So, what do we know about the Grim Reaper? Not much, really, other than the fact that it really dislikes any attempts to elude death's embrace for too long and as such will swiftly hunt down any who attempt to do so. There is no bargaining or pleading with it.
(As a side note, it is possible to draw the ire of the Reaper by merely drawing a specific combination of cards. Something to keep in mind.)
In battle, the Reaper is one scary foe. Its true sight ability allows it to shrug off illusions and deceptions quite easily, which makes hiding a nigh impossible endeavor. While it is undead and has negative healing, Death's Grace allows for it to decide whether or not it counts as undead when targeted by abilities that would have additional effects based on its undead trait, such as positive damage. Status sight is, in essence, a license to be incredibly vicious with how you run the reaper, as it knows the exact status of all its foes, including how close they are to death as it knows their HP and their wounded / dying / doomed conditions. This, in tandem with the constant effects of both haste and see invisibility allow the reaper's statblock to live up to its name.
Aura of Misfortune is a nasty little thing that can quickly result in a death spiral, especially when you consider how often the Reaper forces everyone into save-or-die checks. The Lurking Death reaction pairs well with this, as even ranged attackers must be wary of the aura; there is little safety to be found when within sight of the reaper. The Reaper only has a single type of melee attack - keen scythe - though you'll quickly realize it is more than enough. Not only does it deal a hefty amount of damage, but it also has a real likelihood of instantly killing the character on the spot in the event of a critical hit (remember the Aura of Misfortune?). This not only heals the Reaper for 20 HP, it also has the ability to inflict a stacking doomed status. Should all these sources of death not be enough, finger of death, which it can cast four times, can instantly kill a target that is reduced to 0 hit points. With all this in mind, you should remember that if you are killed by the Grim Reaper, only divine intervention can possibly bring you back.
So, ready for some danse macabre?
Hook 1 (Max) - Do Fear the Reaper
Shrine of Life was one of the most vibrant and prosperous places in the known world, in no small part thanks to the many priests and miracle workers who chose to live there and provide a very much sought-out service - the revival of those who died before their time, be it in battle or in some other manner.
For a long time, things were working out fine for everyone involved, at least until a certain someone observed a big abnormality in the numbers of the recently deceased that passed on into the afterlife. That certain someone was Death, of course. It investigated the source of the irregularities and to say that the Grim Reaper was angered by the findings would be an understatement.
Not long after, disaster after disaster struck the city. It began with plagues that decimated the populace and ended with an attack of a monster horde that appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
For a time, Death was content with its work, though from this point on it kept a far more watchful eye on the souls that by all accounts should be passing into the afterlife. So now whenever someone dies and their spirit fails to meet the Grim Reaper, it is very keen to find the one responsible and teach them a lesson or two about "cheating Death".
Hook 2 (Nemanja) - Death's Prison
In the Manretea Mativ galaxy, death itself has been conquered.
It took coordination from the finest of all five galactic civilizations' mages, scientists, and priests, in addition to help from a strain of a debatably alive though sentient virus. By their combined efforts, The Grim Reaper himself, along with all eleven known lesser deaths, has been teleported to the planet Aad. The entire planet was then surrounded with layers and layers of technological and magical defenses and fail-safes to keep death from ever coming back.
Of course, the group of space explorers from another galaxy that just crash-landed on the planet, tearing through its defensive systems, couldn't have possibly known the entire backstory...
The Grim Reaper, in a rare show of compassion (and perhaps even gratitude), tells the explorers what is about to go down: Fifty billion souls just had their immortality taken from them and, thanks to the interplanetary news relays, will know whose fault it is within the hour. The entire galaxy is about to take every spaceship, speeder bike, and repurposed escape pod to go on a hunt.
Despite the crews' dire circumstances, those fifty billion souls are also several hundred years overdue to die. Another hunt is about to happen as a very agitated Death and its minions start preparing themselves. As it turns out, though, fifty billion is a large order.
So it is decided - if the explorers avoid any mortal wounds while the reaper does its job, this is the last they see of it. If not, what are five more souls for the scythe?
Hook 3 (Reece) - The Immortal Vigil
Deep in the bowels of The City of Many Names, the now-abandoned capital of the long-dead Nagayunari Empire, immortal warriors are said to guard the most wretched and vile secrets that the empire locked away from the eyes of mortal beings. These warriors, sworn to guard that which their empire foolishly thought they could control, have long abandoned the coils of mortality so that their vigil might never end.
Having thwarted many foes from entering the sanctum, the very forces of death hunger for their immortal souls. The leader, known only as First, has spotted the tell-tale sign of the avatar of death itself; The Grim Reaper. Second, the best scout of the four remaining warriors, noticed decrepit sigils and forgotten runes painted throughout the ruins they call home. Lesser deaths have already been seen haunting the outskirts of the ruins they have called home for over a thousand years.
You are the immortal warriors. Death itself comes for you and, should you fall, the vault you have guarded for several lifetimes will be free to fall into the hands of the first intrepid ne'er-do-well stupid enough to open the vault.
Survive.
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