Reaper Customs

All races have many unique customs, peculiarities of their culture, history, and way of life that are specific to them and their sense of racial identity. This article lists some that are unique to the Reaper line, in no particular order.
For more basic information about the Reaper line, see Reapers.

Traditional Regalia

Reapers wear clothing of their own making, following some basic similarities but subtly customized to each individual's preferences. Crucially, their outfits are made via magic; their clothing is formed from shadow, and while it's tangible and solid it can be formed and reformed at will. This is a matter of practicality, meaning that they don't need to deal with the occupational hazards of torn clothing, bloodstains, or general dirt and wear. It also meets the needs of shapeshifting, and can accommodate smaller features like wings or the fullbody transformation of the Hidewalker's Gift.
Reaper's clothing is traditionally close-fitting boots, pants, a shirt and some sort of mantled cloak. All garments are uniformly black or charcoal gray except for stark red ribbons that they wear trailing from the elbows or wrists. Along with the pendant they wear that connects them to Fate, their key colors are gold, black, and red and represent the trio of the Great Gods; gold for Alarand and fate, black for Lore and shadows, and red for Siarus and the blood or mortality.
The Reaper's pendant is the one truly physical item that the Reaper wears, and they never take it off whether it's worn over or under the clothes. It's a simple black stone in a silver setting, hung on a thin chain, and has a flaw of bright yellow/gold crystal across the surface of the stone that will sometimes shine with light when in strong connection with their god. The Reaper's pendant links them to Fate and allows them to directly communicate, but it also forms the conduit through which Fate's power flows. In their early years this can provide the power the Reaper needs to maintain their new abilities, but once their own reserves of power grow enough sustain themselves it becomes something they only need to draw on when channeling larger amounts of divine energy.

The Red Blade

The Red Blade is a potent magical weapon belonging to the Reaper line, and crucial to their role of dispatching the fate-dead. It can be summoned or dismissed at will by the Reaper, and typically takes the form of a dagger whose blade has a reddish ting. It can be reshaped to a certain degree as needed, sometimes used as a sword instead, but the hereditary proficiency and muscle memory that each Reaper inherits means that far more prefer to use it in its traditional form.
Most individuals, when they die, rely on the presence of one of Siarus's servants to guide them to the afterlife; the fate-dead are crucially lacking this guidance, leaving them unable to properly complete their natural life cycle. The Red Blade solves this problem by having the ability to send a soul directly to the afterlife. It can do so violently by scoring a killing blow with its blade, but also has the option to do so peacefully by having an individual willingly offer their blood to the black stone set on the stone's pommel. Reapers make good use of both.

The Hidewalker's Gift

Considered by many to be the Reaper's strongest ability short of directly channeling Fate's power, the Hidewalker's Gift is the name of the monstrous second form that all Reapers are capable of assuming. Each individual's form varies according to the nature of the spirit they form a bond with, but all are huge, powerful, and an incredibly formidable foe in battle. Notably, they aren't just a giant version of the animal spirit in question; the Gift is very much meant to be a weapon, and tailors itself to that purpose. They are typically quadrupedal or otherwise suitable to moving and fighting on the land, even if the spirit is birdlike or a typically aquatic animal, and play up the most distinctive fearsome qualities of the creature in question. When paired with the natural speed, strength, and potent fasthealing of a Reaper, it's a potent ability of last resort.
That said, the Gift is a weapon of last resort, or at least something that isn't used lightly. A new Reaper can't access it until communing with the Hidewalker at his invitation, and after gaining the ability to change shape they're cautioned to use it sparingly. The spirit that Reapers are bonded with is a part of them, but also a distinct being in that it's a far wilder and more feral presence than the Reaper themself. When using the Gift this spirit takes partial control to facilitate moving in a body that's so fundamentally different from human, and the aggression of battle or strain of wounds and exhaustion require leaning on this spirit more and more. Too much, and it's hard to separate the two again; Reapers who overuse their Gift become less and less human, and can lose their own sense of identity and descend into near-madness.

All Hallow's Eve

Though the Reaper's duties are usually a solitary pursuit of the fate-dead, one notable exception takes place on All Hallow's Eve. This particular night, corresponding with Halloween and Samhain depending on the culture, is a celebration of remembrance of the dead that's indirectly dedicated to Siarus; the fact that it's a secular holiday even among the nonmagical populations of the Old World is a rare point of commonality between populations.
For the Reaper, All Hallow's is a time where they offer themselves in service to the people of Genesis. Traditionally occurring in one of the several ancient cities among the shards, those who are coming to the natural end of their lives and have no desire to keep living are offered the opportunity to meet their end peacefully and without the usual 'penalty' of service to Siarus that suicide incurs. Dying at the Reaper's hand via the Red Blade is a painless and merciful process, and though most among Genesis choose to live out their natural lives as Fate intends the sanctioned release of All Hallow's is an occasional choice for the elderly, bereaved, or terminally ill in a way that even magical healing can't solve.
The Reaper won't accept all supplicants on All Hallow's, and consults Fate before each individual offers themselves to the Red Blade. Those who die do so with the implicit blessing of the gods, and those who are turned away do so with the comfort that Fate still has plans for them no matter how hopeless or weary their lives may seem.

The Fate Line

"Cross the palm with gold and red/Reaper's fate for Reaper's get"
Though not everyone born to one of the seven ancient bloodlines will take up the mantle of the Reaper, non-Reaper descendants still have a number of characteristics that can mark their heritage. Some of these are far more subtle; humans born to these bloodlines tend to be hardy against disease and genetic disorders, routinely live to old age while retaining their physical and mental fitness, and generally have an increased capacity for magic. More visibly though, they're prone to a prominent 'line of fate' across the palms.
It's thought that this giveaway line was a factor in the origin of palmistry, since fortune tellers have often had a significant overlap with followers of the Fate god. In many cases it's been a part of their role to keep an eye out for members of the bloodlines, helping identify, safeguard, and guide them through a magical world they may be wholly unaware of; a reason to examine the palm is thought to have given an innocuous way to do this, and the practice became widespread as a result.
Unfortunately, the identifying fate line is also known to the Seraphs to a lesser extent. Though most humans show the sign to some degree and only those with a certain level of prominence can be reliably identified, the ancient enemies of the Reaper know that it can be a telltale way to pick out an otherwise indistinguishable foe. It's not uncommon for those with a prominent line to meet 'accidental' deaths when they cross paths with a Seraph, though it's anyone's guess how many of these victims were only human after all.