DISCLAIMER: Certain expounded content may be headcanon and shouldn't be misconstrued as established RWBYverse canon.
Satellite world map of Remnant. Remnant is a Terranesque planet where RWBY, and consequentially this RP, takes place. It is the only known planet in the system to have life. It is populated mainly by a diverse range of plant and animal life, the Creatures of Grimm, and the humans and faunus organized into four kingdoms and several villages, which interact with each other through trade, war, diplomacy, and communications media. Remnant is orbited by only one natural satellite, the Moon. There are four continents on Remnant: Sanas (largest continent), Anima (eastern continent), Solitas (northern continent), and Menagerie (southeastern continent).
Little is known of Remnant's ancient history, and most recollections of it are passed from generation to generation in the form of myths and legends—many of which still persist today such as the tale of the Seasonal Maidens and the Silver-eyed Warriors, both known for their extraordinary power. The origin of humans and their derivatives in Remnant is unknown, and continues to remain an enigma in scientific circles, but legends tell that they were born into an incredibly hostile world. The Creatures of Grimm, monsters of terrifying countenance, fought with humans for much of mankind's history—so much so that humanity was almost eradicated. But a new resource was discovered, named Dust, and men developed the capability to reverse their fate.
In the absence of Grimm, mankind was able to forge great civilizations that spread all over the world—nations and kingdoms that rose and fell as time marched on. Science and technology advanced with each passing year, as newer discoveries and inventions made the world a better place to live. Dust gradually grew from a weapon of war to a resource of peace. The mysterious crystals of Remnant were used for various purposes, most notably as an energy source providing the four kingdoms with energy.
Yet, as often is said, with the absence of one enemy is the presence of another. Humanity found an enemy in itself, and it was indeed a formidable foe. The kingdoms of the world fought destructive wars for various reasons—some for land, some for power, and some for resources. In addition the faunus, a branch of humanity known for certain physical animal traits such as horns or ears, was being discriminated against, laying the foundations for the Faunus War. But what was perhaps the most destructive conflict in human history was the Great War—named after the scale in which it was fought. Nations rose against nations, and kingdoms against kingdoms—all for the propagation of the ideological dichotomies of collectivism against individualism, censorship against self-expression, and totalitarianism against democracy. In fact, many people were outraged at their governments for suppressing the arts—a vital part of expression—that they named their children after colors in defiance of this.
Seeing as the world before them was in ruins, the surviving kingdoms of the world—Mantle (Atlas), Vacuo, Mistral, and Vale—met in Vytal and forged peace. The ideals of individualism and liberty prevailed, and a new ideology emerged among the kingdoms: unity in diversity. The world had forged for itself a path towards globalization and reliance on each other to survive. A testament of this are the Huntsman Academies and the Cross-Continental Transmission Network established after the war as a statement of unity, as well as the Vytal Festival, which celebrates mankind's cultural and societal diversity. Yet there are challenges that await the inhabitants of Remnant, and it is the hope of many that humanity will stay united.
Kingdoms
Political Map of Remnant.The kingdoms are considered by mankind as sanctuaries from the threat of the Grimm, and as beacons for humanity. There are four kingdoms that currently exist are Atlas, Vacuo, Mistral, and Vale.
Most of the human and faunus population of Remnant make their residence within the confines of the kingdoms, as the world outside is open to Grimm attacks. The reason for their relative safety is because of their geographical features—which serve as natural barriers against the Grimm. While they are referred to as kingdoms, there is little or power vested in a hereditary sovereign, if there are any at all. Instead executive and legislative power is held by a council that sees to the needs of its citizens. These councils may be democratically elected or appointed by the Chairman of the council, depending on the kingdom's government system.
The armed forces of each of the kingdoms are at most equated to self-defense forces, and they only conscript citizens into the military in times of emergency or crisis. Only Atlas maintains an expeditionary force, and it's entire population also serves as its reserve personnel.
Each of the four kingdoms hosts a Huntsman Academy, an institution established to train the next generation of Huntsmen. Generally the government and the academies are separate institutions, but Atlas is a special exception. It is noted that they have coalesced the civilian government, the armed forces, and the academy into one unified entity.
ValeVale is one of the four kingdoms of Remnant, and the primary setting of RWBY—and by extension this RP. It is located on the eastern half of Sanas. The kingdom comprises mainly of the City of Vale, the island of Patch, Beacon Academy, a couple of major cities among its western coast, and Mountain Glenn; and is surrounded by the Forest of Forever Fall to the north, the Emerald Forest to the east, and mountain ranges to its east and south.
It was the only kingdom known to have attempted an expansion of its territory by means of colonization. This colony was called Mountain Glenn. It had sophisticated infrastructure that connected it with the city proper, but it succumbed to repeated Grimm attacks that forced the government to abandon the colony—lest the Grimm enter the Valean homeland.
