A New Vale
Velvet was running for her life.
She had been taking flowers to the cemetary around sunset. That's when she found that some... evil person had dug up her friend's grave and stolen his body and grave-goods. To add insult to injury, they had also carved 'FAILURE' into his headstone. As she had hurried out, she must have gained the attention of one of the gangs that control many of the districts of Vale.
Now it seemed that one of their members was chasing her through the back alleys of the Upper-Class district.
If she could just get within sight of the checkpoint, she'd be safe.
Then something no, someone tripped her. She fell to the ground, and felt something prick her neck. In the dark, her night vision gave her a clear view of her attackers. Both were human, one was shorter and fat, with short blonde hair. The other was taller, had dark hair and a short beard. They both wore long coats, looted atlas body armour and they were both armed with swords. Velvet wanted to get to her feet, to run, to scream, anything. But she could feel her strength leaving her.
The shorter one had an empty syringe in his hand. "Aura poison, freak. With a little sedative so you don't fight back." Said the shorter one "She is pretty though, let's change that."
Velvet felt the first blow to her face, her weakening aura managed to soften the blow, but as the attacks continued, the marks began to show.
After a couple of minutes, the looks in their eyes changed, they became lecherous, hungry. Velvet began to panic, adrenalin fighting the effects of the poison. She tried to drag herself away on her stomach, getting a few feet before feeling a boot pressing down on her back.
"You do her first, bro." Said the taller one. "I'll watch"
Velvet wanted to scream, but all she could do was weakly moan "No...Please." Tears slid down her cheeks.
The shorter one started laughing "No-one can hear you. Maybe if you yell loud enough, all the people you freaks killed will come to help you. So go on, scream."
All she could do was cry as the man loomed over her.
"That's what I thought" Said the short man.
The trio heard a sharp whistle split the night, it was coming from behind them. As the short man turned to look, the tall man heard something whiz past his ear, and stared in horror at his friend.
His friend had a tomahawk embedded at least 4 inches into the side of his head.
The tall one quickly turned around to look behind him. As he did so, he felt something hook around the back of his right knee at the same time a fist slammed into his throat, knocking him down.
The man opened his eyes to see a man with blue eyes staring down at him, there was a boot on his throat, and he could feel something dripping onto his forehead.
"That's a nice coat" Said the man
"It's yours" Gasped the man on the ground, the boot was making it hard to breathe "Please just don't kill me"
The man above him removed his boot, and the man on the ground rapidly removed his coat. He felt his forehead and he stiffened at the sight of blood that covered his hand.
"Remove his coat too" Ordered the man with the tomahawk.
As the man on the ground crawled over to his friend's body, Velvet got a good look at her savior, what she saw shocked her.
"Jaune!" She murmured. "We thought you were dead"
Jaune smiled at her "I was, but I'm better now"
The man from before had finished removing the coat from his dead friend. Whimpering, he offered it to Jaune. Jaune bodyslammed the man into the wall, drawing his knife, he held it to the man's throat.
"I'm this close to simply killing you for what you and your friend have done and were going to do, but tonight I'm feeling merciful. If you tell me where the White Fang and their leaders are, I'll let you leave, intact." The way he said it left the terrified man in front of him in no doubt that he meant what he said.
"They aren't in Vale." Said the terrified man in front of him. "I don't know where they are, one of the faunus gangs on the south side might know though, some of them are supposedly in contact with them." He hoped the tidbit would barter for his hide.
"Tsk tsk tsk." Said Jaune, removing his knife. "Not much to go on, but it's a start"
The man started to walk away before Jaune was suddenly in front of him again. "I'd recommend seeking medical attention." He said.
"For what?" Asked the man, before Jaune embedded a tomahawk into his crotch.
"That." Said Jaune, before gesturing at the man's deceased friend. "And if I ever hear or catch you so much as looking at a woman the wrong way, I'll do the same to you."
As the man limped off, Jaune rushed over to Velvet's prone form and gently gripped her face with both hands.
"Jaune... What are you...?" Mumbled Velvet.
"Hold still" Said Jaune, as a rivulet of amber fluid began draining from Velvet's puncture wound. Within seconds she was fully awake, and crying.
"Not here" Said Jaune, pulling her to her feet. We need to get you home first."
