What is the best way for a skeleton to impersonate human without using magic?












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The classic skeleton that a necromancer has reanimated has gained independence and escaped from the group.



Now, as a free individual, wants to know more about humans. Obviously, humanity sees it as a monster, so it must (without using magic and with a technological level similar to the middle age) disguise in some way to pass as a human.



How can he achieve that?



Things to take in account:




  • He doesn't need to eat or drink

  • He doesn't need to breathe

  • He doesn't need to rest

  • He doesn't feel pain, but can understand and imitate basic emotions

  • He is basically an animated skeleton, without glowing light as eyes or some fancy typical things

  • He can talk, with a deep guttural voice

  • He can smell, hear and see, but not taste or feel










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  • $begingroup$
    Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    $endgroup$
    – L.Dutch
    May 12 at 11:45
















30












$begingroup$


The classic skeleton that a necromancer has reanimated has gained independence and escaped from the group.



Now, as a free individual, wants to know more about humans. Obviously, humanity sees it as a monster, so it must (without using magic and with a technological level similar to the middle age) disguise in some way to pass as a human.



How can he achieve that?



Things to take in account:




  • He doesn't need to eat or drink

  • He doesn't need to breathe

  • He doesn't need to rest

  • He doesn't feel pain, but can understand and imitate basic emotions

  • He is basically an animated skeleton, without glowing light as eyes or some fancy typical things

  • He can talk, with a deep guttural voice

  • He can smell, hear and see, but not taste or feel










share|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    $endgroup$
    – L.Dutch
    May 12 at 11:45














30












30








30


4



$begingroup$


The classic skeleton that a necromancer has reanimated has gained independence and escaped from the group.



Now, as a free individual, wants to know more about humans. Obviously, humanity sees it as a monster, so it must (without using magic and with a technological level similar to the middle age) disguise in some way to pass as a human.



How can he achieve that?



Things to take in account:




  • He doesn't need to eat or drink

  • He doesn't need to breathe

  • He doesn't need to rest

  • He doesn't feel pain, but can understand and imitate basic emotions

  • He is basically an animated skeleton, without glowing light as eyes or some fancy typical things

  • He can talk, with a deep guttural voice

  • He can smell, hear and see, but not taste or feel










share|improve this question











$endgroup$




The classic skeleton that a necromancer has reanimated has gained independence and escaped from the group.



Now, as a free individual, wants to know more about humans. Obviously, humanity sees it as a monster, so it must (without using magic and with a technological level similar to the middle age) disguise in some way to pass as a human.



How can he achieve that?



Things to take in account:




  • He doesn't need to eat or drink

  • He doesn't need to breathe

  • He doesn't need to rest

  • He doesn't feel pain, but can understand and imitate basic emotions

  • He is basically an animated skeleton, without glowing light as eyes or some fancy typical things

  • He can talk, with a deep guttural voice

  • He can smell, hear and see, but not taste or feel







society magic skeletons concealment






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













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share|improve this question








edited May 10 at 16:00









Cyn

14.8k23069




14.8k23069










asked May 10 at 9:28









MalkevMalkev

1,29711534




1,29711534












  • $begingroup$
    Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    $endgroup$
    – L.Dutch
    May 12 at 11:45


















  • $begingroup$
    Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    $endgroup$
    – L.Dutch
    May 12 at 11:45
















$begingroup$
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch
May 12 at 11:45




$begingroup$
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch
May 12 at 11:45










13 Answers
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51












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Take the place of a catacomb saint.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacomb_saints



catacomb saint




During the Beeldenstorm of the 16th century and continued iconoclasm
of the 17th century, Catholic churches throughout Europe were
systematically stripped of their religious symbols, iconography and
relics. In response, the Vatican ordered that thousands of skeletons
be exhumed from the catacombs beneath the city and installed in towns
throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Few, if any, of the
corpses belonged to people of any religious significance though, given
their burial, some may have been early Christian martyrs. Each was
nonetheless painstakingly dressed and decorated as one of the various
Catholic saints. One church spent 75 gulden dressing their saint.




Your skeleton will take the place of an existing catacomb saint, disposing with the existing skeleton in the finery. These saints are installed in churches. The skeleton will be obviously skeletal (as depicted), but it can speak and it will pose as the saint himself / herself. Its animation will be regarded as a miracle. It will bestow blessings and give advice. It will perform baptisms and consecrations. It will walk in processions and holy days. When the city is under threat, it will come out of the church and lead its defense in the name of God.



It will make the city famous. It will be treated not only as a human, but a revered and blessed human.





If this were a short story, it would be interesting to explore the learning curve of the skeleton as it finds its place and learns how to perform its role. Of course in the end the necromancer who made it exposes its true nature to the townspeople: it is not really the saint, but the bones of a dead beggar brought to life with black magic.



And the people will not have it. They run the necromancer out of town on a rail. Their saint is their saint and they love it. It has earned it.






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  • 12




    $begingroup$
    Amazingly creative. +1
    $endgroup$
    – arp
    May 11 at 10:03










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    Would the townspeople be so quick to believe this in a world where necromancy exists?
    $endgroup$
    – Pod
    May 13 at 14:35



















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As this is medieval times, I think he disguises himself as a leper. He has a long shabby hooded cloak. On his feet he has boots glued on and gloves glued onto his hands.



He walks through the street tinkling a bell and shouting, "Unclean! Unclean!". His hood is drawn over his face with just a gap to see out of. His skull is painted black so there is nothing to see inside. As an added touch he can wear an unkempt wig (see Leviticus below).



Most people will want to avoid him and will not get close enough to look inside his hood even if they wanted to.



enter image description here





Biblical reference



Leviticus 13:45




"Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their
hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out,
'Unclean! Unclean!'
https://biblehub.com/leviticus/13-45.htm







share|improve this answer











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  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Nice job with the image!
    $endgroup$
    – Malkev
    May 10 at 11:01






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    A problem is that lepers might not be welcomed in cities at all, and certainly not in many homes or public buildings.
    $endgroup$
    – Klaus Æ. Mogensen
    May 10 at 13:18






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    $begingroup$
    @Hoyle'sghost I've got a long-term infection of Mycobacterium leprae and the only prescription? More cowbell!
    $endgroup$
    – MikeTheLiar
    May 10 at 18:56






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    @Hoyle'sghost: Some carried bells (not necessary cowbells, just hand bells loud enough to announce their presence). Others carried "clappers" (link contains picture). For the skeleton in question, carrying clappers would probably make sense, since any clacking of their bones could be explained as the striking of the clappers (noise should be similar enough).
    $endgroup$
    – ShadowRanger
    May 10 at 20:09






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    @eques: It wasn't just a Jewish practice; Christians essentially imposed the same rules on their lepers. Now, for settings without a Judeo-Christian background, other setups are possible, but for Europe in the Middle Ages, that's how lepers functioned basically everywhere.
    $endgroup$
    – ShadowRanger
    May 10 at 20:11



















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Religious robes

Loose religious robes with a hood and perhaps a mask would do the trick. In a fantasy setting with many gods, there may well be a religion with suitably masked and robed followers. Below, a bunch of Spanish priests in an Easter procession. Penitent monks also typically wore hoods and walked with heads bent, making their faces hard to see.



enter image description here



Mummer

Masked entertainers or mummers weren't uncommon in Medieval times. During festivals, mummers probably weren't an unusual sight in city streets.



enter image description here



Plague Doctor
Especially during times of plague, doctors went about with snouted face masks holding herbs believed to cleanse the air. If your world has something similar, that should also work.



enter image description here






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  • $begingroup$
    The only problem with this is that due to being just a skeleton the robes or mask might not sit right on him since bones are much thinner than flesh.
    $endgroup$
    – Eric
    May 10 at 15:12






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    @Eric use fake shoulders made of thick cloth. It works for 21st century women just fine, it will do for skeletons.
    $endgroup$
    – John Dvorak
    May 10 at 19:34






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    $begingroup$
    Burka. Face entirely covered (with a veil over the eye slit), or just a paper mask behind the eye slit--the most conservative versions leave so little exposed that you couldn't tell if it were a paper mask. (Gender of skeleton does not matter--no soft tissue, anyway...)
    $endgroup$
    – user3067860
    May 10 at 20:58






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    Nitpick: The people in the picture of the Spanish Easter procession are not priests. There is usually one priest, but he is at the head of the procession and perfectly identifiably as such. The origin of these processions and clothes are of people making penance (penitencia) for their sins; the masks were a way to protect the anonimity of the sinner. Nowadays that meaning has been mostly replaced with it being a tradition (with perhaps a few individual exceptions), but the people making the procession are still called penitentes.
    $endgroup$
    – SJuan76
    May 12 at 8:56



















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Pretend to be a marionette controlled by a ventriloquist



Like Weekend at Bernie's but in reverse: appear to be the dead skeleton that you are, but pretend there is a living person controlling you and speaking for you.



There's a couple ways to accomplish this the easiest is to set up a booth at the fair and tie some strings to your limbs. Loop the strings over a stick above you, and have the other ends go behind a curtain. Attach weights to the other end of the strings so they'll maintain tension and seem like someone is pulling on them. You won't be able to move about (unless you put this setup on a cart) but people will be enticed by the spectacle and even pay money to come have conversations with you.



This could lead to a great moment where someone insists on seeing the talented puppeteer and pulls back the curtain only to realize there is no one there.



Another bonus is that you don't have to assume any fake persona. No one will catch onto you when you accidentally reveal how ignorant you are about humans and normal life, because they'll assume that's part of the act. When people ask you to tell your puppet character's story you can tell your actual backstory.



enter image description here






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  • 4




    $begingroup$
    Cue Master of Puppets background music.
    $endgroup$
    – corsiKa
    May 10 at 22:00






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    The person pulls back the curtain because over the weeks they've been coming to the fair, they've fallen in love with the charming, quirky puppeteer, but when they see there is no puppeteer, they realize they have actually fallen in love with the reanimated skeleton. Shocked, they run sobbing into the street, and are about to be run over by a carriage, but the skeleton breaks away from his strings and dashes out to pull them back and sweep them into his arms. They embrace, and as the villagers look on, shocked, the lover, accepting him for who he is, whispers "Thanks Mr Skeltal"
    $endgroup$
    – Jared K
    May 10 at 22:24






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    I don't think he'd have the guts to jump in front of a carriage.
    $endgroup$
    – corsiKa
    May 11 at 5:05



















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Concealing clothing has been suggested and could work, but I'd add on a layer of leather/dirt. People might look under your clothes after all or bump into you and you don't want to be obviously a skeleton under them.



So take leather and cover all your bones in it. Then add a layer of dirt/grime to it. You also want to fill in the leather with some thing soft and squishy, maybe more leather/dead leaves/rags to get you more like a human shape. That way if someone bumps into you or touches you you don't feel like just a skeleton. The dirt is then added to hopefully make people think the leather is your skin and is just dirty.



Even with all of this your face will look weird and dirty at best. Just claim you were wounded as a child and look weird, you could also claim to be sick but that might get you kicked out.






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    6












    $begingroup$

    If its medieval time, he can wear full body knight armour. Its not easy to see, that there is skull below the helmet. Probably he can fill the empty places in armor with clothes or rags, where muscles and flesh have to be for humans.



    skeleton in armour






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    • $begingroup$
      If you want this to be anything remotely realistic, people would wonder why they were wearing the armor, though. Plate armor is heavy, far too heavy to wear all the time (despite what media might have you think) and, as I understand it, only worn for actual combat or for the occasional ceremonial purpose.
      $endgroup$
      – Hearth
      May 13 at 14:16



















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    Humans have skeletons inside them, but they are also muscle, tendons, skin, among other things. Lucky for your skeleton, it doesn't need muscles or guts. Also lucky for your skeleton, muscles and guts are easy to duplicate! Let's assume your skeleton has seen people at a distance, enough to know how they act, look, etc.



    After some basic observation, move on to some up-close examination of a human, via grave-robbing! A little knife-work will show how humans look under all that skin, and give insight into the next step.



    Using leather stuffed with wool or cotton, the skeleton makes muscles, and using strings as tendons, ties them to itself. A little balled up cotton or wool, and he has guts, too. Next, layers of cloth, wrapped around the "muscles" and bones, to simulate fat. Since it will all be under a layer of clothes, the skeleton's work could be fairly clumsy and still pass muster.



    The last step is most difficult. Shoes and clothes can hide everything but the skeleton's face and hands; depending on how it dresses, it might even be able to wear gloves. Its head, however, is still obviously a bleached skull. A mask of some sort, even just a handkerchief over the mouth and nose (maybe with some clay to form features), and a hood would work for a little while. The skeleton is ready to go exploring - at least a little bit.



    It should start exploring in winter, while everyone is bundled up; using whatever treasure the skeleton has collected, it should go to town, walk in like it owned the place, and pick out a lovely wig. If possible, it should find some fake eyes, and any other disguise-worthy materials, including makeup.



    With disguise in hand, the skeleton can make itself appear entirely human, apart from one small detail: its face. This is where its fake eyes come in. Using clay and a little tanned animal skin, make a face - doesn't have to be a good face, just vaguely lifelike. Using the makeup, give the face a horribly scarred appearance, like a burn victim. Finally, don a simple mask.



    Now, the skeleton looks and feels human, and can explain why it wears a mask: due to an accident, it suffered terribly burns from fire/acid/lightning/whatever, and is forced to hide its ugly skin under this mask.



