Skeletons

## Summary

Skeletons are a race of undead monsters risen from the remains of long-dead humans. They wield bows, and are most often found working for the Wither. They also have a much stronger variant, the Wither Skeletons, who only live in the Nether and use Stone Swords.

## Description

Skeletons look like Skeletons.

Strays somewhat resemble Skeletons but they are a dark blue color and covered in torn robes.

## History

### Background

During Wither’s destructive reign over the Overworld, he created many new creatures, bringing into existence the Zombies and Skeletons, made from the remains of long-dead humans, and the Phantoms, winged creatures who preyed on the weary at night. He also found and corrupted many Villager settlements, turning the inhabitants into Illagers, and creating their mounts, the Ravagers, massive behemoths that could plow through entire houses. With his forces assembled, Wither began to attack.

Not willing to watch their world be destroyed, Osther and Tether created armies to help defend the major cities of their world. the Iron Golems; large, hulking beasts made of pure steel, and were nearly unstoppable. The “Alliance of the Overworld” as they called themselves, rallied at the world’s most fortified city, Erlandia. Thousands upon thousands of players, supported by the Iron Golems, engaged in a decisive battle against Wither and his army.

This was, however, a ruse, to buy the brothers time to hatch a plan. Whilst they were still in hiding, the brothers created a series of three underground fortresses, called Strongholds, and inside each one they built a portal that led into the End, where the Endermen dwelled. Now with an army of Endermen backing them up, a surprise attack was launched on Wither and his forces, trapping his armies in from all sides. However, this still wasn’t enough. In a last-ditch effort, the Brothers brought forth a conduit of incredible power, which sent a signal to the All-Mother, who was deep in the outer reaches of the void. Coming to their rescue, the All-Mother stripped Wither of his god status and powers, forcing him into a smaller, weaker form, before casting him into a limbo dimension, called the Infinite Plane. Before he was sealed away, Wither swore that he would find a way out of the plane, and he would not rest until the Overworld was a smoldering ruin. No longer worthy of his god status, Wither could not maintain his title, and went from “Wither” to simply “The Wither”

### Post-Wither War

To ensure that the Wither would never be able to return, the brothers took several precautions. They created a melody that would play for all eternity, which they called the “Song of the Caves” that entranced all of the Wither’s monsters to stay underground, for fear that they would burn in sunlight. The Skeletons only split into two subspecies; Skeletons and Strays. Strays were Skeletons that have been frozen by the cold temperatures of the snowy regions. Unlike their counterparts, the Husks, Strays still burn in sunlight, in fact being affected by it even more than normal, as their icy skin will be melted by the sun. They are also the only monster capable of harnessing enchanted arrows, using the slowing power of ice.

### New Anvil's Time

Skeletons were rather widespread throughout the Overworld's vast cave systems, but the first organized gathering of Skeletons recorded by New Anvil happened in their very own mines, where Katar, the Cursed emerged, hoping to overrun the town in order to use their Nether Portal to take revenge on his former master. His plans were foiled by Cadmus, who ventured into the Skeleton's dungeon and slew him, leaving his bones behind.

During the Disciple's War, a legion of armored Skeletons were led by Zephyr into New Anvil, where a great battle would ensue. Afterwards, when the Nether War began, the Wither called armies of Skeletons to his fortress, where they would act as the first line of defense. Much later, Katar would be resurrected by the Sculk Reality as Katar, the Darkened, and many of his Skeletons would return to his side, also infected by Sculk.

## Faction Sects

Factions
 Marzek's Loyalists |     | The Nether (Marzek's Bastion)
 Shadows of Katar |     | Mobile
 Overworld Union |      | Entire Overworld