Conrad Windweaver (aka Cunraden Valieryth)
Male elf bard 9: CR 9; Medium humanoid (elf); HD 9d6; 43 hp; Init +3; Speed 30 ft.; AC 20 (touch 13, flat-footed 17); BAB/Grapple +6/+6; Atk +10 melee (1d6+1/15-20, +1 keen rapier) or +6 melee (1d4/19-20, dagger) or +10 ranged (1d8+1/x3, +1 seeking longbow); Full Atk +10/+5 melee (1d6+1/15-20, +1 keen rapier) or +6/+1 (1d4/19-20, dagger) or +10/+5 ranged (1d8+1/x3, +1 seeking longbow); SA bardic music 9/day (countersong, fascinate, inspire competence, inspire courage +2, inspire greatness, suggestion), bardic knowledge; SQ +2 racial bonus to saves vs. enchantment spells and effects, +2 racial bonus to Listen, Search, and Spot checks, elven weapon proficiencies, immunity to magic sleep effects, low-light vision, portal sense; AL CG; SV Fort +3 Ref +9 Will +7; Str 10, Dex 16, Con 10, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 18; Age 240 years; Height 5 ft., 2 in.; Weight 120 lbs.
Skills and Feats: Appraise +3, Balance +2, Bluff +5, Climb -1, Concentration +6, Craft(bowyer/fletcher) +6, Decipher Script +6, Diplomacy +16, Disguise +16, Escape Artist +7, Forgery +4, Gather Information +16, Heal +3, Hide +7, Intimidate +6, Jump -1, Knowledge(arcana) +4, Knowledge(religion) +4, Knowledge(Nobility) +8, Knowledge(Geography) +8, Knowledge(History) +10, Listen +4, Move Silently +2, Open Locks +5, Perform +16, Profession(spy) +5, Ride +5, Sense Motive +2, Search +6, Sleight of Hand +2, Speak Language (Common, Draconic, Drow, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Goblin, Halfling, Orcish, Sylvan), Spellcraft +3, Spot +5, Swim -4, Tumble +6, Use Magic Device +8, Use Rope +5; Combat Expertise, Dodge, Mobility, Weapon Finesse.
Bard Spells Known: 0th—detect magic, ghost sound, know direction, light, mage hand, summon instrument; 1st—disguise self, grease, identify, silent image; 2nd—cat's grace, glitterdust, invisibility, locate object; 3rd—dispel magic, good hope, scrying.
Bard Spells/Day (4/4/4/3; save DC 14 + spell level).
Possessions: +2 glamered elven chain (looks like worn and patched leather), +1 keen rapier, +1 seeking composite longbow, 20 arrows, 2 daggers, backpack, bedroll, flint and steel, belt pouch, trail rations (5 days), silk rope (50 ft.), shovel, water skin, cold weather outfit, bullseye lantern, lamp oil (5 pints), winter blanket, grappling hook, sack, canvas (4 sq. yards), chalk, signet ring and wax, masterwork lock picks, masterwork bowyers tools, masterwork lute, horse, saddle and saddlebags, 8000 gp in small gems.

Hair: Raven Black (dark with prismatic sheen)
Eyes: Deep Green, full of amusement
Speech: Good-natured, usually with hint of amusement or sarcasm

Background:
Most who know Conrad see the typical bard. He lives to entertain. Unlike some bards, he prefers the smaller taverns, though he can be persuaded to play a larger one from time to time. Conrad is an easy friend and a willing compatriot. Of course, this willingness has a lot to do with what most people do not know about Conrad.

In actuality, Conrad Windweaver is Cunraden Valieryth, nephew of the elven king. Although he shares the family name of the king, he would need to kill a good number of kin to actually take the throne. Conrad has no desire to rule his people and is quite happy to serve in other ways, most notably, as a royal spy.

In his youth, Conrad was forced into a training regimen his father and uncle believed would shape him into a good diplomat and spy. Conrad didn't mind, at the time, because this training paralleled his desire to become a bard. However, once the training ended, he was ordered to don the guise of an emissary in order to spy on a local human king. Conrad wanted none of this, so he ran away.

