The Wilds.
The Wilds, also known as the Wildlands is the area existing between the major cities like GrimmFall and Denver and the Darklands, consisting of jungles, forests, deserts and other areas that are crawling with Grimm in every direction. While Nowhere, Camp Kidney and Mt. Blackhead have some development of civilization, and ancient civilizations have ruins in Devil's Bluff and The Ruins, the Wilds are mainly composed of unspoiled wilderness.
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Additional Intel: They are full of mainly local wildlife and of course, Grimm. Due to the hostile fauna, humanity as a whole has decided not to even try and make even a settlement in the Wilds. While some have tried to leave their mark their, usually those people were never heard from again. And if they are heard, usually they give a warning while being scared by whatever they have seen.
It has been rumored that other creatures aside from animals and Grimm live in the Wildlands. Some say a ghost, others say aliens, another says a machine. All that is known is that other creatures may live in the Wilds, but it is unsure of what it is exactly. All everyone knows is that nobody should ever enter the Wilds, unless they're asking to be killed.
"You want to move to the Wilds!?" It was nighttime now. All the bandits inside either sleeping, playing with their new toys, or using the internet. Whatever it is they desired.
But beneath the town in the biggest bunker, now turned a small meeting room/throne, numerous people were inside. All gathered to hear what their true leader had to speak with them about. Particularly, the new location she had chosen for their next base. Naturally, Bandit Princess was surprised when she heard what it was exactly.
"So you know this place." Cinder looked at her with the rest of the cabal.
"Know it. I once lived their!" Bandit Princess shivered. "For one week before I ditched it. The place is a death trap. The true embodiment of mother natures wrath." Poison Ivy, poison mushrooms, bears, Grimm, and even quick sand. The place was full of deadly stuff for any human, faunus, and mobian.
"Sounds lovely." Of course the creep Tyrian would like it though. Tapping his fingers at the thought of facing mother natures wrath and whatever else was there.
"So, you know the area." Salem looked at Bandit Princess with indifference. "Do people live there?"
"Some try, most die." Bandit Princess answered. "Mostly idiots from companies who want to take over the land and make a factory there or whatever. But they can't. Grimm, wild animals, and about every other living thing there attacking them." It was practically off limits to average people. The best a person could ask for is simply being just near the edge, but no closer than that. Otherwise, it's a death wish if you try and go further.
"She's not wrong." Hazel had out his own scroll, looking in the internet about the Wilds. The death count in particular. "While not an exact estimate, hundreds to potentially over a thouand have died i those lands. By either fools as she said, or just idiots."
"Then it's perfect." Salem says as she grabs a tablet and gazed at the pictures of the Wilds taken from afar by a cameraman. "If there are no villages, people, or anybody for the matter, then we can take it as we please."
"Um," Bandit Princess coughed a bit. "But-er-what about the dangers I just listed." She then pointed at Hazel. "Dude just said over a thousand people have died. How would we be any different?"
"Maybe if we were average people." Watts smugly said.
"But with our Goddess, nothing can harm us!" Tyrian cackled. "Grimm won't be a bother. And as for animals, well," The blades from his weapons sprung out. "I always wanted outdoor cooking."
Right, her new boss could control Grimm. That actually made things...easy.
"Still," Cinder then grabbed her own scroll and checked out another site with different information of the Wilds. Leaning back on her chair, her Grimm arm tapping the screen like normal. "I guess we should get supplies ready to deal with anything else in this place. After all, it seems the animals there are very aggressive." Salem might control the Grimm, but not regular animals. Though perhaps a good culling of their pack might help make them back off.
"Bandit Princess," Hazel looked at their newest member, who looked back at him. "Is there any chance these Huntsmen may realize what we will do." Such as patrolling the Wilds, then accidentally discovering a bunch of bandits trying to make a new home.
"Nope." Bandit Princess puts out with confidence. "That place is so dangerous, even experienced Huntsmen have a tough time there. Plus they're not keen in sending people to patrol a place well known for being abandoned."
"Excellent." Salem gives approval to the location even further. "Then in a week, after all your men have their fun, tell them that they'll be going into a new home. Gathering all the supplies we can under your direction."
"I guess, but, they might not like it." Bandit Princess then points out. "No way they'll agree with me to enter the Wilds."
"I'm sure you'll find a way." Salem tells her, before her eyes glew just for a small second. The Grimm inside the room growling. "Otherwise, I may have to scare your little tribe over there myself. And I'd rather not kill to many." Message received. Bandit Princess could already think of a few good excuses in a moment to tell her tribe.
"You may go now Bandit Princess," Salem then waves her off. "Have fun with whatever you find in this town. But in a week I want all your bandits to be ready to move."
