[IC] Valour & Vale: A RWBY Roleplay

^{Our Demons}

[NuttsnBolts]

L O R R A L

^{The Town of Garen's Well}

It was the perfect evening for a disaster.

The menacing clouds had opened up in the early afternoon with a downpour of a torrential scale, a gloomy shadow that engulfed the small town of Garen's Well. For hours it rained, soaking the ground until the dry dirt turned into a sticky, sloppy slosh of mud and clay. Many of the locals had scurried back indoors to the safe comfort of their warm homes, holding little desire to stay out in the wet to catch an illness. It was not a pleasant evening and yet amongst this depressive mess was the sight of a fiery blade, the orange glow of a cleaver known as the Solar Lily.

Each step, each bound, landed with a force that would erupt with clumps of damp debris. The soil was sticking to the girls boots as she repeatedly lifted her feet away from the earth below. Lorral was just beyond the shelter of town's only tavern and yet she was already soaked to the core; it was the least of her concerns. What was more important was the ringing of the tower bells, a siren of help that bellowed through the violent storm.

"What are the ringing bells for?" she had asked the tavern barkeeper only a handful of minutes earlier.

"They are from lookouts. People who have spotted a Grimm closing in."

Those simple words triggered a response of fight or flight, a mechanism deeply ingrained within one's own instincts. It had been fortunate that Lorral's time at Beacon Academy had trained her to respond more often with the former, as opposed to the self saving nature of the later, and so she ran. She did not run away—no—she ran towards danger and possible death, throwing caution to the wind in an effort to come to the aid of those that may be in need.

^{Five Days Prior}

Lorral pushed open the steel door, partly entering into the open room, partly holding back until she was given permission to step forth. She could see a grand office table that stretched across her entire field of view, a design that felt impracticable given the amount of bench space that it offered.

"Ah yes come in," the male voice was faintly heard from the far side of the table, a distince sound from face that looked up to see his new, young guest. "Take a seat wont you. Please, I insist."

The student stepped forward, confident in her steps but at the same time filled with an uneasy nervous sensation. She gazed upon the man that was in charge of both the construction of the academy, and the one that they called Headmaster Prime. Dark green hair and a vibrant set of eyes, hidden behind a set of black rimmed glasses. He did not look much older than his late twenties and yet his personal vibe presented itself with a level of authority, superiority, and pride.

"Hello headmaster, you asked to see me?" Lorral's words slipped out of her mouth as she settled down into the seat that the headmaster had offered her, noticing that he was still currently invested with the documents scattered across his desk.

"That I did, and so how do you feel about your progress?" He turned to look at her, noticing her slight level of confusion. She was about to answer when he quickly cut her off after realising his mistake. "In becoming a huntress at Beacon that is? I am sorry. I always have a nasty habit of half asking a question without giving it complete context." He left a pause, looking over the edge of his glasses as he waited for her response, "So... your progress?"

The repeat of the question snapped Lorral back into reality of which she responded with a short, and direct, "Ah! Yes. Well... I'm doing well."

"Only well?" The man's smile beamed brightly knowing full well that her subtitles were best left for another conversation. "I see... Well, there's no need to be so humble about your achievements. It is quite known that your grades are of a fairly high standard, and that is why we are in need your help. You see, we have a situation up North on the Island of Vytal where communication with the locals have stopped completely. We need you to investigate and retrieve some important relics. It may be dangerous with the Creatures of Grimm being left unchecked since The Great War, but do you believe you can you do this for us?"

Lorral sat there stunned, not really knowing what to make of the request. It was quite sudden and went against the much desired thoughts of going home during the break to help protect her village, but the taste for adventure was in her lap, within her grasps, and she just could not say no. Looking at the headmaster the student gave a firm nod and a smile, just enough enthusiasm to show that she was dedicating herself to this challenge.

"Excellent!" The headmaster beamed with joy at the sign of one of his students taking up the cause,"Now you won't be going alone as supposedly each academy has been asked to send two of their finest and meet at Garen's Well for further instructions. So for the second I am leaning towards a young man by the name of Voyd Tyrian. From what I hear he has had a rough past but I do believe he will be an asset on this journey. If you happen to see him could you send him my way? We have so much to discuss."

^{Present Evening}

A deep sludge channel was carved as Lorral's boots dug into the ground, bringing the future huntress to a much needed stop. The rain hissed with a steamy scream as it touched the blade's hot edge, a mist of fury that gave the Solar Lily emotion of anger and rage. Lorral nested herself by the edge of one of the buildings, water dripping from her wet hair, ready to peer around and scout her first sight of the Grimm in question. With her free hand pressed up against the stone wall she poked her vision around the corner to look at the dreaded demon.

