What are your Book of the Dead character concepts?

[Sanityfaerie]

Delusional Skeleton Fighter, follower of Pharasma who had a mental break and is utterly in denial about his current state. Played for laughs. "What? Undead? Nononono. This is totally normal. I'm just on a bit of a diet, that's all. I had a facelift. The undead are those other guys."

Human duskwalker Summoner. Psychopomp Eidolon. Devoted follower of Pharasma. Spends her time hunting down and eliminating all of those bloody conflicted/delusional undead would-be Pharasma worshippers that have been cropping up lately. They are giving Her Goddess a headache. Does not actually use any material from the Book of the Dead.

[Laclale♪]

I would make sleeping vampire, whose partner is lorekeeper Shisk.

[Jokey the Unfunny Comedian]

RiverMesa wrote:

Also, the sheer bureaucratic sprawl of both Pharasma's mortal church(es, since it's a pretty widespread but not globally unified faith) and that of the psychopomps themselves likely slow down any major efforts at stamping out undead that much further, and that's on top of all their other different but no less important duties - after all, Pharasmins aren't purely undead exterminators, they're morticians, scholars and regular everyday clergy as well.

"I'm sorry, but did you have a warrant for stamping out that vampire cult?"

[Ly'ualdre]

- Skeleton, Fighter -- The skeletal remains of a samurai from the east, wielding a large, crimson katana which houses their soul. They wander in search one worthy enough of bearing their grief, determined to pass on their blade to any capable of prying it from their cold, dead hands. Wears a white kimono and matching jingasa, leading many to believe them to be a spirit, often referring to them as "Yūrei". --- WoC: Large Katana

- Female Elf Ghost, Bard -- The restless spirit of an Elven woman murdered by her lover. Her soul was unable to pass on, rising as a vengeful ghost, determined prevent her lover from ever hurting anyone else. <Basically meant to be a Banshee.> --- Muse: Maestro, Instrument: Voice, WoC: Dagger

- Male Skeleton? Lich (for lack of a Graveknight), Champion of General Susumu -- An ancient general from a fallen empire, executed when he attempted to usurp his kingdom. However, his hatred and pride bound his soul to his armor (Full Plate for lake of O-Yoroi), rising as powerful undead warrior. After rising an army of undeath and attempting to destroy that which he couldn't have, he was eventually sealed away by heroes. These seals have since worn away and soon, he shall be freed to roam the land once more. --- Cause: Tyrant, Divine Ally: Warhorse, WoC: Longbow (Maul in melee)

- Human? Lich?. Oracle -- A walking contradiction of life and death, positive and negative energy flowing through their corpse. They seek to understand why, searching for the source of their divergent might. <On the fly concept. Realized its entirely possible to make an undead orcale of life, and it amused me.>--- Mystery: Life

[Sanityfaerie]

Abracadaver: skeleton wizard, heavy necromancy focus. Managed to escape death and raise himself as a skeleton by means of a complicated magical contingency setup (he didn't have nearly enough power to escape death or return from the dead through more normal means). It dropped him back to level 1, but he still feels like he managed to cheat Pharasma, and finds this hilarious. A massive, massive ham. Always cracking jokes. Hes not as good at it as he likes to imagine he is, but he's also better at it than his party members pretend he is. He worships Nethys, to the degree that he worships anyone, but he embraces the duality by flipping a coin every morning, and *not* worshipping Nethys that day if it comes up tails. On his off days he tends to pick a god or goddess to "worship" more or less on impulse. He keeps trying to convince himself to start worshipping Pharasma on is off days, or at least a few of them, just to mess with her, but he hasn't ever managed to pull together the courage.

Chaotic Neutral with Good tendencies.

[PossibleCabbage]

Seeing things like "male skeleton" makes me want to play a Skeleton who's extremely coy about their gender, since you can't reliably tell from looking at a skeleton (that's basically a myth).

[Sanityfaerie]

PossibleCabbage wrote:

Seeing things like "male skeleton" makes me want to play a Skeleton who's extremely coy about their gender, since you can't reliably tell from looking at a skeleton (that's basically a myth).

I'm not sure that I buy that it's a myth. It seems that there are some pretty clear indicators... for someone who knows a lot about skeletal anatomy and which signs to look for, and who has a chance look at the skeleton reasonably closely. It's certainly not obvious to the untrained eye. Then, too, if your skeleton is wearing any sort of reasonable clothing, that would make identification quite a lot harder. The character concept certainly works.

