(last updated: 08/05/21)To most of the world, the Skull Heart is nothing more than a myth -- and some would rather keep it that way. Of course, the Skull Heart really does exist -- a powerful, semi-sentient magical artifact that grants a wish to a woman once every seven years, at the cost of her own mortality.
The Skull Heart's boon comes with some pretty powerful strings attached, tied to the "purity" of the woman's intentions. A clouded heart wishing for peace might be warped into a call for war. A vain plea for eternal youth may invoke a curse upon the recipient.
And, over and above those consequences, there is also the darker cost of entering a contract with the Skull Heart. That is, after making a wish, the champion's body, mind, and soul will be transformed into that of the undead Skullgirl. The Skullgirl's power comes hand-in-hand with dominion over the undead.
It has been suggested that the artifact was created by a group of three known as the Trinity, though these mysterious creators are tougher to track down than the Skull Heart itself. Though, considering the fel nature of the artifact and its undead-controlling powers, it's possible that the Trinity's motives may be in question.
In recent years, two principal families have come into dispute over the Skull Heart -- the Renoir Family and the Medici Mafia. Their rivalry has been largely kept off the records though by a group known as "Lab Eight." Led by Dr. Avian, the group is committed to keeping information about the Skull Heart stricken from public awareness. There are rumors that Lab Eight may be a side project of the Novus Orbis Librarium, though with that in mind, it's unclear if Lab Eight wishes to destroy the artifact as they say -- or to claim it for their own.
See also: SKULLGIRLS CHALLENGES