A '''skeleton''' is a re-animated collection of bones from primarily human corpses (one or more) that has been filled with dark energies as well as spirits of the dead to act as simple guards or servants of dark mages [[sorcerer]]s or [[necromancerNecromancer]]s.
<br>
<br>
==Background==
[[Image:Mon-skeleton1.jpg|frame]] Living skeletons in dungeouns dungeons and country side have existed for a long time in [[Sanctuary]]. It's not known if they existed , at least some three hundred years before the the [[Darkening of Tristram]], but for in the last two decades, they have been a constant higher danger for travellers and any would-be archeologistsarchaeologists. These skeletons are in most cases remains of warriors from one or another war or conflict, and have been reanimated by unnatural forces by a rogue [[Sorcerer]] or a [[demon]]ic being.
<!--
While many believe that [[Necromancer]]s, who (Priests of [[Rathma]])
sacred the delicate balance of life and death
They truly comprehend the balance of all things, and understand and accept their place in what they refer to as the Great Cycle of Being.
never suffered the epidemic of corruption that plagued the ancient mage clans
death merely as a natural part of life and do not seek to deny its arrival
natural balance between Order and Chaos
desire to uphold this balance has brought the Necromancers forth
presence While many believe that [[Necromancer]]s are evil, they are really Priests of [[Rathma]] who mostly have just received a bad reputation and nickname due to their study of these Prime Evils on life and death. They dedicate their lives to the mortal realm upsets sacred balance of life and death as well as the natural symmetry balance between [[Order]] and [[Chaos]]. To them, death is merely as a natural part of life and they do not only seek to deny its arrival. They truly comprehend the mortal realmbalance of all things, but also and understand and accept their place in what they refer to as the [[Great Cycle of Being itself]]. The followers of Rathma seek to right In truth, they never suffered corruption from magic that other ancient [[mage clan]]s like the balance by ridding [[Vizjerei]] did. In the mortal realms of nonmortal intervention altogether. They resent any force that would treat humans as pawns in a cosmic gameend, though they apparently are willing use the naturally existing forces and spirits to raise inanimate objects (including Skeletons) to ally with the help their cause against imbalance between extra-planar forces on Sanctuary. In most cases you will find skeletons reanimated by a Necromancer to be of Order, but only until such time as help against the balance is restored[[Darkness]].
Skeletons themselves generally have a quite limited intelligence, even if their capability to understand and carry out orders exceed those of a [[Zombie]]. They are more organized, and blindly determined to whatever task is set before them. Even simpler forms of skeletons are capable of using simple tools, and they have been observed to use swords, clubs, bows, and even armour and shields (often equipped in the same armament in which they fell). They are walking vessels of [[Hell]]'s influence on the mortal realm (besides the ones raised by a Priest of Rathma), and are corpses and spirits of the deceased, which are twisted and corrupted, are imbued with a hatred for the living that defies understanding. They don't seek consume the flesh of the living like [[Zombie]]s, but they are intent on extinguishing the life of their victims. Some reports have also said that victims of some of these skeletons have risen themselves as skeletal soldiers against the still living.
- mischievous or imbecilic- Abd al-Hazir spent long time researchign them- animated Contrary to popular belief, they do not need to be bones from bits and piecesthe same corpse, however, but can be a composition of several different ones.- composition This makes it possible to form and reform - skeletons by a summoner, as broken pieces can easily summoned, permitted be replaced. As there is adequate raw generally always are '''some''' bone material at hand- Possible for necro to summon from some time in the distant past, a cadre of skeletal warriors [[necromancer]] or other summoner is able to do his bidding raise their creatures anywhere he chooses.-- less effort It's just easier to construct a skeleton army do it in a graveyard.
- skeleton intelligence is limited by the power and scope of the spell used in the creature's creation.
- a single astute skeleton servant or a dense army of a hundred for same magical energy
- Strange they hide in barrels. Perhaps the implausibility of its own existence makes the skeleton think it hilarious to hide in a barrel, cackling intermittently for some three hundred years until a victim happens by?