    The longer it spends with humans, the more it learns, and eventually, it may find someone willing to create a lifelike skin for it. Without very complex mechanical tools, it will never have the muscles to smile, blink, breathe, or wiggle its eyebrows, but it will eventually be able to pass for human. As long as no one looks too hard.






    share|improve this answer









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      5












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      Masquerade



      enter image description here
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masquerade_ball



      Those with a lot of wealth in Medieval and Renaissance societies sometimes held masquerade balls. These were parties where all the participants wore masks and costumes, obscuring the identity of the wearer. These kinds of parties have been popularised in fiction due to the novel idea.



      Your skeleton may sneak into such a party in masquerade and no one would know he was a skeleton because, of course, he is in a costume, as is everyone else, allowing him to easily blend in. This also allows for your skeleton to interact with a lot of humans freely, asking questions to the many guests at the party.



      Entertainment



      In a similar sense, your skeleton could wear a costume and play the role of an entertainer, giving a plausible reason as to why they are always in costume. You could also have the skeleton talk to the audience members after a show or performance.



      The Man in the Iron Mask



      Your skeleton could possibly wear a mask and claim to be a convicted criminal and, as punishment, must wear this mask. Although, whilst this would effectively obscure his identity, i doubt people would be willing to talk with him as why would they want to chat with a possibly dangerous criminal?



      The Dark Side of the City



      Whilst your average person may be terrified of this reanimated skeleton wandering the streets, i would wager a guild of thieves or assassins would be far more welcoming. Such guilds may even be very willing to enrol a reanimated skeleton into their ranks, such a member could allow for a wide variety of interesting situations. For example, a skeletal thief could hide in a coffin, be placed in a crypt and grave rob said crypt from the inside. An assassin may be able to sneak past a blockade in a coffin to assassinate the king.



      Your skeleton would interact with the members of its guild, learning about humanity that way, and could also spy on its mark and learn through their conversations with other people or through letters they write.



      A Home for the Blind



      Its possible that a skeleton could go unnoticed in a home for people who are blind, either working as a servant for a single wealthy blind person or for a community of blind people, the latter allowing for more social interaction.



      This way, your skeleton may not need to physically disguise themselves, only hide the texture of their bones, such as through clothing or some kind of fake skin. Alternatively, you could go with the idea that the blind people know he is a skeleton but simply do not care as he is kind to them. I would imagine a person’s physical appearance would matter far less to someone who is blind, instead judging people more by their personality and their actions.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$





















        4












        $begingroup$

        Just thinking out of the box here:



        No Disguise at All



        Instead, just tell everyone a witch cursed you to have invisible flesh, but it doesn't affect your bones. Sure, you said "no magic", but this isn't magic. It's telling people that magic was involved, but it's not actual magic. (At least, not any more magic than was required by the necromancer that animated the skeleton to begin with, which we're obviously taking as a given here.) In a world where necromancy is a thing, I'm sure people would have no problem believing that invisibility curses are also a thing (even if that's not actually true), so just run with it. If you're friendly and personable enough, people might look past the fact that you're a walking skeleton. Offer your services, be a good neighbor, and just calmly explain your "curse" whenever asked. You'll get some stares and fearful looks, but just don't act threatening and you can fit right in. Real life burn-victims and people with other visible disfigurements have to deal with this sort of thing all the time.






        share|improve this answer









        $endgroup$













        • $begingroup$
          I think this is my favorite answer. I'd be curious to see what happened should "Mr S" bump into an Inquisition posse.
          $endgroup$
          – Hoyle's ghost
          May 15 at 11:02



















        3












        $begingroup$

        Here's some options. He could...




        • Wear bandages and say he's a burn victim

        • Get a job as a clown (interview as burn victim)

        • Get a job in a dark restaurant like this one (https://dineblackout.com/)

        • Get a job at Disney World dressed as Mickey Mouse

        • Buy a computer and make all his friends online

        • Build a box around himself and pretend to be an animated machine designed to pass the Turing Test; then sit at a carnival and wait for people to drop money in the coin slot for a conversation

        • Buy a lifelike puppet and pretend that it is the human, and he's the puppet

        • Go to comicon

        • Go to the medieval renaissance fair

        • Join the KKK and wear shoulder pads under his robes or something

        • Join a dnd club where people dress up as their fave characters

        • Hide in the drain under the street and have conversations with kids passing by

        • Go find a remote tribe in the jungle where they'll think he's a god, and talk them into interacting normally with him over the course of a few generations

        • Go deep sea diving and wear his diving suit everywhere

        • Become a death-metal musician, and act like the skeleton thing is just his excellent show makeup

        • Hang out near a volcano and wear a heat-suit; interact with geologists.


        Hope this helps!



        eta: (Read through some other answers and realized some of these were already taken. Didn't mean to copy! Sorry other dudes!)






        share|improve this answer











        $endgroup$









        • 2




          $begingroup$
          I like how this started as career advice and steadily progresses into vacation and maybe even retirement.
          $endgroup$
          – Muuski
          May 10 at 21:43






        • 1




          $begingroup$
          Disney World and computers in the middle ages.... riiight... have you even read the question?
          $endgroup$
          – vsz
          May 10 at 22:06








        • 1




          $begingroup$
          It says a technological level similar to the middle ages, not that it's actually taking place there.
          $endgroup$
          – forest
          May 11 at 3:28










        • $begingroup$
          @forest, I doubt you could build computers or theme parks with medieval technology, so vsz's point still stands.
          $endgroup$
          – Nolonar
          May 11 at 8:22






        • 1




          $begingroup$
          @vsz it says "technology level similar to the middle age", which I guess I didn't understand the relevance of, and so glossed over when I read it. So, instead of going to work at Disney land, he can make his own ancient knock-off Disney land and hire other people -- how about that. And instead of computers... a pidgeon post office
          $endgroup$
          – boxcartenant
          May 11 at 15:46





















        2












        $begingroup$

        A skeleton under flapping robes still doesn't look like a person. Make yourself into a scarecrow -- acquire clothing, put on clothing, stuff your clothes with straw, then top it all off with a loose cloak and deep hood.






        share|improve this answer









        $endgroup$





















          1












          $begingroup$

          The way I would see it is simple. Kill a human. We humans have skeletons, do we not? So, the skeleton could kill a human, remove the humans skeleton using clean cuts creating seems along the skin, lie inside of the removed skin (and likely meat, since it would need "padding". Either that, or some other material to act in the same way. Then, basically stitch the cuts back to close the costume.



          None of this would require very advanced technology. Just a blade like object and a tool like needle and thread. Assuming the skeleton was intelligent and logical about how it skinned the human, it could do so in such a way that all of the seems would be hidden by clothing.






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$









          • 1




            $begingroup$
            But then you have to kill a human every 3 or 4 days, because of decomposition. It's a dead body suit.
            $endgroup$
            – Malkev
            May 13 at 13:00










          • $begingroup$
            I suppose so @Malkev, but borrowing the suggestion from other comments, at that point you might be able to get away with wearing a robe and claiming to have some illness. Could get you a little bit of time, however, having a human suit. I'm sure they had things like formaldehyde (or similar) back then. All you need is to preserve the skin, and fill the space with something slightly mushy but still somewhat firm (to replicate human meat). This preservation of the skin might keep your human-suit lasting at least a little longer.
            $endgroup$
            – Ethan Manzi
            May 16 at 1:10





















          0












          $begingroup$

          Grave diggers were usually considered unclean, so people didn't have much to do with them. By day stand still and be a grave decoration, by night dig graves and chit chat with the grave digger.



          Be a beggar, in general wear dirty rags and hang out places, perhaps stick a dead rodent in your robes so you smell bad enough for people to not get close.






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$














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            13 Answers
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            oldest

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            13 Answers
            13






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            active

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            51












            $begingroup$

            Take the place of a catacomb saint.



            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacomb_saints



            catacomb saint




            During the Beeldenstorm of the 16th century and continued iconoclasm
            of the 17th century, Catholic churches throughout Europe were
            systematically stripped of their religious symbols, iconography and
            relics. In response, the Vatican ordered that thousands of skeletons
            be exhumed from the catacombs beneath the city and installed in towns
            throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Few, if any, of the
            corpses belonged to people of any religious significance though, given
            their burial, some may have been early Christian martyrs. Each was
            nonetheless painstakingly dressed and decorated as one of the various
            Catholic saints. One church spent 75 gulden dressing their saint.




            Your skeleton will take the place of an existing catacomb saint, disposing with the existing skeleton in the finery. These saints are installed in churches. The skeleton will be obviously skeletal (as depicted), but it can speak and it will pose as the saint himself / herself. Its animation will be regarded as a miracle. It will bestow blessings and give advice. It will perform baptisms and consecrations. It will walk in processions and holy days. When the city is under threat, it will come out of the church and lead its defense in the name of God.



            It will make the city famous. It will be treated not only as a human, but a revered and blessed human.





            If this were a short story, it would be interesting to explore the learning curve of the skeleton as it finds its place and learns how to perform its role. Of course in the end the necromancer who made it exposes its true nature to the townspeople: it is not really the saint, but the bones of a dead beggar brought to life with black magic.



            And the people will not have it. They run the necromancer out of town on a rail. Their saint is their saint and they love it. It has earned it.






            share|improve this answer











            $endgroup$









            • 12




              $begingroup$
              Amazingly creative. +1
              $endgroup$
              – arp
              May 11 at 10:03










            • $begingroup$
              Would the townspeople be so quick to believe this in a world where necromancy exists?
              $endgroup$
              – Pod
              May 13 at 14:35
















            51












            $begingroup$

            Take the place of a catacomb saint.



            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacomb_saints



            catacomb saint




            During the Beeldenstorm of the 16th century and continued iconoclasm
            of the 17th century, Catholic churches throughout Europe were
            systematically stripped of their religious symbols, iconography and
            relics. In response, the Vatican ordered that thousands of skeletons
            be exhumed from the catacombs beneath the city and installed in towns
            throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Few, if any, of the
            corpses belonged to people of any religious significance though, given
            their burial, some may have been early Christian martyrs. Each was
            nonetheless painstakingly dressed and decorated as one of the various
            Catholic saints. One church spent 75 gulden dressing their saint.




            Your skeleton will take the place of an existing catacomb saint, disposing with the existing skeleton in the finery. These saints are installed in churches. The skeleton will be obviously skeletal (as depicted), but it can speak and it will pose as the saint himself / herself. Its animation will be regarded as a miracle. It will bestow blessings and give advice. It will perform baptisms and consecrations. It will walk in processions and holy days. When the city is under threat, it will come out of the church and lead its defense in the name of God.



            It will make the city famous. It will be treated not only as a human, but a revered and blessed human.





            If this were a short story, it would be interesting to explore the learning curve of the skeleton as it finds its place and learns how to perform its role. Of course in the end the necromancer who made it exposes its true nature to the townspeople: it is not really the saint, but the bones of a dead beggar brought to life with black magic.



            And the people will not have it. They run the necromancer out of town on a rail. Their saint is their saint and they love it. It has earned it.






            share|improve this answer











            $endgroup$









            • 12




              $begingroup$
              Amazingly creative. +1
              $endgroup$
              – arp
              May 11 at 10:03










            • $begingroup$
              Would the townspeople be so quick to believe this in a world where necromancy exists?
              $endgroup$
              – Pod
              May 13 at 14:35














            51












            51








            51





            $begingroup$

            Take the place of a catacomb saint.



            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacomb_saints



            catacomb saint




            During the Beeldenstorm of the 16th century and continued iconoclasm
            of the 17th century, Catholic churches throughout Europe were
            systematically stripped of their religious symbols, iconography and
            relics. In response, the Vatican ordered that thousands of skeletons
            be exhumed from the catacombs beneath the city and installed in towns
            throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Few, if any, of the
            corpses belonged to people of any religious significance though, given
            their burial, some may have been early Christian martyrs. Each was
            nonetheless painstakingly dressed and decorated as one of the various
            Catholic saints. One church spent 75 gulden dressing their saint.




            Your skeleton will take the place of an existing catacomb saint, disposing with the existing skeleton in the finery. These saints are installed in churches. The skeleton will be obviously skeletal (as depicted), but it can speak and it will pose as the saint himself / herself. Its animation will be regarded as a miracle. It will bestow blessings and give advice. It will perform baptisms and consecrations. It will walk in processions and holy days. When the city is under threat, it will come out of the church and lead its defense in the name of God.



            It will make the city famous. It will be treated not only as a human, but a revered and blessed human.





            If this were a short story, it would be interesting to explore the learning curve of the skeleton as it finds its place and learns how to perform its role. Of course in the end the necromancer who made it exposes its true nature to the townspeople: it is not really the saint, but the bones of a dead beggar brought to life with black magic.



            And the people will not have it. They run the necromancer out of town on a rail. Their saint is their saint and they love it. It has earned it.






            share|improve this answer











            $endgroup$



            Take the place of a catacomb saint.



            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacomb_saints



            catacomb saint




            During the Beeldenstorm of the 16th century and continued iconoclasm
            of the 17th century, Catholic churches throughout Europe were
            systematically stripped of their religious symbols, iconography and
            relics. In response, the Vatican ordered that thousands of skeletons
            be exhumed from the catacombs beneath the city and installed in towns
            throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Few, if any, of the
            corpses belonged to people of any religious significance though, given
            their burial, some may have been early Christian martyrs. Each was
            nonetheless painstakingly dressed and decorated as one of the various
            Catholic saints. One church spent 75 gulden dressing their saint.




            Your skeleton will take the place of an existing catacomb saint, disposing with the existing skeleton in the finery. These saints are installed in churches. The skeleton will be obviously skeletal (as depicted), but it can speak and it will pose as the saint himself / herself. Its animation will be regarded as a miracle. It will bestow blessings and give advice. It will perform baptisms and consecrations. It will walk in processions and holy days. When the city is under threat, it will come out of the church and lead its defense in the name of God.



            It will make the city famous. It will be treated not only as a human, but a revered and blessed human.





