It was only a year after the decimation of the capitol of the kingdom of Vale, that Vacuo launched a full scale invasion of the weakened kingdom of Vale. What followed proved that even wounded there was a reason why the Kingdom had earned the title 'Unconquered'. With both Atlas and Mistral destabilized Vacuo launched an invasion of the western edge of the kingdom, expecting little resistance; only to be met with surprising ferocity by the militant group known as 'Broken Moon'.
The events of the war would unveil a tragedy hidden by the mists of time, a story of trust and betrayal, of madness and salvation, and of fate defied against overwhelming odds. What follows is a record of this conflict; and of those who fought, lived and died.
-Carmine Nix, Damocles Fallen, a history of the Great Grimm War.
Atlesian Army Base, Southern Atlas
Ruby Rose set her tray down as she joined her team as well as what remained of team JNPR at the mess hall table. as she sat down she glanced over at Nora who still hadn't recovered from Jaune's... disappearance... her team had really become a new family for the girl, and now all she had left of her second family was Ren. All anyone knew was that Jaune had run after Arthur Watts to prevent the man from seizing the Relic, then before anyone could break off to help him there was a bright flash and both men were gone, leaving nothing but a cracked relic on the ground where they had stood.
After this happened Hazel, Emerald and Mercury were quick to retreat, without Doctor Watts their plan was forfeit, leaving the group of friends down yet another member. It wasn't long after they started their search that Ozpin told them that it was pointless; the full power of the relic had drained through the bodies of the two men, there was no way to know what had happened, never before had that much magic been unleashed on anyone... and it probably wasn't good for either of the two men.
As much as she wanted to believe otherwise uncle Qrow was probably right when he said "Nobody could have survived that." Nothing could convince Nora of that though. Ruby was broken out of her reverie when Yang called out to her.
"Ruby, are you okay? You haven't touched your food since you sat down."
"I'm fine... I was just lost in thought."
"Was it about Jaune again?" Weiss asked, "You know there was nothing we..." she said before trailing off into silence.
"No... Well sort of; it's just... Jaune, Pyrrha, Penny... Mom... how many people are we going to lose to this war?"
The table went silent as though the air had been sucked out the room. "I-I'm sorry; I didn't mean to... I'll just go now." Ruby Hastily got up observing the pained expressions on the faces around her, she quickly left the mess hall and returned to roaming about the Atlesian barracks Ozpin and Qrow had dragged them to so they could confer with General Ironwood because of some kind of emergency that Ironwood hadn't seen fit to inform the rest of them on. It was as she thought this that she saw Ozpin and Uncle Qrow pass through a pair of sliding doors following after Ironwood as he was flanked by Winter Schnee and some other girl with a shock of orange hair. But before any further detail could be discerned the door closed behind them obscuring the view.
Ironwood's office, Atlesian Army base
"Thank you for the escort, Specialist Schnee can handle security from here, you can return to assisting Dr. Polendina now." Ironwood said dismissing his other escort.
"Sir; Yes Sir!" She quickly replied before breaking off and heading down another hall.
"So Jimmy care to enlighten us as to what was so important that you couldn't share it with us until we got to this frozen wasteland?" Qrow interrupted before the general could turn to address the gathered crowd.
"Show some respect, Qrow." Winter quickly snapped.
"Specialist Schnee we don't have time for your petty rivalry with Qrow." Ozpin spoke "If General Ironwood needed us here immediately the situation must be most dire."
"If only this were a casual gathering, but the news I have is dire. While we fought against Salem and the White Fang both in Mistral and here in Atlas, Vacuo has been busy, They've amassed an army near their shared border with the Kingdom of Vale. We expect them to launch an invasion any day now and with Mistral unable to render aid, and the Atlesian Military spread thin fighting the increase in Grimm attacks I fear Vale will fall within the month."
"But don't they understand that will only make things worse?" Oscar exclaimed losing his composure and momentarily overpowering Ozpin
"Forgive my young host," Ozpin said regaining control and composing himself once again; "I am afraid Oscar has yet to be exposed to the realm of politics. Needless to say however he is right, this plays straight into Salem's favor, is there any chance she is behind it?"
