic idea Is sort of a "feel my pain" power?

To follow on what Loonook was saying, you might also take a look at Ultimate Magic and review the Dirge Bard. It may not be the exact fit you're seeking, but it might help.

Great link, thanks! I'll twist "Toccata and Fugue of the Danse Macabre" so that it blurs who are living and who are dead for the undead bard's enemies, allowing his servitors (animated dancing skeletons) to do things like to use PCs to flank with. And I also got the idea for a feature which allows mindless undead in his presence to momentarily regain some of their former intelligence so their tactics would improve.

Knowing how to stat him up helps just in case the players decide to wake the slumbering dead bard...

 

[Loonook]

Dirge Singer - The Grand OGL Wiki

Enjoy the wonders of PDG's ultimate OGL storage spot .

Slainte,

-Loonook.

 

[Squire James]

Well, the ultimate "cold storage classics" are Vampire and Mummy, but you excluded Vampire and the culture doesn't seem right for Mummy. Of course, if you're going for comedy, it's hard to beat a Mummy Bard!

Maybe you can just make him a Ghost who has the ability to magically animate his own body to look like he's still corporeal...