Editing Skeleton Knight

{{Infobox character
| main             = Roman Goodwin
| defaultsort      = no
| image            = Rudger Skeleton Knight.jpg
| en_name          = Roman Goodwin
| ja_trans_name    = Rudger Goodwin
| other_names      = Skeleton Knight
| ja_name          = ルドガー・ゴドウィン
| romaji_name      = Rudogā Godowin
| gender           = Male
| age              = Unknown
| height           = 189 cm
| birthdate        = December 14
| relatives        = 
* [[Ix Quic Goodwin]] (adoptive older sister)
* [[Rex Goodwin (manga)|Rex Goodwin]] (adoptive younger brother)
* [[Jack Atlas (manga)|Jack Atlas]] (nephew)
| organization     = [[Skeleton Knight's Crusade]]
| manga_deck       = [[Hellfire]]   
| manga_debut      = {{chapter|Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|1|ref}}
| appears_in_manga = ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's (manga)|Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's]]''
}}

'''Roman Goodwin''', known as '''Rudger Goodwin''' (ルドガー・ゴドウィン, ''Rudogā Godowin'') in the Japanese version, is a character from the [[Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's (manga)|''Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's'' manga]] and initially the main antagonist. He is the brother of [[Rex Goodwin (manga)|Rex Goodwin]] and also goes by the alter ego, the '''Skeleton Knight''' (骸骨騎士, ''Gaikotsu Kishi''), a being from an urban legend.

When a Duelist claps their cards together at sunset, the Skeleton Knight is said to appear and give them rare cards.<ref name="r 1">{{chapter|Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|1|ref}}</ref> However, this is a trap; the cards that they are given, the "[[Duel Dragon]]" cards, eventually take over and corrupt them, making them loyal minions to Roman. Roman's ultimate plan is to conduce the [[Festival of Duality]] along with his brother, [[Rex Goodwin (manga)|Rex Goodwin]]; however, unlike Rex, who desires the power of the [[Ultimate God]], Roman's goal is to free Rex from the control of the Ultimate God's dark miasma and save him.

==Biography==
===History===
Roman was originally a nameless boy living on the Ican streets with his brother, 5000 years before the events of the manga. He and his brother were caught stealing food, but they were saved by [[Ix Quic Goodwin|Ish Kiq Goodwin]], who took them home and adopted them, serving as their foster sister and mother and gave them their names: Roman and Rex Goodwin. Roman and Rex grew to respect Ish for her superior skills as a [[Duel Priestess]], and Roman eventually developed apparent feelings for her.<ref name="ch50">{{chapter|Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|50|ref}}</ref>  

Roman rushed home one day to see Ish dressed in her new clothes for the [[Festival of Duality]], having been chosen as the Duel Priestess. But tragedy struck when Ish fell victim to the ritual. Her wish had been for Rex and Roman to train as Duel Priests, and after the answers that the village council gave the brothers didn't satisfy them, they decided to conduct the Festival themselves. Roman had heard legends of the [[Ultimate God]] granting a single wish to at the end of the ritual, which they planned to use to revive Ish. 

Years later, the brothers, now the high Priests of the Northern and Southern Skies, were finally ready to enact their plans. Roman had doubts about involving the [[Akiza's predecessor|the current Duel Priestess]] in their plans, but Rex chastised him for getting cold feet. Their plan succeeded, and Roman traversed the Corridor of the Northern Sky in the [[Aerial Fortress Seibal]]. Seeing a Shadow Miasma gathering in the [[Machine Temple]] at the center, he realized that it was the sealed power of the Ultimate God and wondered if they could truly control it. He then saw Rex fighting Ish, both of them under the influence of the Shadow Miasma. Rex gained an advantage and prepared to stab her with the lance that Roman would later wield himself, but Roman threw himself in the way of the lance, and both of them were impaled. Ish returned to normal after Roman confessed that he loved her, begging him to save Rex, who too had fallen prey to the Ultimate God's darkness.<ref name="ch50">{{chapter|Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|50|ref}}</ref>  

===Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's===
[[File:Human Rudger manga.jpg|thumb|Skeleton Knight's human form: Roman]]
After [[Sect Ijuin]] lost to [[Yusei Fudo (manga)|Yusei Fudo]] in a factory in [[Satellite]], he held his cards up to the sunset, clasped them together and prayed for cards to help him beat Yusei.<ref name="r 1" /> Roman, in the form of the Skeleton Knight, appeared on an altar which had not been there before and took Sect captive. Yusei demanded that he give Sect back, but the skeleton challenged Yusei to a Duel.<ref name="r 1" /> He is defeated when Yusei breaks the pipe he was running along, causing him to get disqualified for stopping. After losing, he starts to disappear, but asks Yusei his name before totally vanishing.<ref>{{chapter|Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|4|ref}}</ref>

While Sect is in the [[Puzzle Hospital|hospital]], he appears to him in a dream. According to the ancient edicts, the knight says that he shall grant Sect's wish. When Sect wakes-up, he finds himself holding a card: A Level 8 Monster Card, named [[Archfiend Dragon Beelze (manga)|Archfiend Dragon Beelze]]".<ref>{{chapter|Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|8|ref}}</ref>