            If this were a short story, it would be interesting to explore the learning curve of the skeleton as it finds its place and learns how to perform its role. Of course in the end the necromancer who made it exposes its true nature to the townspeople: it is not really the saint, but the bones of a dead beggar brought to life with black magic.



            And the people will not have it. They run the necromancer out of town on a rail. Their saint is their saint and they love it. It has earned it.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited May 10 at 23:34

























            answered May 10 at 23:28









            WillkWillk

            124k29230515




            124k29230515








            • 12




              $begingroup$
              Amazingly creative. +1
              $endgroup$
              – arp
              May 11 at 10:03










            • $begingroup$
              Would the townspeople be so quick to believe this in a world where necromancy exists?
              $endgroup$
              – Pod
              May 13 at 14:35














            • 12




              $begingroup$
              Amazingly creative. +1
              $endgroup$
              – arp
              May 11 at 10:03










            • $begingroup$
              Would the townspeople be so quick to believe this in a world where necromancy exists?
              $endgroup$
              – Pod
              May 13 at 14:35








            12




            12




            $begingroup$
            Amazingly creative. +1
            $endgroup$
            – arp
            May 11 at 10:03




            $begingroup$
            Amazingly creative. +1
            $endgroup$
            – arp
            May 11 at 10:03












            $begingroup$
            Would the townspeople be so quick to believe this in a world where necromancy exists?
            $endgroup$
            – Pod
            May 13 at 14:35




            $begingroup$
            Would the townspeople be so quick to believe this in a world where necromancy exists?
            $endgroup$
            – Pod
            May 13 at 14:35











            46












            $begingroup$

            As this is medieval times, I think he disguises himself as a leper. He has a long shabby hooded cloak. On his feet he has boots glued on and gloves glued onto his hands.



            He walks through the street tinkling a bell and shouting, "Unclean! Unclean!". His hood is drawn over his face with just a gap to see out of. His skull is painted black so there is nothing to see inside. As an added touch he can wear an unkempt wig (see Leviticus below).



            Most people will want to avoid him and will not get close enough to look inside his hood even if they wanted to.



            enter image description here





            Biblical reference



            Leviticus 13:45




            "Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their
            hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out,
            'Unclean! Unclean!'
            https://biblehub.com/leviticus/13-45.htm







            share|improve this answer











            $endgroup$









            • 2




              $begingroup$
              Nice job with the image!
              $endgroup$
              – Malkev
              May 10 at 11:01






            • 14




              $begingroup$
              A problem is that lepers might not be welcomed in cities at all, and certainly not in many homes or public buildings.
              $endgroup$
              – Klaus Æ. Mogensen
              May 10 at 13:18






            • 9




              $begingroup$
              @Hoyle'sghost I've got a long-term infection of Mycobacterium leprae and the only prescription? More cowbell!
              $endgroup$
              – MikeTheLiar
              May 10 at 18:56






            • 8




              $begingroup$
              @Hoyle'sghost: Some carried bells (not necessary cowbells, just hand bells loud enough to announce their presence). Others carried "clappers" (link contains picture). For the skeleton in question, carrying clappers would probably make sense, since any clacking of their bones could be explained as the striking of the clappers (noise should be similar enough).
              $endgroup$
              – ShadowRanger
              May 10 at 20:09






            • 9




              $begingroup$
              @eques: It wasn't just a Jewish practice; Christians essentially imposed the same rules on their lepers. Now, for settings without a Judeo-Christian background, other setups are possible, but for Europe in the Middle Ages, that's how lepers functioned basically everywhere.
              $endgroup$
              – ShadowRanger
              May 10 at 20:11
















            46












            $begingroup$

            As this is medieval times, I think he disguises himself as a leper. He has a long shabby hooded cloak. On his feet he has boots glued on and gloves glued onto his hands.



            He walks through the street tinkling a bell and shouting, "Unclean! Unclean!". His hood is drawn over his face with just a gap to see out of. His skull is painted black so there is nothing to see inside. As an added touch he can wear an unkempt wig (see Leviticus below).



            Most people will want to avoid him and will not get close enough to look inside his hood even if they wanted to.



            enter image description here





            Biblical reference



            Leviticus 13:45




            "Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their
            hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out,
            'Unclean! Unclean!'
            https://biblehub.com/leviticus/13-45.htm







            share|improve this answer











            $endgroup$









            • 2




              $begingroup$
              Nice job with the image!
              $endgroup$
              – Malkev
              May 10 at 11:01






            • 14




              $begingroup$
              A problem is that lepers might not be welcomed in cities at all, and certainly not in many homes or public buildings.
              $endgroup$
              – Klaus Æ. Mogensen
              May 10 at 13:18






            • 9




              $begingroup$
              @Hoyle'sghost I've got a long-term infection of Mycobacterium leprae and the only prescription? More cowbell!
              $endgroup$
              – MikeTheLiar
              May 10 at 18:56






            • 8




              $begingroup$
              @Hoyle'sghost: Some carried bells (not necessary cowbells, just hand bells loud enough to announce their presence). Others carried "clappers" (link contains picture). For the skeleton in question, carrying clappers would probably make sense, since any clacking of their bones could be explained as the striking of the clappers (noise should be similar enough).
              $endgroup$
              – ShadowRanger
              May 10 at 20:09






            • 9




              $begingroup$
              @eques: It wasn't just a Jewish practice; Christians essentially imposed the same rules on their lepers. Now, for settings without a Judeo-Christian background, other setups are possible, but for Europe in the Middle Ages, that's how lepers functioned basically everywhere.
              $endgroup$
              – ShadowRanger
              May 10 at 20:11














            46












            46








            46





            $begingroup$

            As this is medieval times, I think he disguises himself as a leper. He has a long shabby hooded cloak. On his feet he has boots glued on and gloves glued onto his hands.



            He walks through the street tinkling a bell and shouting, "Unclean! Unclean!". His hood is drawn over his face with just a gap to see out of. His skull is painted black so there is nothing to see inside. As an added touch he can wear an unkempt wig (see Leviticus below).



            Most people will want to avoid him and will not get close enough to look inside his hood even if they wanted to.



            enter image description here





            Biblical reference



            Leviticus 13:45




            "Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their
            hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out,
            'Unclean! Unclean!'
            https://biblehub.com/leviticus/13-45.htm







            share|improve this answer











            $endgroup$



            As this is medieval times, I think he disguises himself as a leper. He has a long shabby hooded cloak. On his feet he has boots glued on and gloves glued onto his hands.



            He walks through the street tinkling a bell and shouting, "Unclean! Unclean!". His hood is drawn over his face with just a gap to see out of. His skull is painted black so there is nothing to see inside. As an added touch he can wear an unkempt wig (see Leviticus below).



            Most people will want to avoid him and will not get close enough to look inside his hood even if they wanted to.



            enter image description here





            Biblical reference



            Leviticus 13:45




            "Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their
            hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out,
            'Unclean! Unclean!'
            https://biblehub.com/leviticus/13-45.htm








            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited May 12 at 20:35

























            answered May 10 at 10:13









            chasly from UKchasly from UK

            21.7k989181




            21.7k989181








            • 2




              $begingroup$
              Nice job with the image!
              $endgroup$
              – Malkev
              May 10 at 11:01






            • 14




              $begingroup$
              A problem is that lepers might not be welcomed in cities at all, and certainly not in many homes or public buildings.
              $endgroup$
              – Klaus Æ. Mogensen
              May 10 at 13:18






            • 9




              $begingroup$
              @Hoyle'sghost I've got a long-term infection of Mycobacterium leprae and the only prescription? More cowbell!
              $endgroup$
              – MikeTheLiar
              May 10 at 18:56






            • 8




              $begingroup$
              @Hoyle'sghost: Some carried bells (not necessary cowbells, just hand bells loud enough to announce their presence). Others carried "clappers" (link contains picture). For the skeleton in question, carrying clappers would probably make sense, since any clacking of their bones could be explained as the striking of the clappers (noise should be similar enough).
              $endgroup$
              – ShadowRanger
              May 10 at 20:09






            • 9




              $begingroup$
              @eques: It wasn't just a Jewish practice; Christians essentially imposed the same rules on their lepers. Now, for settings without a Judeo-Christian background, other setups are possible, but for Europe in the Middle Ages, that's how lepers functioned basically everywhere.
              $endgroup$
              – ShadowRanger
              May 10 at 20:11














            • 2




              $begingroup$
              Nice job with the image!
              $endgroup$
              – Malkev
              May 10 at 11:01






            • 14




              $begingroup$
              A problem is that lepers might not be welcomed in cities at all, and certainly not in many homes or public buildings.
              $endgroup$
              – Klaus Æ. Mogensen
              May 10 at 13:18






            • 9




              $begingroup$
              @Hoyle'sghost I've got a long-term infection of Mycobacterium leprae and the only prescription? More cowbell!
              $endgroup$
              – MikeTheLiar
              May 10 at 18:56






            • 8




              $begingroup$
              @Hoyle'sghost: Some carried bells (not necessary cowbells, just hand bells loud enough to announce their presence). Others carried "clappers" (link contains picture). For the skeleton in question, carrying clappers would probably make sense, since any clacking of their bones could be explained as the striking of the clappers (noise should be similar enough).
              $endgroup$
              – ShadowRanger
              May 10 at 20:09






            • 9




              $begingroup$
              @eques: It wasn't just a Jewish practice; Christians essentially imposed the same rules on their lepers. Now, for settings without a Judeo-Christian background, other setups are possible, but for Europe in the Middle Ages, that's how lepers functioned basically everywhere.
              $endgroup$
              – ShadowRanger
              May 10 at 20:11








            2




            2




            $begingroup$
            Nice job with the image!
            $endgroup$
            – Malkev
            May 10 at 11:01




            $begingroup$
            Nice job with the image!
            $endgroup$
            – Malkev
            May 10 at 11:01




            14




            14




            $begingroup$
            A problem is that lepers might not be welcomed in cities at all, and certainly not in many homes or public buildings.
            $endgroup$
            – Klaus Æ. Mogensen
            May 10 at 13:18




            $begingroup$
            A problem is that lepers might not be welcomed in cities at all, and certainly not in many homes or public buildings.
            $endgroup$
            – Klaus Æ. Mogensen
            May 10 at 13:18




            9




            9




            $begingroup$
            @Hoyle'sghost I've got a long-term infection of Mycobacterium leprae and the only prescription? More cowbell!
            $endgroup$
            – MikeTheLiar
            May 10 at 18:56




            $begingroup$
            @Hoyle'sghost I've got a long-term infection of Mycobacterium leprae and the only prescription? More cowbell!
            $endgroup$
            – MikeTheLiar
            May 10 at 18:56




            8




            8




            $begingroup$
            @Hoyle'sghost: Some carried bells (not necessary cowbells, just hand bells loud enough to announce their presence). Others carried "clappers" (link contains picture). For the skeleton in question, carrying clappers would probably make sense, since any clacking of their bones could be explained as the striking of the clappers (noise should be similar enough).
            $endgroup$
            – ShadowRanger
            May 10 at 20:09




            $begingroup$
            @Hoyle'sghost: Some carried bells (not necessary cowbells, just hand bells loud enough to announce their presence). Others carried "clappers" (link contains picture). For the skeleton in question, carrying clappers would probably make sense, since any clacking of their bones could be explained as the striking of the clappers (noise should be similar enough).
            $endgroup$
            – ShadowRanger
            May 10 at 20:09




            9




            9




            $begingroup$
            @eques: It wasn't just a Jewish practice; Christians essentially imposed the same rules on their lepers. Now, for settings without a Judeo-Christian background, other setups are possible, but for Europe in the Middle Ages, that's how lepers functioned basically everywhere.
            $endgroup$
            – ShadowRanger
            May 10 at 20:11




            $begingroup$
            @eques: It wasn't just a Jewish practice; Christians essentially imposed the same rules on their lepers. Now, for settings without a Judeo-Christian background, other setups are possible, but for Europe in the Middle Ages, that's how lepers functioned basically everywhere.
            $endgroup$
            – ShadowRanger
            May 10 at 20:11











            35












            $begingroup$

            Religious robes

            Loose religious robes with a hood and perhaps a mask would do the trick. In a fantasy setting with many gods, there may well be a religion with suitably masked and robed followers. Below, a bunch of Spanish priests in an Easter procession. Penitent monks also typically wore hoods and walked with heads bent, making their faces hard to see.



            enter image description here



            Mummer

            Masked entertainers or mummers weren't uncommon in Medieval times. During festivals, mummers probably weren't an unusual sight in city streets.



            enter image description here



            Plague Doctor
            Especially during times of plague, doctors went about with snouted face masks holding herbs believed to cleanse the air. If your world has something similar, that should also work.



            enter image description here






            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$













            • $begingroup$
              The only problem with this is that due to being just a skeleton the robes or mask might not sit right on him since bones are much thinner than flesh.
              $endgroup$
              – Eric
              May 10 at 15:12






            • 9




              $begingroup$
              @Eric use fake shoulders made of thick cloth. It works for 21st century women just fine, it will do for skeletons.
              $endgroup$
              – John Dvorak
              May 10 at 19:34






            • 4




              $begingroup$
              Burka. Face entirely covered (with a veil over the eye slit), or just a paper mask behind the eye slit--the most conservative versions leave so little exposed that you couldn't tell if it were a paper mask. (Gender of skeleton does not matter--no soft tissue, anyway...)
              $endgroup$
              – user3067860
              May 10 at 20:58






