"And so it came to pass as that the College of Wizardry discovered the lair of the dreaded lich Azarleen, and the College sent a dozen Imperial Wizards and more than fifty Imperial Guards to hunt down and slay the abomination. Their journey through the Lich's crypt is better left undescribed, enough it should be, to say that they reached the creature's inner Sanctum. The Liche, surrounded by a bodyguard of dreadfull Ghasts, from which's eyes a dreadful fire shone, uttered a word, a single dread spell, and the entire floor erupted with undead, far more than even so dreaded a spellcaster could command. But alas! The Lich's servants laughed, and pulses of dark energy flowed over the assembled undead, bolstering and increasing their power. It was only with the greatest presence of mind that I managed to escape, to bring you this report.

I am afraid that the Wizards we sent have already joined the Dread Legions of Azarleen."

-Mythocplos Wyverntail
"Report to the Faculty"

Undeath, for many it brings forth images of dusty tombs and sealed catacombs, of dread whispers in the night and horrid beasts of flesh and bone. Mostly those thoughs are close to reality. A Dreadguard is an undead creature who has studied himself and his condition, learning as much as he can about the strange negative energy that flows through him. Usually trained by Necromancer's and liches to act as liutenants, sometimes the rare Vampire or ghost stumbles upon the secret themselves.

Requirements:
Feats: Iron Will, Weapon Focus (Any martial or exotic weapon), Leadership.
Skills:
Knowledge (arcana): 2
Knowledge (Necrology): 2
Concentration: 2
Race: Must belong to the [Undead] subtype.

Class features

HD: 1d12
BaB: as Fighter
Saves: Good Will
Skills/level: 2+Int Mod
Class skills: Concentration, Knowledge, Ride, Climb, Spot, Listen.

1. Rebuke Undead (Su)
2. Deathless fortitude (+3)
3. Dark Aura +1(Su)
4. Talons of Darkness (Sp) 1/day
5. Negative Energy Burst (Su)
6. Deathless fortitude (+6)
7. Negative Aura +2 (Su)
8. Talons of Darkness (Sp) 2/day
9. Deathless fortitude (+9)
10. Animate Dead (Su)

1. Rebuke Undead (Su): The first skill the Dreadguard masters is the ability to channel his own negative energy to affect lesser undead. The Dreadguard can Rebuke Undead, just as a cleric of his Dreadguard level + his Undead Hit Dice.

2. Deathless Fortitude: The Dreadguard can use his own negative energy to boost his own vitality and fortitude. He gains 3 hit points for each level of Deathless Fortitude, exaclty as the Toughness feat.

3. Dark Aura (Su): The Dark aura that a Dreadguard manifests is actually an emanation of his own negative energy, the Dreadguard can tap upon this force to bolster the undead under his command. The aura affects any undead (including the Dreadguard!) within a 30 foot radius, granting them a +1 Turn Resistance.

4. Talons of Darkness : The Dreadguard can tap upon the energies of the Negative Energy Plane, and use them to slash and strike at his living foes. The Talons of Darkness can be activated as a spell-like ability, instantly a claw of negative energy reaches out to rend his foes, inflicting 1d6 points of negative energy damage per Dreadguard level (reflex save for half) The Claws have a range increment of 20 ft./Dreadguard level. If an enemy is slain by the Talons of Darkness it instantly arises, animated as a zombie under the Dreadguard's command.

5. Negative Energy Burst (Su): The Dreadguard can chose to spend one turning attempt to instead attempt to destroy his living foes, at the same time rejuvenating his undead minions. The Negative Energy burts inflicts 1d6 points of negative energy damage per point of charisma modifier of the Dreadguard (minimum 1d6) to all living foes within 30 ft. of the Dreadguard. any creature caught within the blast of negative energy must make a fortitude save for half damage. Undead are healed instead of harmed by the burst.

7. Negative Aura (Su): At 7th level of proficiency the Dreadguard's aura of negative energy intensifies, all undead within a 60 ft. radius gains a +2 to their turning resistance.

10. Animate Dead (Su): Spending a Rebuking attempt, a Dreadguard can instead chose to animate the fallen of the battlefield. This ability has a range of 30 ft. Every dead creature within range is treated as a zombie (or skeleton if approporiate) of it's size, if the character successfully "rebukes" the dead creature, it arises as a skeleton of it's size, under the command of the Dreadguard.

Authors comments
I intended this PRC mostly as an asset for villainous liutenants, or possibly an improvement to single undead without cleric or wizard levels.