The Heroic Path

Nearly every class has the choice at 9th level or any time after to chose the Heroic Path for their character. Heroic Path characters may never be raised from the dead, and normally require 15xp to gain a level instead of the normal 10xp (Dark Elf Heroes thus require 18xp to gain a level). Heroic Path adventurers have one life to gain fame and glory - and they carry far more respect than the average hero. They also have special advantages and gain the option to alter their class name, though it is not required.

Characters who follow the Heroic Path make up less than 5% of the characters of a certain class. More than half of those, however, are elves and dark elves, since elves may not be raised from the dead anyway.

The point of the heroic path is two-fold. On one hand it explains how the most powerful non-player characters of a world have so many more powers than regular characters of the realm. It also offers to the PCs a chance to take that path of true heroism if they so chose. But, like most things, it's optional. Sometimes the power isn't worth the price.