Of course, you could also have a particularly androgynous skeleton.

Now I'm imagining a skeleton who (once they're high enough level to be able to easily afford it) develops a habit of chugging gender-change potions, and giggling.

Admittedly, nothing about the "particularly androgynous" or "chugs gender-change potions" concept forces them to be skeletal. You could also have a particularly coy, particularly androgynous non-skeleton who is perhaps amused by the inability of others to discern their gender... and who at times taunts those who Really Want To Know by chugging gender-change potions in front of them... with outwardly visible effects.

[PossibleCabbage]

You can figure it out when you have a lot of other skeletons from the same region and time frame where you have context clues to figure out a few skeletons you're clear are one or the other. But the isolated skeleton discovered in archaeology is legitimately challenging to pin sexual characteristics to, since things like genetics, hormonal variation, and culture and environment create a lot of uncertainty in the data, and humans aren't especially sexually dimorphic anyway.

Archaeologists I know usually stick to the "probably masculine" or "probably feminine" sort of language.

[Sanityfaerie]

PossibleCabbage wrote:

You can figure it out when you have a lot of other skeletons from the same region and time frame where you have context clues to figure out a few skeletons you're clear are one or the other. But the isolated skeleton discovered in archaeology is legitimately challenging to pin sexual characteristics to, since things like genetics, hormonal variation, and culture and environment create a lot of uncertainty in the data, and humans aren't especially sexually dimorphic anyway.

Archaeologists I know usually stick to the "probably masculine" or "probably feminine" sort of language.

Ah. That makes sense. Thank you. Now I need to update my mental model to "for someone who knows a lot about skeletal anatomy in that particular time and place." Worth knowing.

Of course, in Golarion, you also need to adjust for which ancestry they were originally. Not realizing that the person started out life as a half-elf could throw your estimates way off. I mean, if they're a Ysoki or something, then it's probably pretty obvious, but there's a bunch where it wouldn't necessarily be.

Now I'm imagining a skeleton for whom their initial ancestry was a Really Big Deal as part of their personal identity or lived experience in one way or another, and now people just straight-up can't tell anymore. There's all sorts of ways to play that one.

[RaptorJesues]

I'm gonna make literal Heinrich Kemmler with Krell by his side. Undead summoner with perhaps lich free archetype

[Perpdepog]

Another idea I just had, a ghost occult summoner with a phantom eidolon, who both happen to be the same person. That is, the eidolon is that person's soul, and the ghost is all the negative emotions congealed into a spirit after that person's probably traumatic death.
The eidolon has a goodly alignment, and is constantly trying to keep what is left of themself from falling into the trap of default undead evil.

[Sanityfaerie]

Ohhh! Ghost Summoners! You could totally invert things. I mean, consider a Ghost Fae/Dragon/Plant/whatever Summoner... except that the "PC" is the fae, dragon, or eventually oversized Leshy and the ghost is some sort of guardian spirit who just follows them around providing magical support.

You could either play it completely straight, or have it be something where the ghost in question had always really, really wanted to be an adventurer, but now they were dead and clearly couldn't, but they wanted it so hard that they managed to bring out a not-so-imaginary friend who could go adventuring instead, and then they could just sort of follow along and help. Ghostself is always being kind of insecure and wants to help everyone and not be a bother and self-effacing and insisting that they're clearly not brave enough to be an adventurer (though still showing great bravery on behalf their friends when the moment calls for it) while eidolonself is almost stereotypically heroic and adventurer-like in whatever way the ghostself had thought adventurers were like before they died.

[PossibleCabbage]

Yeah, one of my favorite 13th Age characters was a Necromancer with the Sorta Dead and Skeletal Minion class talents who I described as some sort of tangible ectoplasmic ghost who summoned his own bones to serve him.

It could be fun to invert that or to recreate that.

[keftiu]

Skeleton Summoner with their own ghost as a Phantom Eidolon is how I would swing it, personally.

[Ravingdork]

PossibleCabbage wrote:

...and humans aren't especially sexually dimorphic anyway.

I've been laughed out of a room for having said exactly that before. :(

[PossibleCabbage]

Ravingdork wrote:

PossibleCabbage wrote:

...and humans aren't especially sexually dimorphic anyway.

I've been laughed out of a room for having said exactly that before. :(

Did you explain to them about the anglerfish?

