User blog:WeissMaus/Chasm Chronicles

The Chasm Chronicles

Introduction How does one describe the world of Remnant? Full of danger and magic, Creatures called Grimm stalk the land in the form of wolves and bears, lizards and ravens. Magic called Dust makes up the bullets and batteries making humans dependent on it. Where robots look and act like humans and fight along side them Our story takes place far from the capital Vale and it's highly respectable school Beacon in which men and women are trained to hunt Grimm. In an outpost that is also a prison for the dangerous and the irredeemable. What better way to make someone disappear without killing them. Morcia: made from an abandoned abbey near three chasms with a natural rock formation known as the Watch Wevyn. Degrees of cold range from -49 to -128.6 degrees. It's gets colder between the Chasms or so it's been believed. Prisoners who survive the trek are given clothing made for the weather and made into squadrons. That had not been done for centuries, now the prisoners arrive by plane. Everyone relies on everyone else to survive. If they cannot survive, they die. Every four years they are given new supplies of food, Dust and armor. It is still not enough. The new supplies run as been few and far between now. Groups of foragers go into the nearest Chasm known as Wilhelm which is the second biggest of the chasms but the smallest and the most dangerous at 446 km long and 29 km wide the depth is 1,800 mile is H'rath. Inside the depths of each chasm they has a forest of black wood and grey leaves. The creatures who survive this harsh land are dangerous even more so then Grimm for starvation causes the mind to go insane. Volunteers to Morcia are rare and few and far between. Those who do volunteer either don't understand the danger or they are seeking redemption among their fellows. Our main protagonist was found at two on a normal patrol of Wilhelm. The leading member George Rask took him in knowing it was a hard trek back to where they began. The baby was named Lieam Guardsman. The Chasms have secrets that no one has ever discovered.

Prologue 'the Exiled' Moon light shone down on a large building. Search lights made their rounds as night guards walked the walls. The shadows hid a ruddy haired seventeen year old as he led a horse through the blackness. He wore furs and leathers, his military style boots were well worn from use. His green eyes shone with determination. The horse wickered loudly. "Shh," he said to the horse "We'll be out of here before you know it." He knew every crack and crevice on the walls, he knew every hiding spot. He stopped at the gatehouse. He quickly tied the horse to a post then went in. On a chair sleeping was the gatekeeper Hubert. His beard made him look like a owl. The youth crept silently passed the sleeping man. He reached for the gate keys. With them in hand he went outside to greet the horse. Walking to the gate the keys clinked and clanked, he silently cursed to himself. Finding the key he put it in the lock, he turned it to open the door when a large hand held his shoulder. Sunlight made its way into the office of General Rask Lord and Warden of Morcia. His brown hair was cut short and a beard wrapped its self around his lips. His brown rat ears and tail were lowered in slight anger. He wore hard leathers and furs as was custom. His eyes were hard but as the looked at the youth they grew softer. He sighed as he looked at the youth who sat across his desk. The desk was well worn in the words of sophisticated folk it was matured furniture. He gave a sigh. How long had it been since he had first found the youth? Ten? Twelve? He no longer knew. When he found the boy he never had seen the youth would grow into a determined warrior. Lieam knew how to pickpocket and lock-pick despite Constance and himself trying to get him away from the criminals. Not that it worked. Lieam always found a way to see his older friends to hear their tales of the outside world. General Rask gave Lieam his punishment: extra chores, he watched as the youth sighed in anger but he went to do them anyway. Rask went back to his work. So much paperwork for a small outpost. A knock came from his door. He looked up "Come in." he said. Constance Badgertree was large, she wore the same as the general. Her hair was black and white like the creature of her namesake. Just like the General she was a Faunus a person with animal like characteristics. Almost everyone in Morcia was a Faunus. On her side was a baton that had could be used as a taser if it was needed so far it was not and used as a scare factor. If anyone who looked at her for the first time would be frightened but she had a kind side. It just wasn't seen often other then Rask. "I saw Lieam run by," She said "He seemed mad." She sat down on the same chair that the youth had sat in moments before. "I caught him trying to escape again." Rask sighed as he sent down his quill pen. "He's getting to be a handful." Constance sighed as well. "Remember when you first found him ten years ago?" she asked knowing full well he did. "He was wrapped in the red scarf he wears." she did a small chuckle. "He's growing up Rask and we can't stop it." Rask walked up to the window, he knew she was right but that didn't mean he had to like it. If it were up to him Lieam would never leave the walls of Morcia. He thought of the letter he had sent along with Lieam's transcripts to Beacon the school men and woman were trained to hunt Grimm. He blamed the stories the recruits or rather criminals brought with them about Vale and the outside. Even Lieam's teachers Livingston and Volger told him stories. "I know that Constance," he said turning to her "But he--" Here Rask faltered then he asked "Were we good parents? Or should we have tried harder to give him to a human family?" Constance looked down just as sad as Rask. "We tried Rask that's all people would