"There it is!" she whispered under her panting breath, exhaling light clouds of fog into the cold air.

The Grimm was ten, maybe twelve foot tall, and as black as the night that the town was being plunged into. The chitinous chest plate and skull of this two legged beast reflected with a ghostly white from the dim lights of the street lamps but what caught Lorral's attention was the two legged nature of this monster, that it stood proud and tall like a malevolent god judging its unworthy minions. The girl watched cautiously, deciding the best course of action as it stomped its way through the town square looking for innocent people to pursue and slaughter. Lorral had hoped that there was at least some leeway time to find and meet with the others, but not every new encounter was designed to go so smoothly.

[mickilennial]

Gᴀʀᴇɴ's Wᴇʟʟ -- Pʀᴇsᴇɴᴛ Dᴀʏ

Warning bells.

It was a phenomena that Caro was more than well familiar with -- after all, it had been one she had experienced throughout her childhood. Her father had warned her at the time about keeping wise when leaving the town she grew up in, that the dangers of Vacuo lingered in the darkest shadows beyond the town’s well-defended walls. It was a thought that took her back to the night she lost her mother when her sister was barely old enough to walk, a night that reminded her of the one consequence of the world that was responsible for shaping her childhood. A word that she muttered underneath her breath as she stood up her seat in the town’s sole tavern.

“Grimm.”

She was still in a drowsy haze when she noticed a girl, hair as white as snow, approach the bartender and asking him the reason for alarm as if she hadn’t grown up in fear of them. She wondered if she was a traveler from one of the larger cities. However, before Caro could approach either person the girl sprung into action and bolted out of the door into the murky, rainy weather. Caro’s hazy cerulean eyes looked to the bartender with an expression of confusion and the two of them communicated -- albeit through facial expressions of confusion. That was until Caro moved her hand from her longcoat and placed a small amount of money on the counter to tip for the necessities she had drank before dozing off some hours earlier.

It wasn’t her job to fight grimm outside of Vacuo, but she was here on a mission from her headmaster and her king. She had little choice but participate in the soon-to-be battle and despite her lazy demeanor if there was one thing she disliked more than hard work it would’ve been grimm. Plus, she could probably get a nicer room to sleep in if she took initiative of the battle as a public service.

“I guess I should also see what’s going on. I’ll be back. Probably.”

The bartender looked at her quizzically, as if she and the other girl were related; but before he could comment she was gone, picking up the pace to follow the pale-haired girl.

As she passed the town square, her boots meeting the muck and mud, a thought came into her head; a thought about the situation she now found herself in. She had fought grimm before in Vacuo in the heat and on the rocks and sand, but she had never in her entire ‘career’ battled in such a murky and rainy place as Garen’s Well. It brought a smug smirk to her lips as she pushed herself further and further away from the tavern and closer to the inevitable threat to the townstead. It didn’t take too long for Caro to come across the figure she had chased after, her brows narrowing as she noticed the girl peering beyond a wall; sizing up the creature in the distance.

“You know, if you’re scared you can probably turn back now.”

The quip wasn’t smug and she probably didn’t catch the woman off-guard given the obvious sound of foot meeting mud, especially considering Caro had run in a dash to catch up with the woman. The tone of Caro’s voice was casual and friendly, although disinterested – as she often was. Smile aside, Caro was more than aware of the scenario they were about to find themselves in she drew her weapon from her back, its setting still set in the ‘ranged’ mode. It had been a few months since she fired a shot with her weapon, though she was sure that this would be nothing more than another mission or training exercise in Vacuo for her.

She was ready.

[Eisenhorn]

---

---

2 Weeks Prior

The sound of a pen on paper, and the occasional turning of a page, were the only noises to be heard in the library. Even the Librarian, who was normally doing his rounds and glaring at anyone who looked like they were up to no good, was absent, the day was considered an off day for all members of the Atlas Academy. Of course, such things didn't keep everyone away and relaxing, as one Sep Felder was sitting at a table, several stacks of books loosely organized by subject and whether they had been perused or not yet surrounding him at the table, a rather thick notebook full of barely legible scrawl in front of him, also the subject to his ink based assaults on legibility and language. Sep was studying Grimm at the moment, having had a curious question posed during one of the discussions in an advanced class on Grimm, which covered as much how to fight them, as to the why and how behind them. A classic approach of knowing thy enemy before going to war with them. Covered half the problems, the young trainee mused, the other half being equally difficult. The class was a theoretical one as much as practical, and as such was voluntary, an experiment into the elective courses, but it had enough people to warrant its continued existence for now, something that Sep was grateful for.

