| Notes |
Skeletons are the remains of dead creatures whose flesh has long rotted away, which are subsequently animated through magic.Any kind of skeleton can be animated, and need not specifically be bones, as even the empty husks of giant insects can be raised from their rest.
Similar to mummies there are several types of skeletons depending on the type of magic used to animate them:
Those animated through sorcery are automatons which must be actively controlled by the caster, otherwise they lapse into quiescence. Although powerful sorcerers can control several skeletons simultaneously their usefulness is limited by the concentration required to direct them.
Skeletons raised by theism have the benefit that it is the supernatural entity being channelled by the priest who controls them. This can often grant the undead a semblance of independent action, though their skills are dependent on the nature of the deity or demon called upon.
Animists can send undeath spirits to possess the bones of dead creatures, granting the skeleton mental characteristics, and a degree of free will. This strength is also a weakness since the animating spirit can be blocked, exorcised or destroyed by magic which specifically targets such entities.
Skeleton characteristics are based upon those of the original creature, but modified to reflect the loss of flesh and muscle. Their STR and CON are halved (but receive bonuses according to the strength of the animating magic), and DEX is increased by half again – but never higher than the maximum for the species. The INT, POW and CHA of the skeleton are based upon the caster’s own or the spirit that currently animates it.
The skill values of the skeleton are equal to those of its controller.
For sorcerers and priests this is straight forward, but the skills of skeletons raised by animism are dependent on the spirit. Skeletons can wear armour, and wield any weapons they would naturally
have in their previous life.
These statistics are for an average human skeleton which has been raised by Intensity 7 sorcery.
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