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Reapers
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{{InfoboxCreature
|monster name= Reaper
|image= [[File:Abandonallhopereapers.jpg|350px]]
|powers and abilities= Can reap <br>* Alter perception* Reap [[soul]]s, stop time, teleport, and alter human perception. Invisible to living humans.* [[Teleportation]]|vulnerabilities= Can be killed by <br>* [[Death's scythe]], * [[angel Angel blade]]s, and * [[the First Blade]].<br>Can be bound by [[spells]] and [[Enochian|Enochian symbolsSpells]].
|appearance= Can alter how humans perceive them, can possess someone, or manifest in a physical body.
|episodes= [[1.12 Faith]]<br>[[2.01 In My Time of Dying]]<br>[[4.15 Death Takes a Holiday]]<br>[[5.10 Abandon All Hope...]]<br>[[5.21 Two Minutes to Midnight]]<br>[[6.11 Appointment in Samarra]]<br>[[7.10 Death's Door]]<br>[[8.19 Taxi Driver]]<br>[[9.03 I'm No Angel]]<br>[[9.22 Stairway to Heaven]]<br>[[11.02 Form and Void]]<br>[[11.10 The Devil in the Details]]<br>[[11.17 Red Meat]]<br>[[11.23 Alpha and Omega]]<br>[[12.06 Celebrating the Life of Asa Fox]]<br>[[12.09 First Blood]]<br>[[13.05 Advanced Thanatology]]<br>[[13.19 Funeralia]]<br>[[14.10 Nihilism]]<br>[[15.12 Galaxy Brain]]<br>[[15.17 Unity]]
}}
{{Quotation
'''Sam:''' You really think it's ''the'' Grim Reaper? Like, angel of death, collect your soul, the whole deal?<br>
'''Dean:''' No no no, not ''the'' reaper, a reaper. There's reaper lore in pretty much every culture on Earth, it goes by 100 different names, it's possible that there's more than one of them.<br>
|author= [[Dean]] and [[SamWinchester]]
|source= [[1.12 Faith]]
}}
==History==
Reapers are divine supernatural beings. They are responsible for escorting deceased [[soul]]s to the afterlife, and they refuse -- – or are unable -- – to tell the deceased what awaits them, reapers . Reapers allow the deceased to choose to accompany them, or to remain in [[the Veil]] as [[ghosts]], which eventually leads to the spirit becoming a [[vengeful spirit]].
While reapers serve [[Death]] and are not aligned with [[Heaven]] or [[Hell]], however they were locked out of Heaven with the other angels when [[Metatron]] enacted his [[spell]]. Their origins are unclear, and it is also unknown what relationship, if any, they have to other beings such as [[God]] or [[Fate]].
In recent years, some reapers becoming have become rogue operators, collecting souls or moving them between Heaven and Hell for a price.<ref>[[8.19 Taxi Driver]]</ref> Some reapers also appear to work as bounty hunters, to which Dean refers to them as the "Delta Force of reapersReapers."<ref>[[9.03 I'm No Angel]]</ref> The reason for this changed behavior could be a side-effect the [[Apocalypse]] being averted; as according to [[Balthazar]] in the year following [[Lucifer]]'s re-imprisonment:
:"It's a new era. No rules, no destiny. Just utter and complete freedom."<ref>[[6.03 The Third Man]]</ref>
For the next few years, rogue reapers continued to operate until [[Billie]] became the new Death and, according to [[Jessica (Reaper)|Jessica]], had all the reapers avoiding any direct interference, however they may still assist indirectly on her command.<ref>[[13.19 Funeralia]]</ref>
==Characteristics==
[[File:Reapers - John's Journal.png|thumb|350px|Section on reapers from [[John's Journal]].]]
A reaper's true form appears to be incorporeal and spirit-like, with a white aura surrounding them. They take on the more human appearances as a way means to make it easier to convince a soul to pass on to the next plane of existence. While the majority of reapers that have been seen have been male, they do appear to have different genders, as [[Death]] has referred to the reaper [[Tessa]] as female. Upon death a reaper will give off a blinding light from their body.<ref>[[4.15 Death Takes a Holiday]]</ref><ref>[[8.19 Taxi Driver]]</ref> Like angels, reapers leave an imprint on the ground beneath their vessel.<ref>[[13.19 Funeralia]]</ref>
Rogue reapers also appear to have additional capabilities, according to the [[angel]] [[Bartholomew]]:
:"Some of you have taken your skill set to a whole new level..."
