Bio

World History: In his medieval world, there are three gods, Orthanas, Caratus, and Rapatos, the third which is neutral in conflict between the others. He got pretty pissed off with his brother and sister eternally bringing their followers back from the dead in their never-ending conflict so he said, "Fuck this", and made the Reapers, a class of priests who reign over death. The priests in his world are obsessed with the concept of death, preparing for it, and take it as a solemn duty to administer it. Without them, no one dies permanently. To serve as one is a great honor and most never pass the trials to become one.

Among the people, Reapers are both feared and respected. Nobody is ever precisely happy to see a harbinger of death who can kill with a touch, but most recognize their importance. Since they stay neutral in the never-ending conflict between Orthanas and Caratus, they are able to move among both groups, providing care and comfort.

Personal History: Reaper Arden is an an exceedingly cheerful messenger of death. But that's not what he started out as. Arden was a normal child up until he was three years old. His parents followed Orthanas, the female goddess of Light. Then he fell into a river and drowned. Prayers to the goddess to revive him went unanswered. That would have been the end, hourglass run out, kaput. But a compassionate Reaper (too compassionate, his superiors would later say), revived him, giving him a new lease on life. His parents, in thankfulness to a god they didn't even follow, gave him to the local abbey to raise to become a Reaper. He would occasionally see them, but his new home and family were the Reapers. The Reaper who had revived him, Hythas, would take him under his wing as his apprentice. Hythas was kind, patient, withdrawn, and quiet, really the perfect and stereotypical Reaper. He became both father figure and friend to the young boy.

From the very start, Arden was one to ask questions and take his duties as a potential Reaper even as a child very seriously. On the other hand, he was boisterous, loud, and friendly, the type to always run when he could just walk, singing loudly out in the gardens, and never being on time when morning prayers had begun, traits that his superiors hoped he would grow out of. It didn't really work out that way, for he kept them even into adulthood, but what kept Arden from being tossed out on the streets as a complete failure was the fact he was extremely spiritual as well. His duties were the one thing he did take seriously above all else and he had a sense of great compassion towards those suffering. The abilities that he would use as a Reaper were highly developed by the time he was a young teenager and still only an apprentice known as a Dealer (short for Death-Dealer), something unusual among the priests. Of course, as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. Having power over life and death at such a young age meant he was extremely cloistered within the abbey so that he would learn to use them with temperance. After all, most teenagers could barely make logical decisions by themselves. How could one who could kill a man with a touch be expected to know how to use that power correctly? He rarely saw those besides his fellow acolytes, priests, and those who came seeking death.

It made for a man who became an extremely friendly, if slightly naive Reaper when he finally passed his trials in his late twenties. There was some grumbling among other acolytes that Hythas, who by now was in running to become the next Abbott, had influenced the priests to officially grant the title on Arden. He was bothered by the rumors, but focused instead on his duties, mostly which consisted of granting the gift of death to those who sought it out.

While Hythas didn't agree he was favoring his former pupil, he did think that Arden needed to experience more of the world. So out he went on a walkabout at age thirty, really for the first time all on his own, and most reluctantly at that. Indeed, Hythas flat out had to order him to leave the abbey. He was both terrified and excited at finally being among the people whose conflict had shaped so much of his life. Life on the outside was harder than he expected and the cruelty of those fighting in the war of the gods shocked him at first. But once he started to learn the ropes of his world, Arden found his niche in doling out death to those who deserved it. He became known as a compassionate, cheerful soul to those who needed to pass on gently, but a grim, foreboding presence to those who had been wicked or cruel in life. He's been on the road almost two years now and has at least three more before he goes back to the abbey.

Appearance: Tall, dark, and handsome, with light colored eyes. Hair is cut a little longer than he likes (he's a bit lazy when it comes to personal appearance) and the bangs fall a little into his eyes. Prefers to wear black clothing and gloves at all times. Has a spider web tattoo on the back of one hand. Definitely not one would expect to look a reaper to look like, though it becomes more obvious when his spiritual side comes out.

Personality: He's almost always cheerful and smiling, though when he gets grim, he can get downright scary. He's quick to laugh and tries to get along with just about everyone he meets. He's definitely an extrovert and thrives best when he's around people. Arden is an eternal optimist and thinks that people have the ability to do the most extraordinary things. He's a take charge sort of fellow and tends to boss people around without realizing it until someone points it out.

He's a good listener and makes for an excellent therapist to those that need someone to tell their troubles to. His patience level is pretty high, though that's an ability that's been acquired instead of just being innate. As a priest, he's used to people using him as their confidante and has heard his fair share of deathbed confessions. Despite his normal energy levels, he can tone it down, and project a calm air that's relaxing and soothing.

Arden is a little naive about the world around him and far too trusting. Even now, he expects the best out of people, and when they don't live up to their potential, he's usually disappointed in them. He's got a certain level of wit, but he rarely gets biting or sarcastic unless he's tired, or even more rarely, angry. Basically, he's a perky goth about 800 years ahead of his time.

Abilities: Death's sight. Able to see an hourglass (or whatever equivalent the person instinctively thinks of to keep time) above people's heads that tells him how much longer they have to live. Learning how predict accurately how much time a person has left is a greater skill than the magical ability itself. His eyes glow a little when he uses this ability.

Touch of death. Something that he uses only under the most serious circumstances. The priests consider this to be an act of mercy, either to relieve someone of their suffering or to send them onto the afterlife to prevent them from causing others to suffer. The ability takes years to master and the way it works entirely depends upon the judgment the Reapers pass upon the person who is dying. Those who have lived a good life feel next to nothing or even a feeling of bliss as their souls leave their bodies. The wicked feel a tearing and ripping pain make its way through them until their souls are torn out by force. It's the only permanent way to kill someone in his world.

Touch of life. Since there must be balance, the priests can also bring someone back from death. This isn't a ticket to immortality, but an extension on the hourglass of life. It doesn't always work, for their god has to give them the okay to do it, and sometimes he just agrees someone's ticket is up.

Sensing death. Rather like a sixth sense and described as feeling like an itch in the back of the brain, the Reapers are drawn to areas where death is going to happen. Sometimes it's obvious like a battlefield or a hospital, other times it takes a surprising form. (Why am I standing right outside this building....oh dear, someone just jumped. Sigh.)

Quarterstaff skills. Since Hythas figured he had to get out energy some way as a kid, he taught him how to use a quarterstaff as a weapon starting when he was a small child. Now in his thirties, he's become quite proficient with it, though he'll never be a master fighter. Mostly it's just used to defend against suspicious villagers who think he's a messenger of death.