The sound of rigid, carefully measured out footsteps announced the arrival of someone else, which was curious to the Atlas student. He had the spare key, having watched the librarian hide it away on a day he had forgotten his main key, and the manner of walking did not at all match that of the Librarian, who had a far faster, more irritated pace in his stride. Looking back over his shoulder, a brief look of surprise was no doubt on his face when the Headmaster of Atlas Academy turned the corner, a rare, but feint, smile on her face as she approached Sep as he turned back to his notes.

"Ma'am. Shouldn't you be elsewhere, not in this half academy, half construction site?" The irony of this statement, considering he was the one sitting in a library, on a rather nice day for the normally chilly Mantle, nose in his books and scratching away notes, theories, musings, and other observations as he saw fit. It was a rather headache inducing thing for others to read, owing to a complete lack of organization, but he digressed. The headmistress walked past him, reaching up to a shelf on geographical texts, picking out a specific book before seating herself opposite of Sep.

"I could say the same, Mr. Felder. How much do you know about Vytal Island?" The mention of that island brought Sep's pen to a stop as he looked up at the Headmistress sitting across from him, a book on the island resting comfortably open in her hands.

"More than some, not as much as I would like though. Island south of this continent, where the treaties ending the War were signed, and where the idea for the Academies was agreed upon. One for each continent. Rumor mill has it that something happened there." A soft laugh, chiding though it may have been, was the first response that Sep got from the headmistress. Her response was dead accurate, unsurprising really given her status and knowledge of the entire student body.

"Rumor mill, or military espionage? Regardless, your volunteer application reached my desk. It shouldn't have, considering this isn't public knowledge, but I will overlook that as well, this time. What we discuss, since this is technically too early to act, doesn't leave this room." A nod from Sep, and she continued, opening the book on Vytal and pushing it across to Sep who took it and looked at the page. Recent additions, considering recent history, and he glanced up at the Headmistress as she continued.

"All contact has been lost with the island of Vytal. We suspect Grimm are involved, due to their unchecked reign of the island even during the treaties discussions. Each Academy has been asked to send two hunters or huntresses to Vytal, to investigate, and to retrieve artifacts promised to each Academy for safe keeping. You are being assigned to field duty. Head to the town of Garen's Well. From there, meet the other Academy's Hunters and investigate. Retrieve the Artifacts if possible, all of them preferably. Otherwise mark them for other teams to collect. Questions?" The Hunter student considered the information given, looking through the book quietly as he mused over what was covered. Each Academy was to have an artifact, yet she specifically mentioned collecting all of them. It made sense, really, considering the advantage it would give Atlas Academy over the others. They still had to think for themselves, doubly so with how tense things still were post War, despite the Grimm's surge in activity.

"One question only, the rest I can research before departing. Who is the second student going?" The Headmistress rose up, knowing full well how uncomfortable with unknowns he was at the best of times, giving him a knowing smile before turning to leave the Library.

"You have two weeks to be there, Mr. Felder. As you know, I am not a believer in things like luck. So accomplish the mission, and report back to me to resume your courses here at the Academy." With that, she was gone, and Sep looked back down at the book on Vytal in his hands. It would take nearly a week, by boat, to reach Vytal if he were to go there directly, which he wasn't. So a week to reach the mainland past it, and... Blast it, he needed a map. Standing up, he walked to find a chart on the geographical layout of Remnant. There was a lot of preparatory work to do, and nowhere near enough time. He wouldn't know everything he needed for this, but he would get as much down as possible, and transcribe the rest to travel notes. It was going to be a long two weeks, and by whatever Gods existed did he hate boats. Too little control over what happened at sea, damn things were death traps as far as he was concerned. There had to be a better way at traveling in the works, he might look into it during some free time after returning here...

---

Present Day

---

"Why are we stopped, driver?" Sep was standing next to a coach, the horse clearly uncomfortable and antsy while the siren blared in the town itself. He was almost in the town itself when the alarm sounded, bringing them to a rather sudden halt. It was an unforseen complication, though he was close enough that. The coach driver glared at the young man, clearly having pinned him for being a Mantle native and, understandably, having some rather bad memories of the people of Mantle fresh in his memory.

"Alarm means Grimm. Ye don't got the money to get me to ride this coach in there brazenly, or quietly for that matter. If ye ain't ridin' back with me, yer on yer own. It's a bloody deathtrap in there, I'm telling ye." Sep glanced up at the Coach driver, meeting his glaring gaze evenly before responding briefly.