[Sanityfaerie]

oozemorph fleshwarp undead eidolon summoner. Your bones come tearing out of your flesh to fight for you when the need arises, then placidly return once the combat is done.

[Ravingdork]

Sanityfaerie wrote:

oozemorph fleshwarp undead eidolon summoner. Your bones come tearing out of your flesh to fight for you when the need arises, then placidly return once the combat is done.

Nice!

[Ly'ualdre]

Sanityfaerie wrote:

Abracadaver: skeleton wizard, heavy necromancy focus. Managed to escape death and raise himself as a skeleton by means of a complicated magical contingency setup (he didn't have nearly enough power to escape death or return from the dead through more normal means). It dropped him back to level 1, but he still feels like he managed to cheat Pharasma, and finds this hilarious. A massive, massive ham. Always cracking jokes. Hes not as good at it as he likes to imagine he is, but he's also better at it than his party members pretend he is. He worships Nethys, to the degree that he worships anyone, but he embraces the duality by flipping a coin every morning, and *not* worshipping Nethys that day if it comes up tails. On his off days he tends to pick a god or goddess to "worship" more or less on impulse. He keeps trying to convince himself to start worshipping Pharasma on is off days, or at least a few of them, just to mess with her, but he hasn't ever managed to pull together the courage.

Chaotic Neutral with Good tendencies.

This makes me want to make a Skeleton Lich Wizard who's name is Avada Kedavra, as it was the last thing they recall hearing before their initial death. (That, and the fact that Voldemort is essentially a living Lich in a sense, his soul split into seven Horcrux's, or Soul Cages)

Also, my use of genders for a skeleton is more to emphasis who they were and what their persona may have been in life. That said, there are definitely way to figure out what gender a pile of bones may have been.

EDIT: The Ghost Summoner idea could be kind of fun if we ever see the return of the Twinned Eidolon. The Eidolon takes the form of the once living Summoner, believing itself to be the true self and the Ghost to be their Eidolon.

[WWHsmackdown]

PossibleCabbage wrote:

Seeing things like "male skeleton" makes me want to play a Skeleton who's extremely coy about their gender, since you can't reliably tell from looking at a skeleton (that's basically a myth).

I thought sex determination from bones is a part of cold case forensics and anthropology.

[Gisher]

WWHsmackdown wrote:

PossibleCabbage wrote:

Seeing things like "male skeleton" makes me want to play a Skeleton who's extremely coy about their gender, since you can't reliably tell from looking at a skeleton (that's basically a myth).

I thought sex determination from bones is a part of cold case forensics and anthropology.

If you have the right bones then morphology is pretty reliable at determining sex in adult Homo sapiens. But knowing someone's sex doesn't tell you their gender.

[PossibleCabbage]

There's also a pretty big difference between forensics and archaeology, and one of the appeals of an undead character is that you can play someone who died a really long time ago for which the same forensic techniques are not really applicable.

[The Raven Black]

I think a very old undead would not be level 1 though.

This reminds me of a WoD novel that described Montano, an african Childe of the Lasombra Antediluvian. He was so old that the living human beings who looked closest to him did not live in Africa anymore but in Australia.

[PossibleCabbage]

The Raven Black wrote:

I think a very old undead would not be level 1 though.

I mean, the Automaton ancestry already lets you play a character who is thousands of years old and level 1. They explain it by having long periods of isolation leading to a loss of identity, which is the same sort of thing you could do for an undead character who was sealed in a tomb for thousands of years.

There's also the possibility that some necromantic accident just animated your bones which were laying around since the fall of the Azlanti (scrupulously preserved due to their technology) and you became undead much later than you became dead. This would, metaphysically, require Pharasma to decline to judge your soul for thousands of years but she sometimes does that sort of thing.

[Ly'ualdre]

I believe in the case of the Skeleton Ancestry, it's been stated that your character likely has no memories of their previous life. Of course, this will differ from player to player (and corpse to corpse), but it's a convenient explanation for why the remains of a 1000 year old Wizard is no more powerful than the living members of the party. That, or maybe they were just a really terrible spellcaster or even simply a student that never turely amounted to anything before their death. Mind you, not every campaign is likely to start at 1st level, so an explanation like this isn't really needed for a group beginning at say level 12.

