Hindley

At a certain point in history, sapient beings that weren't humans were driven out of the City and into the Outskirts, and their existence within the confines of the City was deemed a Taboo. This marked the beginning of the City's "age of humanity".[7] As part of this action, the Head introduced the Artificial Intelligence Ethics Amendment, which established a series of City-wide Taboos against the creation of machines that resembled humans, outlawing the creation of both mechanical copies of a human body and machines with an intelligence comparable to that of humans.[7][12] Furthermore, a Taboo was established by the Head against the resurrection of a human being.[13] Ultimately, all of these are considered to be unethical pursuits.

The Head has also set a number of restrictions on the creation and distribution of firearms[14] and on human cloning, which allow two copies of the same person to exist in the City for no longer than seven days. The Head is also responsible for various other Taboos of the City, such as not paying one's taxes, and violating a residential area during the Night in the Backstreets.[15]

The punishment for breaking any of these Taboos usually involve physical extermination, and for a Wing, the stripping of its qualifications and immediate shutdown.[16] The punishment for violating the Taboos established by the Head is noted to be different from breaking a Taboo of a Nest, which usually involves being chased by a small number of Taboo hunters; breaking a Taboo of the City is believed to be equivalent to a death sentence.[15]

The Head is backed up in its functions by the Eye and the Claw, the two authorities responsible for B Corp. and C Corp. respectively. In enforcing the laws of the City, the three Wings make use of three types of agents: the Arbiters, the Beholders, and the Claws. When handling an Impurity-level threat, these agents are qualified to expel an entity from the City itself and move it into the Outskirts.

The Head is the leader of the Wings and the central governing body of the City. It is in direct control of A Corp., B Corp., and C Corp., the three Districts at the very center of the City. The Head's identity is completely unknown, although it appears the term refers to a group of people rather than a singular entity;[7] any detail regarding it is a closely guarded secret.

The Head, through A Corp., retains control of the entire City. It is responsible for authorizing Wings, managing patents, and the minting of Ahn, the currency used in the City.[8]

Despite this, it does not typically interfere directly with the affairs of the various Wings in their own Districts; rather, the Head's greatest involvement in the life of the City consists in establishing and enforcing the rules that relate to the overall ethics of the City.

The Head's will shapes the image of the City, as it wields the ability to decide when a part of it no longer fits in the vision, and to chase it outside its confines. Some speculate the Head's decisions in these matters aren't aimed at maintaining order, but rather that the Head wishes to preserve its ideal image of the City, and that for this reason they allow the various Stars of the City to keep existing.[9] This is corroborated by the agents of the Head themselves referring to their work as cultivating the ecology of the City.[10]

To preserve this vision, the Head retains the unique power to assign the highest risk level in the scale of hazards of the City, that of Impuritas Civitatis, or Impurity of the City. The risk level of Impurity signifies a hazard that violates the ethics of the City,[11] and that must be either destroyed or physically expelled from the confines of the City expeditiously.

The City is the setting of Limbus Company and its preceding games, Lobotomy Corporation and Library of Ruina. A brutal environment where death and violence are everyday occurrences, the City has slowly been revealed through the travels of the LCB.

The City is a massive urban complex the size of a small country, and has a population of around 7 billion. The City is bordered to the south by the Great Lake, and to the other directions by the Outskirts. Underneath it lie the Ruins.

Districts The City is divided into twenty-six Districts, quite diverse in culture and aesthetics, each of which is governed by a Wing, a corporation that has ascended to claim complete control of said area. All Wings respond to the Head, the supreme governing power of the City. The arrangement of the Districts seems to be static, as there has been no mentioned case of a District expanding into a fallen Wing's territory.

Each District is split into a Nest, a territory directly governed and protected by its Wing, and the Backstreets, expansive spaces of wilderness or slums, largely neglected by the Wings, where the Syndicates of the City run free.

Districts tend to have similarities to their neighbors, and are typically grouped into four sections: the northern, eastern, southern, and western quarters. These quarters may be distinguished by commonalities including culture and temperature, such as the same Fixer Associations differing in garb and fighting style across different quarters, or the northern quarter having colder weather.

District 26, while confirmed to exist in current times, is not visible from the map.

