Appearance
Clothed from head to toe entirely in black, he wears a heavy fur cloak that hangs from his shoulders to just above the ground. It includes a dark hood covering his face in shadow, but not completely. From what you can see of his jaw, it's covered with a silken shroud.

His body is clothed in a combination of cloth and leather armor with a high sheen. His torso is protected by leather dyed dark as night, while his arms are covered in durable-looking cloth, leading to exquisitely cared-for, calf-skin gloves. His leggings are leather, leading to a pair of boots with a mirror shine.

Hanging from his belt are a pair of matched rapiers of impressive quality. He seems otherwise unarmed.


Description
In actuality, he is little more than zombie clothing. All of the pieces of clothing used to make him were made from animals and plants that have died. Specialized enchantments have made him much more than a zombie, however. He serves the black crown as a messenger, usually delivering the message, "Serve the Black Crown or die."

Even though the message is quite harsh, he delivers is politely. He will not make any kind of hostile action and is usually quite friendly, even going so far as to defend others from bandits while traveling to his destination.

He is the smoothest talker anyone might encounter, a true master of diplomacy, as evidenced by his skill of 20 in Diplomacy and 23 in Public Speaking. He is usually received well, until he delivers his message, after which he is sent on his way somewhat gruffly and occasionally with violence. He tends to manage his escape easily through a combination of disarming his opponents, acrobatics, stealth and his unique ability to pretend to be a pile of clothes.

The Black Crown put a great deal of effort into the Black Shroud, even allowing him to develop a personality. He wants nothing more than to serve his master. Anything else is incidental.

In many ways, the Black Shroud is the most human of the Black Crown's servants, having spent much more time among them.

In combat, he will attack with his rapiers, along with an attack of opportunity, usually a kick of some kind.

If his opponent is armed, he will first disarm them, followed by placing the tip of a sword to their neck. If they refuse to allow him to leave peacefully, he will press hard enough to draw blood and make the offer again. If they still refuse, he will kill them.

If he faces more than one opponent, he will disarm them and attempt to retreat. If he is cornered or takes more than a little damage, he will suddenly "disappear", leaving only "his clothes" and weapons behind. In truth, he's still there, waiting for a chance to slip away unnoticed.