Damsel not in Distress

[true_shinken]

So, one of my players engaged himself in a subplot and I'd like to give his sidequest a lot of thought (specially since the guy was in a car crash recently and he is really injured and that's about as much as I can do to help cheer him up).
Basically, his character (a female half-elf Rogue 4/Swashbuckler 4/Dread Pirate 4) is escorting a half-vampire sorceress to an island where she can go through the Gates of Dawn and remove the vampire taint from her blood.
Once in the island, they would have to go through a Rapunzel-like tower, except Rapunzel is far from helpless and far from helpful. So I wanted a character that had the feel of a damsel in distress... but was really badass. I just can't find any mechanics other than social skills and high Charisma to go with it. I don't want her to be a damsel (not) in distress just because I say so, I wanted the mechanics to support it. Any thoughts on how I should do this?

Oh, I got this idea listening to this song. Lyrics follow in spoiler below. If a build can make specific mention to a part of the song, I'd be very very happy.

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I think you better cut all that hair off
throw it out the window
climb down from that tower
flip the wicked witch the finger
ain't no use to wait for him to get you
he's out chasing his own demons
not like you can really blame him
you've got demons of your own

and I hate to be the one to tell you
cause it don't seem so romantic
but that's the way it really goes
and now you know

you're gonna have to be your own prince charming
gonna have to ride your own stallion
gonna have to find your own castle
gonna have to raise your own sail
and there's gonna be a happy ending
but that's only the beginning
this ain't no fairy tale
it's true
it's real
it's you

Cinderella stepped out of her glass slippers
threw down that new apron
put on a pair of old Doc Martens
and stomped right out the door
the prince was still chewing on his bacon
as he hit the open road
said life is full enough of disappointment
to go kissing any toad

and somewhere a band was playing
"to-ra-loo-ra-loo-ra"
you go out and see the world girl
have yourself a ball

you're gonna have to be your own prince charming
gonna have to ride your own stallion
gonna have to find your own castle
gonna have to raise your own sail
and there's gonna be a happy ending
but that's only the beginning
this ain't no fairy tale

you're gonna have to be your own prince charming
gonna have to ride your own stallion
gonna have to find your own castle
gonna have to raise your own sword
and there's gonna be a happy ending
and there's gonna be a happy ending
and there's gonna be a happy ending
it's true
it's real
it's you

[Gensh]

Harbinger, the anti-bard, might be what you're looking for. You hear this beautiful singing...then suddenly, you've failed that saving throw vs Dominate Person.

[true_shinken]

Harbinger, the anti-bard, might be what you're looking for. You hear this beautiful singing...then suddenly, you've failed that saving throw vs Dominate Person.

Sounds like a normal Bard rather than an anti-Bard.
I just used a Bard as an enemy though. I'd like to avoid that. But excellent suggestion, thanks!

[Grelna the Blue]

Well, here's one idea:

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You could make her a Hilgya Firehelm sort of character, a princess who got her Prince Charming and killed him off because he wasn't interesting enough.

Her class could be almost anything, but you could always go with the "you've got demons of your own" line and make her a fiendbinder who trades the souls of visitors for infernal power. Add in a workroom for the party to find with the withered remains of her wouldbe visitors/rescuers/husbands and you've got a nice reverse-Bluebeard motif going.

[true_shinken]

Well, here's one idea:

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You could make her a Hilgya Firehelm sort of character, a princess who got her Prince Charming and killed him off because he wasn't interesting enough.

Her class could be almost anything, but you could always go with the "you've got demons of your own" line and make her a fiendbinder who trades the souls of visitors for infernal power. Add in a workroom for the party to find with the withered remains of her wouldbe visitors/rescuers/husbands and you've got a nice reverse-Bluebeard motif going.

That's fantastic!
Thanks a lot, I think I'll roll with this.

[Grelna the Blue]

That's fantastic!
Thanks a lot, I think I'll roll with this.

Coolness! Hope it goes well.

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Giving her blue hair might be too obvious a tip-off, but if you don't emphasize it and the players fail to pick up on it right away...well, you can laugh and laugh later when they do realize.

[Coidzor]

But if she's a lady...

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I don't think they'd want to go digging deep enough to get the Bluebeard reference...

Alternatively, consider some form of psionic character. They're good at the whole deceptive level of power thing.

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I believe WOTC published an adventure on their website dealing with a level 6 psion that had gotten locked up in some catacombs while she was sleeping by her father, and she's actually the most powerful character in the adventure and is fine, but can't actually get out of the catacombs due to the way the door works.

...and either not thinking of it or not having the ability to tunnel through solid rock all that quickly...

But anyway, the party lets her out and she can single-handedly take care of everything else, or, indeed, wipe out the entire castle the adventure is set in.

[Grelna the Blue]

Oh, and don't forget

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to put her on a Nightmare at some point...you know, for the "gonna have to ride your own stallion" line.

[Urpriest]

With the above archetype I'd suggest Malconvoker. Bluff optimization, and the ability to summon a fiendish prince far more charming than all the mortals who've betrayed her. Grab a male Brachina or something.

Ooh, come to think of it, if you're in Greyhawk, Iggwilv supposedly had a sister who had a habit of being rescued...probably too high level though.

[true_shinken]

Oh, and don't forget

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to put her on a Nightmare at some point...you know, for the "gonna have to ride your own stallion" line.

Grelna, you are so awesome I don't have words to describe it. Thanks a lot! You helped immensely!

[An Enemy Spy]

You could make her a succubus posing as a DiD.