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Post by punkusjr on Apr 12, 2012 4:55:19 GMT -5
Yea, so discussion time! Buhahahaha! (or not since we, unlike most other fandoms, have a direct line to the writer of what we will discuss, and she will likely end all discussion with the right answer.)
So I was thinking, you know how it's people who die tragically and young that turn into a reaper. At what age do you stop being able to turn into a reaper? Is it like someone that's so old that, even when they die tragically, they find comfort in their long life? That would make the age relative, but for most I think that would start ~ 70 to 80.
I know, "How can that make sense punkusjr, there are no people that look 60." My answer to that is that souls stop ageing at ~ 20 to 30 (basically at physical peak) which would make someone who dies and is unrestfull at the age of 60 appear to be 25.
. . . I have the feeling it says people up to their mid 20s somewhere, and this question is stupid.
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Post by mystmyst on Apr 12, 2012 10:51:09 GMT -5
Shouldn't this be in the "Hey Ajah" section XD, anyway that is a good question in my eyes 030
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Post by punkusjr on Apr 12, 2012 14:20:26 GMT -5
oh, I thought the hey Ajah was more for forum questions.
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Post by mystmyst on Apr 12, 2012 16:31:44 GMT -5
It says just ask her anything I dunno XD that's why I posted about conventions there o3o its also for suggestions, like I am saying I think depends on what Ajah wants XD I was just suggesting XP
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Post by punkusjr on Apr 12, 2012 17:00:08 GMT -5
No worries ^_^ she'll rage at me when she moves the topic, XD
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Post by mystmyst on Apr 12, 2012 17:41:09 GMT -5
lol not really rage more like a reminder because you are a full member Xd
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Post by Ajahli on Apr 12, 2012 19:30:54 GMT -5
I'm okay with it being here. Basically the Hey Ajah forum is for forum bugs or questions or anything related to me or the site. I'm okay with GRS related questions in the GRS forum c: but I guess if it's anything related to my writing or how I do things or whatever, then the Hey Ajah is probably the best place to post atm. And yes any suggestions obvs go in that topic. Mostly because I have a better way of keeping track of it that way (I am kind of flighty and forget things).
IDK if that made any sense.
But anyway, no harm done! Thank you to myst for being on top of it though c: I appreciate all the help~! I should probably put up some kind of basic helpful "rules" forum somewhere just in case but... hmmm. Anyway discussion on that can probably migrate to the off topic thread...
---------
Now to answer your question. Forgive me if I ramble a bit. When people ask me story related questions I get a bit carried away.
I actually did have "older" characters for GRS when I first started the comic, but I kind of changed it to it being mostly kids because who else to better have unfinished business, right? (well, I guess that's not always true). I guess because it seems like the older folk would be satisfied with living a whole life. Those that didn't, or may have left behind some scars and some troubled business would most likely end up being the ghosts that reapers would take away, if that makes any sense. I suppose if an older person really wanted to though, they could stay in Purgos and be a reaper, or be of some help to them and could look any age they want. It's really not SO strict (maybe in Sheena's standards it would be) but Thanatos and Messor were deities who disliked that such energy and potential was going to waste.
I don't know if I ever defined it anywhere specifically (maybe I did and I just don't remember. OOPS) but I guess if you wanted a more solid answer, I would say yes. Really only young souls aged 5-20 can become reapers (which is typical schooling age) while older souls have accomplished more in their lives.
And if anyone is still wondering about the aging thing, Edward will explain it in Chapter 9. Changing age is more a thing of skill and technique than anything or reapers. The same goes with flight (their wings aren't totally useless). I also have a character who grew up some but chose to look like she did in her early teens, because it had a certain... affect on her memories. You will meet her soon~ Or I should say, you have met her already, but you just don't know it yet ;3
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Post by mystmyst on Apr 12, 2012 19:40:48 GMT -5
Lol okay and that sounds neat I can't wait to hear more about it o3o
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Post by punkusjr on Apr 12, 2012 21:38:05 GMT -5
So younger people become reapers because the gods of death didn't want youth to be wasted on the young and dead? That makes sense.
So under normal circumstance older people who die with unfinished business turn into poltergeists. I guess that make more sense, an older person has had more time to become bitter.
