The Reaper, God of Death and Mercy, is an inevitable presence in Elandra that touches all lives in time. They are neither cruel nor wish for deaths as The Reaper does not seek to hasten or delay the end, only to ensure that all is as it must be when it comes. They are the quiet hand that guides souls to their next destination, ensuring all things come to their rightful conclusion. The Reaper as a concept may seem intimidating to some, but those who have encountered them understand they have a patience and gentleness that comforts those they come to collect.
Symbols – The Hourglass, The Skull
Tenets of the Reaper
- All things end – Life, like all things not divine, has it’s time. Do not seek to unnaturally delay or hasten the end, but accept The Reaper’s outstretched hand when it is right.
- Grief is natural, but life must continue – Mourn those who pass in your way, but do not let grief consume you. The best way to honour the dead is to live.
- Bring mercy where it is needed – Suffering without purpose is a cruelty. Do not treat it lightly but where pain lingers without hope, offer the kindness of The Reaper’s embrace.
Aspects of the Reaper
The Figure
Be it a shadowy shape in the corner of the room as you say goodbye to the passing of a friend, a familiar face looking over you as life begins to leave you or a hooded robed skeleton walking through a battlefield touching each fallen adventurer. Usually silent and watchful, its eyes seem to pierce the very fabric of your being and those that meet its gaze feel at ease. Some that have felt or seen this figure say that within a moment all the pain seemed to have stopped and they felt at peace.
The Omen
A figure that often appears before what may become a site of great death. This figure is hard to pin down throughout history but through a mix of story and record people and the occasional message from the god itself, the Reaper has appeared in this Aspect before times of great tragedy bound not to interfere but only to witness.
The Pupil
The Reaper in its whole form has no comprehension of life, only that it must end at some point. This Pupil is a rare form, it is the Reaper’s fascination in the mortal realm and this aspect is always questioning, usually on how people feel about loss or the end of something and why it makes them feel that way. If satisfied with the teachings, the Reaper in this form has been known to give the would-be teacher a gift. Some have mentioned a warning of their own end so they can avoid it just the once.