Now a character utilizing any of the Undead Archetypes may be a bit more of a stretch, but also easily manageable I feel. Especially for the majority of the playerbase, who largely seem to utilize the Free Archetype rule. In these cases, I think it's probably assumed your character went from living to undeath between levels 1 and 2; except where the Free Archetype is concerned. This is also assuming that the Undead Archetypes aren't just treated as Class Archetypes, in the sense of you can take them at level 1 if you want, but preemptively dedicating your level 2 Feat to the Dedication. Similar explanations perhaps though. You may be a 1000 year old Ghoul, but perhaps your transition into undeath or the interaction of negative energy has messed with your memories. Heck, there is even the simple explanation that, after all these years, your mind simply isn't what it used to be. Pathfinder Undead don't seem to be really be immune to the ravages of time on one's body and mind. Your just and old grandpa Vampire who is constantly telling unreliable stories of how "back in my day" the clutch you belong to was much different, while the younger fledgling Vampires are attempting to reassure you of you clear delusions as they lead you back to your coffin for rest.

That aside, here are some more character ideas! Including a few "living" examples ^^:

Spoiler:

- Male Human Mummy, Monk - Belonging to a monastic sect dedicated to Aroden, this mummified Azlanti was just one of many who followed their God into death. Wearing a cloth mask with a modified version of the Last Azlanti's holy symbol, an eye bearing a singular tear, they vowed to protect their temple as long as their bodies remained within its walls. So when he awoke to discover the desecrated remains of his peers and charge in ruins, he vowed to find those responsible and bring them to justice. Based loosley on Monk Maz Koshia from the Legend of Zelda.

- Detective Collin Pierce; Male Human Ghost, Investigator -- A long time member of the agency, Detective Pierce was no stranger to dubious and dangerous cases, having danced with his fair share of villains and criminals. He was the one who solved the missing case of Ethan Carter, break curse of the Finch family, managed to outwit the mysterious Enigma, and even put a stop to a dark cult attempting to summon some sort of mind rending God. So it was a surprise to everyone when his corpse was found mangled, with the signature of an elusive killer branded on his chest. Even more surprising was Detective Pierce finding that this brand kept him from passing on, trapping him to the Material Plane as a Ghost. Determined to discover who killed him and why, the spirit of Collin Pierce roams the land, attempting to solve his own murder.

- Male Barbarian Vigilante -- Much changed for this humble man after the death of his father. Much was expected of him by the remaining family, while those in the community remained weary that he'd become just like him. So when the spirit of his father took possession of him, it remained difficult to suppress his rage whenever his hateful spirit took hold. Prone to violent and destructive outbursts during theses times, it became apparent he needed to find a way of expelling the spirits attachment to him, before his fathers seething rage could take hold. <Still working this one out honestly. I like the idea of representing a Barbarians rage in atypical ways, such as possession, grief, or madness. Might give then the Cathartic Mage Archetype as well. Vigilante here is supposed represent the possessing spirit of his father coming to the surface.>

- Ranger -- <Insert standard Undead Hunter trope and tragic backstory here>

- "Female" Poppet, Summoner -- A Ghost Poppet (Heritage, not a Poppet that is also a Ghost; unless....) brought to life by being possessed by a portion of their previous owners soul, while the remaining manifests itself as an Eidolon. The Poppet now adventures to make their owners wish come to: to be an adventurer themselves.

[WWHsmackdown]

Gisher wrote:

WWHsmackdown wrote:

PossibleCabbage wrote:

Seeing things like "male skeleton" makes me want to play a Skeleton who's extremely coy about their gender, since you can't reliably tell from looking at a skeleton (that's basically a myth).

I thought sex determination from bones is a part of cold case forensics and anthropology.

If you have the right bones then morphology is pretty reliable at determining sex in adult Homo sapiens. But knowing someone's sex doesn't tell you their gender.

Very true. I was just considering tiddly bits and forgot the gender distinction.

[PossibleCabbage]

Ly'ualdre wrote:

I believe in the case of the Skeleton Ancestry, it's been stated that your character likely has no memories of their previous life.

This opens up the possibility of playing a Skeleton Character a la:

- "So, what's your hame?"
- "No idea whatsoever"
- "Well, then, what do we call you. What pronouns should we use?"
- "I dunno, is there something you like?"

Which I would enjoy, at least. Just a character completely unconcerned with their previous existence and things which do not affect their material conditions, but is just generally affable and friendly.

[Ly'ualdre]

Just figured out how to make bullet points, lists, and ooc text!!! In celebration, more concepts!!!