It is unknown what payment to rogue reapers demand for their services, but the reaper [[Ajay]] agreed to offer his services to the Winchesters in exchange for the brothers owing him a favor at a later date. ===Powers and Abilitiesabilities===* Have access to [[HeavenDreamwalking]], – Reapers are capable of entering a human's subconcious while they are dreaming or in a dream-like state.<ref>[[Hell7.10 Death's Door]], </ref>* [[Purgatory]] and [[the VeilHealing]]– A reaper is capable of transferring a person's life force to another, effectively healing them of any injuries or sickness.* Invisible Invisibility – Reapers can render themselves invisible to humans unless the person is near death or in spirit/astral projection form. May Reapers may also become visible at their own discretion to mortals.<ref name="one12">[[1.12 Faith]]</ref><ref name="two01">[[2.01 In My Time of Dying]]</ref><ref name="four15">[[4.15 Death Takes a Holiday]]</ref>* Able Perception altering – Reapers are capable of altering human perception to stop timemake themselves appear any way they wish.<ref name="one12two01" />This is usually done as a means of easier communication with the deceased, as their true form can be frightening.* Teleportation[[Possession]] – While reapers can make their presence visible outside of [[the Veil]], they are also capable of possessing humans.<ref name="four15eight19">[[48.15 Death Takes a Holiday19 Taxi Driver]]</ref>* Are experts at tracking down souls.<refname="nine03">[[79.10 Death03 I's Doorm No Angel]]</ref>* Capable of altering human perception [[Resurrection]] – Though antithetical to their purpose, reapers can bring people back to make themselves appear any way they wantlife, though it is usually only done under duress.<ref name="two01" />* Possession<ref name="eight19nine03"/>* [[Soul]] awareness – Reapers are experts at tracking down souls, intuitively knowing when a person is supposed to die.<ref>[[87.19 Taxi Driver10 Death's Door]]</ref>The reaper [[Billie]] was able to collect a few 100,000 souls from the Veil to be used for the [[soul bomb]] to stop [[Amara]] / [[the Darkness]].* [[Telekinesis]] – Reapers can influence their surroundings with their minds, with a gesture a reaper can throw a grown man clear across a room.<ref name="nine03">[[9.03 I'm No Angel]]</ref>* Telekinesis* Chronokinesis – Reapers are capable of stopping time.<ref name="nine03one12"/>** Necrokinesis – Reapers can kill with a simple touch, though they will rarely outright kill people. When a reaper reaps a soul, they appear to need an inciting incident for the person's death. Evidenced when Billie required [[9Mary Winchester]] to kill herself before reaping her soul, telling the Winchesters that reapers don't kill.<ref>[[12.03 I'm No Angel09 First Blood]]</ref>* Resurrection[[Teleportation]] – Reapers can teleport anywhere in existence, allowing them access to [[Heaven]], [[Hell]], [[Purgatory]], [[the Veil]] and [[the Empty]].<ref name="two01four15" />[[4.15 Death Takes a Holiday]]</ref name="nine03" /> [[File:13x19ReaperLore.png|thumb|right|350px|Lore on the death of a Reaper.]]
===Vulnerabilities===
* Vulnerable to [[Death's scytheAngel blade]]– Reapers are vulnerable to angel blades, and can be killed by them.<ref name="four15eight19" >[[8.19 Taxi Driver]]</ref> * Can be bound using spells.<ref>[[18.12 Faith19 Taxi Driver]]</ref>* Can be rendered powerless and vulnerable inside [[Angel cuffs]] – Special handcuffs etched with spellwork are capable of nullifying a reapers powers.* [[Archangels]] – The [[Michael (Apocalypse World)|Michael]] of [[Apocalypse World]] claimed to have trapped Death and enslaved the reapers on his world.* [[Death's scythe]] – Reapers, like all beings, can be struck down with [[reaper trapDeath]]'s scythe.<ref name="four15" /><ref> * [[7.10 Death's DoorDemons]]</ref>* Can also – Reapers can be possessed easily overpowered by [[demon]]s. They can also be possessed by demons, although the only demon that was known to be capable of doing this was [[Azazel]], a [[Prince of Hell]], who is was more powerful than the average demon.* Can be killed [[The First Blade]] – Wielded by an someone with the [[angel bladeMark of Cain]], the First Blade can kill a reaper.* [[Reaper trap]]– Reapers can be rendered powerless and vulnerable inside of a reaper trap.<ref name="eight19four15"/><ref>[[87.19 Taxi Driver10 Death's Door]]</ref>* [[Spells]] – Reapers can be bound by spells.<ref>[[81.19 Taxi Driver12 Faith]]</ref>* Can be killed by The [[witch]] [[the First BladeRowena]]was also able to kill reapers by using a spell that incinerated them.
