Skeletons

Skeletons are the supporting frames of the bodies of living creatures brought back to life. In other race cultures, Skeletons of dead creatures can be reanimated after a creature's death through the use of necromantic magic or by being possessed by souls of the deceased.
== Overview ==
Over time, zombies become skeletons due to decomposition of their flesh skin and organs, and remain so until they are killed through crumbling. Skeletons are mute, but much more mobile and agile than zombies, and can usually reconstruct themselves after breaking down by finding new bones.
They can only reconstruct to a degree however, as wear and tear applies to them, and generally they disappear naturally when time grinds them into dust. However wear and tear can be counteracted by careful cleaning and maintaining of the bones using bone polish and other products. Whether this maintenance is observed by the other races is unknown.
When skeletons die, experience fading, which manifests as the skeleton flashing bright orange and crumbling into dust.
== Physiology ==
In contrast to zombies, skeletons are much more agile and mobile than zombies. This is due to zombies suffering from rigor mortis over time which limits their movements. 
Since skeletons lack vocal chords, they are mute, unless the living creature before dying was telepathic. 
In terms of durability, skeletons are less susceptible to fall damage, and immune to drowning. As long as the brain does not suffer damage, they can return to their initial state as a full skeleton by replacing their bones correctly.
Due to the lack of flesh and organs, Skeletons are 7 times lighter compared to a flesh and bone equivalent, they are also more agile and fast generally, and do not fatigue. 
Skeleton bones are dried and brittle unless maintained correctly. They have no organs to speak of except the brain and sinews that maintain structural integrity. 
== Fighting skeletons ==
Tactics for fighting skeletons in the wild are roughly the same as fighting against zombies; their brains remain a weak spot. They are however a step above zombies in terms of danger as they can use weapons and cannot be drowned. They use swarming tactics sometimes to immobilize an opponent. 
Due to their reduced weight they are susceptible to bashing weapons. 
Skeletons cannot use very heavy armor as it is too heavy, if they do, skeletons typically strengthen their joints with leather straps. 
Crushing a skeletons' skull is generally the best tactic, as such executioner swords, maces and other heavy weapons are the best choice against skeletons. 
When used tactically, Skeletal archers and rapiers are useful as they do not suffer from muscle fatigue. Rapiers are also weapons of choice for skeletons because of their speed and their only real weak spot is the skull. 
== Dalmer Skeletons ==
In dalmer culture, to become a skeleton is a choice, by undergoing a process known as skeletification. Skeletification is the stripping of all flesh and organs (save the brain and parts of the nervous system) off a zombie and the installation of mechanical and pneumatic enhancements to allow the remaining skeleton to move. Skeletons are mute, but much more mobile and agile than zombies, and can usually reconstruct themselves after breaking down.
== Imperial issue of skeletification ==
Skeletification is an issue in the Empire as not all zombies agree with the Empire’s wishes for complete skeletification of the corporeal undead. The zombies and other corporeal undead refuse for several reasons.
Firstly, the zombies claim it is an attack on their culture and way of life. 
Another argument made is that zombies are physically weaker than skeletons due to their reduced weight. 
Another argument is communicative, skeletons are mute while zombies can still communicate verbally. Which the zombies claim is an attempt to literally create a silent majority. 
The Empire’s stance on enforcing skeletification is on the grounds that skeletons are more aesthetic and hygienic. Zombies, being walking decomposing corpses, are disease vectors.
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Category:Undead
Category:Corporeal Forms