Skelly

**Skelly** is a Bloodless "employed" by the House of Hades as a training dummy. While Skelly claims to be on the House's payroll, he refuses to reveal who hired him and is similarly unwilling to discuss his past, instead preferring to play various pranks on Zagreus. Oddly, no one in the House seems to be aware of his existence besides Zagreus and Achilles, unless the former asks them about him.

Skelly has 900 HP. As he's already dead, he will simply reform after being "killed" in training. He seems suspiciously enthusiastic about getting beaten up.

## Characteristics and Personality

Skelly, the excessively animated skeleton, remains a mysterious figure. Despite lacking flesh and blood, he eagerly assists Zagreus in mastering the use of weapons, serving as a willing punching bag for the prince's practice sessions. Surprisingly, Skelly finds joy in this role, deriving satisfaction from the experience.

Although he is a skeleton, Skelly possesses a vibrant spirit. He is fiercely loyal and courageous, aiding Zagreus in his escapades behind Hades' back. Skelly tends to exhibit extreme behavior, being highly enthusiastic, talkative, and condescending towards those within earshot. He often engages in playful banter, even going as far as pretending to be capable of experiencing death to play pranks on Zagreus, much to the prince's amusement.

Skelly is friendly and helpful by nature, but he has a tendency to quickly develop a sense of familiarity with others, as if he were an expert in the ways of war. Achilles disapproves of Skelly's imprudent advice and questions who Skelly might have been in life to possess such unwavering confidence in death. Additionally, Skelly exhibits a peculiar masochistic inclination, deriving pleasure from enduring blows.

## Physical description

Skelly is depicted as a blue-white skeleton with vibrant red eyes and an expression of excitement. In an interesting departure from typical skeletal appearances, he possesses a few strands of black hair on the top of his head, accompanied by shaggy sideburns and an irregular ridge along his back. Notably, Skelly places a coin with the symbol of the House of Hades in his mouth. This unique combination of features further enhances Skelly's distinct appearance in the game.

## History

### Before Hades

Skelly's past is mysterious, yet it is suggested that he was a formidable warrior whose fate was sealed after numerous intense battles.

### Hades

Skelly first appears right after you purchase your first weapon.

Skelly is shrouded in secrecy, claiming to have been hired by someone who seeks to aid the prince's escape, yet he refuses to disclose the identity of his employer. His actions are driven by a greater purpose, as he plays a part in helping Zagreus reunite with his mother.

## Affinity

If gifted Nectar, Skelly will give you the Lucky Tooth.

After giving Skelly 6 Nectar in total, you will be unable to give him any other gift until you complete a favor for him.

Once completing his favor, giving him Ambrosia will earn you the Companion Rib.

Skelly's affinity gauge is maxed out at 9 hearts, requiring the gifting of 6 Nectar and 3 Ambrosia.

### Favor

Skelly's favor is directly requested by him the next time he is encountered and his affinity gauge is as complete as it can be. He won't give you the quest until you've unlocked 4 non-Zagreus aspects of weapons. After you've done that, on your next run he should offer the new quest.

He will request that Zagreus kill him with the Stygian Blade, but using its Level 5 Zagreus Aspect (which costs a total of 5 Titan Blood), claiming it will set him free of his “contract.”

Once this has been done, Zagreus will be able to gift him Ambrosia the next time he encounters Skelly in the courtyard.

Completing Skelly's favor also completes the **Eternal Rest** prophecy.

### Challenge Statues

Skelly will add 3 covered statues to the southwest of the courtyard which require you to complete runs at certain heat levels: 8, 16, and 32.

## Codex entry

'*...The animated skeleton and I, we seldom get along. He is too talkative for me, and spouts such simple condescensions to all those in earshot, seemingly as though he were an expert in the ways of war. I disapprove of his reckless advice, and am uncertain as to who he was in life, to be so self-assured in death. I am uncertain as to why he is even here; it is quite odd the Master does not know of him, at all. Nevertheless, I sense that there is naught to fear from him. And, I have to confess, I admire the determination with which he carries out his task, of simply standing at attention, being beaten, often mercilessly, all for martial training's sake. My limited inquiries as to his origins have come up empty as of yet. I know only that he first appeared in the House's upper courtyard soon after the Master and his son had their latest, terrible exchange of words. To think, at first I thought the Master set this skeleton to work. But, if not the Master... who?*'

## Additional notes

Purchasing the **Painting, Skeletal (Lounge)** from the House Contractor will trigger a conversation, where Zagreus invites Skelly in the house, but he refuses.

A recurring theory is that Skelly's true identity is that of greek hero Odysseus. Famous for having presented himself as Nobody to the Cyclops Polyphemus, Skelly pulls a similar prank when he refers to himself as Schelemeus. Furthermore, Achilles is the only one besides Zagreus to be 100% aware of his existence, and even states he seems to be an expert in the ways of war, while Odysseus has fought in many wars, especially the Trojan War and was a fellow companion of Achilles. During his lie about his past, Skelly says he was the "Captain of the Cretan second fleet, sailing to Athens under King Minos"; while this isn't true, Odysseus is very famous for his long trip back home to Ithaca. Were this theory to be true, that would mean that Skelly is none other than Hermes's great-grandson, which could further explain his prankster personality, since Hermes is the God of Trickery.