ask from us." Lieam ran down the halls then he stopped. He saw the Founder's Tapestry looking at him. Four faces hidden behind helmets and their weapons of swords and various others. He sighed and spoke "I feel you watching me, I'm just on my way to do my pentence in the kitchens. Oh God the dishes." Then he turned serious "But you already knew that. I don't mean to disobey my parents. I just want out. You can understand that right?" He looked at his feet "I can't talk to my parents as I can with you. You're different. You understand what I feel." Lieam shuffled his feet at the unwavering gaze of the Founders. "Look I'll try to be a better Faunus. " then he muttered under his breath "Even though they tell me I'm human" he lifted his voice up again "I promise not to escape anymore or worry my parents again." He turned away and shuffled sulkily to the kitchens muttering as he went. "I wish there was another war then I'll show 'em. Huh! Then they'll be glad to have a young man fighting then. I wouldn't be sent to scour the kitchens. They'll probably give me a medal or something like that." He was unaware of the eyes had turned gentler as they watched the youth scramble away. "So in trouble again?" asked a lizard Faunus by the name of Nathan. He was one of Lieam's friends but like everyone the boy knew he was much older. He got his answer when the youth nodded. Nathan chuckled "Sooner or later your parents will understand and send you to Beacon." Lieam looked up "When?" he asked the older Faunus. A noise interrupted the conversation. Nathan and Lieam ran to the noise. Yin and Oliver  walked past the gates with a body bag. Lieam knew what had happened if before Oliver explained what happened to Constance. A Grimm attack, the others had survived but the losses were considered immense. They didn't have the power to use robots other then Cluni and she was small. The bigger robots used for battle were no longer used. The power had to be used for more important matters but that meant no robots to help patrol. The body bags were taken off the horse, Lieam realized that the patrol had more horses then they returned with. He met Rask's eyes and the older man's gaze said "This is why we don't let you out there." Lieam quickly looked down. Cavern wasn't filled according to histories, the great hall was once filled to the brim but now it wasn't even one fourth full. Cluni the robot loris rat hopped on her favorite perch meaning Lieam had to hold her weight on his shoulder not that she weighed that much. Ale and stew was served. The ale was home brewed and the stew was made from animals that were around meaning it was just a mix of animal meats. The ale was drank but the losses of the Faunus from the patrol lingered. Nathan and Lieam sat with the two surviving patrol members Yin and Oliver.

Chapter one 'Shattered Peace' Three days later feeling the sun warm his face Blind Simeon looked out. Even if "looked" wasn't the right word he remembered when he could see. The air was growing hot and the insects were growing even more silent. The herbalist sniffed the air. He took his cane and walked down the ramparts. "Simeon." he heard a voice call his name. "Good evening Father." said the herbalist "Strange seeing you out this time of day." "See?" asked Rask then he realized what Simeon was trying to say. "Oh, that was a joke." "Always on the nose, Father." "Stop calling me Father." snarled Rask but it was in good fun. "If you recall I was once a brother in an abbey as a penance." reminded the blind herbalist to the warden "As such I call you Father because you are the Father of Morcia." Rask lowered his head and sighed angrily "And Lieam is the Son?" He had heard this before from Simeon. Simeon turned sharply to the general. "Lieam is important Rask. He might not be much now but-" He was interrupted by Rask who asked angrily "And how to do you figure that out?" He kicked the snow "I know Lieam is important. I raised him with Constance." Simeon lifted his arms and spoke "The Great One puts words in the snow that only blind men can read." He spoke again "A great storm is coming tonight." "How do you know?" asked Rask kindly. He was sorry that he had argued with the oldest inhabitant of Morcia. "The air and the animals Father Rask." replied the old one with a smile then he sniffed the air "Come, I smell coated raspberry cream pudding, hot scones fresh from the oven." He took the warden's hand "We better hurry or the moles will eat it all. "The moles are coming but they are always in their tunnels?" asked Rask following the fast pace of the blind man.	Simeon smiled "Do you know of a time when the moles did not come for Sernea's crumpets." 	"Simeon your observations once again leave me in the shadows. " Rask looked up at the sky in thought "I must tell Lieam to beat the log alarm again." "Oh no not the log alarm." groaned Simeon "Do we have to hear that incessant banging?" "Lieam is a bit over enthusiastic at beating the hollow log. " agreed Rask "But if we ever get a bell or truly rebuild the bell tower I will be the first to vote him in as bell-ringer." 	 Astride a half finished bell-tower that was more then likely never be finished.  Rain pounded loudly as Lieam doggedly pounded the log with his clubs. His red brown hair wet from the rain. Thonkathonk 	He was sturdily built young man, he felt the wind trying push him back. He shook his head to shake off the water from his eyes. Wiping the rain from his forehead then he put it down to continue beating the log with his two clubs. Whenever he raised his head ever so slightly he saw the tundra standing stoically and the Watch Wevyn. 	