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We're made to understand that the Baskervilles and Glen exist to protect the world order.

—Retrace XCI: Juror

Introduction

The Baskerville Clan (バスカヴィルの (いち) (ぞく) , Basukaviru no Ichizoku), also known as the Baskerville Race (バスカヴィルの (たみ) , Basukaviru no Tami) are a major antagonistic group from Jun Mochizuki's Pandora Hearts. Known in legends as the Crimson Reapers ( (あか) (しに) (がみ) , Akaki Shinigami) and the Messengers of the Abyss (アヴィスの使 () (しゃ) , Avisu no Shisha), the Baskervilles are intrinsically tied to the Abyss and its warped power, the members made up of enhanced humans with Chain-like abilities. They were the culprits behind the Tragedy of Sablier, where all humans within the former capital were murdered and the city subsequently dropped into the Abyss. Jack Vessalius was the one who defeated them and prevented further destruction, and as a result they are historically in constant opposition with his legacy, the Four Great Dukedoms and Pandora.[1]

After one hundred years of silence, the Baskervilles reappear as per a foretold prophecy during Oz Vessalius's Coming-of-Age Ceremony in order to cast him into the Abyss.[2] This is because of Oz being the "key" to obtaining the Intention of the Abyss,[3] and the reincarnation of their ancient enemy Jack Vessalius.[4] Their ultimate goals throughout the story are: obtain the Intention of the Abyss,[5] find and revive their master Glen Baskerville,[6] and, if necessary, reenact the Tragedy of Sablier once again.[7]

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SPOILER WARNING!
This article contains plot and/or ending details for Pandora Hearts.
Read at your own risk.
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The true culprit behind the Tragedy was Jack Vessalius,[8] who placed the blame on the Baskervilles for his own sinister goals.

Glen Baskerville and those serving him were created by the Jury for the purpose of producing a satisfying "Tale" that unfolded around them and preserving such "Tale" in the "Library." To this end, Glen and the Baskervilles were given the Abyss and its Core, around which their entire purpose and existence was built.[9] From their members being chosen by the Abyss's Droplets of Golden Light,[7] to each being comrades-in-arms with their Contracted Chain,[10] to their authority over the Doors to the Abyss and the corresponding Keys and Black Winged Chains[11]—everything about them is defined by the Abyss. They are lead by Jury to believe their duty is to protect the harmony of the Abyss, specifically by keeping it separate from the material world.[9] And simply by nature of being Baskervilles, they are compelled to unquestioningly obey the word of their master Glen no matter what.[12]

One hundred years ago when Jack Vessalius plotted to drop the world into the Abyss, the then-reigning Glen used the power of his Black Winged Chains to stop the collapse of the "Chains" that shaped the world. However Sablier was doomed to fall into the Abyss anyways, and any human still alive during that process would suffer the fate of being turned into a Chain. To prevent this, Glen ordered for the mass slaughter of every human within the capital.[13] But due to dividing his efforts to prevent the world's collapse, Glen was soon killed by Jack and his Illegally Contracted Chain, the B-Rabbit.[14] And all of Sablier including the Baskervilles still carrying out their master's orders was sucked into the Abyss—leaving Jack as the sole survivor.[15]

The event of the Tragedy was greatly traumatic for the Abyss and its Core,[16] causing its power to distort and darken rapidly, to the point where even the Baskervilles could no longer cross time properly.[6] Over the next following century, the Baskervilles would one-by-one exit the Abyss and slowly regroup and recuperate, gathering their strength in order to fulfill three main goals. First, to regain all they'd lost; taking the Doors to the Abyss stolen from them by the Four Great Dukedoms[1] and finding the lost soul of their master Glen.[6] Second, restore the Abyss to its true state by way of obtaining the Intention of the Abyss then destroying her.[17] Last, eliminate all who stood in their way, such as Pandora, Jack Vessalius, and the one boy in the center of it all—Oz.

Overview[]

Glen Baskerville is the title of Duke, main head and main de facto leader of the Baskerville Clan. And the person who can inherits this position formally through the Succession Ceremonies of Glen Baskerville. Their main task is casts anyone who threatens the peace of the Abyss with their judgement and their Chains of Condemnation.

Ep24-baskervilleaders

The leader of the Baskerville Clan

Throughout the series, there have been five glens before the Tragedy of Sablier and whenever "Glen" dies his soul migrates to the new "glen" while his body is mutated into a Chain. There is also another person related with Glen is Gilbert Nightray, who failed to be new Glen succeed Oswald because Vincent's interruption during his succession ceremony and Jack's manipulation.

