Skeleton warriors are the unfortunate victims of powerful magic; in life they were fighters of great prowess and likely lords in their own right. In death they have become abominations, compelled by evil sorcery to serve any who possess the golden circlets that contain their souls. Skeleton warriors desire above all else to gain possession of their own circlet and to be revenged upon any who have possessed and used it in the past.

The appearance of a skeleton warrior is terrifying and creatures with less than five HD will panic and flee from its presence. A visage of desiccated and decaying flesh hanging from exposed bone is perhaps fearsome enough, but the flame-red eyes that stare forth from black sockets are said to haunt the dreams of those upon whom they look. They are generally armed and armoured with the remains of what they wore in life, or their grave goods.

The lair of a skeleton warrior is normally a richly adorned tomb filled with considerable treasure. However, because they are usually either seeking the current possessor of their circlet or else in the unwilling service of said possessor, they are rarely found in their lairs.

Contrary to appearances, the skeleton warrior is not undead in the conventional sense. It cannot be turned, is unaffected by a scroll of protection from undead, etc.