Skeleton

Skeletons were undead animated corpses similar to zombies, but completely devoid of flesh and did not feed on the living. They could be made from virtually any solid creature, and as such their size and power varied widely. In addition to the basic humanoid skeleton, there were also skeletons created from wolves, trolls, ettins and even giants.

Description
The undead form of skeletons was held by necromantic energy, which kept otherwise loose bones and joints together and conferred on the undead corpse a glimmer of vitality and rudimentary intellectual capabilities.

Although skeletons were most typically created from humanoid remains, many other varieties existed.

Variations

 * Animal skeleton : A general term for skeletons created from the corpses of small to medium-sized vertebrate animals, such as warhorse skeletons.
 * Baneguard : First developed by priests of Bane, these skeletons could phase in and out and hurl bolts of magical energy.
 * Blazing Bones : Fiery skeletal undead created when a spellcaster's contingency spell goes wrong, these rare undead could be found in Myth Drannor.
 * Bonebat : A bat-like skeletal creature, created from either the bones of several bats or one giant bat.
 * Burnbones : Powerful priests of Cyric who have been transformed into their current undead state as a special favor from the Dark Sun. Their place within the church of Cyric is as the baneliches' within the church of Bane.
 * Direguard : Baneguards improved by the Church of Cyric, these skeletons are wreathed in a shadowy field of force that functions as armor. They could also see invisible foes.
 * Fiery skeleton : Burned with never-ending flames and it is immune to fire.
 * Merrow skeleton : A skeletal undead form of the merrow.
 * Minotaur skeleton : A skeleton created from the corpse of a minotaur.
 * Skeleton warrior : Powerful skeletons were created from great warriors who retained all of their fighting skills and enslaved to magical circlets. Highly resistant to magic and difficult to command, skeleton warriors were rarely found in groups greater than two or three.
 * Skeletal dragon : Created from a dragon and retained some of their deadly abilities. Not to be confused with a dracolich.

Other Varieties
Athach skeleton • Blazing skeleton • Bloody bones • Bonepile skeleton • Boneshard skeleton • Bonewretch skeleton • Death kin skeleton • Decrepit skeleton • Defiling skeleton • Dread • Dry bones • Frost skeleton • Gem eyes • Insectoid • Lightning skeleton • Marrowshriek skeleton • Obsidian skelton • Runeflame skeleton • Shattergloom skeleton • Skeletal tomb guardian • Skinwalker skelton • Skleros • Spine creep skeleton • Stonespawned skeleton • Tortured skeleton • Vicious skeleton

Combat
Animated skeletons were immune to mind-affecting spells; they could not be rendered unconscious and could not tire. Edged and piercing weapons, such as swords and arrows, were mostly ineffective against skeletons; only blunt weapons, such as warhammers, were effective at knocking the bones apart.

Like other undead, skeletons could be repelled or destroyed outright by priests like paladins and clerics.

Creation
The necromantic spell animate dead allowed spellcasters to create skeletons. They could also spontaneously rise in locations saturated with evil or necromantic powers.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * The Accursed Tower &bull; The Flowers of Flame &bull; Jammin &bull; Mad Gyoji &bull; Necropolis &bull; Nymph's Reward &bull; The Ship Of Night &bull; Pool of Radiance: Attack on Myth Drannor
 * Novels
 * Murder in Cormyr &bull; Red Magic &bull; The Ring of Winter &bull; The Paladins &bull; The Mercenaries
 * Comics
 * The Great Game &bull; The Forbidden Sands of Anauroch (#2)
 * Video games
 * Gateway to the Savage Frontier &bull; Descent to Undermountain &bull; Icewind Dale &bull; Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford &bull; Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor • Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of the Beholder &bull; Tales from Candlekeep: Tomb of Annihilation &bull; Baldur's Gate III
 * Card Games
 * Spellfire: Master the Magic
 * Board Games
 * Dungeon Command: Curse of Undeath &bull; Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Begins