==Episodes==
===[[1.12 Faith]]===
[[Sue-Ann Le Grange]] uses black magic to harness a [[The Reaper|reaper]]. She turns her husband [[Roy Le Grange]] into a faith healer by forcing the reaper to kill people whom she thinks are immoral and transfer their life force to Roy's ailing supplicants. A dying [[Dean]] is saved in this manner. The reaper is released when [[Sam]] smashes [[Coptic Cross|her necklace]], and it kills her.
===[[2.01 In My Time of Dying]]===
===[[9.03 I'm No Angel]]===
In order to find [[Castiel]], [[Bartholomew]] hires rogue reapers to hunt for him. One reaper named [[Maurice]] follows [[Sam]] and [[Dean]], but is captured by them after they notice him following them. Dean tortures him with an [[angel blade]] for information and after Maurice tells him all he knows, Dean stabs him through the neck with the swordblade, killing him.
Another reaper possesses a woman named [[April Kelly]] and locates Castiel. She pretends to take him in and has sex with him, but the next morning ties him up and tortures him for information on [[Metatron]] with his angel blade. Castiel tells her he didn't know what Metatron was doing and that he doesn't know the spell that he used to expel all [[angels]] from [[Heaven]], but that as his [[grace]] was the final ingredient, he may be the key to reversing it. At that moment, Sam and Dean arrive to rescue Castiel, but Castiel is killed by the reaper with the angel blade, and then proceeds to disarm Dean of his own angel blade and flings him and Sam across the room. However, while she is distracted with Sam, Dean kills her with the angel blade she had used on Castiel. [[Ezekiel]] then resurrects Castiel and heals the damage the reaper did to him.
===[[11.02 Form and Void]]===
A Reaper reaper named [[Billie]] appears to Sam in a hospital, telling him that while [[Death]] found their constant resurrections humorous, with his demise there is deadonly one rule in the universe -- "What lives, a new Death has arisen to take his placedies. " Billie informs Sam that the new Death if he or Dean dies, they won't be going to [[Heaven]] or [[Hell]] , but will have Sam and Dean be thrown in [[the Empty]] when they die so they cannot return , due to their role in killing Death. Billie tells Sam she knows he's dying, and will see him soon. She tells Sam that he is "[[Rabids|unclean in a biblical sense]],"and reveals her name to him before departing. ===[[11. 10 The Devil in the Details]]===[[Dean]] is sent to Kenesaw, Nebraska by [[Crowley]] to meet with the reaper Billie, who is to give Dean a package and access to [[Hell]]. When Dean recalls that Billie leaves after telling is the reaper Sam told him wanted them dead, she hopes corrects him and tells him she is the one who will get makes sure they stay dead, before sending him on his way to Hell. ===[[11.17 Red Meat]]===After Sam's apparent death, Dean takes drastic measures by consuming a handful of pills in order to overdose as means of having a meeting with the reaper Billie. Dean's overdose goes as planned and once he is out of his body, Billie appears exiting a white blinding light. Knowing Dean isn't the kind to commit suicide, she asks him what he wants. When he tells her he wants Sam resurrected and is willing to be trade his life for Sam's, Billie has no idea what he is talking about. Dean pleads with her that Sam is the only one that can stop [[the Darkness]], which will destroy everyone and everything -- including Billie. Billie asks him how, but Dean has no answer. She tells Dean that even if Sam could stop the Darkness, she still wouldn't make the deal. Telling him the Winchesters are all out of second chances. She extends her hand to Dean, and tells him the Empty is waiting. As Dean stares blankly at Billie, [[Dr. Kessler]] injects a syringe of adrenaline in his heart reviving Dean, prompting a dismayed Billie to walk out of the room and into the white light from where she came. ===[[11.23 Alpha and Omega]]===At Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Sam and Dean collect as many ghosts and vengeful spirits they can for their proposed [[soul bomb]] against [[Amara]], Billie reveals herself from the shadows, watching them leave. Curious as to what they were doing at Waverly Hills, Bille follows them to the Bunker and questions them. After finding out about the soul bomb to kill the Darkness, Billie agrees to help, taking hold of the stone, Billie "raids [[the Veil]]" of a couple hundred-thousand souls before taking her leave. ===[[12.06 Celebrating the Life of Asa Fox]]===When [[hunters]] begin dying at the wake of [[Asa Fox]], [[Billie]] soon arrives to reap the [[soul]]s. When [[Dean]] gets magically locked outside of the house, he makes a deal with Billie for her to get him back inside in exchange for owing her a favor. The next morning when the dead hunters are given a [[Hunter's Funeral Pyre|funeral pyre]], Billie appears before [[Sam]], Dean and [[Mary]]. She