Asim; Male Human Mummy, Champion of Thoth -- In life, Asim was a scholar of historical theology, studying the ancient deities and divinities of Osirion. He would eventually come be hired by an eccentric noble seeking out religious artifacts. During an archeological expedition, his team stumbled upon an ancient tomb they believed dedicated to the deity Anubis. However, a cult belonging to Jezelda had taken up residence within the ruins, and quickly began killing off the team sent to explore it. To make matters worse, the noble, a cultist dedicated to the Infernal Duke Nergal, managed to escape the tomb and trap the remaining survivors inside. Knowing he was unlikely to survive, Asim turned to praying to the holy symbols, in what was certain to be his own tomb, for a means of survival. To this, a voice called to him, offering him not escape, but solace and safety in the afterlife, if he dedicated himself to them. With this, he swore fealty, and succumb to his wounds, only to be risen from death as a mummy in the service of Thoth. Now tasked with a divine duty, Asim roams the deserts of Osirion under cover of moonlight, destroying those that would defile its sanctity.
In celebration of Marvel's Moon Knight being released soon, I've come up with this gem. Plus, I noticed I'm distinctly lacking in the Mummy department. Since Pathfinder is currently lacking Khonsu as a Deity, who was very much a real Egypyian God (which I honestly never knew), I'm going with Thoth here. A gross mistake btw Paizo, one of Khonsu's literal titles is "the Pathfinder". We need to get better. Lol.

Female Elf Mummy Lich?, Druid/Geomancer -- Once a powerful Archdruid from a desert region, she was determined to spread the reach of wind and sand across Golarion. She was killed by a group of adventurers. The remaining members of her grove mummified her an buried her within their sacred grounds, wherein she rose as a mummy sometime later. Determined to continue what she started, she has begun preparations to evoke an eternal sandstorm to cover the planet in dust.

Male Ghost, Thaumaturge -- The risen spirit of a long dead king, seeking to reestablish his kingdom and place his decendants upon its throne. Utilizes his own crowned skull as an Implement.

Female Ghoul, Cleric of Kabriri -- The high priestess of a cult in Geb, seeking to establish a proper church to Him Who Gnaws. Wields a flail whose head is the skull of her sister.

"Male" Skeleton, Swashbuckler/Bard? -- Referring to himself as the Deathless Lord, the Sire of Undeath, and Duke of Bones; the skeletal remains of this man believed himself to be a noble in life. He struts about with ostentatious swagger and decorum, prizing himself on his gentry and valor. Is determined to partake it the Test of the Starstone one day, seeking to become a Deity of civility, temperance, and undeath. Fights with a sword cane.
In relation to this, I really hope BoD introduces a good or neutral Deity of undeath.

[Dr. McCoy]

PossibleCabbage wrote:

Ly'ualdre wrote:

I believe in the case of the Skeleton Ancestry, it's been stated that your character likely has no memories of their previous life.

This opens up the possibility of playing a Skeleton Character a la:

- "So, what's your hame?"
- "No idea whatsoever"
- "Well, then, what do we call you. What pronouns should we use?"
- "I dunno, is there something you like?"

Which I would enjoy, at least. Just a character completely unconcerned with their previous existence and things which do not affect their material conditions, but is just generally affable and friendly.

Damn it, whoever you are! All I can remember is that I'm a Doctor, not a Wizard!

[Rfkannen]

I have a character for a campaign that has been pushed back a couple times, and I am VERY interested to see if I can use stuff from book of the dead for him.

Basic concept is a creepy elven doctor alchemist who studies corpses and the line between life and death. My gm and I were talking about making him mechanically a dhampir to represent him being a vampire taking suppressants that keep himself mostly alive.

I would LOVE to make him a proper vampire, but I am doubtful if it is a good idea. There aren't any casters in the party, the campaign will take place during the day, and we will be on a boat. If vampires can't stand running water, or the only way to conquer sunlight vulnerability is with spells, I will have to avoid making him a vampire.

Hopefully there is SOME undead themed alchemy thing in the book though, I want to really get that re-animator vibe!

[Sanityfaerie]

Rfkannen wrote:

Hopefully there is SOME undead themed alchemy thing in the book though, I want to really get that re-animator vibe!

If nothing else, you can take Undead Master to give yourself an undead companion, and then describe it as an alchemical reanimation.

[Rfkannen]

Sanityfaerie wrote:

Rfkannen wrote:

Hopefully there is SOME undead themed alchemy thing in the book though, I want to really get that re-animator vibe!

