Nil sa saol seo,

ach ceo,

is ni bheimid beo,

ach seal beag gearr

translation

There is nothing in this life,

but mist,

and we only live

but a short, short while.

Introduction

How does one describe the world of Remnant? Full of danger and magic, Creatures called Grimm stalk the land in the form of wolves and bears, lizards and ravens. Magic called Dust makes up the bullets and batteries making humans dependent on it. Where robots look and act like humans and fight alongside them. Where aura can be seen, and heal wounds.

Our story takes place far from the capital Vale and its highly respectable school Beacon in which men and women are trained to hunt Grimm.

In an outpost hidden from the rest of the world; soldiers are trained to protect the kingdom of Vale from raiders from the North. Morcia: made from an abandoned abbey near three chasms with a natural rock formation known as the Watcher

Degrees of cold range from -49 to -128.6 degrees. It's gets colder between the Chasms or so it's been believed. The humans or Faunus who survive the trek are given clothing made for the weather and made into squadrons. That had not been done for centuries, now the prisoners arrive by plane. Everyone relies on everyone else to survive. If they cannot survive, they die. Every four years they are given new supplies of food, Dust and armor. It is still not enough.

The new supplies run as been few and far between now. Groups of foragers go to edge of the nearest Chasm known as Wilhelm which is the second biggest of the chasms but the smallest and the most dangerous at 446 km long and 29 km wide the depth is 1,800 miles is H'rath. Inside the depths of each chasm they have a forest of black wood and grey leaves. The creatures who survive this harsh land are dangerous even more so then Grimm for starvation causes the mind to go insane.

Volunteers to Morcia are rare and few and far between. Those who do volunteer either don't understand the danger or they are seeking redemption among their fellows.

Our main protagonist was found by a routine patrol of Wilhelm near the Watcher. He was of undetermined age walking around with bandgenges wrapped around his head and feet. Around his neck was a long red scarf with a rose symbol on it. The leading member Rask took him in knowing it was a hard trek back to where they began. The baby was named Lieam Guardsman. The Chasms have secrets that no one has ever discovered.

Prologue 'the Exiled'

Moon light shone down on a large building bathing the towers in silver light. Search lights made their rounds as night guards walked the walls. The shadows hid a ruddy haired seventeen-year-old as he led a horse through the blackness. He wore leathers; his clothing dyed in royal blue and white. A small white shoulder length cape wrapped around him as a slight wind blew. His military style boots were well worn from use. His ruby red scarf with a rose knitted into it had been with him since he was found. On his belt a symbol of a star mixed with wings gave him his own personal symbol one that he made himself. His green eyes shone with determination.

The horse nickered loudly. "Shh," He said to the horse. "We'll be out of here before you know it." He knew every crack and crevice on the walls, he knew every hiding spot. He stopped at the gatehouse. He quickly tied the horse to a post then went in.

On a chair sleeping was the gatekeeper Hubert. His beard made him look like an owl. The youth crept silently passed the sleeping man. He reached for the gate keys. With them in hand he went outside to greet the horse. Walking to the gate the keys clinked and clanked, he silently cursed to himself. Finding the key, he put it in the lock, he turned it to open the door when a large hand held his shoulder.

Sunlight made its way into the office of General Izana Rask Lord and Warden of Morcia. His black brown hair was cut short and a heavy beard wrapped its self around his lips. His black brown rat ears were lowered in slight anger. He wore hard leathers and furs as was custom. His eyes were hard but as they looked at the youth they grew softer. He sighed as he looked at the youth who sat across his desk.

The desk was well worn in the words of sophisticated folk it was matured furniture. Around the room antlers and medals made their marks. He gave an inward sigh. How long had it been since he had first found the youth? Ten? Twelve? He no longer knew. When he found the boy he never had seen the youth would grow into a determined warrior.

Lieam knew how to pickpocket and lock-pick despite Constance and himself trying to get him away from the criminals. Not that it worked. Lieam always found a way to see his older friends to hear their tales of the outside world.

General Rask gave Lieam his punishment: extra chores, he watched as the youth groaned in anger but he went to do them anyway.

Rask went back to his work. So much paperwork for a small outpost. He wondered why no one in Vale had answered the call for more recruits or supplies. A knock came from his door. He looked up "Come in." he said without looking up.

