Reaper

Another rush of cold wind broke my thoughts. Zelfree’s expression hardened as he glanced toward the courtyard door. A second later, it flew open, and a man stepped out. Not an inn attendant or anyone from the Frith Guild—an arcanist followed by a floating cloak, chains, and scythe.

A reaper arcanist.

Everyone stopped their sorcery and stared.

The chill intensified, and I gritted my teeth to keep them from chattering. It reminded me of Fain’s wendigo magic. Icy. Unforgiving. I swear the sunlight over the courtyard dimmed, though that didn’t bother me as much as the cold.

,,,

The cloak floated in place without a visible body, just like Luthair. No face. No hands. The scythe moved as if it were held, and the chains hung from a nonexistent waist. And just like Luthair, when the reaper spoke, its voice had a dark, almost hollow, tone.

“A pleasure to meet you,” Ruin said.

The scythe had an ebony handle and a rusted blade. Or maybe it wasn’t rust. I couldn’t tell. The blade curved out wide, at least two feet in length, and it shone in the lowlight of the morning.

The empty hood turned from side to side, as if “glancing” around the courtyard, but it was like watching a ghost inside a sheet. Nothing there.

## Reaper

Tier 1-4 (depending on the amount of arcanists killed)

Reproduction: Fable. Born when the blood of a thousand people is spilled across one acre.

Trial of Worth: Killing a blood relative

Reapers are considered “bad luck” in most civilizations throughout history. The requirements for their birth are unknown, but they only tend to appear after long years of war or famine, which is why they carry such a negative reputation. Reapers are hollow beasts that merge with their arcanist for more power and tend to have abilities that stun, disable, and disrupt magic, especially healing. If a reaper kills an arcanist, its magical capacity is increased, though the benefits are less with each subsequent murder unless the arcanist is stronger than the last.

Grim Reapers are a variant species who appear as a much more powerful version of a reaper; Grim Reapers can be picked apart from their weaker counterparts by the fact that they appear as an executioner's cowl and gloves wielding an executioner's axe that kills with just one slice.

True Form: Geas- They have to complete their *chain of life*, by killing many, many people. Their scythe becomes increasingly intricate and their chains transform into ghostly lanterns, and their cloak emanates abyssal magic.

### Magics:

Evocation: Terrors

Manipulation: Blood (often in the form of telekinetically controlled flying darts or blades)

Augmentation: Blood-Stepping, traveling through sizeable puddles of blood, acts like portals as opposed to a travel medium, when used on themselves. When used on others they grant immunity to fear effects.

Passives: Immunity to terrors. "The King's Revenge": anyone who deals a finishing blow to a reaper (grim or otherwise) will die in return, usually immediately.

Aura: Anemia aura: Prevents healing, old wounds slowly reopen causing enemies to bleed out, this blood can now aid in the reaper's manipulation.

(Note: Reapers have many superficial similarities to knightmares. These coincidences include their appearance as an empty garment/ armor, a shared evocation as well as similar abilities and limits. Example: A reaper must have adequate blood in the area to manipulate into what they desire just as a knightmare can manipulate larger shadow objects is the area is darker.)

Notable reaper arcanists.

* Jevel Balestier
* Councilor Chandra
* Dread Pirate "Redbeard"