Kuroshitsuji Grim Reapers

I decided to put up basic info on the Reapers from Kuroshitsuji. I thought some fans might be confused about them so this is what I came up with. I hope you like it! ^^
....................................................................................


Grim Reapers are neutral, supernatural beings who review lists of individuals about to die. They decide who should continue to live or not based on their history.       

OVERVIEW:  
Grim Reapers review souls based on lists given to them by other departments. It is understood that these lists are given out well before the intended individuals actually die, hinting at some ability to foresee the future. It is their duty to review areas where people are dying and review their lives, which they have a variety of information on, including the person's name, cause of death, and any further notes. Reapers seem to be allocated to various locations based on an unseen, but frequently referenced, Personnel Department.

In order to review an individual's life, Reapers view a cinematic record. A cinematic record occurs when a Reaper cuts an individual with his or her death scythe, allowing the Reaper to see a recollection of the person's memories. This is used to decide if the person should be allowed to die or to continue to live. They seem to make this decision by pushing a stamp that says "complete" on the dying individual's file. In the anime, they use magic plays instead, which show a person's entire life in book form, and can be played like a movie. When not in use, these are stored in the form of books in the Grim Reaper library of cinematic records.
It is their duty to remain neutral and emotionless, only intending to judge and collect souls. They are not permitted to kill people not on these death lists, which are also called soul collection lists. It is understood that most dying humans reviewed are allowed to die, unless their existence is "beneficial to the world," which rarely happens. Grim Reapers seem to prefer to be on the side of letting someone die, rather than permitting them to continue to live. When they finish a mission, Reapers have to fill out a reflection letter and report, which is sent to the Main Branch. Those who break the rules while on a mission undergo a punishment, although what that entails is unknown, although Grell has implied that it at least involves a potential demotion and possible confiscation of the individual's death scythe.

Grim Reapers seem to work either alone or in pairs, and they each have a death scythe, a weapon that can cut through anything including the Reaper who wields it, and seems to serve a dual-purpose of reviewing and collecting souls. Grell states that a slash from the death scythe severs the link between a human's memory and his or her soul, and it is how they officially end an individual's life. Each Grim Reapers death scythe seems to be unique to each individual. For example, Grell's resembles a chainsaw while Ronald's resembles a lawnmower. However, the death scythes can be modified, so long as the proper papers are filed with the also unseen General Affairs Department. It is against the rules to modify or even use a death scythe without permission.

Interestingly, despite being so tough that only a death scythe can kill a Grim Reaper, they are not immune to human ailments such as hunger and exhaustion. However, they are able to sleep without breathing.

Grim Reapers also seem to have a long-standing hatred of demons, which is illustrated through William Spears' interactions with Sebastian Michaelis. Grell sums this up by saying, "If the job of a Grim Reaper is to recover the souls of the dead, then demons can be likened to pests that snatch these souls away just for the sake of devouring them." Sebastian, on the other hand, calls their use of the cinematic record "just a terrible interest" and the worst sort of spying activity. However, this is lessened in the anime, as the Grim Reapers actively assist Ciel Phantomhive and Sebastian multiple times.


ABILITIES:  
Grim Reapers have a variety of abilities including:

Enhanced speed and power: Grim Reapers have been shown to have power comparable to demons, able to fight and defend against attacks that would easily crush a human.

Enhanced endurance: Grim Reapers are also known to be extremely tough, able to endure numerous assaults that would beat a human to death, making the death scythe the only currently known object that can kill a Grim Reaper.

Soul collection: By using their death scythes, Grim Reapers collect souls, which when done, officially ends an individual's life. The speed and efficiency with which this happens depends on the individual Grim Reapers death scythe.

Cinematic record: When cut with a death scythe, a brief movie plays, revealing information about the individual and his or her life. This is used to decide if the person should die or continue living. Sometimes, this is also called as the "Magic Play".

Animal communication: William has passed on information through birds to communicate with Grim Reapers elsewhere.

Rewriting present: Those of management level can use two items to rewrite part of someone's magic play as it is going on. By using the Death Bookmark, they can stop the story from continuing to write. By using a special pen, they can write in the next few lines, but cannot radically alter events.

KNOWN DIVISIONS AND DEPARTMENTS:
Main Branch
General Affairs Department
Personnel Department
Dispatch Management Division
London Division
Grim Reaper Staffing Association

Known Rules:
1#Using one's death scythe without permission is forbidden.

2#Modifying one's death scythe without following proper procedures is forbidden.

3#Killing people not on the death or soul collection list is forbidden.

4#Grim Reapers must never remove their glasses.

5#Grim Reapers must take care of their Death Scythes.

6#Sundry expenses must be settled at the end of the month.


Trivia:
#All of the currently seen Grim Reapers wear suits and glasses, including Undertaker, when shown as a Grim Reaper in the anime. It is not known if this is true for all Grim Reapers, or merely a coincidence. In the second musical it is stated that all Grim Reapers are required to wear glasses as a part of their uniforms. It is later revealed that if a Grim Reaper removes his glasses, it signifies his resignation. This is shown by Eric and Alan, who both take off their glasses and resign as Grim Reapers.
In Black Butler II, William reveals that glasses are very important to a, Grim Reapers though he doesn't state why. Instead he threatens Ronald with a pay cut.

#In the anime, all basic death scythes are shown to be like William Spears's.

#All of the death scythes shown in the manga/anime are based off of Gardening Tools, even some that shouldn't exist in that time period such as a chainsaw or a gas powered lawn mower.

#In Black Butler, a Grim Reapers eyes have black pupils and mossy green or yellow-green irises.

#There are no known female Grim Reapers throughout the series, but Ronald occasionally mentions female staff members.