Skeleton

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Skeleton Warriors.

Skeletons are long dead warriors, raised by Necromancy to fight again in the armies of the Tomb Kings and Vampire Counts

Overview

For thousands of years, armies have marched and fought across the Old World. There is barely a field, hill or valley that has not seen fierce fighting at some point in the past. Going as far back as the time of Sigmar and even earlier, these great battles have left unmarked graves beyond counting. Such charnel fields attract Dark Magic, and the souls of some warriors remain trapped in the material realm. Some are the spirits of men betrayed by their commanders, others of cowards who were cut down as they ran, or of those who died a violent and unexpected death. Beneath the mud lie the grave-stained bones of these bitter, ancient warriors. Long held beneath the earth, they are clad in their corroded armour, their lifeless hands still gripping the swords, axes, spears and shields they held in life. Provided their remains have not been blessed by the rites of Morr, a Necromancer or Vampire can use the coiling energies of Dark Magic to instil a semblance of life and a flicker of spirit into these dormant warriors. [3a]

As the regiments of past massacres claw their way to the surface, their empty eye sockets glow with unholy power. Silently, they gather together in a semblance of their old ranks, mutely awaiting the commands of their new lord as the remains of their tattered banners flap in the unnatural breeze of their creation. Lipless horn blowers raise their instruments and sound a spectral, mournful dirge. organs to pierce, a well-aimed blow can destroy it. Dark Magic replaces flesh the long since devoured by the writhing creatures of the earth, but an arrow or sword thrust can disrupt the magic that binds the ancient bones of these soldiers together. Decapitation or severing of the spine is usually enough to release the Skeleton Warrior's spirit from the mortal plane, and a heavy blow from a bludgeoning weapon such as a hammer or a club can shatter a Skeleton into pieces. However, even those that are felled can be raised up again as necromantic power knits together shattered bones and instils them with unholy vigour once more.[3a]

Nature

All that these long-dead fighters can recall of mortal life are faint impressions from battles fought in ages past. All that they feel is the compulsion to fight and obey their masters. They have no autonomy or intelligence, though some vestige of their battlefield training remains ingrained in their bones. Driven by the undying will of a Vampire, these ragged warriors can still wield their swords and spears, and raise a shield to block an enemy attack. [1a]

A mortal who dares to fight an army of Skeletons is confronted by rank upon rank of ghastly apparitions. Who could remain unafraid with the soldiers of antiquity lurching towards him? [1a]

Notable

  • Sternsmen: Undead defenders of Castle Sternieste in Sylvania

Weapons and Equipment

Skeleton Warriors of the Vampire Counts wear Light or Heavy Armour and Shields, wielding Spears, Hand Weapons, Halberds or Double-Handed Weapons. Some regiments carry Magical Standards [1b] and are led by Skeleton Captains. [2a] Some Blood Dragons have Skeleton Archers under their command, armed with a Bow and a Hand Weapon. [2b]

  • 2nd Edition: Skeleton Guard: Full Plate Armour, Shield, Two Handed Axe or Scythe. [5a]
  • 2nd Edition: Skeleton Warriors: Hand Weapon or Spear, Shield. May have Chainmail or Metal breastplate, Scythe. [5a]
  • 3rd Edition: Hand Weapon. May have Light Armour, Shield, Spear. May have Musician, Standard Bearer. [4a]
  • 4th Edition: Sword. May have Bow, Crossbow, Halberd, Heavy Armour, Light Armour, Shield, Spear. May have Musician, Standard Bearer. May have Magic Standard. [4a]
  • 5th Edition: Vampire Counts: Hand Weapon. May have Double Handed Weapon, Halberd, Heavy Armour, Light Armour, Shield, Spear. May have Leader, Musician, Standard Bearer. May have Magic Standard. [1b]
  • 5th Edition: Tomb Kings: Bow, Hand Weapon. May have Light Armour, Shield. May replace bow with Shield and Spear. May have Champion, Musician and Standard Bearer. May have Magic Standard. [1b]
  • 6th Edition: Vampire Counts: Hand Weapon, Shield. May have Light Armour. May have Spear. May have Musician, Skeleton Captain and Standard Bearer. [2a]
  • 6th Edition: Vampire Counts: Skeleton Bowman: Bow, Hand Weapon. May have Light Armour. May have Spear. May have Musician, Skeleton Captain and Standard Bearer. [2a]
  • 6th Edition: Army of the Lichemaster: Hand Weaponm Sheild. May have Javelins, Light Armour, Spear. May have Musician, Skeletal Chieftain, Standard Bearer. [10a]
  • 8th Edition: Tomb Kings: Hand Weapon, Shield. May have Light Armour, Spear. May have Master of Arms, Musician, Standard Bearer. [7a]
  • 8th Edition: Vampire Counts: Hand Weapon, Light Armour, Shield. May have Spear. May have Champion, Musician, Standard Bearer. May have Magic Standard. [8a]

Gallery

Miniatures Gallery

Quotes

The mighty army of the Necropolis, awaiting the command of their lord. Valiant soldiers all, who rise up at the call of their lord and master.