"Never quite understood death traps. Capturing the already dead serves no purpose at all." Ignoring the baffled look on the driver's face, Sep took off at a brisk run, he had places to be, people to find, Grimm to put down. Once he was moving into the town properly, he skulked from alleyway to alleyway, reminded of his times ducking and running the streets, when stationed in cities with his mother, avoiding fights and failing to do so more often than not. Now he was doing just like he used to, except he was looking for a fight now, rather than trying to avoid one. Perhaps he would completely fail to find the Grimm somehow, he idly mused while ducking from cover to cover as he skulked forward.

He was taking the environment into account, the wet rain and muck would create trouble moving fast, he would have to compensate for that if the time came. When, he reminded himself, as he finally laid eyes on the Grimm in question. Big, he didn't recognize the type from his studies, not off the top of his head either. Unknown capabilities, walked like a human. Or Faunus, he supposed with mild distaste, but that was neither here nor there. It hadn't noticed him yet, focused as it seemed to be on stomping about and causing trouble, but what also caught his eye was something across the way from him, diagonal if one used the Grimm as reference.

Some young woman was peering out at the Grimm as well, the why eluding him at this distance, but he had his suspicion. Huntress probably, given she wasn't just running. Sep produced his own weapon, set in ranged mode currently since engaging that thing in close quarters, in this mud, would be a royal pain to have to deal with. Taking into account its size, the way it moved in the muck versus how he had, and the size of its natural weapons pretty much meant that a ranged takedown would be preferable. Between the two of them, if he had a way to communicate, they could put the thing in a nasty crossfire, force it to split its attention. Whoever it didn't go after, would keep firing, and the unfortunate targeted would have to keep its attention in melee while it was peppered with enough rounds to put it down for good. Simple plan, certainly, but it left little to go wrong. While the Grimm wasn't looking his way, he briefly waved his weapon, aiming it at the Grimm to indicate that they should open fire at the same time. They really couldn't afford to wait too long, longer that thing stomped about, the more likely it would do more damage than it already had. He had a plan, the bodies to execute it technically, all that needed to happen was the execution. Shame he came in on the wrong end of town or communicating his plan might have been easier. Assuming she understood him at all, which was completely up in the air as well.

[Scout]

---

---

Beacon Academy, Headmaster's Office

Voyd scratched his jaw absently, his eyes fixed on one of the random bobbles on the headmaster's desk. It took him a brief moment to really process what he was being asked, but finally he snapped to his senses and nodded. "Oh, yes... Er, sir. But do you really think there need to be so many sent? No discredit to Lorral, but I'm sure I could satisfy Beacon's needs. How dangerous could it be?" He asked rather smugly, grinning as he crossed one ankle over his opposite knee.

It took a bit of convincing, but finally, he ceded his own arrogance to his headmaster's insistence. "So I'm gonna meet Lorral and these other hunters at Garen's Well by the end of the week..? I guess traveling separately would be safer, I can't argue that. I'll head out once I'm packed up and ready to go. Anything else?" The boy verified curtly, rising to his feet and stretching briefly. Once the man dismissed him, Voyd would leave the office and go directly to his room.

It didn't take him but a couple of hours to pack and lock up all of his belongings, finish a couple of simple homework assignments he'd been putting off, and leave his dorm. The trip was far from an easy or comfortable one and the brewing storm was of no surprise, seeing as it had drizzled sporadically for most of his travels and not a day passed where the sky was not plagued by clouds.

Five Days Later

Voyd pulled his raincoat's hood up over his head and tightened the belt around his waist as he stepped out of the inn where he'd taken up residence for the day. Of course the rain had begun falling in cords, just when the town's warning bells began to ring. That was his luck, having to fight his first Grimm at Garen's Well in the rain and mud. With a grin, the young man pulled his swords from their sheaths; he wouldn't have it any other way.

Puddles of mud and water splashed around his boots as he strode through the small town, his blades out at his sides. Probably wasn't much more than a couple of beowulves or boarbatusks. The average citizen was, after all, wont to cry Grimm at the first sign of red eyes and a nasty snarl. The young man didn't sway from the center of the road as he walked between buildings toward the town square - that's where he imagined, at least, he'd find the most visibility. Plus, if any of the students from the other academies had arrived, that was the most likely place for them to find one another unless the Grimm was spotted sooner.