While most people would take the airships to go to the kingdom proper, some prefer to take their time. In this case, this was Aiden. He continued to drive his car, going down the road that wound around the cliffs. This road led to a highway, which served to collect all kinds of vehicles from the smaller roads that fed to it, like a mighty river of automobiles collecting cars from its paved tributaries. This highway went on for a couple more miles, leading to the magnificent pearl of a city that stood apart from the dangerous world—the city of Vale.
Vale was an incredibly lively place, a picturesque bustling city that attracted all kinds of people from within and without—a haven for mankind from the monsters outside of its walls. Not only that, it was surrounded by a prominent mountain range that served as a geographical barrier against the Grimm. The walls protecting the city were quite thick, very high, and certainly well-guarded, with the finest of Vale's soldiers watching day and night. Every few hundred meters or so were towers where they were garrisoned. The car slowed down and stopped at a checkpoint, and a guard came by to check. Aiden was cleared to pass, and the car began to accelerate again.
Map of the City of Vale.If one were to make a comparison with any city on Earth, it would perhaps be likened to Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, or even Vienna. It was incredibly beautiful and vibrant, where one could find all sorts of interesting places to visit, such as coffee shops, bookstores, parks, and iconic buildings that flanked every street. People roamed to and fro without much concern. A cosmopolitan atmosphere was abound, with all sorts of cultures melded together in a harmonious fashion. To the locals, "life is here." Here was life left unmolested, left to thrive and flourish.
Downtown was close by, and Aiden and Blake were greeted by narrower streets, some of which were paved with carved stones. It was certainly a more avant-garde part of the city, where the traditional street lights, traffic signs, and pedestrian walkways were replaced with holograms. They resembled the ones that were back at Beacon Academy, only they displayed the emblem of the kingdom in place of the school's. People in this side of town were described to be hipsters showing off the latest Scrolls or holding Stardust Coffee cups in their hand—not that they were any different from the rest of the population.
AtlasAtlas is a kingdom located in Solitas, the far northern continent of Remnant. It is the the world's strongest military power, and its leader in scientific and technological advancement. Formerly known as the Kingdom of Mantle, it was the result of the absorption of the Mantlean civil government and armed forces with Atlas Academy, the huntsman institution based there—forming a government system that has elicited mixed comment from the other kingdoms, as well as from citizens.
The most well-known face of Atlas is its military, known as the Atlesian Armed Forces. It is comprised of two primary branches: the Atlesian Army, which conducts land-based operations, and the Atlesian Navy, which conducts air-based operations. Its navy boasts Remnant's largest aerial fleet, capable of projecting Atlesian military might through its aerial warships and fighter-transports. A large part of the Atlesian military's numerical strength is comprised of android soldiers, which take the place of human infantry, though this doesn't mean Atlas has phased out human military personnel entirely. Some of them still serve in the army, whether by the rifle or by the mechanized battlesuits.
Notable entities based in Atlas include the Schnee Dust Company, one of the largest conglomerates in Remnant in terms of influence and market revenue, and Atlas Academy.
MistralMistral is a kingdom located on the easternmost continent of Remnant. It is the largest of the four kingdoms, occupying the entire continent of Anima, however it is their size that has proved troublesome to its government. Villages surround the kingdom, and many of them are home to thugs that roam the area and hang out at inns, evident of the lucrative underground. Haven Academy is located here.
Mistralian culture, a rich specimen of the culture of Remnant, resembles a modern incarnation of Greco-Roman culture, though it does have Oriental elements, too. They are prominent for their theatrics, fashion, art, and architecture. In fact, they are known all over the world for their unique mountain-anchored buildings.
A famous event taking place here is the Mistral Regional Tournament, an annual tournament likely participated by huntsmen and huntresses as well as students from Haven and Sanctum. It is similar to the Vytal Festival Tournament.
VacuoVacuo is a kingdom located on the western half of Sanas. It is the location of Shade Academy, one of the four huntsman academies of the world. This kingdom is geographically isolated from the world by its nigh-inaccessible desert, but otherwise accessible by air.
The kingdom was once a lush and fertile land that was home to vast natural wealth, something that the other kingdoms desired to harvest. For a time Vacuo was colonized by the other major kingdoms until a major catastrophe struck. Because of overexploitation of their resources by the colonizers, the Vacuans saw their paradise slowly turn into the desert that lies in its place today.
Vacuan culture is much more libertarian and laidback than their counterparts in Atlas, Mistral, and Vale. People wear casual clothing to formal events, arguing that it's still "shirt and tie." This may be because their country sits on some of the largest reserves of Dust in the world, and their isolation has proved to be advantageous for them to thrive and not just survive. Society seems to be on the verge of anarchy, but people will respect you if you can survive among the sands.
Posted: Wed May 04, 2016 10:21 pm
