Skutloid
Commander Skutloid was an Ice Warrior and head of the Strategic Institute at St Oscar's University.
Biography
Early life
Skutloid came from Neo Ares. At battle school, he and his peers played through the scenarios of the Gamalian Gambit, which his tutor called "Gamaliel's last stratagem". (PROSE: Dragons' Wrath)
Skutloid was transported to a commandeered Jarrard cruiser when he was a subaltern. During his glory days as a warrior, he fought in the war during which the Medusa was launched and befriended Irving Braxiatel, (PROSE: The Medusa Effect) who would later say that he owed Skutloid his life several times over. (PROSE: Tears of the Oracle)
Retirement
Following his retirement, Skutloid became head of the Strategic Institute at St Oscar's University and was reunited with Braxiatel, who gave him such tasks as making stray cruisers disappear and supplying mercenaries for secret missions. (PROSE: Dragons' Wrath) Because of his expertise, he was one of the few outsiders to be invited to the Advanced Research Department where he befriended Maryann Decleiter. (PROSE: The Medusa Effect)
In 2593, Braxiatel invited Skutloid to his rooms to ask about what the Gamalian Gambit actually was, but he did not have an answer. If he did know what the gambit was, he said, he would have used it to take over that area of space. (PROSE: Dragons' Wrath)
Skutloid was suspicious of Taffeta Graize's motives for wanting to investigate the Medusa and was upset by the death of Maryann, whose casket he buried. He privately shared his concerns with Bernice Summerfield and the two of them went to Braxiatel for information on the ship. Later, he helped Benny, Braxiatel and Stuart Stonely break into the ARD to confront Graize and allowed Stuart to escape after killing her in a fit of rage. (PROSE: The Medusa Effect)
Death
Skutloid, Drexton and Garshal protected the people inside the Advanced Research Department from the religious fanatics, believing themselves to be protected by alpha-wave suppressors which were actually a placebo. When Skutloid realised that Santos Silvera too was infected, he defied him and sent a message to Braxiatel asking for help in getting himself, Drexton and Garshal off-world. The message was heard by Joseph, who then came to find him.
Whilst waiting for Braxiatel, Skutloid and his comrades fought against Silvera's men. They were joined by Benny and Braxiatel, who helped them escape the ARD and get to their spaceship, but Drexton sacrificed himself on the journey after being mortally wounded. Skutloid too was injured and died aboard the ship after returning Joseph to Benny. Because of Skutloid's belief in Neo-Aretian superstition, Braxiatel gave him a coin for the Journeyman. (PROSE: Tears of the Oracle)
Personality
Skutloid was prone to sarcastic tirades (PROSE: Dragons' Wrath) but was honourable, loyal and superstitious. (PROSE: Tears of the Oracle) He enjoyed eating mint chocolate (PROSE: Dragons' Wrath) and drinking tea. (PROSE: Dragons' Wrath, The Medusa Effect)