As he approached, Voyd could make out the shape of a Grimm easily twice his size, surveying the square for any humans who had dared remain out after the warning bell. this was new... He'd never seen a picture of one of these before. However, there wasn't a doubt in his mind that it would start creating holes in buildings to broaden its search. Had it already claimed any victims? His lip curled back in contempt as he looked around for a good place to take up post up and wait for the right moment to strike. There was a narrow alley just up ahead, that would be just about his only option. He couldn't leave the thing to run around uncontested, he decided, and spending too much time strategizing was a good way to lose his chance entirely.

Voyd pressed his back to the wall of the building and looked out into the opening... Through the downpour and past the large beast, he couldn't see anybody else here for the fight. The Grimm was humanoid, thankfully. Despite its size, at least it would move like a person. Advantage, Voyd. He smirked - it was now or never. If the other Huntsmen showed up to fight, the least he could do was get started and provide the distraction so they could get a jump on it.

"Well... It's now or never." The boy furrowed his brow and stepped out from the alley, clanging his swords together. The sound rang easily over the bell and Voyd stepped into a ready stance, his blades up as he began to side-step in a circle around the Grimm. "I'd be incredibly disappointed if a Big Bad like you didn't go looking for a challenge! Civilians aren't anything but fodder for you!" He shouted, taunting the beast to confront him.

Lower your hips, get ready to roll... This thing was a lot bigger up close, he noticed, but that was fine. Small game were no fun. He was here for the hunt, the kill... Grimm would be the predators of man no more; no, the creatures Grimm were now prey - his prey.

[Tergonaut]

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---

One week prior -- Aboard the Cunning Rascal

The sea was blue.

Marina Brimlad sat at the prow of the ship, where she wore her black uniform outfit bereft of the heavy plates of blue armor she usually wore. Such armor was of no use aboard a seagoing vessel, and she wanted to avoid exposing it to corrosion by seawater as much as possible. Still, the padded uniform she wore was plenty of protection against the chilly salt-flavored air as well as the brine-soaked wood she sat on.

She frowned slightly as she straightened out the letter written to her by her father, the folded paper already somewhat bent and frayed from frequently putting it away and getting it out again. Over the past several days, she'd read it again and again, as if hoping to find something else there written on the pages. And here she was at it again, during a break in the usual work of assisting the sailors of the Cunning Rascal. The captain and many of the sailors were soldiers years ago under her father's command, and Marina herself had met them when she was younger during inspection tours of the ship, so it had not been difficult for her to arrange passage on the trade ship. They had been resistant at first for her to aid in the work of running a ship, but she was stubborn and anxious to keep her hands busy, so they finally relented and she earned her place among the crew.

But there was only so much to be done, and so she found herself again perusing the letter. The finely-written script read:

My Dear Marina,
Your Headmaster - I do not understand why she is not called a Headmistress - recently sent me some correspondence regarding what she is terming a "field trip" she is sending you on as part of a joint venture by the Academies of each nation. She included documentation of your numerous accomplishments at Atlas Academy, praised your diligence and enthusiasm, and indicated that you were ranked near the top of the age group above your own, with an implication that you might be able to graduate with the first class if you maintain such an impressive record. Such praise certainly fills this old soldier's heart with pride to have you for a daughter.

I suspect, however, that I am not being given all of the details of this excursion. None of the other parents of students have indicated to me that this has ever happened before, and there is a troubling lack of information about when you will return or who your companions will be. You know well my feelings on the people of other countries and how the war turned out - stay close to your compatriot from Atlas Academy, and don't trust any strangers from the other countries, since they won't have your best interests at heart. That you voluntarily accepted this assignment is the only reason I have not insisted that you return back home immediately.

If you require anything, please write to us at once. Mother and I send you our love, and please understand that no matter what may happen, you are always welcome to return home if you've decided you have had enough of this Huntress business.

With love,
Father

Marina felt tempted to crumple up the letter and toss it into the waves as her frustration rose in her chest. Between the lines of love and approval, she could feel her father's disappointment bleed through. From the start, he had been against her training to be a Huntress, and only her mother's support and Marina's own determination caused him to relent. As far as he was concerned, allowing combat trainees to run around in apparel of any color they pleased was an affront to his military sensibilities of uniformity and compliance with protocol. Individuality and self-expression were usually what got soldiers killed on the battlefield, in his eyes - and here, the Academy of his homeland was teaching these very values to his own flesh and blood.

But it wasn't like he assumed! Hunters and Huntresses were trained to work together and accomplish missions together, just like soldiers. And, more importantly, she was doing this precisely because she believed in her nation. That they had lost the Great War had changed some things, but to her, there was still integrity, honor, and nobility in the face of dire circumstances. And that was why she felt it was important to represent her country in this new endeavor. Marina would prove to her father - and to the Hunters and Huntresses of the other Academies - that Mantle still stood brightly as a paragon of these virtues, even in this new age.