If nothing else, you can take Undead Master to give yourself an undead companion, and then describe it as an alchemical reanimation.

Oh that would be really fun! It would fit the character really well!

[Sanityfaerie]

Revenant Background Skeleton (Dhampir) (Ghost) Summoner (Undead eidolon)

Yoryx is trying. He really is... but the poor guy just cannot catch a break. He has died in every adventure he's been on, and Death just keeps throwing him back.

[EldritchGrace]

Sanityfaerie wrote:

Revenant Background Skeleton (Dhampir) (Ghost) Summoner (Undead eidolon)

Yoryx is trying. He really is... but the poor guy just cannot catch a break. He has died in every adventure he's been on, and Death just keeps throwing him back.

This one is nothing short of hilarious, I love it!

[Project: J-ko]

Ghost Champion (Paladin) of Sarenrae with the Marshal archetype. Doesn't remember her name. Goes by "Silverspire", as that's the only jumble of words that comes to her when she tries to remember being alive. Feels the need to join and defend the Pathfinder Society. Destroys her own kind (undead) with reckless abandon, commands her companions to better accomplish these ends.

I'm not saying this could be Ollysta Zadrian, but I'm not NOT saying that either.

[HumbleGamer]

Sir Daniel Fortesque.

[Ly'ualdre]

HumbleGamer wrote:

Sir Daniel Fortesque.

Please see my Sir Arok Gallowmere somewhere in this thread.

‐ Revenant Male Human Duskwalker(?),Gunslinger [Pistolero] -- PC for Outlaws of Alkenstar, killed before the AP begins. Risen by something, returning to life... wrong. Now determined to find whoever was responsible for his death. May actually compound with the previously mentioned Johnny "Wayne" Walker, before his undeath. Then, bring him back in Blood Lords as a Zombie. If so, I'll probably change Duskwalker for Half-Orc.

[Sanityfaerie]

Skeleton Liberator of Arazni, unwillingly returned. Fights a guerilla war against the injust system that dominates Geb. Has taken the Shining Oath in support of that.

SO CONFLICTED

[HumbleGamer]

Skeleton damphir.

He bites, sucks blood and then cleans up the floor.

[Sanityfaerie]

LE Human (Mummy) Fighter

Centuries ago, this man willingly underwent the excruciating ritual of mummification so that he could protect his beloved lord after death, but when the time came for him to perform that duty, the adventuring party that was raiding his lord's tomb managed to evade his notice entirely, looting the place, destroying his master, and escaping well before he realized that anything was wrong. Now, his sacrifice and centuries of guardianship all rendered retroactively futile, he has stepped out into the sunlight world in the hopes of finding *some* sort of purpose for himself. Mostly, he does what he can to identify adventuring parties that are intending to loot the as-yet-undespoiled tombs that remain, follow them quietly or convince them to allow him to join, and then murder them in their sleep, or turn on them while they are engaged in battle with something else.

He's recently come into the possession of a Hat of Disguise, which has helped the entire process go quite a lot more smoothly.

[Ly'ualdre]

I'm looking through the Backgrounds, and there is also the Returned Background from the APG.
It seems a bit odd for a Rare Background, but I think may actually be more interesting than it seems at first glanec. It grants you the Diehard Feat, as well as Additional Lore for Boneyard Lore. This may seem odd, why not just include Boneyard Lore within the Background like any other? Than you recall that Additional Lore automatically scales as you level. By lvl 15, you are Legendary in Boneyard Lore. Additionally, it technically should grant you access to the Numb to Death Feat, as well as any other Feats that have a requirement of having died. According to the Background, you died; so I'd likely rule you qualify.

I'd also likely rule that any social interactions you have with intelligent dead or undead would begin as Indifferent, given what it says about kinship, and maybe raise it to Friendly at Master Boneyard Lord.

Anyways, it's another Background with death as a theme that would be a good fit for any undead or near-dead characters inspired by Book of the Dead. As would Whispering Way Scion, Undertaker, Seer of the Dead, Discarded Duplicate, False Medium, Geb Crusader, Lastwall Survivor, and Quick. Can't wait to see what Background are added in the book itself.

[Sanityfaerie]

Similar things have been said before, but...

Skeleton Summoner (undead Eidolon) MC Bard with undead familiar.