            • 2




              $begingroup$
              Nitpick: The people in the picture of the Spanish Easter procession are not priests. There is usually one priest, but he is at the head of the procession and perfectly identifiably as such. The origin of these processions and clothes are of people making penance (penitencia) for their sins; the masks were a way to protect the anonimity of the sinner. Nowadays that meaning has been mostly replaced with it being a tradition (with perhaps a few individual exceptions), but the people making the procession are still called penitentes.
              $endgroup$
              – SJuan76
              May 12 at 8:56
















            35












            $begingroup$

            Religious robes

            Loose religious robes with a hood and perhaps a mask would do the trick. In a fantasy setting with many gods, there may well be a religion with suitably masked and robed followers. Below, a bunch of Spanish priests in an Easter procession. Penitent monks also typically wore hoods and walked with heads bent, making their faces hard to see.



            enter image description here



            Mummer

            Masked entertainers or mummers weren't uncommon in Medieval times. During festivals, mummers probably weren't an unusual sight in city streets.



            enter image description here



            Plague Doctor
            Especially during times of plague, doctors went about with snouted face masks holding herbs believed to cleanse the air. If your world has something similar, that should also work.



            enter image description here






            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$













            • $begingroup$
              The only problem with this is that due to being just a skeleton the robes or mask might not sit right on him since bones are much thinner than flesh.
              $endgroup$
              – Eric
              May 10 at 15:12






            • 9




              $begingroup$
              @Eric use fake shoulders made of thick cloth. It works for 21st century women just fine, it will do for skeletons.
              $endgroup$
              – John Dvorak
              May 10 at 19:34






            • 4




              $begingroup$
              Burka. Face entirely covered (with a veil over the eye slit), or just a paper mask behind the eye slit--the most conservative versions leave so little exposed that you couldn't tell if it were a paper mask. (Gender of skeleton does not matter--no soft tissue, anyway...)
              $endgroup$
              – user3067860
              May 10 at 20:58






            • 2




              $begingroup$
              Nitpick: The people in the picture of the Spanish Easter procession are not priests. There is usually one priest, but he is at the head of the procession and perfectly identifiably as such. The origin of these processions and clothes are of people making penance (penitencia) for their sins; the masks were a way to protect the anonimity of the sinner. Nowadays that meaning has been mostly replaced with it being a tradition (with perhaps a few individual exceptions), but the people making the procession are still called penitentes.
              $endgroup$
              – SJuan76
              May 12 at 8:56














            35












            35








            35





            $begingroup$

            Religious robes

            Loose religious robes with a hood and perhaps a mask would do the trick. In a fantasy setting with many gods, there may well be a religion with suitably masked and robed followers. Below, a bunch of Spanish priests in an Easter procession. Penitent monks also typically wore hoods and walked with heads bent, making their faces hard to see.



            enter image description here



            Mummer

            Masked entertainers or mummers weren't uncommon in Medieval times. During festivals, mummers probably weren't an unusual sight in city streets.



            enter image description here



            Plague Doctor
            Especially during times of plague, doctors went about with snouted face masks holding herbs believed to cleanse the air. If your world has something similar, that should also work.



            enter image description here






            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$



            Religious robes

            Loose religious robes with a hood and perhaps a mask would do the trick. In a fantasy setting with many gods, there may well be a religion with suitably masked and robed followers. Below, a bunch of Spanish priests in an Easter procession. Penitent monks also typically wore hoods and walked with heads bent, making their faces hard to see.



            enter image description here



            Mummer

            Masked entertainers or mummers weren't uncommon in Medieval times. During festivals, mummers probably weren't an unusual sight in city streets.



            enter image description here



            Plague Doctor
            Especially during times of plague, doctors went about with snouted face masks holding herbs believed to cleanse the air. If your world has something similar, that should also work.



            enter image description here







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered May 10 at 13:16









            Klaus Æ. MogensenKlaus Æ. Mogensen

            3,5481716




            3,5481716












            • $begingroup$
              The only problem with this is that due to being just a skeleton the robes or mask might not sit right on him since bones are much thinner than flesh.
              $endgroup$
              – Eric
              May 10 at 15:12






            • 9




              $begingroup$
              @Eric use fake shoulders made of thick cloth. It works for 21st century women just fine, it will do for skeletons.
              $endgroup$
              – John Dvorak
              May 10 at 19:34






            • 4




              $begingroup$
              Burka. Face entirely covered (with a veil over the eye slit), or just a paper mask behind the eye slit--the most conservative versions leave so little exposed that you couldn't tell if it were a paper mask. (Gender of skeleton does not matter--no soft tissue, anyway...)
              $endgroup$
              – user3067860
              May 10 at 20:58






            • 2




              $begingroup$
              Nitpick: The people in the picture of the Spanish Easter procession are not priests. There is usually one priest, but he is at the head of the procession and perfectly identifiably as such. The origin of these processions and clothes are of people making penance (penitencia) for their sins; the masks were a way to protect the anonimity of the sinner. Nowadays that meaning has been mostly replaced with it being a tradition (with perhaps a few individual exceptions), but the people making the procession are still called penitentes.
              $endgroup$
              – SJuan76
              May 12 at 8:56


















            • $begingroup$
              The only problem with this is that due to being just a skeleton the robes or mask might not sit right on him since bones are much thinner than flesh.
              $endgroup$
              – Eric
              May 10 at 15:12






            • 9




              $begingroup$
              @Eric use fake shoulders made of thick cloth. It works for 21st century women just fine, it will do for skeletons.
              $endgroup$
              – John Dvorak
              May 10 at 19:34






            • 4




              $begingroup$
              Burka. Face entirely covered (with a veil over the eye slit), or just a paper mask behind the eye slit--the most conservative versions leave so little exposed that you couldn't tell if it were a paper mask. (Gender of skeleton does not matter--no soft tissue, anyway...)
              $endgroup$
              – user3067860
              May 10 at 20:58






            • 2




              $begingroup$
              Nitpick: The people in the picture of the Spanish Easter procession are not priests. There is usually one priest, but he is at the head of the procession and perfectly identifiably as such. The origin of these processions and clothes are of people making penance (penitencia) for their sins; the masks were a way to protect the anonimity of the sinner. Nowadays that meaning has been mostly replaced with it being a tradition (with perhaps a few individual exceptions), but the people making the procession are still called penitentes.
              $endgroup$
              – SJuan76
              May 12 at 8:56
















            $begingroup$
            The only problem with this is that due to being just a skeleton the robes or mask might not sit right on him since bones are much thinner than flesh.
            $endgroup$
            – Eric
            May 10 at 15:12




            $begingroup$
            The only problem with this is that due to being just a skeleton the robes or mask might not sit right on him since bones are much thinner than flesh.
            $endgroup$
            – Eric
            May 10 at 15:12




            9




            9




            $begingroup$
            @Eric use fake shoulders made of thick cloth. It works for 21st century women just fine, it will do for skeletons.
            $endgroup$
            – John Dvorak
            May 10 at 19:34




            $begingroup$
            @Eric use fake shoulders made of thick cloth. It works for 21st century women just fine, it will do for skeletons.
            $endgroup$
            – John Dvorak
            May 10 at 19:34




            4




            4




            $begingroup$
            Burka. Face entirely covered (with a veil over the eye slit), or just a paper mask behind the eye slit--the most conservative versions leave so little exposed that you couldn't tell if it were a paper mask. (Gender of skeleton does not matter--no soft tissue, anyway...)
            $endgroup$
            – user3067860
            May 10 at 20:58




            $begingroup$
            Burka. Face entirely covered (with a veil over the eye slit), or just a paper mask behind the eye slit--the most conservative versions leave so little exposed that you couldn't tell if it were a paper mask. (Gender of skeleton does not matter--no soft tissue, anyway...)
            $endgroup$
            – user3067860
            May 10 at 20:58




            2




            2




            $begingroup$
            Nitpick: The people in the picture of the Spanish Easter procession are not priests. There is usually one priest, but he is at the head of the procession and perfectly identifiably as such. The origin of these processions and clothes are of people making penance (penitencia) for their sins; the masks were a way to protect the anonimity of the sinner. Nowadays that meaning has been mostly replaced with it being a tradition (with perhaps a few individual exceptions), but the people making the procession are still called penitentes.
            $endgroup$
            – SJuan76
            May 12 at 8:56




            $begingroup$
            Nitpick: The people in the picture of the Spanish Easter procession are not priests. There is usually one priest, but he is at the head of the procession and perfectly identifiably as such. The origin of these processions and clothes are of people making penance (penitencia) for their sins; the masks were a way to protect the anonimity of the sinner. Nowadays that meaning has been mostly replaced with it being a tradition (with perhaps a few individual exceptions), but the people making the procession are still called penitentes.
            $endgroup$
            – SJuan76
            May 12 at 8:56











            26












            $begingroup$

            Pretend to be a marionette controlled by a ventriloquist



            Like Weekend at Bernie's but in reverse: appear to be the dead skeleton that you are, but pretend there is a living person controlling you and speaking for you.



            There's a couple ways to accomplish this the easiest is to set up a booth at the fair and tie some strings to your limbs. Loop the strings over a stick above you, and have the other ends go behind a curtain. Attach weights to the other end of the strings so they'll maintain tension and seem like someone is pulling on them. You won't be able to move about (unless you put this setup on a cart) but people will be enticed by the spectacle and even pay money to come have conversations with you.



            This could lead to a great moment where someone insists on seeing the talented puppeteer and pulls back the curtain only to realize there is no one there.



            Another bonus is that you don't have to assume any fake persona. No one will catch onto you when you accidentally reveal how ignorant you are about humans and normal life, because they'll assume that's part of the act. When people ask you to tell your puppet character's story you can tell your actual backstory.



            enter image description here






            share|improve this answer











            $endgroup$









            • 4




              $begingroup$
              Cue Master of Puppets background music.
              $endgroup$
              – corsiKa
              May 10 at 22:00






            • 23




              $begingroup$
              The person pulls back the curtain because over the weeks they've been coming to the fair, they've fallen in love with the charming, quirky puppeteer, but when they see there is no puppeteer, they realize they have actually fallen in love with the reanimated skeleton. Shocked, they run sobbing into the street, and are about to be run over by a carriage, but the skeleton breaks away from his strings and dashes out to pull them back and sweep them into his arms. They embrace, and as the villagers look on, shocked, the lover, accepting him for who he is, whispers "Thanks Mr Skeltal"
              $endgroup$
              – Jared K
              May 10 at 22:24






            • 12




              $begingroup$
              I don't think he'd have the guts to jump in front of a carriage.
              $endgroup$
              – corsiKa
              May 11 at 5:05
















            26












            $begingroup$

            Pretend to be a marionette controlled by a ventriloquist



            Like Weekend at Bernie's but in reverse: appear to be the dead skeleton that you are, but pretend there is a living person controlling you and speaking for you.



            There's a couple ways to accomplish this the easiest is to set up a booth at the fair and tie some strings to your limbs. Loop the strings over a stick above you, and have the other ends go behind a curtain. Attach weights to the other end of the strings so they'll maintain tension and seem like someone is pulling on them. You won't be able to move about (unless you put this setup on a cart) but people will be enticed by the spectacle and even pay money to come have conversations with you.



            This could lead to a great moment where someone insists on seeing the talented puppeteer and pulls back the curtain only to realize there is no one there.



            Another bonus is that you don't have to assume any fake persona. No one will catch onto you when you accidentally reveal how ignorant you are about humans and normal life, because they'll assume that's part of the act. When people ask you to tell your puppet character's story you can tell your actual backstory.



            enter image description here






            share|improve this answer











            $endgroup$









            • 4




              $begingroup$
              Cue Master of Puppets background music.
              $endgroup$
              – corsiKa
              May 10 at 22:00






            • 23




              $begingroup$
              The person pulls back the curtain because over the weeks they've been coming to the fair, they've fallen in love with the charming, quirky puppeteer, but when they see there is no puppeteer, they realize they have actually fallen in love with the reanimated skeleton. Shocked, they run sobbing into the street, and are about to be run over by a carriage, but the skeleton breaks away from his strings and dashes out to pull them back and sweep them into his arms. They embrace, and as the villagers look on, shocked, the lover, accepting him for who he is, whispers "Thanks Mr Skeltal"
              $endgroup$
              – Jared K
              May 10 at 22:24






            • 12




              $begingroup$
              I don't think he'd have the guts to jump in front of a carriage.
              $endgroup$
              – corsiKa
              May 11 at 5:05














            26












            26








            26





            $begingroup$

            Pretend to be a marionette controlled by a ventriloquist



            Like Weekend at Bernie's but in reverse: appear to be the dead skeleton that you are, but pretend there is a living person controlling you and speaking for you.



            There's a couple ways to accomplish this the easiest is to set up a booth at the fair and tie some strings to your limbs. Loop the strings over a stick above you, and have the other ends go behind a curtain. Attach weights to the other end of the strings so they'll maintain tension and seem like someone is pulling on them. You won't be able to move about (unless you put this setup on a cart) but people will be enticed by the spectacle and even pay money to come have conversations with you.



            This could lead to a great moment where someone insists on seeing the talented puppeteer and pulls back the curtain only to realize there is no one there.



            Another bonus is that you don't have to assume any fake persona. No one will catch onto you when you accidentally reveal how ignorant you are about humans and normal life, because they'll assume that's part of the act. When people ask you to tell your puppet character's story you can tell your actual backstory.



            enter image description here






            share|improve this answer











            $endgroup$



            Pretend to be a marionette controlled by a ventriloquist



            Like Weekend at Bernie's but in reverse: appear to be the dead skeleton that you are, but pretend there is a living person controlling you and speaking for you.



            There's a couple ways to accomplish this the easiest is to set up a booth at the fair and tie some strings to your limbs. Loop the strings over a stick above you, and have the other ends go behind a curtain. Attach weights to the other end of the strings so they'll maintain tension and seem like someone is pulling on them. You won't be able to move about (unless you put this setup on a cart) but people will be enticed by the spectacle and even pay money to come have conversations with you.



