Octavian

Octavian is a bard from a village. In the beginning he sought to make a living playing music, but found little for his craft but poverty and discontent. On his many travels to find better fortune, he stumbled across an abandoned shrine, containing the Golden Lute.

Discovering that the Lute had the power to reawaken the dead, he fled to a Crypt, where he developed a party of undead creatures under his command, and terrorized the land. Eventually, Octavian grew weary of playing, and died, having already outlived his natural life cycle.

His resurrection by Aria led to her demise by the hands of the NecroDancer, whom reclaimed the Lute and reign heavily. He places the curse of the Crypt upon Cadence after she falls.

In the game, he is unlocked by default as Bard, alongside Cadence. He starts with two hearts, a dagger, a bomb, and a shovel; because his character predates the NecroDancer's Curse, Bard can be controlled freely and is not restricted to the beat of songs in the dungeon.