The fail-safe left by the founding scythes was activated, which consisted of ten plagues that would affect the population randomly in intervals of time, therefore solving the overpopulation issue and corruption within the Scythedom, as it would no longer be needed. The ten plagues consisted of:
- Pneumonia
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Cancer
- Cholera
- Smallpox
- Tuberculosis
- Influenza
- Bubonic plague
- Malaria
All plagues lead to suffering and finally death. Scythe Faraday was the pioneer of sympathy gleanings, and other scythes started to follow his lead. What was left of the Scythedom after the revolts, had this new calling, they no longer bring uninvited death, but peace and rest to those suffering from the ten plagues.
Sympathy gleanings are performed with compassion and the scythe researches the life of their gleaning subject.
Families become grateful of scythes who perform sympathy gleanings and treat them with respect, calling them "Your Honor", and also kneeling and kissing their ring, which is only symbolic now, since there is no way to grant immunity from the plagues, as a sign of their gratitude.