At this Specialist Schnee spoke up "While we haven't been able to entirely rule out Salem or her minion's hand in these affairs it looks to be instigated more by the remnants of the Valean council that escaped the near destruction of the city last year. They fled to Vacuo and have since been trying to regain their position of power Vale but so far have been unable to do so, as the people see them as cowards fleeing Vale in her hour of need."
"I can't say I disagree with them, but what about this invasion, is there anything we can do?" Qrow asked while being glared at by Winter. "I fail to see anything our little group can do to avert a war."
"Unfortunately there is precious little we can do to stop the invasion right now we have to hope that the southern Valean Militia will be able to hold the line until the situation here or in Mistral stabilizes. However that isn't the only pressing issue in the Kingdom of Vale." Ironwood stated as he turned to face Oscar
"I presume that this is why you've called us?" Ozpin inquired
"Indeed, it appears that an ancient cult has resurfaced, are you familiar with the Order of the Golden Sigil?"
At the mention of the group, Oscar's face twisted into a grimace; "Unfortunately yes, I am, centuries ago the Kingdoms, at the behest of the Church of Balance, attempted to wipe them out for their heresy. It appears they failed."
"Why are they so important? Aren't they just another group of crazy cultists? I don't think that's much of a threat, why not just send some grunts to deal with it Ironwood?"
"If they are right, it invalidates everything the kingdoms have been doing to fight the Grimm for the last thousand years."
You could hear a pin drop in the silence that filled the room.
Near the Valean Vacuoan border, Sanus
Sergeant Aloysius Brown of the Vacuoan army sat at his desk, in front of the map detaining the invasion plans, rubbing his temples to nurse his growing headache as he spoke with barely concealed exasperation; "Corporal, would you please repeat what you just said, I'm not certain I heard you right."
"Sir! High command has decided that since minimal resistance and therefore minimal casualties is expected that the bulk of our medical capability will be held in reserve." Corporal Slate replied
"And why pray tell does command think the battle will go easily?"
"The Valean army is sapped of most of its strength fighting off the grimm hordes that surround the capitol city," Corporal Slate said as he began to gesture at several points in the invasion plan, "and by the time they'd be able to put together an effective defense our analysts project we will already be at the gates of the capitol, the only opposition is expected to be parts of the Valean Militia."
"Let's pray then" Sergeant Brown said as he turned to look at his men milling throughout the camp, "that the Valeans aren't able to pull another miracle out of their asses like they did in the last war."
Small Island South West of Vytale Isle
A yellow cloaked figure exited from behind a curtain and approached a podium in front of a large crowd, his face hidden behind an expressionless golden mask, and as he approached the podium quiet swept over those assembled on the ground before him, even as the previous man, dressed in mauve stepped aside and gave him the chance to speak.
"I wish to thank all of you, you and your ancestors, men and women, who, despite the hatred, the doubt, the suspicion and outright persecution that came with your beliefs stayed strong in your convictions. For over a thousand years you've struggled to discover the secrets of our ancestors, the tools and weapons they used, in the hopes that their knowledge can be of use in exterminating the Grimm. Now is the time, even as I speak our factories in northern Vale are delivering machines and tools based on the designs that you have recovered."
The Yellow cloaked figure waited as the cheering died down.
"Unfortunately I have dire news, the Vacuoan council has decided, at the urging of the traitorous Valean council, to invade the kingdom of Vale, rather than turn their might against the common threat to us all they turn their sword against their own brethren. I ask you will we let this stand!"
"NO!" came the thundering reply
"Then I ask will you follow me to WAR!" the yellow figure asked as the curtain behind him fell to reveal several large mobile artillery pieces.
"TO WAR! WAR! WAR!" chanted the crowd as the figure in yellow turned back toward the artillery behind him.
"This sounds too familiar." he thought as a grimace crossed his face unseen by all.
"My lord Gold?" the man in mauve said as he approached the masked man.
"What is it Mauve?"
"It appears the Atlesians have learned of our presence."
"Then they've learned too late to change anything. Our war begins today."
Hello Everyone I hope you enjoyed the first real chapter of Pyriform, I'm sorry it took so long for me to come out with this chapter, but I became fascinated by working out a massive amount of backstory that will be revealed over time. If you have any suggestions of comments please leave a review, I would love to know what I need to do better.
Thanks
