| “ | ...Ah. How unfortunate. I've run out of heads to chop! ♪ | ” |
—Retrace XLV: Queen of Hurts | ||
The Headhunter (
This article contains plot and/or ending details for Pandora Hearts.
Read at your own risk.
In truth, the Headhunter is not one individual killer. It is a moniker taken by several characters under separate circumstances whose murders happened to all all be conducted in a similar manner—with decapitation as the method of killing.
There are a number of people who fall under the alias of the "Headhunter." Most significantly are those who have Illegally Contracted with the Chain Humpty Dumpty—such as, the children of the House of Fianna, the members of Isla Yura's Cult, and most predominantly, Elliot Nightray. There are also certain members of the Nightrays themselves despite the Headhunter's infamy for targeting said household—in particular the Nightrays' uncle, and sons Fred, Claude, and Ernest Nightray. And finally the originator of the handle—Vincent Nightray, using his Illegally Contracted Chain Demios the Executioner.
History[]
The Feast Arc[]
The first emergence of the Headhunter did not initially begin with decapitation. The incidents started with Fred, Claude, and Ernest Nightray, and their uncle, who like nearly every other relative they had despised Gilbert and Vincent for being outsiders adopted into their family, especially the former for being able to Contract with the Nightray Dukedom's Black Winged Chain Raven. They poisoned him, causing him to nearly die. And so his younger brother Vincent went on to kill the the uncle and Fred by way of beheading before any further harm could come to Gilbert. The discovery of their bodies lead to the epithet "Headhunter" first being born. Following this, Claude and Ernest conspired to finish the job and kill Gilbert and Vincent for good in a house fire they orchestrated, unknowing that their conversation over this was overhead by their youngest brother Elliot. They then planned to additionally kill Leo, Elliot's valet and best friend, and Elliot—having unknowingly Illegally Contracted with Humpty Dumpty—felt the uncontrollable need to protect Leo no matter the cost. Thus he beheaded his own elder brothers, and Vincent was no longer the sole Headhunter.
After this Vincent once again attacks Gilbert, deliberately not harming the man himself but rather those around him, prompting the elder to distance himself from the Nightrays, with the purpose of preventing suspicion from being cast on his brother. Then when Oz Vessalius and his friends go to the location of the second Sealing Stone, Vincent tails them and murders the magician and his allies guarding the Stone in order to break it. After this incident, the third Sealing Stone becomes high in demand for both those who wish to protect it and those who wish to destroy it. As a result, Oz Vessalius's second Coming-of-Age Ceremony is arranged to take place at the location of the third Stone, Isla Yura's mansion, to more easily protect it, while the Baskervilles infiltrate the mansion in order to destroy it. In time, a headless corpse shows up at the mansion as well. The person was killed by a Baskerville known as Lily and its discovery sent the mansion into a flurry of activity. Isla Yura is notified of this murder and encounters the Baskervilles himself soon after, who are in pursuit of the Stone. As a result, he orders his cult to proceed with their "Feast."
The children of the House of Fianna arrive in crimson cloaks and begin to behead people en masse, using their collective Contract with Humpty Dumpty, in order to reenact the Tragedy of Sablier. The mansion erupts in a panic, and Vanessa Nightray goes searching for her only surviving sibling Elliot. On the way she encounters Leo, shoves him down a flight of stairs, and threatens his life in her anger, all in front of Elliot — who thus kills her. He is seized by Xerxes Break and Gilbert, but Vincent hearing their encounter decides to cause further chaos and begins beheading people around him at random. Further into the chaos of the "Feast," Elliot finds himself killing his mother Bernice Nightray. As a result he begins to rebel against Humpty Dumpty and restore his altered memories, realizing that he is the Headhunter. He makes the decision to reject Humpty Dumpty and kill himself to prevent any further tragedy.
Jack's Intention Arc[]
Despite Elliot's sacrifice, he is not the lone Headhunter nor is he the last to be killed. Shortly after Elliot's death and the end of the events of the "Feast," Vincent Nightray, the original Headhunter, confronts his adopted father Bernard Nightray and in a rage beheads him and his guards. He carries on to confess the truth of his identity as the Headhunter and everything he had done to Leo, on top of passing on his youngest adopted brother's last words. All of this in service of Vincent fulfilling his ultimate goal, which he requests Leo's cooperation in: erasing his own existence.
Swan Song Arc[]
Coming soon!
Powers and Abilities[]
Coming soon!
Quotes[]
- "The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts! ♪ All on a summer's day! ♪ The Knave of Hearts! He stole those tarts! ♪ The angry Queen shouted... ♪ Off with his head! ♪ Off with his head!♪ Off with his head! ♪"[1]
Appearances[]
- Retrace XI: Grim (Mentioned only)
- Retrace XVII: Odds and Ends (Mentioned only)
- Retrace XXI: Discord (Mentioned only)
- Retrace XXXVI: Sablier (Mentioned only)
- Retrace XLIV: Dusty Sky (First Appearance)
- Retrace XLV: Queen of Hurts
- Retrace XLVI: Persona (Mentioned only)
- Retrace XLVII: Unbirthday (Mentioned only)
- Retrace XLIX: Night in gale
- Retrace L: Reverse Corte
- Retrace LII: Bloody Rites
- Retrace LIII: Humpty Dumpty Sat On A Wall
- Retrace LVII: Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
- Retrace LVIII: Puddle of blood
- Retrace LX: Egg Shell
- Retrace LXI: Demios
- Retrace LXV: Collapse
(*) - Denotes that the character did not appear physically, but as a part of another character's memories.
Trivia[]
- Coming soon!