"I will not return home until I have accomplished this mission - for my Academy, my father, and my nation. This I swear." These words she spoke to the Headmaster resonated in her memory.

But, as Marina secreted the letter back into one of her pockets, she found herself remembering the Headmaster's response, a question she insisted that Marina not answer until her return to Atlas.

"Do not forget yourself, young Marina. You are not the Academy, your father, or Mantle. What do you want?"

What kind of question is that, anyway? Of course it's me who wants to bring honor and glory to my nation, to get my father's approval, to graduate with honors from Atlas. What did she really mean?

She looked for the answer in the color of the waves, but all she saw was blue.

Present Evening -- Arriving in the outskirts of Garen's Well

Marina pushed her horse on through the driving rain, each cold drop adding to the weight of her displeasure. She had insisted on buying a Mantle-bred steed after reaching port so she could travel to Garen's Well without needing a driver and buggy that she thought would slow her down. After only a day on the road, the skittish and slow animal had convinced her that she had been swindled, and that she should leave the horse at the next set of stables she came across. What was worse, she had ignored the friendly warnings of the sailors and the townspeople at port that there looked to be bad weather in the direction she was headed. And now here she was, in the middle of a downpour without knowing exactly how much further it was to town.

She was cold, wet, her stomach complained about the dry travel rations she had been subsisting on, and she felt humiliated in about the same proportion as she had felt so proud that she was relying on her own wits and not on her father's dime. She was not in the best of moods.

The darkness of the night and clouds kept her from seeing the mahogany-colored coach until she was nearly on top of it. Marina pulled to one side and yanked on the reins to bring herself to a halt. "You there, sir! Is Garen's Well much further from here?"

The grizzled coachman eyed her with some contempt as he slowed but did not stop. "'Tis not much further, lass, but ye best turn back now - there be an alarm in the village, probably crawlin' with Grimm by now." He then snapped the reins and shouted crudely at his horses as he spurred them back up to speed, away from danger.

Marina snorted contemptuously. It seemed like almost everyone she had met since she landed was greedy and self-interested, nothing like the generous and proud people of her own country! While it only seemed natural this should be the case, it was another thing entirely to encounter it in person.

The warning bells rang again, and she yelled as she put her heels to the horse's side, and they bolted forward into the dark rain once again. Grimm, in Garen's Well! She wondered briefly if it was coincidence that the town that she was to meet with the other Hunters and Huntresses was now under attack by the dark-hearted monsters. But it was a frivolous thought, and soon she entered the borders of the town and followed a rough and muddy lane that looked like it headed toward the center of the village.

And then Marina saw it in the dim light the lampposts gave off in the storm. A lone Grimm, but larger than just about anything she had ever heard of before, or read about in books regarding the creatures. The monstrous humanoid creature had a strangely beaked face with a backward-swept horn jutting from its forehead, and a second face seemed to peer out from its wide chest. Spikes and hooked spurs poked out of its arms and legs, and its fingers and toes sported sharp, gigantic talons. Revulsion and a touch of fear wrestled in her heart, but were quickly overtaken by her usual reaction: anger.

The Grimm's burning red eyes seemed focused on a young man who brandished twin swords and seemed lightly armored...a Hunter? He certainly was brave enough to be one, though Marina did not recognize him as her compatriot from Atlas that she was supposed to rendezvous with here along with the other Hunters and Huntresses. Not too far away, she saw two other girls in another direction, one striding forward purposefully while the other hung back.

But there was another young man nearby at the edge of the town square, far more heavily armored - yes, Marina recognized him! She had not been introduced to him, and he was in the age group a few years ahead of hers, so she had never met him personally, but she knew his name as the Headmaster had given it to her (just as she was certain the Headmaster had let Sep Felder know her name).

There was no time to coordinate an attack with the others, if indeed the rest of them were other Hunters and Huntresses. And all of her frustration and anger whipped up into a frothy fury inside of her as she deliberately charged forward with her horse, who was only kept from fleeing by the Huntress. Marina kept one hand on her horse's reins as she pulled herself up to a standing position precariously balanced on the saddle. Her other hand reached back for the large sword handle of Bedlam Flourish, and she deployed the weapon to its full size even as she leapt into the air at the monster.

"For Mantle!" she shouted above the pouring rain as she flew toward the monster, and swung her blade down with a full two-handed grip at the Grimm's torso.

