Fantasy NPC: Master Ekkert, Arcane Ghost

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Master Ekkert, Arcane Ghost

A distinguished elderly gentelman in academy official's robes, slightly translucent and frayed at the edges.

CR 7; 3,200 XP

LN Medium Undead (incorporeal)

Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +14

Defense
AC 20, touch 12, flat-footed 18 (+4 armor, +4 deflection, +2 Dex)

hp 90 (12d6+48)
Fort +12, Ref +10, Will +14

Defensive Abilities incorporeal, rejuvenation; Immune undead traits

Offense
Speed fly 30 ft. (perfect)

Melee disrupting touch +9 (7d6 plus dispel, suppress, or disrupt)

Special Attacks disrupting touch (DC 20)

Statistics
Str —, Dex 14, Con –, Int 19, Wis 15, Cha 19

Base Atk +6; CMB +6; CMD 25
Feats Combat Reflexes, Fly-By Attack, Improved Initiative, Lunge, Magical Aptitude, Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Weapon Focus (touch)

Skills Fly +25, Knowledge (arcane) +19, Perception +14, Perform (oratory) +16, Profession (administration) +17, Spellcraft +29, Use Magic Device +20

Language Celestial, Common, Draconic, Giant, Infernal

Disruptive Touch (Su) Master Ekkert's incorporeal touch disrupts flow of magic, dealing 7d6 points of damage and causing one of the following effects: dispels one magic effect of Master Ekkert's choice as if dispel magic spell (CL 12th) was used, suppresses one magic item for 1d4+1 rounds, or disrupts magical abilities, forcing affected creature to make concentration checks (DC 20 plus twice the spell level) when they attempt to cast spells for the next 1d4+1 rounds. A successful Will saving throw (DC 20) halves the damage and prevents secondary effect. The saving throw DC is Charisma-based.

Eternal Separation Master Ekkert, Arcane Ghost can't affect his staff in any way. The staff can't perceive Master Ekkert through any means or senses, even if given new ones through temporary or permanent means. Master Ekkert also becomes completely invisible and inaudible to anyone who sees the staff.

Ghostly Attire (Su) Master Ekkert still benefits from the ghostly version of his robes of resistance +4 and bracers of armor +4, gaining their respective bonuses to saving throws and AC.

A renowned scholar of arcane arts, respected teacher, bold innovator, and superb artificer, Master Ekkert was getting worried about his legacy, seeking a way to extend his life and continue his quality work. The solution he finally decided on, was to bind his spirit to a magic staff of his own creation, living forever on in an immortal and durable form, instead of frail and failing flesh.

It didn't work quite like intended. The staff that was to be his receptacle awakened an intelligence and sense of self, inheriting Master Ekkert's memories, but it did not absorb his soul. Instead, the Master Ekkert's spiritual essence, deprived of his considerable magical power, became a ghost, lingering behind but unable to complete the process.

Master Ekkert has no way of having the staff became even aware of him, less so acknowledge him as its creator, and its function as being unfulfilled. He is bemused by the fact that the staff impersonates him, though at least he feels that he did good job imprinting his memories and personality onto the staff, if not his full array of magical powers and knowledge...

... which are nowhere near the arcane prowess that Master Ekkert remembers commanding while alive... Are they bound within the staff, merely unused so far, or maybe locked out without his actual soul to harness them? Are they gone forever, lost to the mists of afterlife, or is there some sort of deeper mystery about their disappearance?