"Got it boss." Bandit Princess got up and stretched a bit. "Don't worry, I'll have the boys be good to go. But until then," Bandit Princess then walked off and grabbed her latest sword. A very good one to, imbued with three different types of Dust. "I need some target practice." Then she entered the elevator and with a ding, was gone.
"I don't trust her." Cinder then speaks her mind of their latest member. "She doesn't seem to be the type to just roll over and obey. Even if you did give her a new pair of legs."
"Loath as I am to agree with her, she's right." Watts snorted at the elevator where Bandit Princess left in. "She seems far to self-centered and greedy."
'Reminds you of anybody.' Hazel rolled back his eyes.
"Yes, Bandit Princess is the type who cares for only herself. But remember, she knows things w do not. Experienced this world that we have just entered." Salem then lifted her tablet showing the home screen of the city of GrimmFall. "The internet is nice, but even it can't tell us everything."
"Perhaps. But what if she betrays us?" Cinder looks at her.
"Then I'll have her limbs be rid of her." Nobody decided to add any further. If Salem says she has it handled, then she has it handled. Oddly, they all for a moment felt bad for Bandit Princess, on the off-chance she betrayed them. Then that feeling went away as they remembered they didn't care for her. Only of what she could be of use.
"I suppose her degenerate tribe is useful for the heavy lifting." Watts relented. "Still though, can we be certain she'll obey."
"As you said, she cares only for herself. While I don't wish to kill her, she knows I will if she attempts any form of resistance. So even if reluctantly, she will obey us if only to continue living." Such as Lionheart, or other men and women who were against her before she threatened them of death. Their colors showing when faced with such a threat. Only Ozma and a few allies didn't roll over like those cowards did.
"Moving on," Salem got to the next order of business. "Cinder, Hazel, I want you two to enter this GrimmFall city. According to Bandit Princess, it's the home to some of the worlds greatest heroes. So I feel some reconnaissance is necessary."
"Don't you need identification for that?" Hazel recalls none of them had such a thing here.
"The doctor is already working on it." Salem looks at Watts who nods. Having already told her before that the fake ID's being made would be done very soon. "
"So you wish for us to simply watch these heroes?" Cinder raised a brow.
"Yes, but that's not a priority." Salem tells her. "What I want you two to do is simply walk around. View the sights, from the people to the buildings. Appraise just what could be beneficial to us, and what could be a threat. But remember, no fighting or making enemies. Just watching." They can't make enemies. Not yet. Otherwise they're positions could be compromised.
What they needed now was information of anything that could be of use. As she told them before, the internet was useful, but hey shouldn't fully rely on it. Best to get some first-hand looks at this strange planet and how it functions.
"Meanwhile, I want you Tyrian to scout any villages or towns in our path to the Wilds." That way they can know what to avoid...or make a little trip for more supplies. Tyrian would check to see if they were easy prey or not.
"Of course my lady." Tyrian bowed. "I will grab some water and be on my way." Then with a laugh he ran to the elevator to get busy. Hazel, Watts, and Cinder leaving after as business was concluded. Hazel and Cinder would also get ready for tomorrow for their trip to GrimmFall while Watts got their ID's ready for that day. Soon, Salem was all by herself with only the Grimm for company.
In silence she then looked at her tablet, and turned it off. With a wave of her hand a Seer came and floated in front of her. It's head then clearing up revealing the former town of they were at and showing the bandits that were up, and even Bandit Princess who was pillaging a few stores.
It then changed over to an even farther distance. Revealing none other than GrimmFall itself.
Clairvoyance.
The power to see things from a distance. A useful magical power she learned during her time in the tower. Using it to watch others to curb her boredom, or see brave heroes in action. Now instead used to watch over possibly enemies or interesting sights. And right now, she was using it to see this city.
It is a massive city, a Tri-City state. It reminded her a bit of Vale, being a concrete jungle of skyscrapers, but also Alas as it is the forefront of industrial and technological progress. Where there, she could see many people from humans, to faunus, and this strange new species called Mobians, who seemed to be the reverse of faunus themselves. With her clairvoyance, she saw so many people, with numerous landmarks.
Particularly, one that she was interested in the second she saw it online and heard it from Bandit Princess. Her mouth opening as she silently said four words, "The Hall of Heroes."
Supposedly it was a place where the worlds greatest heroes ever lived in. Or at the very least, some of the most powerful. Thanks to this fan-site, she knew already of Major Glory, and his other allies. Of course oddly aside from Major Glory and a few others, Salem noticed certain information pertaining Miss Spell and Valhallen was notably lacking in certain areas.
