Skeleton Warrior
Skeleton Warrior · Undead Soldier — A warrior risen from death and granted unlife
The skeleton warrior is a warrior-type undead being composed of dead bones. Summoned or resurrected through magic, curses, or black arts and deployed in battle, fighting with sword, spear, shield, and armor through pure skeletal form without flesh or soul. Usually depicted as instrumental beings with no original personality or will, faithfully following only the necromancer's commands. The mythological archetype traces back to the Spartoi 'warriors grown from dragon's teeth' of Greek mythology's Cadmus, but the modern image was established by the iconic scene in the 1963 film Jason and the Argonauts — the seven skeleton warriors brought to life by Ray Harryhausen's stop-motion animation engaging in sword duels with heroes. Since then they appear as the most common undead enemies in nearly all fantasy RPGs including D&D, Diablo, Dark Souls, and Elder Scrolls. Terrifying enemies that endlessly regenerate or shatter when struck only to rise again.