For nearly a decade, he eluded the agents his uncle sent to retrieve him. He wandered the world, playing for his livelihood and occasionally helping a group of adventurers. This lifestyle came to an end when Conrad accidentally discovered a Drow assassination plot. Conrad gathered a small band of adventurers and managed to slow the plot, but had to return to the elven court to stop it. Afterwards, he had no chance to escape again.

Since then, Conrad has worked as a loyal agent of his uncle. The king has allowed Conrad to follow his own nose and only occasionally offers guidance. After all, had Conrad not been in the wrong place at the right time, the Drow plot would not have been discovered or stopped.

Personality:
When acting as the carefree bard, Conrad is everyone's friend. He is willing to aid all with a reasonable request, and he genuinely enjoys his profession. He actively stays away from larger inns and usually declines requests to play for nobility. He will try to hide his true nature as much as possible. The Valieryth name is well known, even among non-elves. He firmly believes he would be the worst choice as king, or any other authority figure. He hates being treated as a prince, preferring the homey hospitality of the common classes to the regimented pomp of nobility.

When acting as the elven spy, Conrad can be driven and disciplined. He tries to avoid harming friends and innocents, but is willing to sacrifice whatever is needed to serve his king.

Either way, Conrad loves sarcasm and pranks. He always manages to forget to mention the one detail that might make another refuse an offer or request of aid. He is the absolute scoundrel, though he has a notable soft spot for children.

Allies and Enemies:
By this point in his life Conrad has made friends and enemies. Among the ranks of his friends is Bernard Broombucket, a dwarf who serves the dwarven king in the same way Conrad serves his uncle. The two are surprisingly good friends and once worked together to stop a war between their races. Then there's Annabelle Carter, a human cleric of Pelor. Conrad and Annabelle had a short relationship. It ended on friendly terms (in fact, Conrad spent a great deal of gold on her wedding a few years ago). While Annabelle has retired from adventuring, she is always happy to see him. One of Conrad's stranger friends is a childlike ogre named Bok. Conrad and some companions saved Bok from a pack of undead. Conrad helped him find a job as a tavern bouncer where he is extremely happy. The patrons respect him and he gets to play with the town's children on his time off. The kids love their giant playmate.

Anyone who knows of Conrad's connection to the elven king might try to use him for ransom. However, there is one person with an active hatred for Conrad himself. The drow priestess Neuruth T'Ragan was sorely humiliated when her plot to assasinate the elven king was foiled. If she ever gets her hands on him, Conrad is in for some difficult times.

Use as an NPC:
The power level listed is mid-range. Conrad could be portrayed as lower level, prior to accepting service as an elven spy, or as a much higher level, after he comes to run the elven spy network.

Conrad works well as a guide. He has traveled wide and knows a great deal about the lay of the land and its history. He is a good employer, since he knows all too well that sometimes, elves simply don't make good spies. He could also be a hireling or cohort. It may take a while to notice that he sends a lot of letters to his uncle.

Combat Tactics:
Conrad is well aware that he makes a poor soldier. However, he is still a capable combatant. In most cases, Conrad will use his Combat Expertise and Mobility to the full extent, trying to feint and avoid being hit. If allowed to remain behind the front line, he will cast supportive spells, sing encouragement to his allies, and place as many arrows as he can.

Advancement/Reduction:
If using a higher-level version of Conrad, continue to advance him as a Bard through 20th level. Conrad the Spymaster is an epic level character with additional levels in Wizard and Cleric (any good Elven deity or deity with the Chaos, Good, Protection or War domains). As he ages, he also becomes more loyal to the throne than the elf sitting in it, and he will assassinate any monarch who threatens to send the elves to ruin. He will keep max ranks in any skill he currently has 12 ranks in.

A lower level version of Conrad will have maximum ranks in any skill currently at 12 ranks. Feat order: Combat Expertise, Weapon Finesse, Dodge, Mobility. Both level-related ability bonuses were put into Charisma.