Besides Glen Baskerville as the main de facto leader of Baskerville Clan, along the series ran; there are also shows another people who seem to became another leader of Baskerville Clan. Especially seen in anime, where is Xai Vessalius dominately appears to be a leader of Baskerville Clan during Glen's absence and in addition, Lottie also acted as another "leader" in a team with her cleverness during Glen's absence until Leo as new Glen arrives.

None of the Baskervilles member is related by blood. The only exceptions to this are where Lacie and Vincent Nightray joined their brothers, Oswald and Gilbert Nightray, in the Dukedom before they became Glen Baskerville. After this, they would have been killed when Glen used his Chains to summon the Chains of Condemnation and drag them into the darkness of the Abyss to be obliterated, due to them both being Children of Ill Omen.

Ep19 - oswald lottie fang dug

Fang criticized Oswald's order during Tragedy of Sablier

After the power of the Abyss enters a person's body as orbs of light, the person is then driven to go to the Baskerville estate where they join other people like them as 'Messengers of the Abyss'. Although, because the Baskervilles house much power of the Abyss within their bodies, they are more Chain-like than human, and so they can heal from virtually any wound inflicted by something unrelated to the Abyss. The servants obey their master whole-heartedly, viewing his orders as being absolute. However, this isn't always the case as some of the servants (especially Fang) questioned Oswald's orders when he ordered the Baskervilles to slaughter the population of Sablier during the Tragedy of Sablier. Although Oswald ordered this in order to let the population become part of the Rule of 100 Cycles (which allowed them to be reincarnate after 100 years had passed), he failed to inform the Baskervilles that if the population fallen into the Abyss while being alive, their body will permanently changed into Chains. Should this happened, that person's soul is permanently excluded from the Rule of 100 Cycles and can't never be reincarnated.

Glen Baskerville was the name of the Duke who lead the Baskerville family. One Glen Baskerville would pass on his Chains to his successor, as well as have them drink some of Glen's own blood, in order to transfer both the power of Glen Baskerville's Chains, but the collective soul of Glen Baskerville as well, which housed every past Glen. Although the new Glen would take in another's soul, his own soul reigns dominant in the body, while the other Glens watch Glen's life from within, often whispering to Glen subconsciously to voice their opinions. A Baskerville is chosen to become the next Glen Baskerville by meeting certain qualifications that include having some sort of connection to a Child of Ill Omen.

The discarded body of the previous Glen Baskerville then becomes a Chain because it is saturated with the power of the Abyss, the final discarded body having turned into Humpty Dumpty. These Chains then share a special bond with Glen, being tied to his soul so it is always able to find it, even when no one else can. The Chain then contracts with someone close to Glen and protects the container for Glen's soul. This process has been traditionally completed atleast three times (Levi, Oswald, three other Glen's shown in Leo's subconscious). However, as a result of the Tragedy of Sablier and Jack sealed Oswald's body in Sealing Stones, this cycle become broken. With Gilbert's ceremony being interrupted which in turn caused Raven to be permanently connected to him, the cycle between Glen Baskerville was damaged. Although the next reincarnation of Glen Baskerville was born (Leo), Leo didn't have all the qualifications previous Glen Baskerville had before in the past such as not having a connection with a Child of Ill Omen.

Baskerville family initial

A death reaper in crimson cloak/robes.

Before the Tragedy of Sablier, Baskerville was one of the many Dukedoms. What sets them aparts from other Dukedoms is their task, their role, and their abilities. They have important roles associated with the Abyss, which eventually became a legend.

Baskerville had an insignia, in the form a death reaper wrapped by crimson/red hoodie cloak. with it scythe as main weapon. Throughout the anime series, the Baskervilles are also called 'Shinigami'. It's referred to the powers and abilities of the Baskervilles to drop someone into Abyss.

Ep18 - detail of lottie's cloak

Detail of Lottie's cloak

The Baskervilles' distinctive characteristic is their bloody red/crimson hoodie cloak (but the color is more dark red in anime), which the members always wear during their task to drop anyone who threatens the the peace of the Abyss. Furthermore, the members usually have their own distinctive characteristics and style in their Baskerville cloaks. For example, Lottie decorates her Baskerville cloak with ribbons and pom-poms, and it's also shown with Lily with her outfits that accompanies her Baskerville cloak.