And if I understood you correctly, someone who is 30+ and dies with few regrets can decide to stay and help, and they decide their age. Then who's to say (other than you) that some of the teachers don't fall under this category, it would make sense that they would choose to be younger so that they can have both the wisdom of age with the physical ability of youth.
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Post by Ajahli on Apr 12, 2012 22:02:40 GMT -5
You got it! :3 That is pretty much exactly what I was intending~
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Post by punkusjr on Apr 12, 2012 22:06:43 GMT -5
Cool *Dances*
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Rinabean
Junior Member
Tact: 'Don't have it.
Posts: 54
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Post by Rinabean on Apr 24, 2012 19:32:56 GMT -5
I have a question! What mythology has inspired your world of GRS?
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Post by punkusjr on Apr 24, 2012 20:10:13 GMT -5
Ooooh, that's a good one.
Don't quote me on any of the following wall of text, as I might be wrong.
Thanatos (to my knowledge) is the Greek (or roman, my memory is fuzzy) god of death, but I don't recognize the other deity's name. Also i think the iconic image of the grim reaper (cloak, skeleton, scythe, ECT.) is primarily Christian, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was stolen from a pagan image. (my knowledge of pagan mythology is limited at best, but several Christian holidays were taken from it) The anubis is an Egyptian thing, but I claim no knowledge of ancient Egyption religion.
In short: I think she is trying to weave many mythologies together.
Sorry about the wall of text, but I figured a little discussion wouldn't hurt while we wait for the king of the universe to answer.
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Post by Ajahli on Apr 25, 2012 9:12:22 GMT -5
Heyyy. Things have been a bit rough these past few days so I've been kind of hiding out. Derp. But I'm here :3
basically, your assumption is correct! I love mythology and when I was in high school I became really interested in the Grim Reaper mythos (I don't even remember why. The theme was trendy on DA I think and I just wanted to know more about it). So when I started making GRS I ended up kind of weaving in everything I had learned or associated with it. it was also meant to be a roleplaying game initially, when I started out with it, but then my webcomics class came about and it ended up being a comic. Haha oops.
Anyway~ answer time.
Thanatos. I think Thanatos is the Greek god of death, and Messor is the Roman, a latin word meaning reaper or death or something along those lines. Messor was a servant to the goddess Ceres, and according to wikipedia means "He who reaps".
I'm not sure about the iconic image being Christian or pagan, you are probably right. It might have been one of the many images and mythologies that started with paganism and floated over to Christianity (like the holidays...actually you just said that didn't you. Oops. Yay for repeating!), but don't quote me on it. I used to know, but I don't anymore D:
I DO know, however, that the "scythe" thing was from Cronus, the Greek god, or Saturn, god of the harvest, father to Zeus and the Titans. Because the scythe is used in harvesting crops, it also became a sign of the reaper and the god of death, because I guess essentially the fall is when everything dies out before winter or whatever. If you want to get literal in symbolism. It is also a tool of Father Time, there are many images of the Grim Reaper, or a death-like figure riding a horse, carrying a scythe and an hourglass. (4 horseman of the apocalypse reference there). Also in Tarot, when you get the death card, it doesn't necessarily mean you are going to die, but that maybe a new beginning is in store for you.
Sound familiar?
And of course Thanatos' outfit is based on the plague doctors from the Middle Ages. Because they are both awesome and terrifying. Even if he isn't xD
But you probably knew all that stuff already heh~
As for Anubis I think he was the god of death in egyptian mythology at one point, but over time he was replaced by Osiris and he became the god who oversaw mummification, but in a way he dictated the fate of souls. I guess if I wanted to be more symbolic I could have used a cat or something for a sign giver instead of an Anubis, but I had several uhh... ideas as to why an Anubis would be more appropriate. I don't remember if Anubis had any "sign giving" talents, but I guess in a way it fit because the Egyptians had SO many gods, and so many myths and rituals and all of these beautiful sculptures and paintings of their gods and how they affected their lives. So in a way an Anubis (a god or, in GRS's case, a reaper) is responsible for forming that bridge between the living and the afterlife, a next step, a preparation for what is to come.
So in that way, for me, it's appropriate.
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Post by punkusjr on Apr 25, 2012 14:29:57 GMT -5
^_^ I'll try to find where the iconic image of the reaper came from. Can't believe I forgot about Cronus though. =/
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