A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for the delay in posting. I've been adjusting with a new job and have not had much time to write. So it looks like that like in my last A/N didn't work, so if you're interested in seeing the maps I've made, check out my Tumblr at "Gavel Republic"!

World of Remnant: Bansy

Bansy, our primordial homeland. No one knows for certain when men first set foot in Gavel, but we do know that they built their first settlements high in the peaks of the Hickory mountains, in the heart of Bansy's midlands. Even today, thousands of years after our ancestors fled their mountain homes, the Hickories still serve a greater purpose for the people of Bansy. To the south, they served as a buffer against the invading armies of Galagy and Vetejo during the Queen's War. To the west, they protect the people of central Bansy from the vicious creatures that roam the Great Bone Valley. But most importantly, they provide the resources needed to fuel Bansy's economy. Only discovered within the past 300 years, large deposits of coal have been found deep in the mountains, and have been used exclusively to fuel Stonewater's industry.

Despite being the most powerful among the Gavalan states, only have of Bansy is actually habitable. East of the Hickory mountains, you'll find yourself surrounded by fertile valleys, lush forests, rushing rivers and rolling hills, with small towns such as Gallicksville and Gunn's Grove dotting the land like stars in the night sky. West of the Hickories, however, is a much different story. Starting from the base of the mountains is an arid, lifeless hell as far as the eye can see. This is the Great Bone Valley. More variants of Grimm can be found in this patch of desert than in the rest of Gavel combined - even species of Grimm not found anywhere else in Remnant. Many brave souls wandered into the unforgiving valley with hopes of taming the land and making a name for themselves. Most of these men would never be seen again. That is not to say that the valley is entirely uninhabited. Of the many towns and settlements that tried and failed to settle the land, the most successful of these is the town of Deadwood, a sleepy little outpost in the western neck of the valley that stood the test of time.

Bansy is the administrative seat of Gavel. Home to the first democratic revolution, the signing of the Stonewater accord, countless political and military leaders, and the capital city of Stonewater itself, Bansy's control over the Gavalan government is unquestionable. But it was not always this way. During the first Republic, laws were put into place to ensure that each state had an equal say in the dealings of Gavel's government. Following the Vacuo war, however, the republic was dissolved. The four states were incorporated into the Kingdom of Vacuo. Rather than waste valuable time and resources toward governing their new lands, Vacuo raised the state government of Bansy to the regional government of Gavel, giving Bansy full control over the affairs of the former republic.

Once being a beacon of freedom, today, Bansy's government is made up of nothing more than corrupt officials, royal sympathizers, and greedy businessmen willing to sell Gavel's resources to foreign business interests. But despite all of this, the government has no actual control outside of Bansy. In Galagee and Vetejo, crime runs rampant. The power of these states lies not in Bansian-appointed officials, but in the hands of the local crime families who do more to protect Gavel's citizens than the actual government.

"The point I'm trying to make is, the Bansy government is a joke. Take it from me, I'm a Galagan, and not once has Bansy ever done anything to make our lives better"

The hour was late but the old man was still bursting with energy. For a few minutes, the young huntress said nothing, taking in this new information. Finally, she spoke. "So… how would you make things better?"

Her question took the man by surprise. The young girl added to her question. "Well… I'm training to be a huntress. I want to make people's lives better, safer. Based off of what you told me, your government didn't really do a good job at that. So, how would you make things better?".

The man took several moments to himself, contemplating the question. Finally, his raised his head to her, a blank expression on his face. "Abolish the kingdoms" he said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. The young huntress failed to realize his joke.

"I'm kidding. That is a very… complicated question. People in Galagee constantly complain that Bansy doesn't have Gavel's best interests in mind. And they don't. If it were up to them, Stonewater would gladly wipe their hands clean of us, but their superiors on the Vacuan council say otherwise. They require Bansy to maintain control of Gavel, lest they be stripped of their jobs, or worse, place Gavel under martial law"

"That's terrible!"

"No kidding. Trust me, nobody wants it to come to that. But think about it this way" he removed his flask from his jacket, taking another drink. "The gangs that run Galagee and Vetejo actually give a shit about the people who live there. Sure, they kill people and rob people and threaten people…" the man paused having lost his train of thought.

"Oh, right! They may sound like terrible people, but they look after their own. Where I'm from, the gang that ran the town was very generous. They made sure that all children went to school, and that the school was well funded. They supported and protected the stores and businesses, for a small fee of course. And they punished those that broke the peace, normally with a six-shooter. But overall, they were the nicest family you could hope to meet". The old man's voice was filled with nostalgia.

"But, they killed people, right?" she asked, uncertain that this gang of murderers had the moral high ground the man claimed they held.

"Absolutely! But just about everyone in town has killed someone. But Vauco wasn't too fond of murderers running their town. Vacuo ordered Bansy to send their federal agents to arrest the gangs. And when they failed, the Kingdom sent its own Vacuan Rangers to quell the crime families. Still, they couldn't remove the gangs from power. And I'm glad they didn't. To answer your question, young lady, I suppose I would make things better by giving more to the towns. In my opinion, the crime families are the better of two evils compared to the incompetent government". The man sat forward on his log, taking the long iron rod to stoke the fire.

The young huntress wasn't entirely sure if she agreed with the man's logic, but she accepted his answer. Then suddenly, a… personal question came to her.

"Have you… killed anyone?"

"What do you think?" the man replied with a stern face, his gun still visible by the light from the fire. The man spoke to avoid further comment.

"In all honesty, we could sit here and talk about how to make the world a better place until we're blue in the face. But the fact remains. In Galagee, the only decision maker is the gun at your hip"...