            This could lead to a great moment where someone insists on seeing the talented puppeteer and pulls back the curtain only to realize there is no one there.



            Another bonus is that you don't have to assume any fake persona. No one will catch onto you when you accidentally reveal how ignorant you are about humans and normal life, because they'll assume that's part of the act. When people ask you to tell your puppet character's story you can tell your actual backstory.



            enter image description here







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited May 10 at 19:43

























            answered May 10 at 19:31









            Jared KJared K

            4,0511725




            4,0511725








            • 4




              $begingroup$
              Cue Master of Puppets background music.
              $endgroup$
              – corsiKa
              May 10 at 22:00






            • 23




              $begingroup$
              The person pulls back the curtain because over the weeks they've been coming to the fair, they've fallen in love with the charming, quirky puppeteer, but when they see there is no puppeteer, they realize they have actually fallen in love with the reanimated skeleton. Shocked, they run sobbing into the street, and are about to be run over by a carriage, but the skeleton breaks away from his strings and dashes out to pull them back and sweep them into his arms. They embrace, and as the villagers look on, shocked, the lover, accepting him for who he is, whispers "Thanks Mr Skeltal"
              $endgroup$
              – Jared K
              May 10 at 22:24






            • 12




              $begingroup$
              I don't think he'd have the guts to jump in front of a carriage.
              $endgroup$
              – corsiKa
              May 11 at 5:05














            • 4




              $begingroup$
              Cue Master of Puppets background music.
              $endgroup$
              – corsiKa
              May 10 at 22:00






            • 23




              $begingroup$
              The person pulls back the curtain because over the weeks they've been coming to the fair, they've fallen in love with the charming, quirky puppeteer, but when they see there is no puppeteer, they realize they have actually fallen in love with the reanimated skeleton. Shocked, they run sobbing into the street, and are about to be run over by a carriage, but the skeleton breaks away from his strings and dashes out to pull them back and sweep them into his arms. They embrace, and as the villagers look on, shocked, the lover, accepting him for who he is, whispers "Thanks Mr Skeltal"
              $endgroup$
              – Jared K
              May 10 at 22:24






            • 12




              $begingroup$
              I don't think he'd have the guts to jump in front of a carriage.
              $endgroup$
              – corsiKa
              May 11 at 5:05








            4




            4




            $begingroup$
            Cue Master of Puppets background music.
            $endgroup$
            – corsiKa
            May 10 at 22:00




            $begingroup$
            Cue Master of Puppets background music.
            $endgroup$
            – corsiKa
            May 10 at 22:00




            23




            23




            $begingroup$
            The person pulls back the curtain because over the weeks they've been coming to the fair, they've fallen in love with the charming, quirky puppeteer, but when they see there is no puppeteer, they realize they have actually fallen in love with the reanimated skeleton. Shocked, they run sobbing into the street, and are about to be run over by a carriage, but the skeleton breaks away from his strings and dashes out to pull them back and sweep them into his arms. They embrace, and as the villagers look on, shocked, the lover, accepting him for who he is, whispers "Thanks Mr Skeltal"
            $endgroup$
            – Jared K
            May 10 at 22:24




            $begingroup$
            The person pulls back the curtain because over the weeks they've been coming to the fair, they've fallen in love with the charming, quirky puppeteer, but when they see there is no puppeteer, they realize they have actually fallen in love with the reanimated skeleton. Shocked, they run sobbing into the street, and are about to be run over by a carriage, but the skeleton breaks away from his strings and dashes out to pull them back and sweep them into his arms. They embrace, and as the villagers look on, shocked, the lover, accepting him for who he is, whispers "Thanks Mr Skeltal"
            $endgroup$
            – Jared K
            May 10 at 22:24




            12




            12




            $begingroup$
            I don't think he'd have the guts to jump in front of a carriage.
            $endgroup$
            – corsiKa
            May 11 at 5:05




            $begingroup$
            I don't think he'd have the guts to jump in front of a carriage.
            $endgroup$
            – corsiKa
            May 11 at 5:05











            7












            $begingroup$

            Concealing clothing has been suggested and could work, but I'd add on a layer of leather/dirt. People might look under your clothes after all or bump into you and you don't want to be obviously a skeleton under them.



            So take leather and cover all your bones in it. Then add a layer of dirt/grime to it. You also want to fill in the leather with some thing soft and squishy, maybe more leather/dead leaves/rags to get you more like a human shape. That way if someone bumps into you or touches you you don't feel like just a skeleton. The dirt is then added to hopefully make people think the leather is your skin and is just dirty.



            Even with all of this your face will look weird and dirty at best. Just claim you were wounded as a child and look weird, you could also claim to be sick but that might get you kicked out.






            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$


















              7












              $begingroup$

              Concealing clothing has been suggested and could work, but I'd add on a layer of leather/dirt. People might look under your clothes after all or bump into you and you don't want to be obviously a skeleton under them.



              So take leather and cover all your bones in it. Then add a layer of dirt/grime to it. You also want to fill in the leather with some thing soft and squishy, maybe more leather/dead leaves/rags to get you more like a human shape. That way if someone bumps into you or touches you you don't feel like just a skeleton. The dirt is then added to hopefully make people think the leather is your skin and is just dirty.



              Even with all of this your face will look weird and dirty at best. Just claim you were wounded as a child and look weird, you could also claim to be sick but that might get you kicked out.






              share|improve this answer









              $endgroup$
















                7












                7








                7





                $begingroup$

                Concealing clothing has been suggested and could work, but I'd add on a layer of leather/dirt. People might look under your clothes after all or bump into you and you don't want to be obviously a skeleton under them.



                So take leather and cover all your bones in it. Then add a layer of dirt/grime to it. You also want to fill in the leather with some thing soft and squishy, maybe more leather/dead leaves/rags to get you more like a human shape. That way if someone bumps into you or touches you you don't feel like just a skeleton. The dirt is then added to hopefully make people think the leather is your skin and is just dirty.



                Even with all of this your face will look weird and dirty at best. Just claim you were wounded as a child and look weird, you could also claim to be sick but that might get you kicked out.






                share|improve this answer









                $endgroup$



                Concealing clothing has been suggested and could work, but I'd add on a layer of leather/dirt. People might look under your clothes after all or bump into you and you don't want to be obviously a skeleton under them.



                So take leather and cover all your bones in it. Then add a layer of dirt/grime to it. You also want to fill in the leather with some thing soft and squishy, maybe more leather/dead leaves/rags to get you more like a human shape. That way if someone bumps into you or touches you you don't feel like just a skeleton. The dirt is then added to hopefully make people think the leather is your skin and is just dirty.



                Even with all of this your face will look weird and dirty at best. Just claim you were wounded as a child and look weird, you could also claim to be sick but that might get you kicked out.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered May 10 at 15:11









                EricEric

                1,26918




                1,26918























                    6












                    $begingroup$

                    If its medieval time, he can wear full body knight armour. Its not easy to see, that there is skull below the helmet. Probably he can fill the empty places in armor with clothes or rags, where muscles and flesh have to be for humans.



                    skeleton in armour






                    share|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$













                    • $begingroup$
                      If you want this to be anything remotely realistic, people would wonder why they were wearing the armor, though. Plate armor is heavy, far too heavy to wear all the time (despite what media might have you think) and, as I understand it, only worn for actual combat or for the occasional ceremonial purpose.
                      $endgroup$
                      – Hearth
                      May 13 at 14:16
















                    6












                    $begingroup$

                    If its medieval time, he can wear full body knight armour. Its not easy to see, that there is skull below the helmet. Probably he can fill the empty places in armor with clothes or rags, where muscles and flesh have to be for humans.



                    skeleton in armour






                    share|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$













                    • $begingroup$
                      If you want this to be anything remotely realistic, people would wonder why they were wearing the armor, though. Plate armor is heavy, far too heavy to wear all the time (despite what media might have you think) and, as I understand it, only worn for actual combat or for the occasional ceremonial purpose.
                      $endgroup$
                      – Hearth
                      May 13 at 14:16














                    6












                    6








                    6





                    $begingroup$

                    If its medieval time, he can wear full body knight armour. Its not easy to see, that there is skull below the helmet. Probably he can fill the empty places in armor with clothes or rags, where muscles and flesh have to be for humans.



                    skeleton in armour






                    share|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$



                    If its medieval time, he can wear full body knight armour. Its not easy to see, that there is skull below the helmet. Probably he can fill the empty places in armor with clothes or rags, where muscles and flesh have to be for humans.



                    skeleton in armour







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered May 11 at 16:22









                    vodolaz095vodolaz095

                    2,90121225




                    2,90121225












                    • $begingroup$
                      If you want this to be anything remotely realistic, people would wonder why they were wearing the armor, though. Plate armor is heavy, far too heavy to wear all the time (despite what media might have you think) and, as I understand it, only worn for actual combat or for the occasional ceremonial purpose.
                      $endgroup$
                      – Hearth
                      May 13 at 14:16


















                    • $begingroup$
                      If you want this to be anything remotely realistic, people would wonder why they were wearing the armor, though. Plate armor is heavy, far too heavy to wear all the time (despite what media might have you think) and, as I understand it, only worn for actual combat or for the occasional ceremonial purpose.
                      $endgroup$
                      – Hearth
                      May 13 at 14:16
















                    $begingroup$
                    If you want this to be anything remotely realistic, people would wonder why they were wearing the armor, though. Plate armor is heavy, far too heavy to wear all the time (despite what media might have you think) and, as I understand it, only worn for actual combat or for the occasional ceremonial purpose.
                    $endgroup$
                    – Hearth
                    May 13 at 14:16




                    $begingroup$
                    If you want this to be anything remotely realistic, people would wonder why they were wearing the armor, though. Plate armor is heavy, far too heavy to wear all the time (despite what media might have you think) and, as I understand it, only worn for actual combat or for the occasional ceremonial purpose.
                    $endgroup$
                    – Hearth
                    May 13 at 14:16











                    6












                    $begingroup$

                    Humans have skeletons inside them, but they are also muscle, tendons, skin, among other things. Lucky for your skeleton, it doesn't need muscles or guts. Also lucky for your skeleton, muscles and guts are easy to duplicate! Let's assume your skeleton has seen people at a distance, enough to know how they act, look, etc.



                    After some basic observation, move on to some up-close examination of a human, via grave-robbing! A little knife-work will show how humans look under all that skin, and give insight into the next step.



                    Using leather stuffed with wool or cotton, the skeleton makes muscles, and using strings as tendons, ties them to itself. A little balled up cotton or wool, and he has guts, too. Next, layers of cloth, wrapped around the "muscles" and bones, to simulate fat. Since it will all be under a layer of clothes, the skeleton's work could be fairly clumsy and still pass muster.



                    The last step is most difficult. Shoes and clothes can hide everything but the skeleton's face and hands; depending on how it dresses, it might even be able to wear gloves. Its head, however, is still obviously a bleached skull. A mask of some sort, even just a handkerchief over the mouth and nose (maybe with some clay to form features), and a hood would work for a little while. The skeleton is ready to go exploring - at least a little bit.



                    It should start exploring in winter, while everyone is bundled up; using whatever treasure the skeleton has collected, it should go to town, walk in like it owned the place, and pick out a lovely wig. If possible, it should find some fake eyes, and any other disguise-worthy materials, including makeup.



                    With disguise in hand, the skeleton can make itself appear entirely human, apart from one small detail: its face. This is where its fake eyes come in. Using clay and a little tanned animal skin, make a face - doesn't have to be a good face, just vaguely lifelike. Using the makeup, give the face a horribly scarred appearance, like a burn victim. Finally, don a simple mask.



                    Now, the skeleton looks and feels human, and can explain why it wears a mask: due to an accident, it suffered terribly burns from fire/acid/lightning/whatever, and is forced to hide its ugly skin under this mask.



                    The longer it spends with humans, the more it learns, and eventually, it may find someone willing to create a lifelike skin for it. Without very complex mechanical tools, it will never have the muscles to smile, blink, breathe, or wiggle its eyebrows, but it will eventually be able to pass for human. As long as no one looks too hard.






                    share|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$


















                      6












                      $begingroup$

                      Humans have skeletons inside them, but they are also muscle, tendons, skin, among other things. Lucky for your skeleton, it doesn't need muscles or guts. Also lucky for your skeleton, muscles and guts are easy to duplicate! Let's assume your skeleton has seen people at a distance, enough to know how they act, look, etc.



                      After some basic observation, move on to some up-close examination of a human, via grave-robbing! A little knife-work will show how humans look under all that skin, and give insight into the next step.



                      Using leather stuffed with wool or cotton, the skeleton makes muscles, and using strings as tendons, ties them to itself. A little balled up cotton or wool, and he has guts, too. Next, layers of cloth, wrapped around the "muscles" and bones, to simulate fat. Since it will all be under a layer of clothes, the skeleton's work could be fairly clumsy and still pass muster.



                      The last step is most difficult. Shoes and clothes can hide everything but the skeleton's face and hands; depending on how it dresses, it might even be able to wear gloves. Its head, however, is still obviously a bleached skull. A mask of some sort, even just a handkerchief over the mouth and nose (maybe with some clay to form features), and a hood would work for a little while. The skeleton is ready to go exploring - at least a little bit.



                      It should start exploring in winter, while everyone is bundled up; using whatever treasure the skeleton has collected, it should go to town, walk in like it owned the place, and pick out a lovely wig. If possible, it should find some fake eyes, and any other disguise-worthy materials, including makeup.