tells the three that she knows Mary feels out of place, and that if she wants, Billie will reap her soul. When Mary declines, Billie departs, but before leaving she tells all the Winchesters that if any of them change their mind, all they have to do is call her name. ===[[12.09 First Blood]]===After being locked away in solitary confinement at Site 94 for nearly two months, Dean makes a desperate play and calls on Billie. The Winchester strike a deal with her, they are temporarily killed so they can be moved to the site's morgue, where they will be resurrected on the condition that at the strike of midnight, one of the Winchesters will have to die, permanently. When midnight arrives, Sam and Dean are confronted by Billie to pay on their deal, telling them there are cosmic consequences if they break their deal with her. Mary, in a bid to save her sons, offers herself, reasoning that a Winchester has to die, and she is a Winchester. Billie agrees to the terms, and as Mary is about to shoot herself in the head, Billie is stabbed in the back by [[Castiel]] with an [[angel blade]], killing her. ===[[13.05 Advanced Thanatology]]===After Dean briefly commits suicide to find out from the [[ghosts]] trapped in a house where their bodies are, he dies encounters a [[reaper]] named [[Jessica (Reaper)|Jessica]], and rudely rejects Jessica who soon realizes who he is and teleports to [[Death's Reading Room]] to announce that Dean Winchester is in [[the Veil]]. After Dean finds the location of the bodies from [[Shawn Raider]], he is greeted by [[Billie]] who reveals that she is the new [[Death]]. Billie explains that one of the rules of reality is that when one incarnation of Death is killed, the next reaper to die will take his infectionplace. While talking with Billie, Dean makes a deal to free the [[souls]] trapped in the Meadows house. Billie sends Jessica to the home where she escorts the souls to their rightful resting place. ===[[13.19 Funeralia]]=== ===[[14.10 Nihilism]]===Remembering that [[Billie]] assigned [[Jessica (Reaper)|Jessica]] to watch over himself and [[Dean]], [[Sam]] calls on her for help in escaping Hitomi Plaza only to be met by another reaper named [[Violet]]. Violet reveals to Sam that reapers now take shifts keeping an eye on the Winchesters due to how often they screw things up. She is later able invisible to figure out everyone in the room except for Sam and [[Holy OilMichael (Apocalypse World)|Michael]], who reveals that his angel army kept [[Death]] locked away and enslaved the reapers in [[Apocalypse World]]. When Sam asks for her help, Violet tells him she can't interfere, but is then stopped mid-sentence as everyone in the room is teleported to the [[Men of Letters Bunker]]. Violet says that she didn't teleport them to the Bunker before disappearing. After trapping Michael in Dean's mind, Billie appears in Dean's room, revealing that she sent everyone to the Bunker. She also tells Dean not to tell anyone for "taking a calculated risk." Billie reveals that all the notebooks in [[Death's Reading Room]] have rewritten themselves, revealing that Dean dies when Michael escapes his mind and uses his vessel to burn down the world in all the notebooks except one. She gives Dean the only notebook where Michael loses and Dean reads its contents. When Dean asks what he's supposed to do with this new information, Billie says "That's up to you." before leaving. ===[[15.12 Galaxy Brain]]===[[Death]] assigns a curereaper by the name of [[Merle]] to watch over Jack and ensure he sticks to Billie's rules. When [[Jack]] decides to defy [[Billie]]'s instructions and use his powers to rescue [[Kaia]] from [[the Bad Place]], Merle threatens to tell Death, but is blackmailed by Jack and the Winchesters to help, telling her they will open a rift either way. After Merle reluctantly agrees to help mask their presence by boosting the cosmic warding in the Bunker, she is struck down with [[Death's Scythe]] for failing to do her one task. ===[[15.17 Unity]]===When Sam uses the [[Key to Death]] to enter [[Death's Library]] in search of Billie, he finds the [[Cosmic Entity]] slaughtering several reapers. The Entity forces the last reaming reaper in the library to pray to Billie, but when she doesn's wordst appear, the Entity kills the reaper by telekinetically snapping his neck.
==Apocrypha==
A reaper called named [[Daniel (Reaper)|Daniel]] appears in the spin-off novel ''[[Supernatural: Carved in Flesh]]'', where he assists Sam and Dean in stopping an attempt to restore the Norse goddess [[Hel]] to corporeal form.
==See also==
* [[Coptic Cross]]
* [[Death]]
* [[Reaper Trap]]
==External links=='''Meta'''* [https://outpastthemoat.tumblr.com/post/47144287859 Soul train: Rogue reapers and purgatory in “Taxi Driver”] by outpastthemoat (April 2013); [Tessa]https://web.archive.org/web/20181205030956/http://outpastthemoat.tumblr.com/post/47144287859 archive link]
==References==