The Dead Rabbits were a Syndicate of the District 20 Backstreets that Heathcliff joined after leaving Wuthering Heights.

The Dead Rabbits Syndicate, led by Matthew, originally operated uniquely in the Backstreets of District 20. They were known as being vigilantes of sorts, being notable among the gangs of T Corp. for actually protecting those they exorted protection money (in the form of time) from. The Dead Rabbits' distinctive sign was the scarf they'd warp around their arms, resembling rabbit ears, and their preferred weapons were long metal bats. The Syndicate prized its loyalty and was tightly-knit, with their members often frequenting pubs (particularly The Wolf's Fall) and HamHamPangPang restaurants together, and with their boss Matthew taking care of Time Taxes for his underlings.

Sometime after Heathcliff had left the Dead Rabbits, the Syndicate was wiped out. Years later, the Dead Rabbits were reborn with support of The Ring and rose to an Urban Plague classification.[1] Members of this Syndicate under this revival were not willing participants of the Syndicate, but were Identities that were created and overlaid over the bodies of civilians taken from the Nest of T Corp. They could be recognized by their red rabbit masks and brown coats. In this iteration, they wielded spiked bats, and their leader went by the name Matt.

“ Well, Cathy, now he's got us to look after him. And this place as his home.” –Mr. Earnshaw, Canto VI: The Heartbreaking

Mr. Earnshaw is the father of Catherine and Hindley, as well as the guardian of Heathcliff who he took in from the Backstreets, and the former owner of Wuthering Heights. He is a minor supporting character in Canto VI: The Heartbreaking.

Appearance Mr. Earnshaw is a tall man bearing a great resemblance to his biological children. He has short, parted, hair and a small goatee beard. He is shown wearing a brown dress shirt with a darker cravat.

Personality Mr. Earnshaw appears to be a kind man, sympathetic to the children struggling to survive in the Backstreets and is the type of father to always bring presents back for his children when he goes out on trips.

It is revealed that he may not have been as great a father as he is presented to be in memory, having strongly taken a greater interest in Heathcliff and favoring him over his own son.

Story Prior to Limbus Company While out on a trip, Mr. Earnshaw came across a young Heathcliff, who he believed to be close to death given the terrible weather, choosing to bring the boy back to Wuthering Heights. His children complained about the fact their father brought home this strange boy rather than the presents he had promised them, so he explained to them the fact that Heathcliff had no parents or home of his own and that he would be living here with them from now on. While Hindley continued to be resistant to the idea of the other boy living with them, Catherine started to show interest in Heathcliff. Mr. Earnshaw grew to favor Heathcliff over Hindley, something that would spark Hindley's rage against the orphan.

At some point, Mr. Earnshaw passed away and Wuthering Heights was passed on to his son Hindley.

Notably, Wuthering Heights has been built atop a hill beneath which flows a subterranean River, implied to be the same as the River of consciousness which was discovered by the founders of Lobotomy Corporation. Because of this particular position, the manor appears to some, such as Josephine, Catherine, and subsequently Heathcliff, to be haunted by ghosts, which are revealed to be the shadows of alternate selves from other worlds resurfacing thanks to the River's current.[2] Both literal and metaphorical, the River is sustained by natural gaps in reality, forming a "stream" beneath the Earth's surface.[3] The River is a boundless reservoir of humanity's collective consciousness, impervious to the passage of time, and serves as a barrier preventing consciousness from transcending to the afterlife even postmortem,[4] as seen through the summonings that took place within the manor.

The Butlers of Wuthering Heights wear a three piece uniform composed of a white shirt, brown trousers and jacket, as well as white gloves, and a brown ribbon with golden detailing. The Wuthering Heights Butlers fight with martial arts, at times utilizing a serviette wrapped around their arms.

Wuthering Heights is a manor located in Nest T, and the setting of Canto VI: The Heartbreaking. Its staff serves as one of the major antagonists of the chapter.

Wuthering Heights is the ancestral home of the Earnshaw family, which used to belong to Mr. Earnshaw before being inherited by his son Hindley. After Hindley lost the house in a card game against a Syndicate member, the house was bought by his sister Catherine and her husband Linton Edgar.