Constance Brock walked into the room; she wore the same as the general. She was a large woman of great mass but it was mostly muscle. Her hair was black and white like the creature of her namesake. It was tied up in a tight tail behind her, reaching down to her shoulders. Just like the General she was a Faunus a person with animal like characteristics. Almost everyone in Morcia was a Faunus.

On her side was a baton that had could be used as a Taser if it was needed and used as a scare factor. If anyone who looked at her for the first time would be frightened but she had a kind side. It just wasn't seen often other than Rask or Lieam.

However, get on her bad side by calling her a panda or messing with the young boy she helped raise; all hell will break from its chambers.

"I saw Lieam run by," She said. Her eyes kind with the father figure of the youth. "He seemed mad." She sat down on the same chair that the youth had sat in moments before.

"I caught him trying to escape again." Rask sighed as he set down his quill pen. He looked up at her. "He's getting to be a handful."

Constance gave sighed as well. "Remember when you first found him ten years ago?" She asked knowing full well he did. "He was wrapped in the red scarf he wears," She did a small chuckle. "He's growing up, Rask and we can't stop it." Her eyes grew ever softer thinking of the young man and what he would have to face in the world outside of Morcia.
Rask walked up to the window, he knew she was right but that didn't mean he had to like it. If it were up to him Lieam would never leave the walls of Morcia. He thought of the letter he had sent along with Lieam's transcripts to Beacon; the school men and woman were trained to hunt Grimm. He blamed the stories the recruits or rather criminals brought with them about Vale and the outside. Even Lieam's teachers Livingston and Volger told him stories.

"I know that, Constance," He said turning to her. "But he-" Here Rask faltered then he asked "Were we good parents? Or should we have tried harder to give him to a human family?"

Constance looked down just as sad as Rask. "We tried, Rask that's all people would ask from us." She gave a small pat on his shoulder and he touched her hand and gave a small smile.

Lieam ran down the halls then he stopped. He saw the Founder's Tapestry looking at him. Four faces hidden behind helmets and beside them was their weapons of swords and various others. He sighed and spoke. "I feel you watching me, I'm just on my way to do my sentence in the kitchens. Oh, Gods the dishes." Then he turned serious. "But you already knew that. I don't mean to disobey my parents. I just want out. You can understand, that, right?" He looked at his feet in disappointment at his actions. "I can't talk to my parents as I can with you. You're different. You understand what I feel."

Lieam shuffled his feet at the unwavering gaze of the Founders. He could feel their eyes looking at his very soul. He gave a shiver. "Look, I'll try to be a better Faunus. " Then he muttered under his breath. "Even though they tell me I'm human," He lifted his voice up again in determination. "I promise not to escape anymore or worry my parents again." He turned away and shuffled sulkily to the kitchens muttering as he went. "I wish there was another war then I'll show 'em. Huh! Then they'll be glad to have a young man fighting then. I wouldn't be sent to scour the kitchens. They'll probably give me a medal or something like that."

He was unaware of the eyes of the tapestry had turned gentler as they watched the youth scramble away.

"So, in trouble again?" asked a lizard Faunus by the name of Nathan. He was one of Lieam's retainers but like everyone the boy knew he was much older. He got his answer when the youth nodded. Nathan chuckled. "Sooner or later your parents will understand and send you to Beacon."

Lieam looked up. "When?" He asked the older Faunus.

A noise interrupted the conversation. Nathan and Lieam ran to the noise. Yin and Oliver walked past the gates with a body bag. Lieam knew what had happened if before Oliver explained what happened to Constance. A Grimm attack, the others had survived but the losses were considered immense. They didn't have the power to use robots other than Cluni and she was small.

The bigger robots used for battle were no longer used. The power had to be used for more important matters but that meant no robots to help with patrol.

The body bags were taken off the horse, Lieam realized that the patrol had more horses then they returned with. He met Rask's eyes and the older man's gaze said. "The world is an evil place and we can't let you go out there." Lieam quickly looked down to avoid the harrowing gaze.

Cavern wasn't filled per histories; the great hall was once filled to the brim but now it wasn't even one fourth full. Cluni the robot loris rat hopped on her favorite perch meaning Lieam had to hold her weight on his shoulder not that she weighed that much.

Ale and stew was served. The ale was home brewed and the stew was made from animals that were around meaning it was just a mix of animal meats. The ale was drunk but the losses of the Faunus from the patrol lingered. Nathan and Lieam sat with the two surviving patrol members Yin and Oliver.