Before the Tragedy of Sablier, Baskerville Clan had many properties as well as their position as a Dukedom, such as own estate/mansion with wide garden or a wide area or a prison around Sablier (which finally that prison become Lutwidge Academy in modern day). Baskerville Clan also had secret passageways every where in "potential place" which associated with Abyss.

In the past, Baskervilles member living in an orchid-huge mansion/estate, along with some maids or valets. In their mansion area, there is also the Tower which Lacie and her twin daughters Alice and the Intention of the Abyss living together with Oz in his original form as a rabbit doll, Cheshire as original cat and later, the Dolls from Oswald for Alice.

After the Tragedy of Sablier, Baskervilles had lost of their ownership of some all of their properties or some is destroyed during the Tragedy--but they Door to the Abyss with it guardian, Jabberwock, is the exception--; in line with the accused of them as the 'evildoer' in that event. One of their properties, such a prison, finally changed by someone; became the private and top school in Pandora Hearts universe, which Ada and Elliot school as noble : Lutwidge Academy.

Lutwidge Academy has been taken over by the Four Great Dukedoms and now operates as a school for the children of noble families. The Academy is overseen by a Headmaster (exactly; Turner in present day), who is a member of Pandora, and who is meant to oversee order and report any interactions with Abyssal power. However, Baskerville secret passageway in Lutwidge Academy were left untouched and remain operable in present day, along with Vessalius secret passageway in the same place.

So, as the new base of their activities after the Tragedy, the Baskervilles chose to stay in their ex-estate area, which now become The Hole, and also to keep they Door to the Abyss which also they still have.

Members[]


Current


Former

Chains[]


Current


Former

Powers and Abilities[]

As a group of humans chosen by the Droplets of Golden Light to maintain and protect the well-being of the Abyss, Baskervilles have distinctive powers. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Chain Control: Baskervilles were initially the only humans able to form Contract with Chains. As such, their chains were meant to be companions from the Abyss to not only fight alongside them in battle, but also be their life long partners. Noise was unable to do this with Duldee and Duldum, and was considered an anomaly as a result.
  • Eternal Youth - Most Baskervilles do not appear to age over the course of a century. However, this youth is only superficial, and it is implied that surviving Baskervilles will die of old age soon following the hundred year timeskip.
  • Immunity to Abyss - All Baskervilles have an increased resistance to the negative effects of Abyss, due to being denizens of Abyss themselves. They are able to maintain "illegal" contracts indefinitely, and do not suffer the same madness induced in humans who interact with Abyss.
  • Limited Immortality - Baskerville bodies are more similar in construction to that of a Chain than a human, and thus cannot be killed by mortal weapons. However, they can be harmed or disabled. Weapons used by the B-Rabbit or Mad Hatter are capable of causing fatal wounds to Baskervilles.
  • Quick Wound Healing: Due to the saturation of Abyssal power in their body, Baskervilles heal at a faster rate than their human counterparts. However, this does not exclude them from fatal wounds that cannot be healed through treatment (ie. decapitation), attacks from Mad Hatter, or from weapons used by the B-Rabbit. Examples include:
    • Gilbert Nightray healed quickly when slashed by a sword used by Oz at a young age. However, this left a scar when other attacks have not.
    • Lily healed faster than the other Baskervilles because of her young age, as shown when she was shot by Reim and recovered seconds after but when Fang was slashed by Break he was still recovering when the fight resumed.
  • Reality Warping - All denizens of Abyss, Baskervilles included, have the passive ability to slightly warp reality for humans. However, this is not considered advantageous, as it generally encourages humans to act in a violent manner, and makes Baskervilles far more likely to be subjected to abuse. Incarnations of Glen Baskerville passively warp reality around them, though the specific nature and full extent of this warping is unknown. It was through this warping that Children of Ill Omen are created.
    • Lottie tells Lily that because she was a Baskerville, she warps the lives of the regular people around her, which was why bad things happened to Lily's family when she was with them.
  • Supernatural Body: Baskervilles are noted to have increased stamina, endurance, strength, physical resistance, speed and agility. Examples include:
    • Multiple Baskervilles can withstand long fights
    • Enhanced endurance can be seen in Fang when he fought against Xerxes Break
    • Gilbert Nightray had high physical resistance against attacks.
    • Lottie immediately spun and threw a knife at the intruder when she hears a noise during her first conversation with Oz.
  • Time Freezing: Baskervilles can freeze the time around those who will be casting others into the Abyss. This is done to smooth the judgement & casting process towards the convicted, while the convicted is not affected by this time freezing.