Wuthering Heights is located on top of a hill in the Nest of District 20, where it's always been subject to extremely windy weather. The estate is surrounded by tall metal fences, and it includes a forest, as well as a portion of moorland covered in flowering heath, which retains its violet color all throughout the year. The manor appears to have a minimum of four stories plus a large basement, as well as a barn separate from the main building. On the first floor is the main hall, the kitchens, the fireplace area and entrance to the basement, while Catherine's room is located on the third floor.[1] On the side of the manor opposite of the entrance rises a tall tower with a spiral staircase that leads up to the large rooftop.

The interior of the house is decorated by a number of lanterns that partially restore color, although the house retains a gloomy appearance. Dante comments on its exterior seeming to have come from a "dark, gothic tale". The house is also completely devoid of mirrors, as they had all been removed by Nelly prior to the events of the story.

It is through the diary that Catherine communicates with the outside world during the events of Canto VI, using it to reach for Heathcliff as he falls into Distortion, and later upon Nelly's betrayal, making use of their shared memories to convey her love for him. Catherine explicitly confesses to Dante to having always been dishonest with her feelings for the people she cared for, never being brave enough to admit to them, and growing angry at those who misunderstood her; Canto VI's associated song furthers this theme by pointing at forwardness and sincerity as qualities of Heathcliff Catherine treasured, lacking them herself. Her struggle with being truthful continues all the way to the end, but eventually, inspired by Heathcliff's courage in admitting his love for her, finally manages to do the same, and she departs peacefully, as both of them feel their hearts have been reunited.

In time, Catherine developed a colder, pragmatic way of thinking. Despite her feelings for Heathcliff, she believed that by marrying while still under her brother's control they would not have the means to live. She instead began considering marrying Linton Edgar for the advantages the union would bring, such as the financial means to help Heathcliff and live comfortably. After his departure and her interactions with the Mirror Worlds, despite having realized that Linton carried no true love for her, she still asked for his hand in order to carry on with her alternate self's plan to give up her life. This, together with the events tied to the creation of the laboratory, show her as willful and ruthless in realizing her goals, but also quite shortsighted, not having considered the possibility of Hermann having ulterior motives in facilitating the experiment.

Catherine also carried a vulnerable, emotional side to her, as shown by the rapid decline of her health after Heathcliff's departure, as she worried of what his fate might be without anyone to help him, and felt deeply hurt over his perceived indifference towards her. Catherine speaks of having felt all of Heathcliff's pain during their time together, and she was heartbroken and wrecked by guilt upon hearing her alternate self's claim that she had always been the cause of his misery. Catherine kept this side of her closely guarded, often hiding behind riddles and only admitting to the truth in her diary.

Personality As a child, Catherine was quite adventurous and outgoing, often being the one to suggest breaking the rules and sneaking out of Nelly's supervision while playing with Heathcliff. Catherine had a love of riddles, with which she enjoyed testing Heathcliff, and she had a passion for inventing things from a young age, dreaming of becoming a grand inventor one day.

While Nelly described her as someone who loved being at the center of everyone's attention, Catherine grew up quite sheltered, often feeling trapped in Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff remembers her pitying the sad fate of the birds whose feathers would be used for their pillows; Nelly similarly likens her to a naive, caged bird. Wuthering Heights often scared Catherine, as ever since she was a child, she was terrified of the dark of the manor and the ghost of her mother she saw wandering the halls. Despite this, her temperament remained lively: Heathcliff often notes her to be impatient and fiery, and describes her as a calamity.

Catherine is portrayed as a woman of short stature with an average build and a fair complexion. She has wavy dark blonde hair that reaches her upper back, and chocolate brown eyes that often gaze sideways. Catherine is described as the "most beautiful person in the world" by Heathcliff, and her presence captivates the Edgar Family at first sight.

Her typical attire consists of a floor-length layered ballgown dress. The bottom layer is frilled and white, while the top layer is warm brown with gold trim and floral embroidery. The dress features a high collar adorned with a brown cravat connected to it, embellished with a shiny gold pendant. Catherine also wears a gold, rounded necklace that depicts the head of a spanner, possibly an award for her career as an inventor. Catherine is typically shown wearing dark gloves.