Except the Grimm caught her blade on one of the long bone spurs that jutted from its elbow, and a long trailing whiplike limb that dangled from the back of its head lashed out at her as a counterstrike.

In that split-second, she activated her Semblance, and a reflective metallic-blue sheen flashed over her skin as she pulled Bedlam Flourish back in a defensive angle. The whip struck her weapon, and the tip of that limb snaked around it to scratch at her face. If not for her Aura and Semblance, it would have cut her right across the eyes and blinded her on the spot.

Marina splashed down into the scummy mud of the town square, and her feet dug in deeply in the wet ground. Her increased density and weight only barely kept her from slipping, but she was now stuck where she stood. The Grimm attacked with its claws, and even with her defensive bladework, she was only barely able to parry most of the strikes, and she felt her Aura sapping quickly as each blow that got through struck resoundingly against her Anchor.

She had allowed her pride-driven frustration and anger blind her to the immediate tactical concerns of the situation, and now she was forced to remain on the defensive.

"Hit it!" she shouted, that same pride choking off her desperation as she mechanically attempted to get her left side facing the creature, where she had the most armor. "It's on me - hit it now!"

[NuttsnBolts]

L O R R A L

^{The Town of Garen's Well
(Additional dialogue by Inkarnate)}

"You know, if you're scared you can probably turn back now."

Lorral subtly turned her head away from the Grimm to see who it was that had addressed her directly, noting the young female who happened to look about her own age. Her soft scarf and quaint choice of clothing were freshly soaked, dripping with water and giving the impression that the fabrics had gathered more weight than what they truly intended to have. Still, everyone was at the same disadvantage with the weather and it helped balance the playing field. Fortunately for Lorral with the weather had been so sour, she had heard the splatter from the woman's footsteps on the damp ground, a sound that tarnished Caro's element of stealth.

"I'm far from scared, but honestly taken back at Vyod's level of confidence." Lorral turned her sights back to the beast knowing that her statement was mostly true. Vyod, the fellow Beacon Academy student, was the first one into the fight and his opening move was to taunt the beast into attacking his direction. Lorral knew that the male had some unique skills, that his semblance was an ability that gave him a real edge over any opponent. She just worried that this aggressive move may cost him.

Within the growing mix was another individual who had entered the fresh fray, a young looking female with an aura of patriotism that one would dare not challenge. Her scream of allegiance for her nation and the begging remarks for the beast to attack her were words that could inspire one to follow a cause and to take up the fight to the enemy; it was a shame that those words held no power over Lorral, a girl from a once opposing nation. Lorral watched as Marina took a hit square on, watched as the Goliath of a beast impacted her with all it's might, and yet she didn't seem to falter, almost like her level of resolve was beyond that of a god.

A grimacing expression washed over Lorral's face knowing that her only choice was to get up close and personal with the Grimm. With the sun behind the clouds and the day drifting further into the night her Solar semblance was a skill that she could not rely on in this twisted battle. No solar slash abilities meant quite simply no ranged attacks, and under her breath she cursed the world for playing such a cruel card.

The young Vale girl turned to Caro to spout an important request, a request of, "Will you cover me? I need to get in there to aid the others."

“Yeah, let's go kill us a Grimm.”, Caro acknowledged Lorral's plea, a response that appeared eager and excited about the undertaking. With this new found sense of companionship Lorral set forth to slay the creature that was harassing the town.

As Lorral ran she could see something in the far distance, through the down pouring rain and cool mist; the silhouette of another male came steadily into view. Although his allegiance was unrecognisable through the harsh weather, his actions and motions said otherwise. He waved his weapon in the air, commanding an action that appeared to announce attack. Seeing this Lorral felt a deep sign of courage knowing that in this fight the chances of success were growing by the minute, that people were stepping forth from the hidden shadows to a common cause and challenge.

As Solar Lily was drawn across Lorral's body she closed in for her first confrontation since setting off on her adventure. The right hand clutched the grip, controlling the activation of the dust powered energy arc, while the left fingers pinched the back of the blade to form a makeshift brace. She was closing in towards the large, muscular legs of the beast, hoping that a heavy impact to this point would help stagger the fight, to draw it out and find a suitable opening for that eventual final blow.

She used the weight of her body to thrust her blade forward, throwing it from above her head and into the exposed lower limb. The downward force held enough energy to launch the footing of the girl of the ground, allowing her body to hover in the air for a brief moment in time. This sudden attack, this annoyance, caught the beast off guard and in a reactive instant it went to swipe at her, to knock away the pest that had performed a dirty sneak attack. As fate would have it, Lorral was already thinking two steps in advance.

