Wraith Reaper

A wraith reaper is one of the many undead creatures that stalk the living across the Voidrealms. These malevolent, shadowy figures are a twisted nightmare, a pale reflection of who they were in life. They burn with a hatred for the living and crave nothing more than to feast on a victim’s life energy and chaotic potential.

Anyone consumed by these foul spirits wither, then rises the next night as another of their foul kind. Naturally, if these creatures are left to roam near a town or city, they will quickly form a pack and smother the settlement in haunted darkness.

Foul Origins

There are many myths and legends around the first wraith reapers and their origins. Some suggest that the fiends are what remain of homicidal killers who couldn’t give up their thirst for murder after they died. But there are other legends, older ones, that tell a different story.

These tales state that the first wraith reapers were dryads, guardian spirits of the Shroomwild and the Evertree, that failed to protect it. When the Evertree shattered along with the Voidrealms, it ripped dryads that survived the chaos from the Shroomwild. Those torn spirits were infected with primal chaos and pure undead negative energy, then left to prey on the living; condemned to walk the worlds, ever hungry for life.

Now, wraith reapers come from different sources. Most are innocent victims of older wraith reapers. Others are summoned by wizards using the smoke-quartz crystals of necromancy. A rare few are simply homicidal killers who couldn’t give up their lust for murder after their own death.

No matter their origins, wraith reapers are one of the more persistent and deadly threats that face lands across the Voidrealms.

Anatomy

Wraith reapers are a cloak-draped mockery of who they were in life, no matter if Sow Terrans, Felox, Thri’zel, or Terrans. They have shadowy, smoke-like forms that wear what look to be robes of solid darkness. Beneath those robes they are spectral beings with ghastly dead-white skin and solid black eyes and clawed hands.

Even if they come from different sources, they all share common traits. First is their glowing, pale white-green scythe. This deadly weapon is their primary weapon of choice. Enchanted, the creature’s connection to the realms of death fuels it. They use this weapon to stun potential victims, as a successful hit with the blade releases raw negative death energy. Each hit slows a victim down, making them easier prey.

For reasons no one understands, if a wraith reaper is destroyed, its scythe remains intact. But the weapon is fused with undead energy. Therefore, anyone living who would try to use it would need iron willpower to survive. Otherwise, the undead magics would try to kill the person immediately.

The next common feature would be the fiend’s arms. All wraith reapers have four arms, even if they only had two in life. Sorcerers believe this is a connection to the first wraith reapers who were described with four arms; a twisted mockery of Shroomwild dryads. Wraith reapers are equally dextrous with all four arms, able to defend and attack a victim at the same time. But the reason for those arms isn’t combat, it’s for feeding.

All wraith reapers have a hinged jaw and multiple rows of teeth. Once they can grapple a victim, a wraith reaper will latch onto them with this sucker mouth full of teeth. Then they will drain out the victim’s life essence, killing them. After that, the victim becomes another of their foul kind.

Hard to Kill

No matter what, these shadowy undead are difficult to destroy. They are semi-solid at best, so most ordinary physical attacks will not hurt them. Only ancient light-based technology, enchanted weapons, wizard spells, or similar magic can harm them. Once destroyed, the wraith reaper’s body crumbles to a fine powder that is highly prized by most wizards for its magical properties.

Wraith Reaper by JJ Kirby

Lifespan

Undead. Ageless until physically destroyed.

Average Height

Varies

Average Weight

Varies

Average Length

Varies

Geographic Distribution

Dark ruins or other desolate locations such as the dead cities in the Cursed Plains of Ba'bonos or Ironmesa island on Sow Terra

A Risky Proposition

The common view toward wraith reapers is to destroy them once an infestation is uncovered. Since, if left alone, they can overwhelm an area. But some see personal profit among the destruction.

There are those few brave or foolish souls that capture a wraith reaper for their own ends. Wizards, or those lucky few who have uncovered ancient, powerful devices, are the only ones who manage this dangerous feat. Some use the captured fiend as a bodyguard or personal assassin. This rarely turns out well for the ‘owner’, since eventually the creature turns on its master at the first opportunity.

Wraith reapers that escape captivity often leave the area to resume hunting. But there are stories of a rare few who chose another path. One legend suggests once the wraith reaper killed their captor, the creature took over a Boon estate on Ba’bonos at the edge of the Cursed Plains. If the story is true, that wraith reaper rules that estate and surrounding land with an iron fist in a velvet, shadowy glove.