When seen during her childhood, Catherine had a similar hairstyle, and adorned her hair with white flowers. She wore a long, frilled white embroidered dress tied with a ribbon around the waist. Additionally, she donned a thin, yellow ribbon on the collar, adorned with a green pearl.

Gender: Female Affiliations: Wuthering Heights Relations: Heathcliff (Lover) Nelly (Butler, former caretaker) Mr. Earnshaw (Father) Hindley (Older brother) Linton (Husband) Josephine (Butler) Every Catherine (Mirror self) First Appearance: Canto VI: The Heartbreaking

Anything involving Catherine consistently shows the most vulnerable sides of Heathcliff. Though still a brash, violent, and bad-tempered person, he is also one with regrets, fragility, selflessness, and a heart holding a lot of love for his favorite person in the world. Heathcliff mourns her with sincerity, and grows genuinely bashful when the topic of their relationship comes up. Having learned of the consequences of their lack of communication, he shows himself to be trying to improve in this matter, both in his relationship with Catherine and his bond with the Sinners, whom he's began considering like a family. He shows an unbending will to do anything for those he holds dear.

Post Canto VI, Heathcliff continues to wield his bat to strike against those who stand in his way, but now with determined purpose instead of meaningless anger. Rodion notes that he'd become more tame following the events at Wuthering Heights, after which he'd begun keeping a notebook. In it, he records memories of Catherine and his travels with Limbus Company, showing his determination to remember his loved one and one day get her back while still treasuring the new journey experienced with his new comrades.

On the other side of the spectrum, Heathcliff uses action in show of loyalty and consideration. And as the Sinners got to know each other, he began to treat the group like friends, in spite of their tendency to mistreat him. This included things like stepping up against N Corp. Inquisitors after they threatened Dante, or helping Ishmael break out of the pallidification. Despite harboring self-consciousness surrounding his intellect, Heathcliff also demonstrates an ability to think on his feet, often to a successful end. He has on several occasions come in clutch for others due to his fast-acting nature.

He would eventually become more willing to rely on verbal communication as the others respected him more in return. Intervallo III: Miracle in District 20 sees Heathcliff open up about his situation to Dante and Don Quixote when they are willing to listen and treat him with dignity. A wide array of conversations in Canto VI: The Heartbreaking cement this pattern in behavior: Heathcliff will attack those who provoke him, but is inclined to calmly converse with those who take him seriously. He is even prone to showing outright charity to these people, forgiving and thanking Nelly for all she's done for him after finding out about her betrayal. His former maid, who knew him better than most anyone, would later describe Heathcliff as a "good, kindhearted boy".

Heathcliff is an exceptionally short-tempered and abrasive individual, electing violence as a first resort, and aggression as a way of life. He is overly impulsive and quick to anger, with consequences for those involved. However, over the course of several Cantos, a considerably calmer, more considerate, and selfless side of his personality would come to light.

Originally, Heathcliff comes off as remarkably hostile. He expresses a loathing for being ordered around and is as willing to talk back to his allies as he is his enemies. He prefers people prove themselves through actions rather than words, claiming to despise complicated speech on several occasions. As such, the negative impressions he gives are often in the form of physical violence. One of his first interactions with Dante even consists of him beating Sinclair near-death for suggesting he go easy on the manager.

Despite this, the majority of Heathcliff's antagonism is in response to belittlement from others. In actuality, Heathcliff is not often one to start fights uncalled-for; rather, his fits of rage are but an over-the-top reaction to bullying and ridicule, and he is fully capable of engaging in grounded conversation. Constant jabs from Ishmael, Faust and Don Quixote simply hit a sore spot, as Heathcliff demonstrates a clear aversion to being looked down on.

Heathcliff is a tall and well-built man with messy dark brown hair parted on the right side of his head. He possesses sharp, glaring eyes that are a dark shade of purple, and slit pupils. His eyebrows are the same shade as his hair and are both slit, his right eyebrow having two slits and his left just one. He has a dark complexion with a number of scars littering his arms and going all the way up to his cheeks.

His work uniform lacks the typical long black leather jacket, instead including a holster which is strapped around his chest and shoulders, with his employee card hanging below his right breast. The sleeves of his Limbus Company white shirt are rolled up to his elbows. He wears a red tie, black suit pants with a black waist belt and dark gray shoes.

