Reaper

[Hugo Fowl]

Name

J. Milton AKA The Reaper

 

 

 

OOC History

An anti-hero of a sort.

 

Personality

He's a quiet man who is trying to work out his redemption through his actions.

 

Fictional Character Biography

My story.....Is not a pretty one. I was once a soldier for another nation, fighting against the American troops that ravaged my country. We lost the war, and afterward I wandered the globe, attempting by my paltry means to wreak havoc upon that decadent country. Some time after that I came upon a man who introduced himself as merely "Doll-boy". Despite my skepticism, he weaved such a web of honeyed lies and half-truths that I was caught firmly. We set out together and founded the organization known in frighted whispers as UNlife. Or as it would soon be more widely known, as Anti-Life. Fitting, now that I think upon it But the man was a monster beneath that smiling facade. I uncovered his plans to plunge the world into a apocalyptic nightmare and confronted him about it. Stupid of me. He threw me over to his monsters and I barely escaped with my life that day. Although....I did not leave empty-handed. There is a formula that cannot be achieved through science alone, but through magic. If Hugo le Foles plan ever came to fruition, then Hell itself would be unleashed upon our world. No soul would survive and the earth would be given over to the dead alone. That part of his plan I stole, and am now on the run from an enemy whom I thought a friend and an organization that I helped found. The irony is not lost on me.

It was then that my luck began to change for the better. I had heard of a certain tomb of a knight who fought monsters, but became a monster himself in the end. Out of a professional curiosity, I decided to check it out. It was on display in New York and as I examined it, I felt a certain....Attraction if such be the right word. I was compelled to this thing and as I touched it, I thought I heard a voice call out to me. "COME AND SEE." The next day, I awoke in my room with no memory of the previous evening. I was sure I didn't indulge. The formula was still in its place, but something was different. It was me. Somehow, I don't know how, I gained the abilities to SEE life itself. Around infants it was especially bright. Like a dazzling display of light and laughter as they came into the world. For others such as the elderly and the sick, their aura was weak and pitiful to behold. As the embers of a fire are all that remains of a once mighty conflagration. I didn't understand.

 

"IT IS NOT MEANT FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND."

 

As I look up, the visage of Death itself stared back at me. I was relieved. "So you've finally come for me?" He shook his ponderous head.

 

"NO."

 

My confusion must have been apparent as Death elaborated for me.

 

"THERE IS A TASK THAT FALLS TO YOU. AN ABOMINATION THAT NEEDS BE DESTROYED. ONE WHO UPSETS THE BALANCE OF LIFE AND DEATH."

 

His stare though unseen seems to intensify and I look away in shame.

 

"YOU KNOW OF WHOM I SPEAK."

 

I nod. With a wave of his hand, I catch a glimpse of my tormentor, but he is not alone. In some cave somewhere, he surrounds himself with beings of great power and prestige. The reek of their evil pervades my very being, far as I am from them. I look upon Death and he holds out his hand.

 

"WILL YOU TAKE UPON THIS TASK? WILL YOU BECOME MY AVATAR UPON THIS WORLD? WILL YOU SERVE?"

 

My answer is to grasp his hand. He nods in acceptance and as he does, power flows from him to me and as I writhe in pain he speaks to me.

 

"THEN ARISE MY BRAVE ONE. ARISE AND ENDURE MY NEWEST REAPER, FOR YOU HAVE CHOSEN DEATH."

 

As I succumb to my pain, the last thing I hear are his words.

 

"-AND HELL WILL FOLLOW AFTER."

 

Now, I have become Death that I may preserve Life. I have become a Reaper, that I may harvest the Souls that seek to cheat my Master. Starting with Doll-Boy and his Dark Council. This is my story. This is why I fight. I....AM.....THE REAPER!

 

 

.....And Hell will follow after.

 

 

The Quick & Dirty Description

After accepting a deal with Death to become his enforcer, Milton has become a Reaper. One of Deaths physical representations on Earth to ensure balance. This grants him a fair amount of power, though he isn't invulnerable to everything and will eventually when his task is done, be personally claimed by his Master. To his mind, this is a fair penance for the lives he took and for the sins which he committed "for the greater good."

 

 

Powers and Abilities

 

Teleportation: Death is everywhere and nowhere and the same holds true for his agents. Whenever a person dies, it emits a pulse of energy that acts as a beacon for his powers and draws him to that person. This ability CAN be blocked however, if one knows the right spells. Tied up with this is the ability to cross over into other realms, which is a need considering who his Master is.

 

Invisibility: When he wants, he can remove himself from the gaze of mortal beings and their technology and can extend that ability to those who are within his space.

 

Invulnerability: Physical weapons of any kind have no effect whatsoever on him. If you fight with Death, a special kind of weapon is needed.

 

Mental Abilities: To those who try to invade his mind, they will only find the void. It has reduced certain psychics to insanity and serves as an excellent deterrent to those who wish to try. It also helps him to inspire fear into his opponents as he pervades their minds and dredge up secrets that are exposed to Death.

 

Enhanced Strength/Agility: Comparable strength and agility to say.....Cloud of FFVII.

 

Equipment

 

The sword Tyrfing: A blade favored of Death and capable of bypassing any shield. But it will eventually turn on the owner.

 

The Pale Horse: One of the Steeds of Death that can go anywhere its chosen rider wishes to go.

 

Stygian Armour: A Reapers Armour capable of surviving most occult attacks and in certain cases, reflecting them back.

 

 

So, good or bad? And if bad, how can I change this? I'm trying a little harder now.

[Guest Kinetic War]

Someone's bound to pick this one apart and analyze it in more detail, but I think you still haven't quite grasped the idea of making a real personality for your character.

 

He's a quiet man who is trying to work out his redemption through his actions.

 

That's a very basic description of the character, not a personality. Granted, an avatar of death may be very driven and have few hobbies, but to make him an interesting character, you'll need something else besides his powers and a story. Again, try to flesh it out. He's quiet, okay. That's fair, considering all he's been through. But what makes him quiet? Is he absent-minded, living inside his head most of the time, going over his mistakes, pondering on his next move? Or is it personal preference? Does he feel silence is gold, and deem talking unnecessary without actions? He doesn't really strike me as being shy, but that's one possibility. He could be mute as well.

 

What were the character's motivations to join le Fole? What inner desires did the observant psychopath find that he could use to make him a follower? Where did said desires come from? Why did Reaper help founding such an organization as UNlife, and what kept him from seeing the real monster behind the mask of the charming, persuasive fellow for so long? That said, I like the fact that your character is a pretty average guy with no genius intellect or strong personal morals that would have kept him from joining le Fole in the first place.

 

For the redemption part, that one's a classic. A well-written story of a man realizing the error of his ways and going as far as selling his soul in order to make up for his mistakes can be powerful and dramatic. Seems Reaper was an inherently decent but ultimately quite naive person, who got manipulated by a very evil man. How did this affect his worldview? Does he trust anyone anymore, or is he beyond socializing altogether? How has the change into the Reaper affected him as a human being in general? How are his human personality traits responding to being a pawn of an eternal force? Does he ever have regrets, and wish he could have his old life back?

 

An otherworldly character needs a whole lot of good writing to make him work. Try making him more human to justify his status as an independent character instead of just a spooky guy in the background.

 

You may have given your character too great powers to start with, though I'm not an expert on the subject.

 

I don't really have much room to criticize, being a newbie on the FPL myself, but those are my two cents.