Skeleton
A cultural identity associated with being both apparently Skeletal and sentient. There are two variants, based upon their origin:
- White Skeletons. Also called a Revenant, or "true" skeleton. Accomplished via Light Magic, which binds a souls to a once-living skeletal entity. The bound soul is often the original owner, but not necessarily so. If (when) the original is missing, a recently departed soul may be pulled from the multiverse.
- Green Skeletons. Also called an Animated, or "false" skeleton. Does not require a once-living entity, and requires a recently departed soul, which is pulled randomly from the multiverse. Accomplished via Earth Magic. Green skeletons sometimes move in awkward, cartoony ways, because it lacks an inherent memory of a living body, and is able to move in all possible degrees of freedom. A plaster skeleton model could be animated in this way, and it would have the option of walking like a human, or could bending all its joints freely.
Soul Prejudice
Soul prejudice is where green skeletons are not respected as much as white skeletons, due to their means of origination. Green skeletons are often linked (fairly or unfairly) to the interests of the Resistentialist Movement, whose manifesto includes soul prejudice as a motivation for rebellion.
Culture
Skeletons may jiggle or dance, or remove or juggle their skulls, as a ritual affirming mutual Skeleton heritage. This bears striking resemblance to territorial dance displays, performed by indigenous skeletal tribes. Inspired by Silly Symphonies - The Skeleton Dance
Zombies
Using the word "zombie" is widely considered a slur. It describes a skeleton person, prior to decarnation. Past a certain point of death, flesh becomes decreasingly reanimateable. If you wait too long, the person comes back as a rotting corpse. However, bones are especially prone to reanimation magic. Whatever soul is closest (across the multiverse) at time of reanimation enters the skeleton. If the death was recent, it is usually the original soul. A "zombie" is simply a new skeleton, whose old flesh still needs removal, causing them to stumble and groan helplessly.
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