                      With disguise in hand, the skeleton can make itself appear entirely human, apart from one small detail: its face. This is where its fake eyes come in. Using clay and a little tanned animal skin, make a face - doesn't have to be a good face, just vaguely lifelike. Using the makeup, give the face a horribly scarred appearance, like a burn victim. Finally, don a simple mask.



                      Now, the skeleton looks and feels human, and can explain why it wears a mask: due to an accident, it suffered terribly burns from fire/acid/lightning/whatever, and is forced to hide its ugly skin under this mask.



                      The longer it spends with humans, the more it learns, and eventually, it may find someone willing to create a lifelike skin for it. Without very complex mechanical tools, it will never have the muscles to smile, blink, breathe, or wiggle its eyebrows, but it will eventually be able to pass for human. As long as no one looks too hard.






                      share|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$
















                        6












                        6








                        6





                        $begingroup$

                        Humans have skeletons inside them, but they are also muscle, tendons, skin, among other things. Lucky for your skeleton, it doesn't need muscles or guts. Also lucky for your skeleton, muscles and guts are easy to duplicate! Let's assume your skeleton has seen people at a distance, enough to know how they act, look, etc.



                        After some basic observation, move on to some up-close examination of a human, via grave-robbing! A little knife-work will show how humans look under all that skin, and give insight into the next step.



                        Using leather stuffed with wool or cotton, the skeleton makes muscles, and using strings as tendons, ties them to itself. A little balled up cotton or wool, and he has guts, too. Next, layers of cloth, wrapped around the "muscles" and bones, to simulate fat. Since it will all be under a layer of clothes, the skeleton's work could be fairly clumsy and still pass muster.



                        The last step is most difficult. Shoes and clothes can hide everything but the skeleton's face and hands; depending on how it dresses, it might even be able to wear gloves. Its head, however, is still obviously a bleached skull. A mask of some sort, even just a handkerchief over the mouth and nose (maybe with some clay to form features), and a hood would work for a little while. The skeleton is ready to go exploring - at least a little bit.



                        It should start exploring in winter, while everyone is bundled up; using whatever treasure the skeleton has collected, it should go to town, walk in like it owned the place, and pick out a lovely wig. If possible, it should find some fake eyes, and any other disguise-worthy materials, including makeup.



                        With disguise in hand, the skeleton can make itself appear entirely human, apart from one small detail: its face. This is where its fake eyes come in. Using clay and a little tanned animal skin, make a face - doesn't have to be a good face, just vaguely lifelike. Using the makeup, give the face a horribly scarred appearance, like a burn victim. Finally, don a simple mask.



                        Now, the skeleton looks and feels human, and can explain why it wears a mask: due to an accident, it suffered terribly burns from fire/acid/lightning/whatever, and is forced to hide its ugly skin under this mask.



                        The longer it spends with humans, the more it learns, and eventually, it may find someone willing to create a lifelike skin for it. Without very complex mechanical tools, it will never have the muscles to smile, blink, breathe, or wiggle its eyebrows, but it will eventually be able to pass for human. As long as no one looks too hard.






                        share|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$



                        Humans have skeletons inside them, but they are also muscle, tendons, skin, among other things. Lucky for your skeleton, it doesn't need muscles or guts. Also lucky for your skeleton, muscles and guts are easy to duplicate! Let's assume your skeleton has seen people at a distance, enough to know how they act, look, etc.



                        After some basic observation, move on to some up-close examination of a human, via grave-robbing! A little knife-work will show how humans look under all that skin, and give insight into the next step.



                        Using leather stuffed with wool or cotton, the skeleton makes muscles, and using strings as tendons, ties them to itself. A little balled up cotton or wool, and he has guts, too. Next, layers of cloth, wrapped around the "muscles" and bones, to simulate fat. Since it will all be under a layer of clothes, the skeleton's work could be fairly clumsy and still pass muster.



                        The last step is most difficult. Shoes and clothes can hide everything but the skeleton's face and hands; depending on how it dresses, it might even be able to wear gloves. Its head, however, is still obviously a bleached skull. A mask of some sort, even just a handkerchief over the mouth and nose (maybe with some clay to form features), and a hood would work for a little while. The skeleton is ready to go exploring - at least a little bit.



                        It should start exploring in winter, while everyone is bundled up; using whatever treasure the skeleton has collected, it should go to town, walk in like it owned the place, and pick out a lovely wig. If possible, it should find some fake eyes, and any other disguise-worthy materials, including makeup.



                        With disguise in hand, the skeleton can make itself appear entirely human, apart from one small detail: its face. This is where its fake eyes come in. Using clay and a little tanned animal skin, make a face - doesn't have to be a good face, just vaguely lifelike. Using the makeup, give the face a horribly scarred appearance, like a burn victim. Finally, don a simple mask.



                        Now, the skeleton looks and feels human, and can explain why it wears a mask: due to an accident, it suffered terribly burns from fire/acid/lightning/whatever, and is forced to hide its ugly skin under this mask.



                        The longer it spends with humans, the more it learns, and eventually, it may find someone willing to create a lifelike skin for it. Without very complex mechanical tools, it will never have the muscles to smile, blink, breathe, or wiggle its eyebrows, but it will eventually be able to pass for human. As long as no one looks too hard.







                        share|improve this answer












                        share|improve this answer



                        share|improve this answer










                        answered May 11 at 18:31









                        ArmanXArmanX

                        10.8k32644




                        10.8k32644























                            5












                            $begingroup$

                            Masquerade



                            enter image description here
                            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masquerade_ball



                            Those with a lot of wealth in Medieval and Renaissance societies sometimes held masquerade balls. These were parties where all the participants wore masks and costumes, obscuring the identity of the wearer. These kinds of parties have been popularised in fiction due to the novel idea.



                            Your skeleton may sneak into such a party in masquerade and no one would know he was a skeleton because, of course, he is in a costume, as is everyone else, allowing him to easily blend in. This also allows for your skeleton to interact with a lot of humans freely, asking questions to the many guests at the party.



                            Entertainment



                            In a similar sense, your skeleton could wear a costume and play the role of an entertainer, giving a plausible reason as to why they are always in costume. You could also have the skeleton talk to the audience members after a show or performance.



                            The Man in the Iron Mask



                            Your skeleton could possibly wear a mask and claim to be a convicted criminal and, as punishment, must wear this mask. Although, whilst this would effectively obscure his identity, i doubt people would be willing to talk with him as why would they want to chat with a possibly dangerous criminal?



                            The Dark Side of the City



                            Whilst your average person may be terrified of this reanimated skeleton wandering the streets, i would wager a guild of thieves or assassins would be far more welcoming. Such guilds may even be very willing to enrol a reanimated skeleton into their ranks, such a member could allow for a wide variety of interesting situations. For example, a skeletal thief could hide in a coffin, be placed in a crypt and grave rob said crypt from the inside. An assassin may be able to sneak past a blockade in a coffin to assassinate the king.



                            Your skeleton would interact with the members of its guild, learning about humanity that way, and could also spy on its mark and learn through their conversations with other people or through letters they write.



                            A Home for the Blind



                            Its possible that a skeleton could go unnoticed in a home for people who are blind, either working as a servant for a single wealthy blind person or for a community of blind people, the latter allowing for more social interaction.



                            This way, your skeleton may not need to physically disguise themselves, only hide the texture of their bones, such as through clothing or some kind of fake skin. Alternatively, you could go with the idea that the blind people know he is a skeleton but simply do not care as he is kind to them. I would imagine a person’s physical appearance would matter far less to someone who is blind, instead judging people more by their personality and their actions.






                            share|improve this answer









                            $endgroup$


















                              5












                              $begingroup$

                              Masquerade



                              enter image description here
                              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masquerade_ball



                              Those with a lot of wealth in Medieval and Renaissance societies sometimes held masquerade balls. These were parties where all the participants wore masks and costumes, obscuring the identity of the wearer. These kinds of parties have been popularised in fiction due to the novel idea.



                              Your skeleton may sneak into such a party in masquerade and no one would know he was a skeleton because, of course, he is in a costume, as is everyone else, allowing him to easily blend in. This also allows for your skeleton to interact with a lot of humans freely, asking questions to the many guests at the party.



                              Entertainment



                              In a similar sense, your skeleton could wear a costume and play the role of an entertainer, giving a plausible reason as to why they are always in costume. You could also have the skeleton talk to the audience members after a show or performance.



                              The Man in the Iron Mask



                              Your skeleton could possibly wear a mask and claim to be a convicted criminal and, as punishment, must wear this mask. Although, whilst this would effectively obscure his identity, i doubt people would be willing to talk with him as why would they want to chat with a possibly dangerous criminal?



                              The Dark Side of the City



                              Whilst your average person may be terrified of this reanimated skeleton wandering the streets, i would wager a guild of thieves or assassins would be far more welcoming. Such guilds may even be very willing to enrol a reanimated skeleton into their ranks, such a member could allow for a wide variety of interesting situations. For example, a skeletal thief could hide in a coffin, be placed in a crypt and grave rob said crypt from the inside. An assassin may be able to sneak past a blockade in a coffin to assassinate the king.



                              Your skeleton would interact with the members of its guild, learning about humanity that way, and could also spy on its mark and learn through their conversations with other people or through letters they write.



                              A Home for the Blind



                              Its possible that a skeleton could go unnoticed in a home for people who are blind, either working as a servant for a single wealthy blind person or for a community of blind people, the latter allowing for more social interaction.



                              This way, your skeleton may not need to physically disguise themselves, only hide the texture of their bones, such as through clothing or some kind of fake skin. Alternatively, you could go with the idea that the blind people know he is a skeleton but simply do not care as he is kind to them. I would imagine a person’s physical appearance would matter far less to someone who is blind, instead judging people more by their personality and their actions.






                              share|improve this answer









                              $endgroup$
















                                5












                                5








                                5





                                $begingroup$

                                Masquerade



                                enter image description here
                                https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masquerade_ball



                                Those with a lot of wealth in Medieval and Renaissance societies sometimes held masquerade balls. These were parties where all the participants wore masks and costumes, obscuring the identity of the wearer. These kinds of parties have been popularised in fiction due to the novel idea.



                                Your skeleton may sneak into such a party in masquerade and no one would know he was a skeleton because, of course, he is in a costume, as is everyone else, allowing him to easily blend in. This also allows for your skeleton to interact with a lot of humans freely, asking questions to the many guests at the party.



                                Entertainment



                                In a similar sense, your skeleton could wear a costume and play the role of an entertainer, giving a plausible reason as to why they are always in costume. You could also have the skeleton talk to the audience members after a show or performance.



                                The Man in the Iron Mask



                                Your skeleton could possibly wear a mask and claim to be a convicted criminal and, as punishment, must wear this mask. Although, whilst this would effectively obscure his identity, i doubt people would be willing to talk with him as why would they want to chat with a possibly dangerous criminal?



                                The Dark Side of the City



                                Whilst your average person may be terrified of this reanimated skeleton wandering the streets, i would wager a guild of thieves or assassins would be far more welcoming. Such guilds may even be very willing to enrol a reanimated skeleton into their ranks, such a member could allow for a wide variety of interesting situations. For example, a skeletal thief could hide in a coffin, be placed in a crypt and grave rob said crypt from the inside. An assassin may be able to sneak past a blockade in a coffin to assassinate the king.



                                Your skeleton would interact with the members of its guild, learning about humanity that way, and could also spy on its mark and learn through their conversations with other people or through letters they write.



                                A Home for the Blind



                                Its possible that a skeleton could go unnoticed in a home for people who are blind, either working as a servant for a single wealthy blind person or for a community of blind people, the latter allowing for more social interaction.



                                This way, your skeleton may not need to physically disguise themselves, only hide the texture of their bones, such as through clothing or some kind of fake skin. Alternatively, you could go with the idea that the blind people know he is a skeleton but simply do not care as he is kind to them. I would imagine a person’s physical appearance would matter far less to someone who is blind, instead judging people more by their personality and their actions.






                                share|improve this answer









                                $endgroup$



                                Masquerade



                                enter image description here
                                https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masquerade_ball



                                Those with a lot of wealth in Medieval and Renaissance societies sometimes held masquerade balls. These were parties where all the participants wore masks and costumes, obscuring the identity of the wearer. These kinds of parties have been popularised in fiction due to the novel idea.



                                Your skeleton may sneak into such a party in masquerade and no one would know he was a skeleton because, of course, he is in a costume, as is everyone else, allowing him to easily blend in. This also allows for your skeleton to interact with a lot of humans freely, asking questions to the many guests at the party.



                                Entertainment



                                In a similar sense, your skeleton could wear a costume and play the role of an entertainer, giving a plausible reason as to why they are always in costume. You could also have the skeleton talk to the audience members after a show or performance.



                                The Man in the Iron Mask



                                Your skeleton could possibly wear a mask and claim to be a convicted criminal and, as punishment, must wear this mask. Although, whilst this would effectively obscure his identity, i doubt people would be willing to talk with him as why would they want to chat with a possibly dangerous criminal?



                                The Dark Side of the City



                                Whilst your average person may be terrified of this reanimated skeleton wandering the streets, i would wager a guild of thieves or assassins would be far more welcoming. Such guilds may even be very willing to enrol a reanimated skeleton into their ranks, such a member could allow for a wide variety of interesting situations. For example, a skeletal thief could hide in a coffin, be placed in a crypt and grave rob said crypt from the inside. An assassin may be able to sneak past a blockade in a coffin to assassinate the king.



                                Your skeleton would interact with the members of its guild, learning about humanity that way, and could also spy on its mark and learn through their conversations with other people or through letters they write.



                                A Home for the Blind



                                Its possible that a skeleton could go unnoticed in a home for people who are blind, either working as a servant for a single wealthy blind person or for a community of blind people, the latter allowing for more social interaction.