'Goes to show the heroes aren't foolish enough to reveal all they're powers and tricks.' Maybe she could get a peek.
Relaxing herself, Salem then focused her powers and began 'zooming in' towards the Hall of Heroes. Wishing to see exactly what it was that made these heroes so special and strong.
Her Clairvoyance slowly entering the building, and for a moment she saw many people.
….
Then instantly she felt a pain in her head. She didn't scream. She didn't grab her head. Instead, Salem only narrowed her eyes and focused more. Her eyes glowing as she put in more magic as suddenly the image she got from the Grimm was becoming more blurry. She put more power, clearing it up and seeing some figures. But the pain then came again.
She scowled and did her best to ignore it. After living for thousands of years, she developed a good tolerance for pain. After all, she battled Ozma and other would-be heroes many times, and naturally was physically harmed and occasionally mentally as well. However, it was becoming apparent she couldn't hold out as the pain was growing to much.
"Just one look." But she didn't wish to give up in an instant. Instead doing one final push, where in the Hall of Heroes she then saw a woman she realized was none other than Miss Spell.
Who then appeared to look at her as suddenly Salem was forced to cut the connection before her mind could be assaulted by anymore pain. Her body slumping onto the throne while she then lightly touched her forehead with the tip of her finger, putting a small reliving spell to help with the pain.
Unaware of what her presence just did.
And that she made herself known.
"What the…" Miss Spells' eyes widened. Having sensed a magical threat, one that triggered the magical defenses she placed on the Hall of Heroes. And yet somehow whoever did this, went through practically over half the defenses like it wasn't even there, only getting caught in a few wards she made and still went through it.
Miss Spells's eyes narrowed. As during that last moment thanks to one of the defense mechanisms she placed, she was able to catch a quick glimpse of who did it. Yet a glimpse was all she got. Only seeing red eyes while everything else was covered in shadows.
Was it the Fallen? An old magical enemy she made? Or someone else? All Miss Spell knew was that anybody who could slip past her defenses and get away so quickly wasn't someone she could ignore. Especially since this person used magic, something that was pretty rare even in a world of people full of powers.
'And yet, that magic felt...off.' Miss Spell then went to inform Sebben of this. He needed to know what happened, just in case.
"GrimmFall huh." Cinder was in her new bed, having already gotten rid of the girl who once lived in it. Taking out the sheets that had blood on it and were now clean. Lying down on the bed as she then looked at her scroll, with a picture of GrimmFall in it. "How interesting."
Cinder then grabbed a vial full of sand and let the contents fly, her semblance then activating and super-heating the sand until it turned into a blade. As she then twirled it around, her mind went into thoughts of before. 'I still have my semblance, but not that power.'
The power of the Fall Maiden. One she planned to attain for nearly an entire year after her first failure in getting the full power because of Ozpin's little lackey. Working tirelessly to regain the second half, gathering allies of her own and planning so much. All while also destroying one of many of Ozpin's assets as Beacon, one of his greatest assets, was gone and turned to a homing ground for the Grimm. Now all that power she had was just...gone. Just because of being in another world.
Gripping her blade, she then threw it as it hit some picture of a masked man and tearing it. Embedding itself into the wall. Cinder gritting her teeth. To think, before she was someone, and now she was no one.
All her hard work literally going down the drain, while trapped here in this wretched planet. Cinder hoped that she could blow off some steam later, but for now rest was required. She would need to do the job Salem assigned her properly with no mistake. To see this worlds warriors and how they must be handled...and while she was at it, perhaps find a...replacement...of power as Salem told her.
'I will regain power. I will not starve.' Cinder thought, her mind recalling a small scene from long ago, of a weakling hiding in the cupboards before returning to reality. Cinder then turned off the lights in the room, and closed her eyes. Tomorrow was going to be a big day. It would be the day she and Hazel would check out one of this planets greatest cities of all, the home to heroes and Huntsmen. A bastion of hope to the entire Earth (a stupid name might she add).
As she then simply covered herself, she was unaware of a small Nevermore watching her through the window. Even if she had, she would just assume it was Salem doing her business as always.
Because of this, she was unaware that it wasn't in fact Salem watching her at all. No. It was someone else, someone who spoke to another person far, far away.
"GrimmFall huh. Moloch. Get in contact with one of our allies there. I want to see what plans this girl has along with her ally."
Cinder didn't know it. But tomorrow would be more interesting than she thought.
Miss Spell is more powerful than Salem in magic. I'll say that much as confirmation. However, Salem's magic plays by...different rules. Thanks to both the dimension she comes from, and her 'source' of power coming from a God.