His weapon of choice is a long metal bat with bandages wrapped around the handle and the word "REVENGE" written in sharp letters on the barrel, which Heathcliff holds in his right hand and rests over his shoulder. After the events of Canto VI, he refashioned the bat to spell out "REmember". This is also reflected on his LCB Sinner battle sprites.

During his makeover in Canto VI, Heathcliff wears a formal suit in the style of T Corp., composed of a white shirt underneath a red vest and a blue overcoat with red lapels, both decorated with golden trimmings, a white cravat and dark suit pants and boots. His hair has been combed back and tied into a low ponytail.

Notably, although difficult to catch, Heathcliff wears a ring on the pointer finger of his right hand, which is present in most of his Mirror World Identities.

Affiliation:

1. Limbus Company
2. Wuthering Heights (Former)
3. Dead Rabbits (Former)

Biographical Info Gender: Male Height: 180cm, 5'11"[1] Birthday: July 7th Native District: District 20, T Corp. Relations: LCB (Colleagues) Catherine (Lover) Nelly (Former caretaker) Mr. Earnshaw (Guardian) Hindley (Former housemate) Matthew (Former boss)

Heathcliff is designated Sinner #7 of Limbus Company's LCB department.

Heathcliff is a brash and action-oriented man with a strong, dedicated spirit. He was previously affiliated with Wuthering Heights, having grown up alongside the Earnshaws and later worked for the Dead Rabbits Syndicate prior to joining Limbus Company.

He is the focus character of Canto VI: The Heartbreaking.

Gender: Male Affiliations: Wuthering Heights Relations: Mr. Earnshaw (Father) Catherine (Younger sister) Heathcliff (Former housemate) Josephine (Butler) Nelly (Former Butler) First Appearance: Canto VI: The Heartbreaking

Log Writer: Heathcliff

Lacking Data I never even had a moment of contentment as long as I was here at the manor, but… I at least lived like a human being when Mr. Earnshaw was alive.

Even then, Hindley was always looking for a chance to torture me, but… Mr. Earnshaw would always raise his cane and drag Hindley to his room.

Right. Mr. Earnshaw favored me. I had his affection.

The same affection that would’ve gone to Hindley had I not been there.

I was still a poor child with nothing to my name, but… to this bastard, that affection was what mattered the most.

Expensive augmentation procedures, his inheritance, all the Butlers who were to be in his service… none of that mattered more than his father’s love.

I knew that. Even as a boy, I had a knack for sussing out these things.

So, whenever Hindley would provoke me with my relationship to Catherine, I always shot back at him using his craving for his father’s love.

… That was the only way I could deny the truth that, at least in this manor, I was beneath him.

It must’ve been around then when he started blaming me for every single one of his misfortunes.

The fact that he never got that violin. The fact that his father stopped receiving his morning greetings.

Perhaps… even when he lost the manor to gambling, when he learned that Catherine left nothing for him in her will… he might've blamed me still.

Right. Maybe he did.

I thought something was off when he started talking so boldly at me, not even realizing what a mess he'd become.

Now… it looks like this blighter's just walking himself into hell.

Making himself look large and threatening, swinging his claws about with abandon… but I can see right through this façade.

I see a poor, abandoned dog. Abandoned by Mr. Earnshaw, cast out from Wuthering Heights.

A part of me just thinks he’s pathetic… but I also feel a bit of pity…

Tsk, all of that musing to say nothing in the end. Let’s put him out of his misery first.

Later, after the Sinners defeat the "Öufi Association" members in the basement of the manor, Hindley arrived with Matthew and a slew of Dead Rabbits, before being pushed by the Syndicate boss to fight the Sinners with support from the augmentations he received in his younger years. After a failed battle against the Sinners, Hindley began to panic, terrified over the prospect of having failed at the apex of his redemption--his last attempt to save face and return to the life he loved, one without the ruination he now faces. Breaking down over the state of the manor and seeing it as a place of rot, he was delivered a final push by Matthew in way of being told to "beware the obsidian grass", mocking his utter failure when betting the manor in a card game. Agreeing with Carmen's voice over his wants being no more than a violin, ruined by Heathcliff's presence, he inevitably Distorted, attacking the Sinners while confronted with memories of antagonism and his beliefs of deceit. At the finale of the fight, he was killed, causing Matthew to reveal his true identity while graciously viewing the death of the his loathed client as a positive.