                                This way, your skeleton may not need to physically disguise themselves, only hide the texture of their bones, such as through clothing or some kind of fake skin. Alternatively, you could go with the idea that the blind people know he is a skeleton but simply do not care as he is kind to them. I would imagine a person’s physical appearance would matter far less to someone who is blind, instead judging people more by their personality and their actions.







                                share|improve this answer












                                share|improve this answer



                                share|improve this answer










                                answered May 11 at 18:09









                                Liam MorrisLiam Morris

                                4,177642




                                4,177642























                                    4












                                    $begingroup$

                                    Just thinking out of the box here:



                                    No Disguise at All



                                    Instead, just tell everyone a witch cursed you to have invisible flesh, but it doesn't affect your bones. Sure, you said "no magic", but this isn't magic. It's telling people that magic was involved, but it's not actual magic. (At least, not any more magic than was required by the necromancer that animated the skeleton to begin with, which we're obviously taking as a given here.) In a world where necromancy is a thing, I'm sure people would have no problem believing that invisibility curses are also a thing (even if that's not actually true), so just run with it. If you're friendly and personable enough, people might look past the fact that you're a walking skeleton. Offer your services, be a good neighbor, and just calmly explain your "curse" whenever asked. You'll get some stares and fearful looks, but just don't act threatening and you can fit right in. Real life burn-victims and people with other visible disfigurements have to deal with this sort of thing all the time.






                                    share|improve this answer









                                    $endgroup$













                                    • $begingroup$
                                      I think this is my favorite answer. I'd be curious to see what happened should "Mr S" bump into an Inquisition posse.
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – Hoyle's ghost
                                      May 15 at 11:02
















                                    4












                                    $begingroup$

                                    Just thinking out of the box here:



                                    No Disguise at All



                                    Instead, just tell everyone a witch cursed you to have invisible flesh, but it doesn't affect your bones. Sure, you said "no magic", but this isn't magic. It's telling people that magic was involved, but it's not actual magic. (At least, not any more magic than was required by the necromancer that animated the skeleton to begin with, which we're obviously taking as a given here.) In a world where necromancy is a thing, I'm sure people would have no problem believing that invisibility curses are also a thing (even if that's not actually true), so just run with it. If you're friendly and personable enough, people might look past the fact that you're a walking skeleton. Offer your services, be a good neighbor, and just calmly explain your "curse" whenever asked. You'll get some stares and fearful looks, but just don't act threatening and you can fit right in. Real life burn-victims and people with other visible disfigurements have to deal with this sort of thing all the time.






                                    share|improve this answer









                                    $endgroup$













                                    • $begingroup$
                                      I think this is my favorite answer. I'd be curious to see what happened should "Mr S" bump into an Inquisition posse.
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – Hoyle's ghost
                                      May 15 at 11:02














                                    4












                                    4








                                    4





                                    $begingroup$

                                    Just thinking out of the box here:



                                    No Disguise at All



                                    Instead, just tell everyone a witch cursed you to have invisible flesh, but it doesn't affect your bones. Sure, you said "no magic", but this isn't magic. It's telling people that magic was involved, but it's not actual magic. (At least, not any more magic than was required by the necromancer that animated the skeleton to begin with, which we're obviously taking as a given here.) In a world where necromancy is a thing, I'm sure people would have no problem believing that invisibility curses are also a thing (even if that's not actually true), so just run with it. If you're friendly and personable enough, people might look past the fact that you're a walking skeleton. Offer your services, be a good neighbor, and just calmly explain your "curse" whenever asked. You'll get some stares and fearful looks, but just don't act threatening and you can fit right in. Real life burn-victims and people with other visible disfigurements have to deal with this sort of thing all the time.






                                    share|improve this answer









                                    $endgroup$



                                    Just thinking out of the box here:



                                    No Disguise at All



                                    Instead, just tell everyone a witch cursed you to have invisible flesh, but it doesn't affect your bones. Sure, you said "no magic", but this isn't magic. It's telling people that magic was involved, but it's not actual magic. (At least, not any more magic than was required by the necromancer that animated the skeleton to begin with, which we're obviously taking as a given here.) In a world where necromancy is a thing, I'm sure people would have no problem believing that invisibility curses are also a thing (even if that's not actually true), so just run with it. If you're friendly and personable enough, people might look past the fact that you're a walking skeleton. Offer your services, be a good neighbor, and just calmly explain your "curse" whenever asked. You'll get some stares and fearful looks, but just don't act threatening and you can fit right in. Real life burn-victims and people with other visible disfigurements have to deal with this sort of thing all the time.







                                    share|improve this answer












                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer










                                    answered May 13 at 3:27









                                    Darrel HoffmanDarrel Hoffman

                                    1,08749




                                    1,08749












                                    • $begingroup$
                                      I think this is my favorite answer. I'd be curious to see what happened should "Mr S" bump into an Inquisition posse.
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – Hoyle's ghost
                                      May 15 at 11:02


















                                    • $begingroup$
                                      I think this is my favorite answer. I'd be curious to see what happened should "Mr S" bump into an Inquisition posse.
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – Hoyle's ghost
                                      May 15 at 11:02
















                                    $begingroup$
                                    I think this is my favorite answer. I'd be curious to see what happened should "Mr S" bump into an Inquisition posse.
                                    $endgroup$
                                    – Hoyle's ghost
                                    May 15 at 11:02




                                    $begingroup$
                                    I think this is my favorite answer. I'd be curious to see what happened should "Mr S" bump into an Inquisition posse.
                                    $endgroup$
                                    – Hoyle's ghost
                                    May 15 at 11:02











                                    3












                                    $begingroup$

                                    Here's some options. He could...




                                    • Wear bandages and say he's a burn victim

                                    • Get a job as a clown (interview as burn victim)

                                    • Get a job in a dark restaurant like this one (https://dineblackout.com/)

                                    • Get a job at Disney World dressed as Mickey Mouse

                                    • Buy a computer and make all his friends online

                                    • Build a box around himself and pretend to be an animated machine designed to pass the Turing Test; then sit at a carnival and wait for people to drop money in the coin slot for a conversation

                                    • Buy a lifelike puppet and pretend that it is the human, and he's the puppet

                                    • Go to comicon

                                    • Go to the medieval renaissance fair

                                    • Join the KKK and wear shoulder pads under his robes or something

                                    • Join a dnd club where people dress up as their fave characters

                                    • Hide in the drain under the street and have conversations with kids passing by

                                    • Go find a remote tribe in the jungle where they'll think he's a god, and talk them into interacting normally with him over the course of a few generations

                                    • Go deep sea diving and wear his diving suit everywhere

                                    • Become a death-metal musician, and act like the skeleton thing is just his excellent show makeup

                                    • Hang out near a volcano and wear a heat-suit; interact with geologists.


                                    Hope this helps!



                                    eta: (Read through some other answers and realized some of these were already taken. Didn't mean to copy! Sorry other dudes!)






                                    share|improve this answer











                                    $endgroup$









                                    • 2




                                      $begingroup$
                                      I like how this started as career advice and steadily progresses into vacation and maybe even retirement.
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – Muuski
                                      May 10 at 21:43






                                    • 1




                                      $begingroup$
                                      Disney World and computers in the middle ages.... riiight... have you even read the question?
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – vsz
                                      May 10 at 22:06








                                    • 1




                                      $begingroup$
                                      It says a technological level similar to the middle ages, not that it's actually taking place there.
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – forest
                                      May 11 at 3:28










                                    • $begingroup$
                                      @forest, I doubt you could build computers or theme parks with medieval technology, so vsz's point still stands.
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – Nolonar
                                      May 11 at 8:22






                                    • 1




                                      $begingroup$
                                      @vsz it says "technology level similar to the middle age", which I guess I didn't understand the relevance of, and so glossed over when I read it. So, instead of going to work at Disney land, he can make his own ancient knock-off Disney land and hire other people -- how about that. And instead of computers... a pidgeon post office
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – boxcartenant
                                      May 11 at 15:46


















                                    3












                                    $begingroup$

                                    Here's some options. He could...




                                    • Wear bandages and say he's a burn victim

                                    • Get a job as a clown (interview as burn victim)

                                    • Get a job in a dark restaurant like this one (https://dineblackout.com/)

                                    • Get a job at Disney World dressed as Mickey Mouse

                                    • Buy a computer and make all his friends online

                                    • Build a box around himself and pretend to be an animated machine designed to pass the Turing Test; then sit at a carnival and wait for people to drop money in the coin slot for a conversation

                                    • Buy a lifelike puppet and pretend that it is the human, and he's the puppet

                                    • Go to comicon

                                    • Go to the medieval renaissance fair

                                    • Join the KKK and wear shoulder pads under his robes or something

                                    • Join a dnd club where people dress up as their fave characters

                                    • Hide in the drain under the street and have conversations with kids passing by

                                    • Go find a remote tribe in the jungle where they'll think he's a god, and talk them into interacting normally with him over the course of a few generations

                                    • Go deep sea diving and wear his diving suit everywhere

                                    • Become a death-metal musician, and act like the skeleton thing is just his excellent show makeup

                                    • Hang out near a volcano and wear a heat-suit; interact with geologists.


                                    Hope this helps!



                                    eta: (Read through some other answers and realized some of these were already taken. Didn't mean to copy! Sorry other dudes!)






                                    share|improve this answer











                                    $endgroup$









                                    • 2




                                      $begingroup$
                                      I like how this started as career advice and steadily progresses into vacation and maybe even retirement.
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – Muuski
                                      May 10 at 21:43






                                    • 1




                                      $begingroup$
                                      Disney World and computers in the middle ages.... riiight... have you even read the question?
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – vsz
                                      May 10 at 22:06








                                    • 1




                                      $begingroup$
                                      It says a technological level similar to the middle ages, not that it's actually taking place there.
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – forest
                                      May 11 at 3:28










                                    • $begingroup$
                                      @forest, I doubt you could build computers or theme parks with medieval technology, so vsz's point still stands.
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – Nolonar
                                      May 11 at 8:22






                                    • 1




                                      $begingroup$
                                      @vsz it says "technology level similar to the middle age", which I guess I didn't understand the relevance of, and so glossed over when I read it. So, instead of going to work at Disney land, he can make his own ancient knock-off Disney land and hire other people -- how about that. And instead of computers... a pidgeon post office
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – boxcartenant
                                      May 11 at 15:46
















                                    3












                                    3








                                    3





                                    $begingroup$

                                    Here's some options. He could...




                                    • Wear bandages and say he's a burn victim

                                    • Get a job as a clown (interview as burn victim)

                                    • Get a job in a dark restaurant like this one (https://dineblackout.com/)

                                    • Get a job at Disney World dressed as Mickey Mouse

                                    • Buy a computer and make all his friends online

                                    • Build a box around himself and pretend to be an animated machine designed to pass the Turing Test; then sit at a carnival and wait for people to drop money in the coin slot for a conversation

                                    • Buy a lifelike puppet and pretend that it is the human, and he's the puppet

                                    • Go to comicon

                                    • Go to the medieval renaissance fair

                                    • Join the KKK and wear shoulder pads under his robes or something

                                    • Join a dnd club where people dress up as their fave characters

                                    • Hide in the drain under the street and have conversations with kids passing by

                                    • Go find a remote tribe in the jungle where they'll think he's a god, and talk them into interacting normally with him over the course of a few generations

                                    • Go deep sea diving and wear his diving suit everywhere

                                    • Become a death-metal musician, and act like the skeleton thing is just his excellent show makeup

                                    • Hang out near a volcano and wear a heat-suit; interact with geologists.


                                    Hope this helps!



                                    eta: (Read through some other answers and realized some of these were already taken. Didn't mean to copy! Sorry other dudes!)






                                    share|improve this answer











                                    $endgroup$



                                    Here's some options. He could...




                                    • Wear bandages and say he's a burn victim

                                    • Get a job as a clown (interview as burn victim)

                                    • Get a job in a dark restaurant like this one (https://dineblackout.com/)

                                    • Get a job at Disney World dressed as Mickey Mouse

                                    • Buy a computer and make all his friends online

                                    • Build a box around himself and pretend to be an animated machine designed to pass the Turing Test; then sit at a carnival and wait for people to drop money in the coin slot for a conversation

                                    • Buy a lifelike puppet and pretend that it is the human, and he's the puppet

                                    • Go to comicon

                                    • Go to the medieval renaissance fair

                                    • Join the KKK and wear shoulder pads under his robes or something

                                    • Join a dnd club where people dress up as their fave characters

                                    • Hide in the drain under the street and have conversations with kids passing by

                                    • Go find a remote tribe in the jungle where they'll think he's a god, and talk them into interacting normally with him over the course of a few generations

                                    • Go deep sea diving and wear his diving suit everywhere

                                    • Become a death-metal musician, and act like the skeleton thing is just his excellent show makeup

                                    • Hang out near a volcano and wear a heat-suit; interact with geologists.


                                    Hope this helps!



                                    eta: (Read through some other answers and realized some of these were already taken. Didn't mean to copy! Sorry other dudes!)