Takes Steed form. It's a skeleton (familiar) riding inside the ribcage of a skeleton (summoner) riding inside the ribcage ofr a skeleton (eidolon). The summoner mostly plays Inspire Courage. (Singing. How the heck?) The familiar tends to play accompaniment with percussion on the inside of the summoner's ribs, and the Eidolon beats on things.

[Ly'ualdre]

Sanityfaerie wrote:

Similar things have been said before, but...

Skeleton Summoner (undead Eidolon) MC Bard with undead familiar.

Takes Steed form. It's a skeleton (familiar) riding inside the ribcage of a skeleton (summoner) riding inside the ribcage ofr a skeleton (eidolon). The summoner mostly plays Inspire Courage. (Singing. How the heck?) The familiar tends to play accompaniment with percussion on the inside of the summoner's ribs, and the Eidolon beats on things.

I was going to say bonus points if you modeled the Eidolon on the Mari Lywd, but it's unfortunately a Fey.

In light of Know Directions coverage, here are some more living characters:

Pierre Del Monte - Half-Elf Swashbuckler/Undead Slayer -- As a boy, Pierre always dreamed of being a famous hero within Ustalav, battling against the undead menace and saving many a beautiful damsels. So when he heard rumors of his family being great slayers of the unliving, he knew it was his destiny to live up their great name. If only... someone had told him his family name started with a D and not a B.... Regardless, he has made no small claim to fame in his endeavors, managing to clumsily destroy a number of undead with his (mediocre) skill of the whip. He would later join an a group of adventurers, lead by one heroic (if not foolhardy) Paladin and Knight of Lastwall, with a proclivity for yelling out his own name as he charges into battle...

Sir Jenkins Lee-Royce - Human Paladin of Iomedae/Lastwall Sentry/Knight Vigilant -- When young Jenkins mother married the one of the Knight Sergeants of Lastwall, Sir Conrad Royce, he became next to serve in a long line of Lastwall Knights. Despite his... unconventional tactics and boisterous personality, he would go on to become a great shield against the undead scourge. When his father, stationed at Gallowspire, was killed by the Radiant Fire, he was promoted to Knight Corporal and tasked with overseeing a small unit of Knights along the northern border of the Gravelands; where his entire unit would fall after a failed charge into a horde of undead. His determination never faltering, he has doubled his efforts and set out to recruit any would be adventurers to take their fight to the lifeless heart of former Lastwall, so that they may invigor her call. Let's hope he doesn't get this group killed as well...

-----

I now challenge ye in creating equally determined individuals to pad out the rest of this group of rambunctious "heroes".

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Least he's got chicken...

[HumbleGamer]

Ly'ualdre wrote:

When his father, stationed at Gallowspire, was killed by the Radiant Fire, he was promoted to Knight Corporal and tasked with overseeing a small unit of Knights along the northern border of the Gravelands; where his entire unit would fall after a failed charge into a horde of undead.

In his defense, the odds were totally against him.

His chances of survival were only 32.33, repeating of course, percent.

[Ly'ualdre]

He simply needs equally stalwart comrades to finish the mission. Hopefully he never runs into Sir Arok Gallowmere and his merry band. Thay may be quite the akward battle.

[The-Magic-Sword]

In light of new information about how undead Companions work from Nonat's preview--

Spoiler:

I want to have a Paladin Champion with a Ghost Companion, the concept is that they would be a young paladin who ended up with the spirit of a committed but traumatized older Paladin bound to them through like a helm anchor or some other heirloom, whose trying to guide this kid and watch out for them, but the old grizzled perspective clashes with this kid's innocence and naivete. Ultimately, the kid wants to help the old champion pass on, but the kid is the old champion's unfinished business. Part of the reason I want it is because the Support Benefit for Ghost looks like it would be super cool circumstantially with Retributive Strike (frightened when you successfully hit and damage something in your Ghost's reach)

[Ly'ualdre]

I love that the Undead Companion does extends to (seemingly) any creature. It creates a lot of potential.

[Sanityfaerie]

Stealing shamelessly from reddit: Skeleton Summoner (Undead Eidolon), with an undead companion (Ghost). The Eidolon is described as a pile of undead meat. It's just this one guy, but he somehow got brought back from the dead in three different ways.

...and now I'm wondering... what happens if your skeleton PC takes a lethal hit and goes down... and then you cast resurrection on the body?

[keftiu]

The Curandero background that was shown has me wishing I had a little more Razatlan info; it’s a great fit for a Life Oracle, who thinks the couatl chose this path for them.