Cleaver

Cleavers are highly skilled soldiers, enforcers, and guards that have been trained by the Sanctuaries. They generally start life as sorcerer children with below than average levels of magic. Although they can talk, no Cleaver has been heard conversing in the books. Cleavers are predominantly male.  

History

They served during the War and were later assigned as a protection force for the various Sanctuaries.

Starting from a young age, they were brainwashed and mentally conditioned to become the perfect soldiers. Cleavers are predominantly male; the brainwashing techniques used for training does not work well with females. Cleavers consider their orders absolute and follow them without a second thought.

Training

Cleavers are a staunch, resolute group of soldiers. They consider their orders absolute and follow them without hesitation, even if orders that will likely result in their death. Cleaver candidates begin training at the Crucible (cleaver training centre) between the ages of 8 to 12 in order to brainwash them into the perfect soldiers. They are subjected to copious amounts of mental conditioning, which accounts for their unflinching ability to follow orders. During training most, if not all, of their magic is redirected into perfecting and enhancing their physical condition. The conditioning process does not affect the genders equally, with males far more susceptible.

As mentioned in The Dying of the Light, a training/combat circle exists deep within each Sanctuary. Cleaver candidates strip naked and fight within the circle, unable to leave until defeat occurs. A challenge to fight is considered a ceremonial honour that cannot be refused. Cleavers who undertake the challenge prove themselves capable without armour or protection.

The Behavioural Indoctrination

As mentioned before, Cleavers undergo heavy Behavioural Indoctrination. Beginning at a young age, the lengthy process is often likened to voluntary brainwashing. The indoctrination entails for dampening or repressing of certain personality traits, which results in an individual capable of following orders to the letter.

It is stated that numerous ethical debates have been waged for hundreds of years over the implications of the Indoctrination process. The process was once removed and replaced with a new approach. However, this approach failed, resulting in a generation of faulty Cleavers. These failed Cleavers would form the first of the Rippers. The first Rippers were as physically impressive as their grey-coated counterparts, but psychologically flawed in their ability to take orders. Behavioural Indoctrination was reintroduced shortly after, and has embedded itself as an integral facet to creating the ideal soldier.

Roles in Books

Skulduggery Pleasant

When Ghastly Bespoke and Valkyrie Cain show up unannounced at the Waxworks Museum, requesting to see the Elders to inform them that Serpine has abducted Skulduggery Pleasant, a Cleaver blocks Valkyrie when she tries to barge past the Administrator.

Two Cleavers are assigned to help Tanith Low, Valkyrie Cain, and Ghastly Bespoke rescue Skulduggery Pleasant. Tanith sends the two Cleavers to distract a mass of Hollow Men so they can get into Serpine's castle, which Ghastly admonishes her for, stating she’s sent them to their death. As they flee, having rescued Skulduggery, they pass one of the Cleavers, now dead.

Playing With Fire

The Cleavers are the reinforcements to Valkyrie, Skulduggery, Tanith and Mr Bliss during the attack on the Grotesquery. They act as the second wave, (the first being Valkyrie, Skulduggery, Tanith and Mr Bliss) and fight with great skill until they are defeated by Baron Vengeous.

The Faceless Ones

Cleavers at the Battle of Aranmore Farm

Skulduggery says that after the events of the previous books, Cleavers are now being treated more carefully, their numbers depleted. Remus Crux has two Cleavers protecting him while he is investigating the death of Cameron Light. When Vaurien Scapegrace is let out of his cell, two Cleavers catch him. More Cleavers are then used when Skulduggery and Valkyrie are accused of stealing the Grotesquery. Skulduggery incapacitates these Cleavers looking for them in their escape. Crux later uses Cleavers to arrest Valkyrie. At Aranmore Farm, Cleavers help fight Hollow Men, but are killed when Faceless Ones get through the portal.

Dark Days

Detective Pennant takes four Cleavers to arrest China Sorrows and Fletcher Renn after the portal is opened. The Cleavers are defeated. When the Sanctuary is attacked by vampires, twenty-one Cleavers are killed.

Mortal Coil

Three Cleavers are assigned in Haggard to protect Valkyrie after Tanith is permanently possessed by a Remnant. Valkyrie feels sorry for them and pays them a visit, but finds that Tanith killed them all.

Death Bringer

The Cleavers assist Skulduggery and Valkyrie when the lay siege on they Necromancer Temple.

Kingdom Of The Wicked

Cleavers load a man who thought he was a butterfly into a van.

Theatre of Shadows

They assist Operatives in the hunt for Silas Nadir.

A Cleaver in Dublin. This was part of the fan event called the Requiem Ball held in 2014.

Last Stand of Dead Men

Tanith Low pretends to be a Cleaver in order to save Dexter Vex. They also fight at The Battle at the Abandoned Fort and The Battle of Roarhaven.

The Dying of the Light

Clarabelle plays with a Cleaver outside the Medical Bay. Many Cleavers are killed by Darquesse.

Equipment and Powers

Cleavers are solely melee fighters. They are nonmagical; magic is seen as a corrupting force that would create bias. They do possess some magic ability, but it is used in augmenting their physical powers.

Cleavers use woven razor scythes. These weapons can easily cut through bone, as seen when Jaron Gallow cuts off his arm with an abandoned scythe. Their scythes, used as physical, close-quarters weapons, are capable of resisting magic. Cleavers' coats and helmets also share this ability. Their uniform is made by Sanctuary magic-scientists.

Trivia

• All Cleavers have shaved heads.
• According to the The Skulduggery Pleasant Grimoire, there are legends of White Cleavers and Black Cleavers going back centuries, often serving as warnings to new recruits. These appear to have some historical basis, and indicate an unknown force at work. Connections to the Black Cleaver are unknown.
  • There has also been one recorded mention of a Red Cleaver.
• The Cleavers were originally part of an unproduced script.
• A "Cleaver commander" was mentioned in one book, meaning Cleavers may hold different ranks.
  • This idea was only mentioned once, so it is unclear whether this is a common rank or whether the Cleaver in question was simply chosen to lead their comrades during that assignment.
  • The idea that they were in charge could be an assumption on the part of the character who mentioned them.
  • It is unclear if/how they are visually distinguishable from other Cleavers.

Appearances