                                    share|improve this answer














                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer








                                    edited May 10 at 20:04

























                                    answered May 10 at 19:59









                                    boxcartenantboxcartenant

                                    2,551118




                                    2,551118








                                    • 2




                                      $begingroup$
                                      I like how this started as career advice and steadily progresses into vacation and maybe even retirement.
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – Muuski
                                      May 10 at 21:43






                                    • 1




                                      $begingroup$
                                      Disney World and computers in the middle ages.... riiight... have you even read the question?
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – vsz
                                      May 10 at 22:06








                                    • 1




                                      $begingroup$
                                      It says a technological level similar to the middle ages, not that it's actually taking place there.
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – forest
                                      May 11 at 3:28










                                    • $begingroup$
                                      @forest, I doubt you could build computers or theme parks with medieval technology, so vsz's point still stands.
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – Nolonar
                                      May 11 at 8:22






                                    • 1




                                      $begingroup$
                                      @vsz it says "technology level similar to the middle age", which I guess I didn't understand the relevance of, and so glossed over when I read it. So, instead of going to work at Disney land, he can make his own ancient knock-off Disney land and hire other people -- how about that. And instead of computers... a pidgeon post office
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – boxcartenant
                                      May 11 at 15:46
















                                    • 2




                                      $begingroup$
                                      I like how this started as career advice and steadily progresses into vacation and maybe even retirement.
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – Muuski
                                      May 10 at 21:43






                                    • 1




                                      $begingroup$
                                      Disney World and computers in the middle ages.... riiight... have you even read the question?
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – vsz
                                      May 10 at 22:06








                                    • 1




                                      $begingroup$
                                      It says a technological level similar to the middle ages, not that it's actually taking place there.
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – forest
                                      May 11 at 3:28










                                    • $begingroup$
                                      @forest, I doubt you could build computers or theme parks with medieval technology, so vsz's point still stands.
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – Nolonar
                                      May 11 at 8:22






                                    • 1




                                      $begingroup$
                                      @vsz it says "technology level similar to the middle age", which I guess I didn't understand the relevance of, and so glossed over when I read it. So, instead of going to work at Disney land, he can make his own ancient knock-off Disney land and hire other people -- how about that. And instead of computers... a pidgeon post office
                                      $endgroup$
                                      – boxcartenant
                                      May 11 at 15:46










                                    2




                                    2




                                    $begingroup$
                                    I like how this started as career advice and steadily progresses into vacation and maybe even retirement.
                                    $endgroup$
                                    – Muuski
                                    May 10 at 21:43




                                    $begingroup$
                                    I like how this started as career advice and steadily progresses into vacation and maybe even retirement.
                                    $endgroup$
                                    – Muuski
                                    May 10 at 21:43




                                    1




                                    1




                                    $begingroup$
                                    Disney World and computers in the middle ages.... riiight... have you even read the question?
                                    $endgroup$
                                    – vsz
                                    May 10 at 22:06






                                    $begingroup$
                                    Disney World and computers in the middle ages.... riiight... have you even read the question?
                                    $endgroup$
                                    – vsz
                                    May 10 at 22:06






                                    1




                                    1




                                    $begingroup$
                                    It says a technological level similar to the middle ages, not that it's actually taking place there.
                                    $endgroup$
                                    – forest
                                    May 11 at 3:28




                                    $begingroup$
                                    It says a technological level similar to the middle ages, not that it's actually taking place there.
                                    $endgroup$
                                    – forest
                                    May 11 at 3:28












                                    $begingroup$
                                    @forest, I doubt you could build computers or theme parks with medieval technology, so vsz's point still stands.
                                    $endgroup$
                                    – Nolonar
                                    May 11 at 8:22




                                    $begingroup$
                                    @forest, I doubt you could build computers or theme parks with medieval technology, so vsz's point still stands.
                                    $endgroup$
                                    – Nolonar
                                    May 11 at 8:22




                                    1




                                    1




                                    $begingroup$
                                    @vsz it says "technology level similar to the middle age", which I guess I didn't understand the relevance of, and so glossed over when I read it. So, instead of going to work at Disney land, he can make his own ancient knock-off Disney land and hire other people -- how about that. And instead of computers... a pidgeon post office
                                    $endgroup$
                                    – boxcartenant
                                    May 11 at 15:46






                                    $begingroup$
                                    @vsz it says "technology level similar to the middle age", which I guess I didn't understand the relevance of, and so glossed over when I read it. So, instead of going to work at Disney land, he can make his own ancient knock-off Disney land and hire other people -- how about that. And instead of computers... a pidgeon post office
                                    $endgroup$
                                    – boxcartenant
                                    May 11 at 15:46













                                    2












                                    $begingroup$

                                    A skeleton under flapping robes still doesn't look like a person. Make yourself into a scarecrow -- acquire clothing, put on clothing, stuff your clothes with straw, then top it all off with a loose cloak and deep hood.






                                    share|improve this answer









                                    $endgroup$


















                                      2












                                      $begingroup$

                                      A skeleton under flapping robes still doesn't look like a person. Make yourself into a scarecrow -- acquire clothing, put on clothing, stuff your clothes with straw, then top it all off with a loose cloak and deep hood.






                                      share|improve this answer









                                      $endgroup$
















                                        2












                                        2








                                        2





                                        $begingroup$

                                        A skeleton under flapping robes still doesn't look like a person. Make yourself into a scarecrow -- acquire clothing, put on clothing, stuff your clothes with straw, then top it all off with a loose cloak and deep hood.






                                        share|improve this answer









                                        $endgroup$



                                        A skeleton under flapping robes still doesn't look like a person. Make yourself into a scarecrow -- acquire clothing, put on clothing, stuff your clothes with straw, then top it all off with a loose cloak and deep hood.







                                        share|improve this answer












                                        share|improve this answer



                                        share|improve this answer










                                        answered May 10 at 19:06









                                        arparp

                                        97138




                                        97138























                                            1












                                            $begingroup$

                                            The way I would see it is simple. Kill a human. We humans have skeletons, do we not? So, the skeleton could kill a human, remove the humans skeleton using clean cuts creating seems along the skin, lie inside of the removed skin (and likely meat, since it would need "padding". Either that, or some other material to act in the same way. Then, basically stitch the cuts back to close the costume.



                                            None of this would require very advanced technology. Just a blade like object and a tool like needle and thread. Assuming the skeleton was intelligent and logical about how it skinned the human, it could do so in such a way that all of the seems would be hidden by clothing.






                                            share|improve this answer









                                            $endgroup$









                                            • 1




                                              $begingroup$
                                              But then you have to kill a human every 3 or 4 days, because of decomposition. It's a dead body suit.
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Malkev
                                              May 13 at 13:00










                                            • $begingroup$
                                              I suppose so @Malkev, but borrowing the suggestion from other comments, at that point you might be able to get away with wearing a robe and claiming to have some illness. Could get you a little bit of time, however, having a human suit. I'm sure they had things like formaldehyde (or similar) back then. All you need is to preserve the skin, and fill the space with something slightly mushy but still somewhat firm (to replicate human meat). This preservation of the skin might keep your human-suit lasting at least a little longer.
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Ethan Manzi
                                              May 16 at 1:10


















                                            1












                                            $begingroup$

                                            The way I would see it is simple. Kill a human. We humans have skeletons, do we not? So, the skeleton could kill a human, remove the humans skeleton using clean cuts creating seems along the skin, lie inside of the removed skin (and likely meat, since it would need "padding". Either that, or some other material to act in the same way. Then, basically stitch the cuts back to close the costume.



                                            None of this would require very advanced technology. Just a blade like object and a tool like needle and thread. Assuming the skeleton was intelligent and logical about how it skinned the human, it could do so in such a way that all of the seems would be hidden by clothing.






                                            share|improve this answer









                                            $endgroup$









                                            • 1




                                              $begingroup$
                                              But then you have to kill a human every 3 or 4 days, because of decomposition. It's a dead body suit.
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Malkev
                                              May 13 at 13:00










                                            • $begingroup$
                                              I suppose so @Malkev, but borrowing the suggestion from other comments, at that point you might be able to get away with wearing a robe and claiming to have some illness. Could get you a little bit of time, however, having a human suit. I'm sure they had things like formaldehyde (or similar) back then. All you need is to preserve the skin, and fill the space with something slightly mushy but still somewhat firm (to replicate human meat). This preservation of the skin might keep your human-suit lasting at least a little longer.
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Ethan Manzi
                                              May 16 at 1:10
















                                            1












                                            1








                                            1





                                            $begingroup$

                                            The way I would see it is simple. Kill a human. We humans have skeletons, do we not? So, the skeleton could kill a human, remove the humans skeleton using clean cuts creating seems along the skin, lie inside of the removed skin (and likely meat, since it would need "padding". Either that, or some other material to act in the same way. Then, basically stitch the cuts back to close the costume.



                                            None of this would require very advanced technology. Just a blade like object and a tool like needle and thread. Assuming the skeleton was intelligent and logical about how it skinned the human, it could do so in such a way that all of the seems would be hidden by clothing.






                                            share|improve this answer









                                            $endgroup$



                                            The way I would see it is simple. Kill a human. We humans have skeletons, do we not? So, the skeleton could kill a human, remove the humans skeleton using clean cuts creating seems along the skin, lie inside of the removed skin (and likely meat, since it would need "padding". Either that, or some other material to act in the same way. Then, basically stitch the cuts back to close the costume.



                                            None of this would require very advanced technology. Just a blade like object and a tool like needle and thread. Assuming the skeleton was intelligent and logical about how it skinned the human, it could do so in such a way that all of the seems would be hidden by clothing.







                                            share|improve this answer












                                            share|improve this answer



                                            share|improve this answer










                                            answered May 13 at 2:56









                                            Ethan ManziEthan Manzi

                                            112




                                            112








                                            • 1




                                              $begingroup$
                                              But then you have to kill a human every 3 or 4 days, because of decomposition. It's a dead body suit.
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Malkev
                                              May 13 at 13:00










                                            • $begingroup$
                                              I suppose so @Malkev, but borrowing the suggestion from other comments, at that point you might be able to get away with wearing a robe and claiming to have some illness. Could get you a little bit of time, however, having a human suit. I'm sure they had things like formaldehyde (or similar) back then. All you need is to preserve the skin, and fill the space with something slightly mushy but still somewhat firm (to replicate human meat). This preservation of the skin might keep your human-suit lasting at least a little longer.
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Ethan Manzi
                                              May 16 at 1:10
















                                            • 1




                                              $begingroup$
                                              But then you have to kill a human every 3 or 4 days, because of decomposition. It's a dead body suit.
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Malkev
                                              May 13 at 13:00










                                            • $begingroup$
                                              I suppose so @Malkev, but borrowing the suggestion from other comments, at that point you might be able to get away with wearing a robe and claiming to have some illness. Could get you a little bit of time, however, having a human suit. I'm sure they had things like formaldehyde (or similar) back then. All you need is to preserve the skin, and fill the space with something slightly mushy but still somewhat firm (to replicate human meat). This preservation of the skin might keep your human-suit lasting at least a little longer.
                                              $endgroup$
                                              – Ethan Manzi
                                              May 16 at 1:10










                                            1




                                            1




                                            $begingroup$
                                            But then you have to kill a human every 3 or 4 days, because of decomposition. It's a dead body suit.
                                            $endgroup$
                                            – Malkev
                                            May 13 at 13:00




                                            $begingroup$
                                            But then you have to kill a human every 3 or 4 days, because of decomposition. It's a dead body suit.
                                            $endgroup$
                                            – Malkev
                                            May 13 at 13:00












                                            $begingroup$
                                            I suppose so @Malkev, but borrowing the suggestion from other comments, at that point you might be able to get away with wearing a robe and claiming to have some illness. Could get you a little bit of time, however, having a human suit. I'm sure they had things like formaldehyde (or similar) back then. All you need is to preserve the skin, and fill the space with something slightly mushy but still somewhat firm (to replicate human meat). This preservation of the skin might keep your human-suit lasting at least a little longer.
                                            $endgroup$
                                            – Ethan Manzi
                                            May 16 at 1:10






                                            $begingroup$
                                            I suppose so @Malkev, but borrowing the suggestion from other comments, at that point you might be able to get away with wearing a robe and claiming to have some illness. Could get you a little bit of time, however, having a human suit. I'm sure they had things like formaldehyde (or similar) back then. All you need is to preserve the skin, and fill the space with something slightly mushy but still somewhat firm (to replicate human meat). This preservation of the skin might keep your human-suit lasting at least a little longer.
                                            $endgroup$
                                            – Ethan Manzi
                                            May 16 at 1:10













                                            0












                                            $begingroup$

                                            Grave diggers were usually considered unclean, so people didn't have much to do with them. By day stand still and be a grave decoration, by night dig graves and chit chat with the grave digger.



                                            Be a beggar, in general wear dirty rags and hang out places, perhaps stick a dead rodent in your robes so you smell bad enough for people to not get close.






                                            share|improve this answer









                                            $endgroup$


















                                              0












                                              $begingroup$

                                              Grave diggers were usually considered unclean, so people didn't have much to do with them. By day stand still and be a grave decoration, by night dig graves and chit chat with the grave digger.



                                              Be a beggar, in general wear dirty rags and hang out places, perhaps stick a dead rodent in your robes so you smell bad enough for people to not get close.






                                              share|improve this answer









                                              $endgroup$
















                                                0












                                                0








                                                0





                                                $begingroup$

                                                Grave diggers were usually considered unclean, so people didn't have much to do with them. By day stand still and be a grave decoration, by night dig graves and chit chat with the grave digger.



                                                Be a beggar, in general wear dirty rags and hang out places, perhaps stick a dead rodent in your robes so you smell bad enough for people to not get close.






                                                share|improve this answer









                                                $endgroup$



                                                Grave diggers were usually considered unclean, so people didn't have much to do with them. By day stand still and be a grave decoration, by night dig graves and chit chat with the grave digger.



                                                Be a beggar, in general wear dirty rags and hang out places, perhaps stick a dead rodent in your robes so you smell bad enough for people to not get close.







                                                share|improve this answer












                                                share|improve this answer



                                                share|improve this answer










                                                answered May 13 at 3:10









                                                stonemetalstonemetal

                                                35814




                                                35814






























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