What race am I thinking of?

[Avigor]

I seem to remember a D&D race (can't remember edition unfortunately) that was basically a soul sent back by a deity or other great power with a mission. I'm pretty sure it wasn't only a monster but a playable race. Anyone know what I'm thinking of? I don't think it's Hellbred or Revenant, unless there was a specific version that I'm forgetting...

[Millstone85]

I would have said revenant, knowing only the 4e and 5e descriptions of it.

[redwizard007]

Sounds like it might be something from the 3.5 planar handbook

[Firest Kathon]

Maybe not a race, but the Risen Martyr prestige class from the Book of Exalted Deeds?

[Hand_of_Vecna]

Book of Exalted deeds has the Saint template.

[Grey Watcher]

4th Edition Devas, maybe? I don't recall if they were supposed to have been consciously sent back by some divinity, but I do know that they perpetually reincarnate, coming back as fully-formed adults with, at best, the most vague recollections of their previous lives. That, and if they give over to evil enough, they turn into Rakshasas. Because why not link up the two races that are arbitrarily named after beings out of Hinduism?

[legomaster00156]

I would have said revenant, knowing only the 4e and 5e descriptions of it.
Ditto, pretty sure the "unfinished business" undead is what you are thinking of.

[LibraryOgre]

4th Edition Devas, maybe? I don't recall if they were supposed to have been consciously sent back by some divinity, but I do know that they perpetually reincarnate, coming back as fully-formed adults with, at best, the most vague recollections of their previous lives. That, and if they give over to evil enough, they turn into Rakshasas. Because why not link up the two races that are arbitrarily named after beings out of Hinduism?

That would be my thoughts.

[Spore]

Maybe Pathfinder's Samsaran?

[iceman10058]

3.5 had the deathless, good aligned undead that came back for a specific purpose. Could be that.