Story and NPC Conundrum - How do I make a redeemable undead knight?

[Broadhand]

Dear Hivemind,

I have been working on a campaign I'm loosely calling Tim Burton's The Princess Bride, because it is going to primarily revolve around a relationship that's currently being established between the solo PC and a very charismatic NPC.

Currently, he (the NPC) is something of a bard/expert: he's a violinist and folk dancer with sleight of hand and quick wit. His mother used to travel and perform parlor tricks, so she made connections with a local traveling circus so that he could start into a line of work.

In the course of this campaign, though, he is going to be killed and re-raised as a death-knight-like class because of his high Charisma and refusal to embrace death willingly. The "true love" component of the story, if you will.

Problem is that I don't like the Pathfinder antipaladin-style undead-based class, and I can't find a whole lot of other choices. I want something that's clearly intended to be used for intelligent undead in a knight-like capacity, but I want a class that my NPC can be redeemed from -- brought back to the light by the power of "true love" -- even if he's still dead.

Any suggestions? I'm even willing to go third party on this.

Thanks for your help.

[Kalindlara]

I would check out the graveknight template, layered on whatever class is appropriate. Cavalier is a good non-aligned class.

As for redeemable, that's entirely up to you and your story. ^_^

[master_marshmallow]

I guess start with this?

Antipaladin actually seems like a very good fit because it can be redeemed and can fall for committing acts of good.

First thing I thought of when I read this was Darth Vader, might be worth looking into the Hellknight Prestige Class. It couples very well with fighter.

EDIT: NINJA'D

[LazarX]

Broadhand wrote:

Dear Hivemind,

I have been working on a campaign I'm loosely calling Tim Burton's The Princess Bride, because it is going to primarily revolve around a relationship that's currently being established between the solo PC and a very charismatic NPC.

Currently, he (the NPC) is something of a bard/expert: he's a violinist and folk dancer with sleight of hand and quick wit. His mother used to travel and perform parlor tricks, so she made connections with a local traveling circus so that he could start into a line of work.

In the course of this campaign, though, he is going to be killed and re-raised as a death-knight-like class because of his high Charisma and refusal to embrace death willingly. The "true love" component of the story, if you will.

Problem is that I don't like the Pathfinder antipaladin-style undead-based class, and I can't find a whole lot of other choices. I want something that's clearly intended to be used for intelligent undead in a knight-like capacity, but I want a class that my NPC can be redeemed from -- brought back to the light by the power of "true love" -- even if he's still dead.

Any suggestions? I'm even willing to go third party on this.

Thanks for your help.

Keep his original classes and add the undead template of your choice.

[Efreeti]

I'm here to propose a worm that walks.

It's an undead template of challenge rating increase equivalent to Grave knight, but whithout so much of an evil focus.

While being evil is a requirement to gain the template, it's not to mantain it, so redemption is probably posible.

It is meant for a spellcaster who just refuses to die, so "my love is stronger than Death" is definitely fitting flavour.

The gruesome apareance can be a plus, since it adds a challenge on the part of the woman, both to recognize him as her former lover and to decide if she can still love him in his new form.

Also, Oogie Boogie anyone? Doesn't get more Tim Burton-y than this.

[Kalindlara]

Worms that walk aren't undead... they're vermin. ^_^