HABITAT(S): Habitat
Artistic rendition of Reaver
Reaver is a Bone Thief who has established a territory in and around one of the homes in Level 9: The Suburbs. While most Bone Thieves stay stationary and hunt via auditory mimicry, Reaver wanders his territory both to seek out prey and ward off other entities attempting to encroach.
Description
Reaver is yellow, round bodied and with a wide black maw with small white eyes set within. Someone or something has tied a crimson-tinted bow around his neck, possibly to identify him.
Biology
Reaver can render victims boneless, like other Bone Thieves. He can also make a variety of noises and mimic voices, the most notorious auditory mimicries being an elevator chime, a cash register ding, crowded beach chatter, and songbirds. He sometimes mimics a southern sounding male voice, repeating phrases including “Get out of my field!” and “Damnit! That thing again!” He moves slowly most of the time, but is capable of quicker bursts of speed when needed.
Behavior
Reaver is named for his habit of scavenging through human rucksacks, bags, and pockets, on top of the usual bone theft his species is known for. He’s territorial, curious, and showcases an atypical interest in corn, piling up ears of it around his territory. He doesn’t eat the corn, instead collecting it, and he seems to gain satisfaction out of decorating his territory with the produce. Touching anything in his territory, especially said corn, can and will trigger aggression. Reaver isn’t hostile to just anyone, however. Gifting him objects or simply speaking with him, even about the weather or the room itself, can help build his trust over time. Regular visitors who continue to visit, especially with gifts, can eventually earn enough of his confidence to be given an ear of corn themselves, which then allows them interact with other items in his territory, including almond water.
Relations
Some humans are tolerated or even welcomed passing through Reaver’s claimed household, while others are hunted and, if caught, rendered boneless. It’s unclear where he gets his corn from, but mysterious holes in the floor of one of his favorite rooms are theorized to be the source. Reaver guards these holes fiercly, and even people he trusts will be shooed away from them, if not deboned outright. Which level they lead to is still speculative.
Discovery
Reaver was first discovered in one of the many houses existing within Level 9. Explorers noticed discarded ears of corn scattered around the yard of one blue, two story home. Inside, the dwelling was described as a ‘crop harvester’s dream, or a hoarder's paradise’.
The Bone Thief was found after one of the group interacted with an ear of corn, prompting the Bone Thief to rush to their location and vocalize loudly. One of these vocalizations was described as something akin to a ‘loud ass fire alarm’. The house was quickly abandoned by the team. Oddly, despite eye contact with the entity, no bones were removed.
After multiple re-explorations in which no items were manipulated, Reaver began to approach the team with less aggression. Eventually, the explorers were able to touch and even stroke the creature. Upon giving Reaver a small keychain, the Bone Thief reciprocated, gifting them an ear of corn.