Skeleton Key is a coyote and member of Del Cenere Gang. He tries so hard, but in the end, it doesn't even matter. He tends to come across as a bit of a desperate guy who's trying too hard to be tough, but in actuality, mostly just gets bullied by his sister.
He is the son of Lucilla Key and another coyote. He journeyed to 'Souls with his mother and siblings in summer 2016. After his mother and River joined Inferni, Skeleton and his sister, Carnivore, decided to strike out on their own.
In Apri 2019, he joined the loner band The Cartel and was one of the founding members of Del Cenere Gang in June later that year.
As a member of Del Cenere Gang, he participated in retaliation against the del Mar family during a period of escalating hostilities, siding with Boone Lykoi, who advocated for a heavy hand to punish the tyrants during the Born Unto Trouble plot.
Skeleton recently parted ways with his long-time traveling partner, Carnivore. Feel free to ask him about it and make him feel grumpy or sad! :D
Skeleton can't ride a horse! What's up with that?
OOC Assumptions
Members of Del Cenere Gang may assume and reference the following without discussion/asking:
Skeleton is known to scavenge valuable items.
Skeleton (and his sister, Carnivore) are known to have a bad reputation among traders either for trying to scam them, steal from them, or heckle them.
1. Appearance
1.1 Basics
Essentials
Species: Resembles a Northeastern Coyote in his darker colouration and larger stature.
Fur: Thick fur, never styled
Optime Hair: Worn more as a mane of fur than hair, infrequently styled, sometimes braided
Facial Features: Long, thin nose; aristocratic features
Build and Size: Although sleek, not necessarily thin or emaciated like his grandfather. His thick fur makes him look larger than he really is, but owing to his Northeastern Coyote heritage, he is actually on the larger side for a coyote
Forms: Uses his lupus form infrequently and his secui and optime forms frequently
Humanization: Although Skeleton does not wear any clothing or accessories, he does tend to utilize his optime form to a great degree. He is comfortable using tools and weapons.
Scars: Skeleton has a small scar on his left hand/ paw from a silly childhood accident. He boasts about it often even though it's not very visible
Adornments
Skeleton tends not to wear any clothing, in keeping with the typical preferences of his family.
Forms
xx lbs (xx kg)
xx in (xx cm)
Lupus (Preferred)
Skeleton's lupus form is lightweight, lithe, and thin. Unlike his grandfather Hybird, he does not appear to be malnourished, but it's clear that he's a full-blooded coyote. He likes being able to move quickly and quietly, so his lupus form is his preferred form.
xx lbs (xx kg)
xx in (xx cm)
Secui
In his Secui form, Skeleton bulks up considerably. He tends to rely on his Secui form when he needs a bit of muscle when he's patrolling and fighting.
xx lbs (xx kg)
xft xin (xx in / xx cm)
Optime
Skeleton still maintains his thin physique in his optime form, and although it's clear he's no couch potato, he doesn't look like a gym rat, either. He tends to use his optime form to accomplish specific tasks, and although he uses it more than his secui form, it's not his top pick.
Skeleton wants to be cool, charismatic, and flirtatious, but he's just not. It's fairly easy to see through his desperate and often clumsy attempts at being cool, tough, or intimidating. It's as if he wants to be hardcore, but he's afraid or doesn't know how. The harder he tries, the more obvious it is that he's not as cool as he thinks he is and especially isn't as slick as he pretends to be. He's really just a puffed up rice cake.
Skeleton finds it challenging to fit in. He was a loner for so long with his sister, Carnivore, that he's only just beginning to adjust to pack life in Del Cenere Gang. As well, he has a bit of a sense of disassociation with his family because he's tried to reach out to them so many times, but hasn't formed any friendships or even acquaintanceships with his family beyond Carnivore. To a certain degree, he doesn't think he deserves much better, but he's a glutton for punishment, so he keeps trying to find his family and the vestiges of Inferni, expecting and almost hoping that he will get left behind.
He wants to be his own individual, but he craves validation and comfort, so the result is extreme indecision.
