Skeleton

Skeletons arise when animated by dark magic. They heed the summons of spellcasters who call them from their stony tombs and ancient battlefields, or rise of their own accord in places saturated with death and loss, awakened by stirrings of necromantic energy or the presence of corrupting evil.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Whatever sinister force awakens a skeleton infuses its bones with a dark vitality, adhering joint to joint and reassembling dismantled limbs.

Genetics and Reproduction

While most skeletons are the animated remains of dead humans and other humanoids, skeletal undead can be created from the bones of other creatures besides humanoids, giving rise to a host of terrifying and unique forms.

Dietary Needs and Habits

A skeleton doesn't require air, food, drink, or sleep.

Biological Cycle

Independent skeletons temporarily or permanently free of a master's control sometimes pantomime actions from their past lives, their bones echoing the rote behaviors of their former living selves. The skeleton of a miner might lift a pick and start chipping away at stone walls. The skeleton of a guard might strike up a post at a random doorway.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Skeletons raised by spell are bound to the will of their creator. They follow orders to the letter, never questioning the tasks their masters give them, regardless of the consequences.

Facial characteristics

Dripping rotted flesh peels off their skeletal faces. With no dicernable flesh on the face, most skeletons (risen of humanoids) look fairly similar. Though a skeleton can be risen of any creature that has passed. So you may find various forms of skeleton facial structures from humans, to goblins, or bears and other beasts.

Average Intelligence

A skeleton has a lack of any functioning brain, they are held together by magic and command only. So as a result, they lack any general independence or free will. They do not possess any social skills at all either, simple nods of affirmation and wails of disapproval, pointing in a direction, these are the extent of its social skills.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Due to their dark nature of necromantic energy, they have a Darkvision of 60 ft. They are unintelligible beings with below average perceptions (Passive Perception 9)

Civilization and Culture

Average Technological Level

Skeletons are able to accomplish a variety of relatively complex tasks. A skeleton can fight with weapons and wear armor, can load and fire a catapult or trebuchet, scale a siege ladder, form a shield wall, or dump boiling oil. However, it must receive careful instructions explaining how such tasks are accomplished.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

They can't read, speak, emote, or communicate in any way except to nod, shake their heads, or point.

Average Height

a skeleton can be raised out of any creature, they resemble the same height of that creature

Average Physique

Skeletons do not bare any major strength, but still have that of an average humans. They lack any flesh and as a result have reduced weights, they can move surprisingly quick. Their lack of pain sensory allows them to have a high constitution as well.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Their bodies also lacking in flesh, are just shambled bones connected at the joints. Some may have missing limbs or cracked bones from their previous death. They don rotted and rusted patches of armour, generally what they were wearing before. A skeleton might wear nicer armour, if they have been told to replace the armour they had on in life.