"Lieam, come down, or you'll catch your death." came a familiar voice calling to him from down below. He looked to see the voice more clearly and smiled. Constance was standing there in clean clothing looking back up at him. She had a hand on the wet sward. "Do you hear me, young man down this instant." Lieam blew rainwater from his bangs and yelled down like a rouge. "Alright ma'am just as you say. He jumped down with a backward glance, wrapped around his waist was a wet rope. He plunged down earthward to her snarls. He stopped a fraction from the ground and smiled "I came as fast as I could" 	Constance grabbed him roughly and pulled him to the door. He protested loudly "I'm not a baby. I can walk by myself" "No, you're not. You are a pickle. Jumping off a building at such a height. What if the rope snapped you would be dead before hit the ground." "I know what I was doing." He protested again "It was perfectly safe I've done it before. Put me down please. I can walk on my own two feet you know." "Done it before!" She yelled at him "Who was watching you? Who do you think you are? An assassin?" Scolding and arguing. The two made their way into Morcia and into the warmth of the old citadel.	Cavern was the name for the mess hall, it also bore the name Great Hall. It seated over a four hundred but it wasn't even one fourth full. Men and women sat on their seats, some drinking ale, others playing card or board games. Heads and antlers of the hunted gave the walls decorations. When a person came in the first thing they would see across from them would be a tapestry depicting Morcia's founders. Filled with symbols and runes no one knew what to make of it. Elk and some kind of rodent filled the table in a stew with hardened bread to dip in. 	Across the hall seating in chairs covered in hides of creatures. Light came from torches and lanterns. Rask sat on the head of the table. Simeon sat on his left and the chair on Rask's right was empty for that was Constance's chair. Rask lifted a scone to his mouth and stopped. "Hmm the beating stopped. I wonder where Lieam is?" Simeon chuckled "Can't you hear him? He's getting a good scolding from the Major and probably getting some new clothes." The reprimands of Constance and the loud protests of Lieam were heard loudly from the corridor connecting Cavern to the kitchen. "Hold still, young man, your hair is saturated" "Oww! I won't have any hair left if you keep going on like that. Ouch! And I'm not wearing that habit it belongs to Fatty Tuck." "Oooh you ungrateful little... Tuck is kind enough to lend you a spare robe... Come back here." Wet boots pounding the floor announced the culprit's escape. Lieam scampered in. He sat between Nathan and Oliver. Grabbing a wedge of cheese, he shoved it in nut furl bread and shoved it in his mouth. Oliver smiled "Run afoul of the Major again." He laughed then stopped "Quick under the table. Here she comes." He sat down with a cup of ale and some stew. "Good food tonight." said Oliver drinking from his bowl with a loud slurp. "I haven't had this for a while." he took a guitar from his back and began to play a small tune. Lieam smiled at his friend "More then two weeks." "Two weeks of rodents and no ale." The bull Faunus said drinking from the mug "That's good ale." Yin walked over and slapped the bull Faunus on the back "I'm glad you survived the Chasm Patrol so who's next on the roster?" "Neil, Olive and Cameron with Bello." "Oh, come on," said a voice on another table. It was one of the few human criminals here. "That's three times you beat me on Kingdoms! You are cheating!" "I'm not cheating! yelled the Faunus standing up with his fists clenched. His wolf ears fell flat in anger. "You are just a sore loser!" "Say that to my face Faunus!" "Are they at it again?" asked Nathan walking up, "General Rask hates it when we don't work together." The argument escalated to where the two were about to trade blows then a loud voice called out "Silence!" 	She walked over to the two prisoners and banged their heads together. "You are so stupid the both of you!" she said angrily on her side was a baton that she swung on her side as she spoke. "What if we were attacked eh? Then we won't need to dig a grave because the two of you would already be dead by your stupidity! We work together here and if the two of you can't do that then I will walk both of you to the gates myself and see if you survive out there in the Chasms!" Oliver whispered to Lieam "She's pissed." he carefully drank his ale "I never thought I would see her go crazy mad." 	Lieam nodded without saying anything. He had been on the end of her anger when he was younger. One of those times he had jumped off the bell tower with a vine she had said the same thing she was saying right now with several differences. He felt sorry for them right now.	 "She is a badger after all. When they get pissed, they get pissed." Nathan whispered back. He shivered from the cold as well as the fear of Constance's anger. "They are getting the biggest scolding in their lives and that is not counting the scoldings they got from their mothers." 	The two prisoners rubbed their heads in pain. Constance spoke in a no nonsense tone.  "Apologize to each other and shake hands." They looked at her then she snarled "Now!" "I'm sorry for being a jerk," said the human looking at Constance fearfully "I am also sorry for treating you like crap." "I''m sorry too," replied the wolf Faunus just as scared as the human.  "I hope you can forgive me." "Good," said Constance happily "Now get back to what you were doing and no fighting this time." She walked away and everyone gave a huge sigh of relief. The temperature had dropped a couple of degrees when she had been angry. Yin shivered "She scares me more then the police in Vale." she rubbed her shoulders as if she had felt a cold wind. Rain continued to pound, Nathan shook his head "Anyone who is out there is probably drowned by now." "True." Yin said nodding her head. Her antennae shook as well. The Faunus trickled out of Cavern to go to the their respective barracks. Night fell like a guillotine dropping on a head. Lieam stayed asleep as the rain continue pound down like drums.