He grew up understanding that his grandfather was aggressively homosexual and, in his youth, thought that since he was a boy, he would be gay too. Once he got older, he began to better understand how sexuality works -- and realized that just because his grandfather was gay, it doesn't mean he has to be to -- but consequently, still grapples with the question of who he is. For anyone experienced, it's pretty obvious he's compensating, anxious, and embarrassed all at once, so his macho act might not fool anyone. On the other hand, another embarrassed virgin might take his bravado at face value.
2.1 Ideals
Traits
Anxious, loyal, family-oriented, curious, optimistic, has a fear of missing out, seeking direction and clarity in life
Outlook: Optimistic
Expression: Extroverted, dominant
Sociability: He used to be uncompromising in his views, was hot-headed, and lied easily, but after traveling with Carnivore, he came to realize that the traits he disliked in his sister were present in him. Slowly, he became more reserved, less outspoken, and less likely to hold a firm opinion. Things seemed to ever-changing to truly stick to one path.
"Values his family, but will not heed their requests necessarily."
"Does not seek positions of authority over others."
"Has few close friends and would never betray those he has, unless circumstances are dire."
Motivations
Desire to be liked: at his core, he seeks affection, warmth, and appreciation.
Sense of individuality: Skeleton feels the need to assert his individuality, perhaps due to growing up with a large group of siblings and often feeling as though he is one of the many
Fears
Lack of recognition: Skeleton worries endlessly that he will be forgotten, but literally and figuratively. He wants to leave his mark, but he doesn't know how.
Mockery: one of his greatest social anxieties is that someone will make fun of him. This has happened to him before, and he has brushed it off, but he tends to forget how easy it is to deal with someone taking cheap shots at him and often worries over it more than he ought.
Being underestimated: he wants to do something with purpose and meaning, but he doesn't know what that is. As a result, he worries that he will be underestimated, and have his opinions go ignored. He wants to have a voice and a stake in something--but what?
Spirituality
Skeleton is irreligious.
Biases
Packs: General positive understanding of Inferni, but no real sense of loyalty
Species: Picked up a slight anti-wolf view from his mother, but cannot properly articulate it or why he holds this small bias
Non-Luperci: Doesn't really care
Sexuality: No biases for or against any kind of sexuality, but does tend to see gay males as the most masculine, since his grandfather is an idol
Sexuality
100% confused and uncertain. When he was a kid, he thought he had to be gay because his grandfather was, but he is now realizing that it isn't prescribed through heritage. He is still confused on this matter because he doesn't have much experience and he doesn't know whether he has any preferences as a result.
Interests
Likes: he is ~laid back~ and really just wants to chill
Dislikes:
Substances
Wants to try everything once if only to say he did it, but is worried about the consequences. Wants to try things mostly because his family would likely disapprove, but also feels this is a little juvenile, and can't determine whether his desire to try any substances is genuine interest or childish pettiness.
Lucilla Key is his mother. They get along reasonably well, although, Skeleton still wanted to make a name for himself and split from his mom when she decided to join Inferni. He doesn't know where Lucilla is.
Carnivore Creed is Skeleton's partner in crime. They support one another's bad habits and Carnivore doesn't tend to judge Skeleton for the stupid shit he does. However, as Skeleton has aged, he has increasingly been feeling like an unequal, unwitting accomplice with little say in their affairs. He grows more frustrated with Carnivore's dishonest antics with every day and is beginning to resent their relationship.
River Creed is Skeleton's sister. He generally liked her and found her to be of a steady temperament, unlike Carnivore. He worries about her since Inferni's disbandment.
Education and Learning: he learned most of what he knows from his mother and has improved on things slightly, mostly from Carnivore getting him into fights.
Unarmed combat (Beginner): he's able to defend himself -- just barely -- predominantly in his secui form, though he can dodge a few punches in his optime form. He prefers using his secui form for the most part and is slowly improving.
