I can't speak for the players, but from my experience as GM, I'm nominating a character from a published module who took on a life in subsequent adventures.
Klas Jorga appears in the Second Edition D&D box set, Hail the Heroes. This is an above average adventure (despite the cheesy CD) and it fitted nicely into the third edition campaign I was running at the time*.
Jorga is a foil to the PCs activities, representing the extreme end of a rival faction also seeking the Temple of the Shield. While he could be used simply as another combat encounter, I played him as a fanatic who will play dirty to succeed. He KNOWS his side is right, so that excuses his actions, he avoids getting his hands bloody, but understands how to use others to achieve his goal. He frequently sets up situations that can be blamed on the PCs.
This is pretty close to his description, see above, but the players loved him (their characters less so). One of them was a member of the Temple of Traladara, and was just as driven. Both Jozan and Jorga viewed the other as basically good, but misguided. They only needed to see the error of their ways to come over to the light.
So the party and Jorga had mutually exclusive goals. He proved a thorn in their sides through the adventure, but the party prevailed, and Jorga went into hiding in disgrace.
Several of the NPCs from Hail the Heroes returned, but Jorga made such an impression that he triggered a later adventure. He survived that too, but lost an eye and gained a much grimer demeanor. The party had a much less positive attitude towards him by now, he'd done some unpleasant stuff, believing that the end justified the means.
His final appearance was in the 4E campaign, where he sported a magical eye, and led a band of thugs. He was instantly recognised by Jozan's player, and just as quickly loathed by the characters.
Jorga's importance grew through two campaigns, but what if he'd died early on? Well he certainly didn't have plot armour, and initially he was no more prominent than the other NPCs (ah Kriss, who remembers you now?). It was simply the way he 'clicked' with the players that inspired me to keep bringing him back. It was nice to get repeat use out of him, but, beyond his actions triggering 'The Temple of the Sword' he was completely disposable.
And I suppose there's a lesson there. Memorable NPCs can develop organically, and are often the better for it. But it's a mistake to artificially keep them alive. Don't plan on them surviving first contact with the heroes, and you might be surprised what develops. I certainly was with Jorga.
*Again with the mismatch of game world and edition
"Just as driven" as Jorga!? Possible 'harrummphh' there 😉
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