Appearances[]

Manga Appearances
Anime Appearances

Coming soon!

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • Coming soon!

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Retrace XVII: Odds and Ends
  2. Retrace II: Tempest of Conviction
  3. Retrace VII: Reunion
  4. Retrace XXII: His name is...
  5. Retrace VIII: Whisperer
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Retrace XLI: Where am I?
  7. 7.0 7.1 Retrace LI: Lily&Reim
  8. Retrace LXV: Collapse
  9. 9.0 9.1 Retrace XCI: Juror
  10. Retrace LXXIX: Falling
  11. Retrace XXXIX: Gate of Blackness
  12. Retrace LXVII: Lacie
  13. Retrace LXXIV: Broken Rabbit
  14. Retrace XCIX: Shade
  15. Retrace LXXVIII: Decision
  16. Retrace LVI: Rabbit Eyes
  17. Retrace LXIII: Purpose

Navigation[]

v - e - t Pandora Hearts
Characters

Main: AliceGilbert NightrayOz Vessalius
Vessalius: Ada VessaliusAda's CatsJack VessaliusMrs. KateOscar VessaliusRachel CecileSara VessaliusXai Vessalius
Nightray: Bernard NightrayBernice NightrayClaude NightrayEchoElliot NightrayErnest NightrayFred NightrayHansLeoMrs. FinnRaymond NightrayVanessa NightrayVincent Nightray
Rainsworth: EmilySharon RainsworthShelly RainsworthSheryl RainsworthXerxes Break
Barma: Arthur BarmaCalum LunettesGrunerMiranda BarmaReim LunettesRufus Barma
Baskervilles: CeliaDugFangGlen BaskervilleGlen Baskerville (♀)JuryLacieLeviLilyLottieNoiseOswald
Abyss: The Core of the AbyssThe Intention of the Abyss
Other: Flower GirlThe GeneralHarris WatsonHeadhunterIsla YuraJyantaMariePhillipe WestRytasTurnerWilliam West
Chains: AlbusB-RabbitBandersnatchCardsCheshireThe CookDemiosDodoDormouseDuldeeDuldumEquusFawnFlower Girl's ChainGrimGryphonHedgehog ChainsHumpty DumptyThe Intention's DollsJabberwockLacie's ChainLarsLeonMad BabyMad HatterMarch HareOwlRavenRocking-Horse-FlySnap-Dragon-FlyTove
Caucus Race: Dahlia GarlandGarland ButlerGeraldGreat MotherJosephineMarcelMia

Nobility Barma DukedomBaskerville ClanNightray DukedomRainsworth DukedomSinclair FamilyVessalius DukedomWest Family
Terminology Species & Factions: Black Winged ChainsChainsContractorsIsla Yura's CultPandora

Objects: Arthur Barma's Memoirs"Chains"Doors to the AbyssJack Vessalius' Pocket WatchKeys to the DoorsSilent Clock TowerStone Seals
Events: Coming-of-Age CeremonySuccession CeremoniesTragedy of Sablier
Miscellaneous: AngelsChildren of Ill OmenLacie (Song)Holy KnightStatice

Locations AbyssBarma HomelandCarillonDimensional PlaneÉbaucheHouse of FiannaLacie's TombLuca's GateLutwidge AcademyReveilSablierTower
Volumes IIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIXXXIXIIXIIIXIVXVXVIXVIIXVIIIXIXXXXXIXXIIXXIIIXXIV
Omake Maidora HeartsBumbling Sleuth BreakMagical Girl Ill-Omened❤LaciePandora Academy
Episodes 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425Special Episodes
DVDs IIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIXBonus Story
Guidebooks & Artbooks 8.518.524 + 1Official Animation Guide〜Odds and Ends〜「There is.」
Light Novels 123
Drama CDs Pandora Hearts Drama CDNightmare of Vessalius Academy!Alice's Tea PartyAnimedia Radio SpecialRadio Special 1Radio Special 2Radio Special 3Retrace 42.5Another Story of A Promise Lost
Soundtrack OST 1OST 2Parallel HeartsMazeWatashi wo MitsuketeEverytime you kissed me
Character Songs Swear to...Kinjirareta AsobiTruth
Calendars 20102011201220132014
Extra Pandora HearchuMochizuki's MusingsTimelineReal-World References
Author Jun Mochizuki
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