Skill (Master): describe skill
His lack of skill and lack of interest in bettering himself are his two biggest weaknesses. His mother taught him the basics and Carnivore has provided a few pointers, but for the most part, he has resigned himself to being a bit of punching bag and doesn't actively try to improve at fighting.
Stealth
Education and Learning: Skeleton learned how to spy, track, and scavenge from his mother. Living as a loner pair with Carnivore, he's improved greatly since now, he needs to fend for himself.
Tracking and hunting (Journeyman): Skeleton is quite good at tracking prey on his own and excels as a partner when working as a pair. He has honed his skills over time as a loner and is always improving.
Scavenging (Journeyman): Living with Carnivore, he's picked up quite a bit from her. While she's certainly a better scavenger, he's trained his eye to find things that are valuable, and ultimately, tradeable.
Spying (Beginner): While his tracking skills are decent, he's not great at spying, mostly because he feels so guilty when he does it. It seems as though he self-sabotages when he's spying on someone, mostly because he only ever does it when Carnivore demands it.
Skill (Master): describe skill
Skeleton's guilt tends to get in the way of being an effective spy; he'll often 'accidentally' expose himself to his subject or he'll just leave and lie, pretending they got away if Carnivore asks. If he's spying on someone for his own designs, he's far more proficient at it, since he can usually justify it to himself.
4.2 Weaknesses
Emotionally withdrawn: After experiencing years of bullying at the hands of his sister, Skeleton has trouble expressing his emotions in a way that is healthy or at all. He tends to be self-contained and does not seek out friends often, and when he does, he can come across as very clingy, desperate to keep them. He is terrified of upsetting someone and always thinks that if he doesn't actively work on it, someone will ditch him because he is too annoying or too much work.
Self-critical: Another consequence of growing up as a bullying victim is that Skeleton is highly self-critical to the point where he doesn't trust his own abilities. He has a great deal of shame, fear, and self-loathing that he tries to joke about, but it's easy to see that he really believes what he's saying when he's mocking himself.
Gives up easily: He perceives himself as weak, so he tends to give up easily when a problem presents himself.
Follower: He's so desperate to fit in that he'll reflect others' emotions and moods back at them to earn their favour. He never does because he tends to come off as simpering and weak.
Unfocused: He should have figured his life out by now, but he really hasn't. The fact that he doesn't know what he wants to get out of life frustrates him, but he keeps waiting for a revelation. It'll be a slow descent when he figures it out, but he just wants everything to happen all at once and for his true purpose to reveal itself to him without putting in the effort. Sorry, bud.
Frantic: He can be knocked off balance pretty easily. Small problems disarm him and reduce his ability to function.
Oblivious: Socially speaking, he doesn't really pick up on hints, and if he does, he manages to somehow pick up on the wrong ones or seems to invent his own. He's so concerned that he'll do something to mess up that he can drown out all other information - even when someone is giving him direct feedback or information.
4.3 Inventory
Trade
blah blah blah
Offering: everything's been stolen from him, he has nothing to offer TT_TT
Skeleton was born to Lucilla Key during her time away from Inferni alongside a number of littermates. When his mother decided to return to Nova Scotia, Skeleton accompanied her for the journey, but they parted ways once they reached the general areas, with Skeleton and Carnivore deciding to strike out on their own and explore the lands.
In January 2019, Skeleton and Carnivore met Dahlia de le Poer, who told them a bit about The Cartel. Intrigued, the pair investigate the loner band. While Skeleton is eager to join the group, Carnivore has cold feet and decides against joining. After a particularly explosive falling out, Skeleton joins The Cartel in April and parts ways with his sister.
5.1 Achievements
Catacombs
Basic Achievements
Pink: Find a Mate Became mates with Characters on DD Month YYYY.
Green: Have Puppies Had children with Characters on DD Month YYYY.
Honey: Have Grandchildren Puppies Had children with Characters on DD Month YYYY.
Cross: Rescue Someone Rescued Characters on DD Month YYYY.[1]
Yellow: Lose a Fight Lost to Shaamah on April 7, 2018.[2]
Red: Win a Fight Won against Characters on DD Month YYYY.[3]