- Can be organized and directed easier than zombies.
- Minor energy used to make them intelligent enough to use shields (/bows?)
- Skeletal Only a minor magical investment is needed by a summoner more to bring a single, unintelligent skeleton to life, which makes it possible to raise armies in the hundreds for a powerfulmagician. Higher It seems to be a fairly simple equation in terms of intelligenceand power, where a summoner can replentish nameschoose between having one truly powerful and intelligent servant, or a hundred daft skeletal warriors, with limited capabilities. The skeleton intelligence is limited by the power and scope of the spell used in the creature's creation. Giving the skeleton enough mental capabilities to protect themselves with shields, or fire bows is just a little bit more demanding than summoning a regular bone warrior.
- disinter the graveyards and begin burning the skeletons posthaste.
The bones of truly powerful individuals still retain some part of their essence, and also some of their old power. It's harder to corrupt the truly good, but the effort will at the same time produce even more powerful servants. Using the bones of a deceased mage makes it easier to create spellcasting undead horrors. They can also be induced with the capability to summon skeletons themselves, making Skeletal Summoners truly dangerous. They are more powerful and they attain a higher level of intelligence, making it possible for him or her able to replenish the ranks even in the field.
- remains Skeletons are generally frail, and the general consensus among students of warriors.- reanimated by unnatural forces.- more powerful people are harder undeath is that you don't have to utterly destroy every single bone to reanimatestop a skeleton, some sort of protection but rather just deal enough damage to it in their order to dispell the summoning spell. As mentioned, the bones/spirit lingering- found where dead arecan later be induced with dark energies anew to rebuild it, like graveyard or battlegroundseasily replacing damaged parts.- fraileEven though these monstrosities are frail, people find them very dangerous in numbersas a single stab of a sword in the wrong place could potentially bring down any warrior.- killed by oneWith enough numbers, you become onethey can bring down any hero.
The capability of humour of these creations is strange. The traveller and writer [[Abd al- walking vessels of Hell’s influence Hazir]] made the following comment on the mortal realmtopic in his [[Writings of Abd al- corpses and spirits Hazir: Entry no. 0008|eight]] entry from the book [[Writings of Abd al-Hazir]]::: ''I am at a loss to explain the deceasedaverage skeleton's somewhat ludicrous mental predisposition, twisted and corrupted, are imbued with a hatred for however. Perhaps the living that defies understanding- The undead loathe implausibility of its own existence makes the living and seek only skeleton think it hilarious to consume warm flesh and blood.hide in a barrel, cackling intermittently for some three hundred years until a victim happens by?''
- skeletons do not seek to consume the flesh of the living, but only to extinguish the life of their victims.
- unrelenting in their goal, move faster than zombies and have some spark of intelligence as demonstrated by their use of weapons.
- observed wielding swords, clubs, bows, and even armor and shields
- often equipped in the same armament in which they fell
- animated skeletal remains of expired magic wielders, who prove that even the dead can wield the forces of magic.
Most [[undead]] (including skeletons) are brought to life on this plane through power from [[Mephisto]]. Some variants are adapted by other [[Prime Evils]], [[demon]] lords or specific dark [[sorcerer]]s of humankind. Some skeleton summonings require extra treatment, especially if the intention is to make the reanimated creature extra powerful. One example is the {{iw|Reanimated_Horde Reanimated Horde}} used by [[Baal]] in the assault of [[Mount Arreat]]. The Reanimated Horde consisted of warriors that had their hearts turned black while they were still alive, and were given a new existence as skeletons, with vengeful fury. They had an extraordinary level of ferocity, and the lingering power in them even allowed them to re-animate themselves if they were destroyed.
- Mainly Mephisto, some variants adapted to other Prime Evils or demon lords. Zombies normal skeletons.
- Some require extra treatment, like turning a heard black while alive, and given new existense as skeletons. {{iw|Reanimated_Horde Reanimated Horde}} Even manage to re-animate themselves if destroyed.
As with most undead, the only way to permanently destroy the creature, is to burn the bones to ashes on a pyre.