Velvet dried her tears "Follow me." She said hoarsely, looking at every shadow they passed.
"They won't folow us, and if they do. I won't let them near you." He said. This seemed to calm her down somewhat.
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After a twenty minute walk, they came within sight of a roadblock. A couple of armed soldiers in uniforms that Jaune didn't recognise patrolled behind a wall of sandbags, barbed wire and sharpened spikes. Floodlights illuminated the road they were walking down. The sound of music and singing in a language that Jaune couldn't understand echoed around the otherwise empty street
"Did I miss something?" Asked Jaune, confused at the dark uniforms the soldiers wore. They didn't look like any of the uniforms he'd ever seen.
"After the Fall, the people held a powerful hatred for the Atlas military, they would attack Atlas soldiers on sight. Because none of the other kingdoms would send soldiers, the council had to look for aid elsewhere." Explained Velvet as they approached the roadblock. "The council made a deal with the League of Minor Nations for aid, in exchange for a seat at the table when all of this is over."
"Okay." Said Jaune, pointing at the soldiers. "But who are they specifically?"
Velvet looked at him curiously. "I would have though that it was obvious, the spiked helmets give it away. The soldiers the League sent are from the Reich Federation."
Jaune squinted at the soldiers as they approached, indeed they wore helmets with a single spike at the crest. On closer inspection, the dark green uniforms and spiked helmets had been modified in places to allow for faunus soldiers. They were armed mostly with rifles, but here and there were other weapons. They all seemed to have a sidearm and a sword too.
As they neared the makeshift booth, a young man inside the booth with dark hair a thick moustache turned and greeted Velvet boisterously. "Guten abend fraulein!" He shouted. "Who's your friend?"
Velvet met his gaze and said to the man "Guten abend Franz, you wouldn't believe me if I told you."
Franz saw something in her eyes, something bad had happened this evening, but he decided not to press for details. "You know the drill, I need to see your papers."
"Papers?" Jaune asked "I don't have any identification."
Franz squinted at him. "Been out in the wilderness?"
When Jaune answered in the affirmative, Franz picked up an old telephone and keyed in a number. "We got one at the northwest checkpoint, needs papers. Okay. I'll send them your way."
He put the phone down. "You will be escorted to the area commander for processing, they will issue you with papers, and then you can be on your way."
Two soldiers with rifles stepped up to them. "Follow me please." Said one in a gruff voice, the other soldier fell into step behind them.
They were escorted to an old Vale PD station near the river. Inside they saw a gigantic individual clad from head to toe in armour walking back and forth along rows of people doing press ups. "Commandant Metzger?" Called one of the soldiers. "Your guests have arrived."
The armoured man the size of an ursa turned and looked at them. "Follow me into my office" He said, turning and walking into a back room.
The interview went smoothly enough, though it perplexed Jaune that the commander never removed his helmet. After a couple of hours Jaune turned to leave with fresh identification papers in one of the pockets of his looted coat. Then the phone rang. "Ja?" Answered the commander. "I see." He looked at them "Your presence has been requested by my superior. You can find him in the Irminsul."
"I know the place." Said Velvet. "I find myself going there often now."
For the first time since his return, Jaune took a proper look at Velvet. Her uniform was the same aside from a length of dark cloth that had been sewn over her chest, she also wore a black armband with Vale's insignia on it. She seemed to be in good health, but he could see in her eyes how difficult it was to remain hopeful after the Fall.
As they walked, they picked up idle chatter, news and plenty of singing and drinking. "Why do they sing so much?" Asked Jaune.
"It's how they maintain morale, it helps keep the grimm away and it strengthens resolve. Plus some of the songs are really catchy." Answered Velvet.
The Irminsul, as it turned out was a huge warehouse. As they entered, Jaune took in the sight of a massive tree reaching up to the sky. It was covered in candles, all over the walls were photographs of men, women, children and families. "The dead?" Inquired Jaune.
"The living." Came a new voice.
Looking over they saw a man roughly the size of Yatsuhashi, but with pale skin and pale blonde hair. He was clad in a similar dark green uniform as the soldiers, but he had what appeared to be a collar that had dozens of white, oval shaped stones embedded in it. As he turned to face them, they saw his face, he couldn't have been older than 25 and had a short beard and grey-blue eyes. Eyes that looked straight at Jaune.