~ Hieroglyphic inscription over the tomp pits of the skeleton legion of Settra.[6a]

Sources

The Vampire Counts
Units Abyssal Terror - Banshee - Bat Swarm - Black Coach - Black Knight - Blood Knight - Cairn Wraith - Charnel Guard - Corpse Cart - Coven Throne - Crypt Horror - Dire Wolves - Fell Bat - Ghost - Ghoul - Gloom‎ - Grave Guard - Hexwraith - Mortis Engine - Necromancer - Master Necromancer - Necromancer Lord - Shadow Druid - Simulacra - Skeleton - Spirit Host - Strigoi Ghoul King - Storm Riders - Strigany - Swain - Sylvanian Levy - Terrorgheist - Tomb Stalker - Vargheist - Varghulf - Vampire Thrall - Vampire Count - Vampire Lord - Wight King - Winged Nightmare - Zombie - Zombie Dragon - Zombie Pirate
Characters Abhorash - Aucassin - Adolphus Krieger - Alicia von Untervald - Andraste - Ankhat - Anmar bin Muntasir - Asteron - Brachnar - Caleb - Chandagnac - Chown - Constant Drachenfels - Crovan - Dieter Helsnicht - Druthor - Emmanuelle von Templehof - Estaban Valadische - Evegena Boradin - Faethor - Famke Leibrandt‎ - Frederick van Hal - Gabriella von Nachthafen - Galiana - Gashnag - Genevieve Dieudonné - Gorgivich Krakvald - Gothard - Gugula Skell - Gunther Spengler - Harakhte - Hathurk - Heinrich Kemmler - Helena von Culper - Helman Ghorst - Heloise Kalfon - Hermione von Auerbach - Imentet - Isodora - Jacques de Noirot - Johann Haifisch - Kadon - Kalledria - Kattarin - Khaled al Muntasir - Khemalla - Krell - Laskar Noircouer - Layla - Leanora Navrre - Louis Cypher - Lothar von Diehl - Lupa Stregga - Luthor Harkon - Mallobaude - Malvous - Mangari - Mara - Margritte von Wittgenstein - Mariato - Mathilda‎‎ - Melidere Valadische - Melissa d'Acques - Merovech - Morath‎‎ - Mordac - Morgul - Moriva Darkstalker - Mundvard - Naaima - Nathmar - Neferata - Nicodemus - Nitocris - Nourgul - Obadiah Glothman - Palatine Drego - Petra Hirkeit - Pitre Fonce - Raiza - Rametep - Rasha bin Wasim - Red Duke - Renar - Rolinda - Rudolph Brecht - Sanzak - Sofia - Sorn Ghoulskin - Sycamo - Talia - Theodora Margrave - Thrashlaar - Tiberius Kael - Ulrika Magdova - Ushoran - Urzen - Verek - Anark von Carstein - Antoine von Carstein - Ariette von Carstein - Emmanuelle von Carstein - Isabella von Carstein - Konrad von Carstein - Lydia von Carstein - Malachias von Carstein‎‎ - Mannfred von Carstein - Nyklaus von Carstein - Pieter von Carstein - Vlad von Carstein - Vorag Bloodytooth - Katherina von Dernsbach - Frich Von Haas - Rabe von Stahl - Rodrik von Waldendorf‎‎ - Rametep - Rudek - Ulffik - Ullo - Valnimir Valadische - Vangheist - Varis - Vorag Bloodytooth - Walach Harkon - W'soran - Yamina - Zacharias - Zoar
Organisations Dreadfleet - Lahmian Sisterhood - Necrarch Brotherhood - Order of the Blood Dragon - Vampire Coast - Von Carstein Dynasty
Images - Magic items - Miniatures - Vehicles
Tomb Kings
Units Asp Bone Construct - Bone Giant - Carrion - Casket of Souls - Dust Goblin - Hierotitan - Icon Bearer - Khemric Titan - Liche High Priest - Liche Priest - Necropolis Knight - Necrosphinx - Necrotect - Screaming Skull Catapult - Sepulchral Stalker - Skeleton Archer - Skeleton Chariot - Skeleton Horsemen - Skeleton Warrior - Tomb Guard - Tomb Herald - Tomb King - Tomb Prince - Tomb Scorpion - Tomb Swarm - Ushabti - Warsphinx
Characters Ahtaf I - Ahtaf II - Aiyah - Aldrhamar - Akhmen-Hotep - Alcadizaar - Alkharad - Alkhazzar I - Alkhazzar II - Amanhotep - Amenemhetum - Amn-nasir - Amonkhaf - Amunet - Ankhat - Antarhak - Apophas - Arkhan - Behedesh - Behedesh II - Cavetta - Dhekhesh - Dread King - Hapusneb - Hassep - Hatsushepra - Hekesh - Hekhmenukep - Imrathepis - Kaseph - Khalida Neferher - Kharnut - Khatep - Khenteka - Khenti - Khepra - Khesek - Khetep - Khuftah - Khutef - Lahkashaz - Lahmizzar - Lahmizzash - Lakhashar - Lamasheptra - Lamashizzar - Memnet - Nagash - Nebunefer - Neferem - Neferata - Nehek - Nekhef I - Nekaph - Nekhesh - Nemuhareb - Pakh-amn - Phar - Pharakh - Ptar - Raamket - Rahmohtep - Rakaph I - Rakaph II - Rakaph III - Rakh-amn-hotep - Rakhash - Rakphlotok - Ramhotep - Rasut - Sehenesmet - Sekhef - Setep - Settra - Settuneb - Shahid ben Alcazzar - Shepret - Sofer - Suseb -Tephret - Tharruk - Thutep - Tutankhanut - Ubaid - Utep - Wakhaf - Zakash
Cities Bhagar - Ka-Sabar - Khemri - Lahmia - Lybaras - Mahrak - Numas - Quatar - Rasetra - Zandri
Images - Magic Items - Miniatures - Vehicles