Whenever one recruit passes the competition with the Gvarna a feast of sorts is thrown to celebrate that fact. You see, most of the time recruits dont make it past the Gvarna, in fact the only reason they did this competition was because of Griff. This was the first one in a few cycles in fact but as it would seem the more senior Reapers made the right call. This feast was one to somewhat relax the recruit or recruits that made it through, cause this competition was still going, and even a short break was not enough.

  This particular feast was a very special one, it was being held at the Reapers stronghold in the capitol of Greater New Mastia, Gallowson. In fact thats where we are right now, and you might ask, where is the stronghold? All that know wont tell and all that do dissapear, including those they told. Youd be better off not asking, and if you hear someone telling, then make your wishes cause sooner or later youll have a Crimson Hood knockin at your door. This feast is also one to make the history books of the Reapers as their leaders also attended.

  The Deaths Head are the leaders of the Reapers, and there are always three of them. They are supposed to go to every feast but with their job comes responsibilities and this is the first one any Deaths Head attended in nearly fifty cylces. The Deaths Head are some of the most badass of any youll ever meet on this planet. There is a reason they are in charge, want to ever find out, join Oasis and youll find out real soon. Just those three have taken out nearly a hundred Oasis outposts, by themselves. The Deaths Head are a force to be reckoned with, and it would do you well to steer clear of them should you be lucky, or unlucky enough, to ever see them passing by.

  You see where the Deaths Head go, the Crimson Hood are not far behind. I mentioned the Crimson Hood a little bit ago so let me tell you a little about them before I get on with how the feast went. The Crimson Hood are the most elite ranks of the Reaper Posse. They are clearly seen by their hoods, which are died red, red with blood. In order for them to become a Crimson Hood they must kill their mentor, who was a Crimson Hood. This is part of an entire process that will be explained better later on. Once they do that, they must dye their hood red with the blood from their mentor.

  It is a sign of respect, a memorium, and a rite of passage into one of the most dangerous groups of armed men and women on this planet. I bet theyd give some of the Old World soldiers a run for their money but sadly that wont ever be seen, at least not by my drunk old self. Ive seen the Crimson Hood several times, and never have I wanted to see them again, said that everytime they came by. They are enforcers, and masters at slingin iron. Saw a man try and duel one before, he was shot dead before he could even move and was strung up just as fast. Well, thats enough about the Crimson Hood for now, we have a feast to attend.

  Griff was sat at a large table, it was a half circle and he was sat in the middle of the curve. Three seats sat opposite him on the flat side of the table and four seats were on either side of him. Soon after he sat down, four Reapers walked in. A Crimson Hood, a Cruciate, a Palatine, and an Akron. These were the senior most members of their respective rank. Soon after they took their seats, a large double door made of Iron and decorated with various death related symbols and Reaper insignias, swung open. As it did all the Reapers stood, the Akron, who was closest to Griff motioned for him to do the same and as he did in walked the Deaths Head.

  The Reapers gave crisp salutes and sat back down, Griff followed but only by sitting down, he knew better than to salute when he wasnt yet a member of the Reapers just yet. The Deaths Head took their seats, the most senior in the middle, directly across from Griff. The most senior Deaths Head was called Dreymund Durster, but the Reapers called him Skeley. It was clear why they called him that because he was adorned with bones from the people whom he killed. All of which were high ranking officials in Oasis, even a Supremis, whose skull he wore around his neck.

  The skull around his neck however was nearly destroyed completely but a clear hole could be seen through it where Durster shot the man. The second most senior Deaths Head was simply called Destroyer. No one knew his real name but called him that after his initiation trials were complete and as a Youngblood tore through several Oasis soldiers with his bare hands. He was adorned with various markings from his homeland, you see, he was a Kuru Destroyer but he ventured too far into the Wilds and came back not knowing who he was or where he was from. He was forced into the Reaper Trials and is one of the fastest ascending Reapers since their inception.

  The final Deaths Head was Gerault Stormteeth, and he was called the Thunderfist by the Reapers. You see, Gerault was a very special man, his cousin was Hadrius Hammerdyne, the owner of Hammerdyne Industries. Hammerdyne is a name im sure youve heard of but in case you havent let me tell you about them. Hammerdyne was an Old World company that made weapons, and after the war, they strove on as they laid their home in The Heights. Its why Oasis was so interested with that District, all of the weapons they pulled from there. They seldom worked but they rebuilt them to their own liking, and they are deadly let me tell you.

  Gerault is called Thunderfist because the Iron he uses was Hadrius's fathers, and he won it from him in a card game. It is one of the last surviving Hammerdyne originals left on this planet, and was it something to see. I never saw it in action but the stories ive heard told of what it did in battle are a thrill I must tell you. The rounds shot by it are normal, but something in the Iron itself that it was built with, it was a prototype back during the Old War, it turned the rounds into storms. Once they would hit someone they would explode outward sending brilliant blue lightning into everything around it, killing them instantly.