"I greet you as Kaisar Wulfric of the Reich Federation. Jaune Arc" Said the man.
"Be careful of this one, he sees more than most" Said the raven, perching up in the rafters.
"Why am I here?" Asked Jaune.
"Because I seek to make a deal." Said the Kaisar, looking past him and staring at Velvet, before walking briskly over to her.
"I am so sorry, fraulein." He said before grasping her in a hug, she found the gesture... oddly comforting, and burst into tears. "That's it, let it all out" Said the Kaisar.
"Why? Why would you do this?" Sobbed Velvet.
"How can I not? In this shrine to hope, and in front of my gods I must. It is important to never forget the things that make us human." He paused "Or faunus."
"About this deal?" Asked Jaune.
"I want Adam Taurus. In fact I want all of the higher ups in the White Fang, and I want them alive. How alive they are is up to you so long as they aren't dead or dying."
"What's in it for me?" Said Jaune.
"I can provide information and assistance for you on your quest." Replied the Kaisar.
"Such as?" Asked Jaune.
"Follow me." Said the Kaisar, leaving Velvet to her own devices. "I will deliver him back to you once we are done." He told her before walking out the door with Jaune in tow.
Walking to the nearest park, Jaune was escorted into a large tent where a badger faunus man was tied to a chair.
"Herr Arc, allow me to introduce you to lieutenant Klaus von Halstadt. He is going to be telling us everything."
"I'll tell you nothing!" Yelled Klaus "I am a Reich citizen! I have rights!"
The Kaisar smiled at him "That is true, herr lieutenant. Because you surrendered yourself, I, under Reich military law, cannot execute you. Out of curiosity though, how is your mother's shop doing? I haven't been to Ostia in a long time."
Klaus stiffened.
"Don't forget about your nephew. He'll be turning 12 soon, ready to serve the Reich and the world."
Klaus looked to the side.
"Now, under normal circumstances your punishment would be hard labour. But because of this attack, I feel that a stricter punishment is necessary, and I do so despise Traitors."
Klaus looked panicked. "I'm no traitor! I never attacked our people, I only attacked-"
"Civilians? Tourists? In this attack, you and your ilk used grimm as weapons. Are you aware of the punishment that receives under our law?"
"Death?" Asked Klaus.
"Branding as honourless, followed by a lifetime of hard labour. Away from the sun."
Klaus looked broken. "And my family?"
"Depending on how they associate with the crime, they could join you in work, or they could simply have their property confiscated." The Kaisar paused, towering over the lieutenant. "But there is a way out, for both you and them. Tell me everything you know about the leaders of the attack, and any future plans. If you do, then I will transfer you to the blutbanner regiment, and your family will be safe."
Klaus looked up "I... I accept your terms. I don't know much, only that something came up during the attack, something so important that they sent one of the Fallen One's servants to Patch Island to find something there, along with about a half-dozen of Taurus' elite guard."
The Kaisar beamed at Jaune. "A starting point herr Arc. I look forward to any information that you can glean from this individual. Good hunting."
He reached out his hand and Jaune took it. Immediately his vision was flooded with images of... Darkness, violence, a constant, insatiable curiosity and... Green eyes? There were plenty of images of a woman with long blonde hair and green eyes.
As those images began to appear in Jaune's mind, the Kaisar broke the handshake
"I believe that a raven is a sign of good luck, but apparently that is not universally true." Said the Kaisar. "If we help each other, we can both get what we want."
"I'll do as you ask, for now." Said Jaune "But now I must go and comfort my friend before I leave."
"Interesting, very interesting." Said the Raven from the roof of the tent. "I shall keep an eye on this one."
At that, Jaune made his way back to Velvet, who offered him a place to stay overnight, as there wouldn't be any boats between the city's remains and Patch until morning.
Another Chapter done.
Now I don't plan on expanding any of the factions and politics I added in this chapter, that's for a different project I'll probably get round to somewhere down the line. I will just say that most of the factions I'll be adding will be collections of cultural tropes. This is also where I will be breaking canon, especially in regards to Vacuo, but now I'm getting ahead of myself.
As always, feel free to review, constructive criticism is always welcome.
