Prologue
The city of Mountain Glenn sat as still and silent as it had for years; stark towers of stone and steel crumbling and cracking under the weight of time as nature slowly reclaimed its streets. Vegetation had already sprouted through the floors of homes and businesses in spite of the civilization that had, for so long, reigned overhead. Rain and snow had washed away nearly all traces of human contact, with only the cold, gray concrete bearing any evidence of life having ever existed here. Weathered billboards and sun-bleached storefronts bore images from happier times. On them were the faces of smiling men and women, now cracked and peeling after so many years of disuse. Cheery, faded text promoted deals for off-brand goods while rusting metal signs led the way to fast food chains that no longer served any patrons. Even the capitol building, a monument to law and order, was scattered into pieces across the steps that once led to its perch.
At some point in time, the city had been a safe haven in the otherwise treacherous world of Remnant. With the ever-present threat of monsters, thieves, and other vagabonds, it was of some comfort to the human race that there were bastions of light in what was an overwhelming tide of darkness. A darkness formed by the Grimm. These creatures have existed since the creation of Man itself, yet even mankind cannot explain their existence. They feed off the negative emotions of Man, growing in numbers and strength as fear, anger and spite seep into the hearts of their victims. They grow and adapt, learning from their battles and using their sinister knowledge to strike with organized force. They take on the forms of birds, boars, cats and dogs, yet all know them by their jet-black skin and white, bony came from nowhere, are created from nothing, and yet pose the greatest threat to the human race save, of course, for mankind itself.
Mountain Glenn was not the first city to fall to the creatures of Grimm, nor will it be the last, but it stands as a testament to the trials and tribulations that humankind must endure if they are to survive in this world. Too many little mistakes. Too many oversights. Too many lives lost. If Man is to succeed, they must do so cautiously. Great, ancient empires were made over hundreds of years, but when they fell… they burned in one day.
But humans are resilient. They have the strange habit of surviving in even the most extreme of circumstances, and have managed to do so for nearly all of their time on this cruel world. And this is due, in no small part, to a source of incredible power that has given mankind the power to fight back the tides of darkness. This power, whose origin is as nebulous as the Grimm, has given mankind the strength to overcome physical limitations, expand the borders of their knowledge, and even will the elements of Remnant itself to aid them in battle. This conduit of power was named after the very material from which Mankind was forged.
Dust.
And while Dust could not save Mountain Glenn from its fate, it was no doubt instrumental in saving countless lives from the rampaging Grimm that filled its streets. Hunters and Huntresses, masters of combat, have dedicated their lives to protecting the world from danger in all of its various forms. On some days, they are called to battle the endless hordes of Grimm, while another they may be providing community service for the less fortunate. The life of a Hunter or Huntress might not always be glamorous, but it is a job like any other. The brave men and women who wear these titles do so with pride, acting as staunch defenders of civil society. And though not all are masters of Dust, they are nevertheless seen as synonymous with its use.
It's thanks to these brave souls that Mountain Glenn does not represent a standard, but an exception. Across all of Remnant, bastions of hope stand. Atlas, Vacuo, Vale, and Mistral, the four kingdoms of the world that had, at one point in history, been mortal enemies, now enjoy a peace that stands to this day. It is through their combined efforts that the world of Remnant can feel safe at night. With attentions no longer aimed at military conquest, the four kingdoms have established specialized centers of learning that not only expand the knowledge of the students attending them, but prepare them to become the next generation of Hunters and Huntresses, bound by duty to protect their fellow Man from the creatures lurking just beyond the borders. The future will be shaped by these young men and women, and so we must place our trust in them, and hope that they will use their powers and abilities to aid Mankind's never ending battle for survival.
Trust is a precious commodity. Like most things, it can be traded, bought, and bartered. But trust can be lost just as easily as it can be gained. The world of Remnant trades primarily in Dust, Lien, and other services, but all of it is simply an exchange of trust. If there were ever to come a time when that trust was lost… trust that our cities could protect us, trust that our leaders could lead us, trust that our friends would stand by us...
If we were to lose that trust…
Remnant would burn.