  Another reason Oasis wants hold of all the old Hammerdyne shit is because their armour is really weak against it, but given most of what they find is broken or unusable they haven't much to worry about, except Thunderfist of course. Now onto the Crimson Hood that sat at the table furthest away on Griff's right side. This was a seasoned Reaper and was aimed to be the next Head of Death, his name was Beren Horrghast, Reapers called him Red Head though. It started as a gag joke but soon Beren embraced it and painted the skull of his mentor red in addition to dying his hood red. His mentor was a hulking man originally from the Pits and he wore the skull of his mentor under his hood, as it fit around his head, it is a sight to see indeed, terrifying but terrific at the same time.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  The Palatine Reaper, who sat to Griff's immediate right, was a more humble woman when it came to the gruesome traditions, well I would say wholesome, as much as you could be anyhow. Her name was Grace Hennery, and the Reapers called her Hellteeth. She was indeed one of the most badass Reapers to live, she was, at the time, starting to train for the position of Crimson Hood. She was called Hellteeth because during her Trial of Inferno she tore a flaming arm off another Recruit with nothing but her teeth, the arm still held the Iron that the recruit grabbed as well, but she soon changed that and took the shot, finishing the freshly unarmed recruit. Now she strives for perfection in everything she does, she is in charge of religious practices around Greater New Mastia, and is the head Crusader if you would say. She is as beautful as she is dastardly deadly.

  The Cruciate Reaper that sat on the far side of the table to Griff's left was a salty old fool, and one that I knew for a while. His name was Fredriksen Trow, and the Reapers called him Hook, I had a different name for him but after I explain why ill tell you my version. Fredriksen was once a proud man, until his father, the last non Reaper elected mayor, talked bad about the Deaths Head and was taken, forcing Fredriksen to become a Reaper. Fredriksen hated his father however and he was glad to join their ranks, he wanted to for the longest time. When he was an Akron he was helping assault a stronghold of the Riders in the Pits, he was hooked by their leader the Pitking, literally hooked. He tore himself free from the hook and shot every round of his Iron into the Pitking. This was very much not worth it and the Reapers ended up having to retreat from that fight, leaving many to die, but not Fredriksen.

  Another Akron grabbed him and pulled him away, he fired as he was being pulled away from battle until the Akron that was dragging him was hooked by the Pitking. The hook that was used was nearly 3 foot long and if straightened most likely was 5 foot long. This Akron was not as lucky as Fredriksen and was pulled all the way back to the Pitking, once there the Pitking hoisted him into the air and slung him into the mouth of a Squeeler who snapped down happily on the snack that it was just given. The Pitking turned to Fredriksen, who was now standing, although barely able to at this point. Once again the Pitking flung his hook, but Fredriksen caught it, and all who saw were in awe, especially the Pitking. Fredriksen shattered a link on the chain the hook was attatched to and took the hook for his trophy.

  Not many were able to stand against the Pitking like Fredriksen did, to survive that encounter that is, least of all an Akron. The hook now rests on his back wherever he goes, and a large thing it is, is now more of a part of him, than a part through him. I knew him before he was a Reaper and while we saw each other less when he became one, it was always a party when he would come around. He became a Cruciate as soon as he returned from that failed mission, using the hook of the Pitking as a trophy, even though they lost the battle, Fredriksen assured them they would win the war, which of course they did several cycles later. I called him Squeeler Peeler, since after the incident with the Pitking he started to skin Squeelers and thats what his hood is made of, damn strong skin on them pigs, could stop shots from and Iron and it saved Trow a couple times because of that.

  Now onto the final Reaper sat at the table, the Akron. This Reaper was a mystery to many as none really know her past, but the Reapers cared not, she was accepted straight in past the trials by the Deaths Head, but dont think she is not capable of kicking some ass because she is more than capable. Her name was Surah. She came with no last name, but I prefer the name the Reapers gave her, Ghost. She is a master of stealth, and an expert of Oasis military structure and seems to know much about them, but it would be dangerous to say what we might all assume to be true. I say it matters little what her past was as long as it remains her past and the Reapers are her future. I think it is about time we feast, let us dig in shall we?

  The main course of the meal is a simple one, Gvarna. In fact it is the same one Griff killed, as is tradition, except the one time a Crimson Hoods Blast Iron fell into the arena, there wasnt Gvarna on the menu that night, thats for sure, but something far more, red. For the seemingly scrawny look of a Gvarna their meat is actually very good, and there is quite a good amount of it as well. As they ate the Reapers talked amongst each other, well, the Palatine, Cruciate, and the Akron talked. The Deaths Head and the Crimson Hood stayed silent as if waiting for Griff to speak.

  The lower ranking Reapers noticed this and grew quiet, the first to ask a question was Surah. She asked, "Your name is Griff yes?" Griff gave a nod but said nothing, this made the Crimson Hood, Red Head, angry. Red Head slammed his fist into the table and shouted at Griff, "YOU WILL RESPOND WHEN SPOKEN TO RECRUIT." As soon as he did that Griff turned towards him and said in a calm, unwaivering voice, "If you intend to scare me you will have to try better than that, I dont have much to say that is not already known...sir." Red Head sharply stood up and rested his hand upon his Iron but was waived down by the most senior Deaths Head, Skeley.

  Skeley said, "Sit down Red, the recruit is well within his manners, after all today is a special occasion is it not. It has been a long time since last we did this little competition, and I am glad we did. It would seem we have a warrior amongst us, a cold blooded one. I have heard of your progress young Griff, and I must applaud you. The last person who showed your prowess ended up killing two Deaths Heads, my former friends, which resulted in my abrupt rise to the top. I ask you now, what do you plan to do after today Griff?"

  Griff looked upon the Deaths Heads and then to Skeley and said, "I plan on being a Reaper sir. I have come this far, there is no turning back now." Skeley said, "HAAA, I like this one boys...." That was directed to the other Deaths Heads, "....I think it is time for another special occasion, and Red Head, since you were so quick to go for Griffs throat you will be joining him. In one weeks time we will hold the Inferno Trials, and both of you, will be doing them." Red Head, who had been standing the entire time until Skeley said that last sentence, sank down into his chair, clearly afraid for his future among the Reapers. Griff sat motionless for a second, then continued to dig into his meal.