The Skeleton Knight later appears behind Yusei whilst he is Turbo Dueling against [[Hunter Pace (manga)|Hunter Pace]], as one of his servants, Sect was currently being infected by one of his dark cards, which Yusei along with the other [[Priests of Light|Duel Priest reincarnations]] could feel.<ref name="ch16">{{chapter|Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|16|ref}}</ref>

[[File:Skeleton horseman.jpg|thumb|left|The Skeleton Knight on [[D-Horse|his horse]]]]
During Sect and [[Jack Atlas (manga)|Jack Atlas]]'s Duel, the Skeleton Knight interrupts the Duel by bursting out of the ocean on his altar and salvaging Sect before he lost to Jack. He then reveals that he and Sect are involved within an evil, dark cult known as the [[Skeleton Knight's Crusade]], which consist of several Duelists who wished for cards from the Skeleton Knight. These members all follow his commands and consider the Signers their enemies. He then disappears with Sect, leaving Yusei and Jack shocked at the events that just occurred.<ref name="ch21">{{chapter|Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|21|ref}}</ref>

Skeleton Knights's plans are later revealed to involve the "[[Ultimate God]]", which he plans to resurrect in the [[Aerial Fortress Seibal]].<ref name="ch34">{{chapter|Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|34|ref}}</ref>

Meeting Rex Goodwin inside the Duel Gate, both discuss their past and how they failed to complete the [[Festival of Duality]] years ago but now they will finish it today. After summoning their respective representatives Sect and [[Akiza Izinski (manga)|Akiza]], the Skeleton Knight proceeds to watch the duel between them.<ref name="ch40">{{chapter|Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|40|ref}}</ref> When Sect summons "[[Beelzeus of the Diabolic Dragons]]" in the climax of his duel, the Knight congratulates him for mastering the powers of darkness and tells him to rise to the pinnacle of darkness. Following Sect's victory over Akiza, the Knight leaves with Sect into the Aerial Fortress Seibal.<ref name="ch42">{{chapter|Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|42|ref}}</ref> 

Encountering Yusei in the Northern Sky Corridor, The Skeleton Knight explains to Yusei about what happened to Sect and Akiza and what he must do in order to reach them. Noting that he lost the last time they met, the Knight makes sure that it won't happen the same way again.<ref name="ch45">{{chapter|Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|45|ref}}</ref> Yusei is eventually able to defeat "[[Underworld Dragon Dragonecro (manga)|Underworld Dragon Dragonecro]]" and the Skeleton Knight complimented him on his growth, wondering if Sect's situation had drawn out his power.<ref name="ch48">{{chapter|Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|48|ref}}</ref>  He decided to unleash his full power, bringing out "[[Underworld Flood Dragon Dragocutos (manga)|Underworld Flood Dragon Dragocutos]]" and almost defeating Yusei, but Yusei was able to hold on with "[[Stardust Spark Dragon (manga)|Stardust Spark Dragon]]."<ref name="ch49">{{chapter|Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|49|ref}}</ref>  The Skeleton Knight ended his turn, poised to win on his next turn with the effect of "Dragocutos," but Yusei was able to defeat him by combining "Stardust's" effect with "[[Phoenix Battle Wings]]." Impressed by Yusei, claiming that he was indeed the warrior that he'd recognized, the Skeleton Knight took his loss gratefully.<ref name="ch50">{{chapter|Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|50|ref}}</ref>  Afterwards, Yusei asked the Knight what he'd seen in his memories. Roman revealed his name and his history with Ish and Rex, and begged Yusei to save Rex if [[Jack Atlas (manga)|Jack]] could not. The Machine Temple began to collapse, and Roman mused that it had been worth waiting 5000 years for a warrior like Yusei. Roman died in the wreckage, content with the knowledge that he had passed on Ish's last request to the next warrior and reunited with Ish's spirit at last.<ref name="ch51">{{chapter|Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|51|ref}}</ref>

==Deck==
Roman uses a '''"[[Hellfire]]" Deck''' focused on his "[[Duel Dragon]]", "[[Underworld Dragon Dragonecro (manga)|Underworld Dragon Dragonecro]]". He also utilizes several cards to protect it, such as "[[Hellfire Veil]]" and "[[Spectral Ice Floe]]".

{{Manga card list |
* Hellfire Boat Guard - Ghost Charon
* Hellfire Dragon, Ghost Wyvern
* Hellfire Sleeping Beauty, Ghost Sleeper
* Hellfire Spearman Ghost Lancer
* Underworld Dragon Dragonecro (manga)
* Underworld Flood Dragon Dragocutos (manga)
* Ghost Fusion (manga)
* Hellfire Veil
* Spectral Ice Floe
* Phantom Effect
}}

==Duels==
{| class="wikitable card-list"
|-
! scope="col" | Opponent(s)
! scope="col" | Ride(s)
! scope="col" | Outcome
|-
| [[Yusei Fudo (manga)|Yusei Fudo]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's - Ride 002|2]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's - Ride 004|4]] || Lose
|-
| [[Yusei Fudo (manga)|Yusei Fudo]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's - Ride 048|48]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's - Ride 050|50]] || Lose
|-
|}

==References==
<references />

{{Roman Goodwin pages}}
{{Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's (manga) characters}}

[[Category:Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's characters]]