Par Lyle had a miserable childhood. He was beaten by his own parents, and eventually abandoned on the streets, still bleeding from the latest thrashing. Par was picked up by an elderly man, who took in children and put them to work. Par spent years in a mine, working eighteen hours a day, breathing in dust and coal. He escaped one day, taking an arrow in the shoulder as he ran, and moved back into the city, but the emotional damage was done. Par began having dreams of murdering the man who kidnapped him, and even the other children in the mine. His anger had no definitive target, Par just wanted to lash out and release the feelings he had bottled up inside.

For a while Par escaped into fantasy. He read stories of killers, both fictional and true, from libraries, the more gruesome the accompanying images the better. He fantasized about being these killers, evading and taunting the police and secretly being the only one who knew all the facts. But it all changed when a real serial killer arrived in the city. The killer took on the name “The Redhead Killer,” after his first three victims were found dead. All of his victims had red hair, and the killer had left cryptic puzzles and codes around the murder sights. The first few notes were decoded, and revealed the killer’s motivations. He swore that he would kill the “Fairy-Born,” who he believed could be identified by their red hair, and keep the city safe, and encouraged the authorities to leave him be. The authorities did not comply, and eventually they caught The Red-Head Killer by using one of the puzzles he left at a previous murder.

This is when Par saw an opportunity to live out his fantasy. He began killing redheads himself, and leaving clues of his own at the murder sites. He expected the change to go unnoticed, and the previous killer would go free. Par saw himself as a mastermind, able to outwit the police and free a serial killer with a few simple murders. But things did not go as smoothly as he hoped. The original Redhead Killer confessed to the previous murders and denied any association with these new ones. He announced that the new murders were the result of a copycat, one who was relatively stupid and clumsy. He denounced the murders, saying that they were done in the spirit of a thrill killing instead of justice, and even solved some of the puzzles that Par left behind. With the help of the original Redhead Killer, Par was found. Par died trying to fight his way out of the building of his latest victim when it caught fire. He had a choice, either run out and be arrested, or be burned alive. He chose to die.

Par’s story did not end there, however. He came back as a ghost, a change that filled him with glee. He possessed a body and immediately began killing again, much like he had when the original Redhead Killer was caught, to clear Par Lyle’s name. The body he was possessing was killed after just two murders, but Par stayed behind. Every time the authorities catch up with Par and kill the body, Par possesses another one and goes about committing more murders, in an attempt to clear the name of the previous host. The cycle greatly amuses Par, and just thinking about it makes him laugh uncontrollably. He believes himself to be a genius, and in his own mind he is constantly leading the authorities in circles.

The truth is naturally quite different. The authorities have caught on to how this is not all the act of one criminal, thanks in no small part to help provided by the original Redhead Killer. The theories vary, but some believe that there are a series of copycat murders, others believe that there is a group of these killers who work together, and a few believe something more supernatural is in the works.

Par’s game has been interrupted by another element: the original Redhead Killer was executed, and was so enraged about the copycat killings that he also stayed as a ghost. The original Redhead Killer is a man named Haven Tarkin, a much smarter, calmer and more calculated killer than Par. Haven continues his killings, but is still upset by the existence of the copycat. He spends most of his time plotting against Par. The two have come into conflict many times in the past, but their incorporeal nature has allowed Par to escape on numerous occasions. Haven does not believe that it is feasible for him to kill Par himself, and now tries to manipulate others, such as adventurers or police, into doing it for him. He never outright states his intentions, but his codes and riddles drop more clues to hints about Par’s location and plans, any information he has gained about Par’s current situation shows up at his murder sites. Unfortunately for Haven, his codes are notoriously difficult to translate, and many of his clues go unfound.

The difference between Par and Haven’s murders can be detectable to the trained eye. Par’s clues are usually word games and riddles, things that do not require any particular understanding or insight to make. Par is not particularly intelligent, and his puzzles are usually easy to solve given enough time. That is why Par is frequently caught, the only challenge is solving his riddles before the information contained expires (the victim outlined is killed, Par changes locations, etc.) Haven on the other hand prefers codes, and number-based puzzles. Many of these go unsolved, and many investigators have actually noted the great difference in the difficulty of the puzzles.

Par and Haven also differ in their methods. Par relies much more on his ghost abilities, even picking hosts based on how close they are to redheaded victims. Haven finds this disgusting, and prefers to use his skills to kill his victims. Also, Par is much more willing to kill non-redheads who get in his way. Haven is willing to kill them, but prefers not to, and Par relishes the opportunity to kill anyone. Haven sees himself as above Par, smarter, more directed, and driven by a “holy quest” rather than the thrill of the hunt. Par, on the other hand, is too wrapped up in his own delusions to think much of Haven, beyond being still and humorless. Haven hunts Par down, Par ignores Haven whenever possible.

Par
Chaotic Evil male ghost (Medium Undead)
Rogue 4th
Hit Dice: 4d12 (35 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 30 ft
Armor Class: 19 (+2 armor, +3 deflection, +4 dex)
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+6
Attack: Draining Touch +7
Damage: Draining Touch (1d4 ability damage)
Space/Reach: 5ft/5ft
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +8,Will +1
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 18, Con -, Int 8, Wis 11, Cha 16
Skills: Hide +13, Move Silently +13, Tumble +11, Search +6, Spot + 7, Intimidate +10, Gather Information +10
Feats: Power Attack, Stealthy, Toughness
Special Abilities: Incorporeal, Manifestation, Malevolence, Draining Touch, Rejuvenation, Turn Resistance +4, Sneak Attack +2d6, Trapfinding, Trap Sense +1, Evasion, Uncanny Dodge
Languages: Common

Equipment: Bracers of Armor +2, Cloak of Resistance +1, 400 gp

Haven
Neutral Evil male ghost (Medium Humanoid)
Rogue 7th
Hit Dice: 7d12 (51 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 30 ft
Armor Class: 26 (+8 armor, +3 dex, +5 deflection)
Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+6
Attack: Draining Touch +8, Dagger +7
Damage: Draining Touch (1d4 ability damage), Dagger (1d4+2)
Space/Reach: 5ft/5ft
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +8, Will +5
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 16, Con -, Int 18, Wis 16, Cha 20
Skills: Decipher Script +14, Knowledge (mathematics) +14, Hide +11, Move Silently +11, Open Lock +13, Disable Device +14, Listen +13, Spot +13, Search +14, Bluff +13, Forgery +14, Disguise +15
Feats: Combat Expertise, Improved Disarm, Improved Feint, Power Attack
Special Abilities: Incorporeal, Manifestation, Malevolence, Draining Touch, Rejuvenation, Turn Resistance +4, Sneak Attack +4d6, Trapfinding, Trap Sense +2, Uncanny Dodge, Evasion
Languages: Common, Elven, Goblin, Dwarven, Orcish

Equipment: +4 Chain Shirt, +1 dagger, 500 gp

Note that these are for Haven and Par in their ghost forms. While possessing a human, they have whatever equipment is on the human at the time, or whatever equipment they can find. Both favor obsidian daggers, Haven’s original trademark weapon. In battle, Haven likes to make good use of his feats, in particular Combat Expertise and Improved Feint. Par on the other hand likes to use Power Attack in human form, and his Draining Touch in his Ghost form.

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