Canto VI: The Heartbreaking Returning to Wuthering Heights for his sister's will reading, he hired the Dead Rabbits Syndicate as means of protection.

During the introduction to the will reading, while Heathcliff and the Sinners are present, Hindley began to argue with his former adopted sibling, attempting to regain his pride. Having enough, he sent the Dead Rabbits against the Sinners, before they're called off by the Dead Rabbits Boss returning. Being placated by those around him, he was soon readied for the reading of the will, hopefully awaiting his sister's gifts to him. When met with the realization all she left for him was a WARP Train ticket to a rehab facility in M Corp., he returned to his depressed and angry state, upset at the "betrayal" of his late sister, pushed further in the belief that she and Linton conspired to steal the manor away from him. With the first strike of lightning, the parties present were spread across the manor.

Hindley was found nearby the Sinners, with his life threatened by the Wuthering Heights Butlers. Dante quickly assumed Heathcliff planned to allow him to be killed by Josephine and her subordinates when met with a memory of the abuse of Heathcliff, though Heathcliff instead stood Hindley's ground for him, believing it as something Catherine would have wanted. Following Josephine's retreat, Hindley lambasted Heathcliff over not knowing Dead Rabbits Boss's name as Matt, something Heathcliff insisted against, knowing his real name as Matthew. From here, Hindley thanklessly departed in search of his hired subordinates.

Prior to Limbus Company Hindley was present when Mr. Earnshaw arrived home carrying Heathcliff after finding him orphaned in the Backstreets. Hindley, having expected a violin he requested of his father, would grow immediately angry with Heathcliff, something that would snowball continuously over the years as Hindley pettily argued with and contributed to the abuse of Heathcliff. He came to view this moment as the crux for his life falling apart in his adulthood, remembering the violin as a reason for it all.

At some point, he was augmented with prosthetics that allowed for him to fight better, as well as being sent to a school to learn combat.

Later, he would inherit Wuthering Heights upon his father's death. However, during a gamble, the manor was put up for purchase due to Hindley's loss, being bought by Catherine immediately. This exponentially worsened Hindley's depression and debt, as well as add to his list of reasons to spite Heathcliff.

Hindley is an impulsive and spiteful man, known to carry grudges. As a result of his father's preference for Heathcliff and neglect of him during childhood, Hindley adopted an attitude of superiority; even during adulthood, he enjoys flaunting his wealth and power over others, verbally degrading them and using physical violence with those he believes to be beneath him and whom he knows cannot defend themselves. On top of this, he remains unsatisfied with his position of social and financial privilege, instead always viewing himself as a victim of injustice.

Even after inheriting Wuthering Heights, Hindley struggled with a deep depression, falling into various addictions such as alcohol and gambling, leading him to become more violent towards Heathcliff, Catherine, and the Butlers of the manor, and further isolating himself. Hindley is also characterized by a refusal to take responsibility for these actions, still blaming Heathcliff for having stolen his father's love, and cursing Catherine for not having left anything in her will that would benefit him financially.

All the way up to his Distortion, Hindley frequently attempted to throw around his weight with those he could not match in power. Despite his role of hirer in relation to the Dead Rabbits Boss, he felt threatened immediately upon realizing the Syndicate leader looked down upon him in his moment of weakness, something which pushed him far enough to succumb to his inner urges.

Even though he always looked down upon and contributed to the abuse of Heathcliff, his victim did not view him with the same contempt, rather finding himself burdened by a feeling of pity even when faced with the pinnacle of his abuse personified.

Hindley is a sturdily built man with a reddish face and dirty blond hair and a short, unkempt, stubbly beard. He wears a striped brown coat, dark trousers, and light blue vest over a white shirt, all appearing threadbare and dirty. Hindley also wears a black gloves, one of which is shown to be missing a finger, and he carries a black cane and a timepiece in his left coat pocket, as is customary for all T Corp. residents.

After his Distortion, Hindley takes the form of a large, bipedal wolf with matted yellow fur stained with blood. His clothing is still present on his body, now torn to shreds as a result of the transformation.