Reapers



Reapers, also known as Reaper, is a term used to describe a dangerous and highly feared group of cannibals. The Reapers were originally Grounders and turned into reapers by the Mountain Men. Much like the Mountain Men and the Grounders, they have survived the nuclear apocalypse. Reapers do not share similar lifestyles with the Grounders or Mountain Men.

The Woods Clan has expressed fear and hostility towards the Reapers because of their savage nature. The 100 have had little interaction with the Reapers. However, Clarke and Finn quickly learn whom and what the Reapers are and begin to fear them. A small group of Reapers were led to the base when the Grounders were attacking The 100. They were used as a distraction until they were killed by the Grounders.

History
The Reapers were previously Grounders, a group of humans who managed to survive the nuclear apocalypse that took place on Earth 97 years ago. The Mountain Men, who live in Mount Weather, managed to create Reapers by taking a Grounder and making them go through the Cerberus Program, in which they are given many doses of a drug that makes them savage. The Reapers still need doses of the drug they were given in the Cerberus Program even when they are in the mines and have been successfully turned into a Reaper, and this is most likely to help the Reapers keep their savage nature.

After the Grounders have completed the Cerberus Program, and have been turned into a Reaper, they are left in the mines to guard Mount Weather. The only food they are given are the bodies of the Grounders that the Mountain Men have drained of their blood. They are controlled by the Mountain Men who use a device that gives off a high pitched sound, making the Reapers back down due to their conditioning in the Cerberus Program that cause them to associate the sound with pain.

As loyal "guard dogs" for the Mountain Men, the Reapers protect the mines as well as bring in new Grounders to the Mountain Men. It is unknown when the Mountain Men began using Reapers to guard Mount Weather, but it was confirmed that Mount Weather created them.

Languages
Reapers communicate with a series of grunts, snarls, and shouts. However, since they were previously Grounders it can be assumed that they spoke Trigedasleng at one point, and may still do. It can also be assumed that they speak English, due to the fact that most of the Grounders speak it, and at one point the Reapers were Grounders. The Reapers may still speak English.

Characteristics
Most Reapers are savage, primal, and brutal in nature. Reapers show no mercy to their victims. These characteristics are because of the drug that the Mountain Men inject into the Reapers.

Appearance
Most Reapers look similar to one another, and this is most likely due to the drug that is injected in them. The drug has the same effect on all Reapers, and it causes their faces to become deformed.

Attire
Most of the time their attire seems to be made out of a variety of materials such as: human bones, skins, leather, and fur. What the Reapers wear are similar to what the Grounders wear, and this could be due to the fact that the Reapers were previously Grounders, and/or they wear the clothes of their victims.

Disfigurements
The outer appearance of a Reaper is disfigured, and this is most likely a side effect from the drug that the Mountain Men inject inside of them.

Diseases
Because of their cannibalism, many, if not all, may suffer from diseases such as: Prion, Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSEs), or Kuru. All of these diseases come from consuming human flesh.

Territory
Reapers occupy the once abandoned mines, which lead everywhere. This gives the Reapers easy access to food and supplies. Grounders will avoid these tunnels at all costs, even to the point of letting Lincoln, Clarke and Finn escape.

Notes and Trivia

 * Reapers share striking similarities to the Reavers of the Fox hit TV series Firefly.
 * Reapers do not share common lifestyles with Grounders or the Mountain Men.
 * In the first season, it is never out right mentioned the Reapers are Cannibals. However, it is heavily hinted at.
 * While Clarke, Finn, and Lincoln are in the mines, the Reapers beat and feed one of their victims.
 * The item one of the Reapers sets down on the floor is actually a human skull; the skin and tattoos are still attached.
 * The skin suggests the victim was a member of The Woods Clan.
 * In Reapercussions we find out the victims come from Mount Weather, where they have been drained off their blood first.
 * They keep their victims alive, in a weakened state, until their "time is up".
 * In an Interview, Jason mentions that the Reapers are the only group in the 100 that are truly pure evil.