Utilising her momentum and a powerful twist of the wrist, Lorral carefully spun her body around in order to land both of her boots upon the above knee of the titan. Where a normal attacker would have initially found an opportunity to back-pedal away, the light and nimble girl had managed to create an opportunity where she was able pounce away and plan her second engagement. Her tactics paid off as she made her leap, narrowly missing a backhanded swipe that would have easily knocked her out.

Too close for my liking, but let's see what you got!

[Eisenhorn]

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Sep observed the fact that it seemed that some other Hunters that he had not yet spotted were insistent on charging headlong into the fray with little to no overt planning. While it was perfectly possible that the young man charging into the Grimm had planned things out before hand, he had to assume that such a thing was not the case. It was more reliable to plan for, than assuming or trying to pick out some plan that the fellow had beforehand. Likely engaging it to prevent it from going after survivors, which would make sense in the sense of them doing their jobs as Hunters and Huntresses. He would have to give consideration to the fact that the young man seemed more interested in taunting and baiting his prey, instead of merely ambushing and removing the thing from its continued existence. Of course, it seemed rather unsurprising, at this point, that another Hunter would join the fray. Or, well, Huntress in this specific case, but they were really picking at details at this point. However, he did certainly recognize the Huntress who joined in next.

One Ms. Marina Brimlad, the Huntress that had also been sent alongside him for this mission by the Academy. He'd done his homework on her, younger age group, officer material if the war hadn't ended, apparently her father was some naval officer specifically. Great, he considered, more involvement with the very same ships that he was not a fan of to begin with. Watching her ride in, letting loose a battlecry before engaging the Grimm was probably not the best plan. Trickling in at the thing one by one was really not going to be as effective as if they had gone and hit it all at the same time. But there was no sense wallowing in possibilities and what ifs. Ms. Brimlad had its attention now, the rather curious effect of what he assumed was her Aura and Semblance kicking in preventing her from being injured. Considering her rather solid footing, compared to the rest of them, he would be willing to bet on that being at least partially involved. He would have to figure out if Ms. Brimlad had gotten the same marching orders from the Headmistress as he had, then, and see how they would execute such plans later, for now it was time to act.

The two he had spotted were moving in on their own, actually following through with his direction, which was a small relief for Sep. That meant at least someone was listening, and he started moving himself as well. Turning out from the corner, he raised his own weapon, Maestoso, and braced it against his arm as he advanced. Wasting shots in a panicked firing would accomplish nothing, rather, he began firing as the Grimm took a backhand swipe at the other Huntress as she engaged. It seemed that they were either rather spry, or able to take quite the beating, from what he had seen so far. Good, these things would be useful, though such considerations would be observed later. Advancing through the muddy square, continuing to fire his weapon, Sep engaged his own Semblance without a second thought. He couldn't do it for too long, considering how taxing it was, but he shouldn't have to do it for long. Sure enough, the thing turned on its newest assailant, claw lashing out in slow motion. Well, slow motion as far as Sep was seeing, to everyone else everything was moving full speed.

At the last second, Sep ducked, aiming the blade of his weapon for the wrist of the Grimm's claw. Every natural weapon it was deprived of would make further openings for his newfound allies, it hardly mattered who actually landed the killing blow after all. As he brought the blade across its wrist, aiming to remove its claw, he pushed off the ground, finding enough purchase to launch himself backwards, silver afterimage following behind his actions as he let his Semblance switch off once out of physical reach of the Grimm. He proceeded to continue peppering it with shots from Maestoso, watching for an opening to dance back in to strike again as soon as it turned its back on him. He barked out, well, not quite advice but not so far as orders to the others, speaking quickly as he formulated a plan on the fly in regards to how the Grimm seemed more reactionary than proactive at this point.

"It cannot attack in this many directions at once, strike when its distracted, before it reveals anything rude and uncalled for." Whoever had the opening would have to take the advantage since Sep was currently likely the source of the Grimm's ire, considering the constant gunfire and aimed blow towards taking off its claw and maiming it. All in preparation of ending its attempt at a rampage before it has a chance to ever start it off to begin with.

[Tergonaut]

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The arrival of more Hunters and Huntresses in the fray gave Marina the opening she needed, and just in time - though her Anchor Semblance was quite powerful, she already felt her Aura levels draining precipitously from all the massive strikes she had taken from the Grimm's whip-like head tendril and its massive claws and arm spurs. Unlike her heavy armor stance, the others in the fight were using agility and speed to stay out of the way of the creature's attacks, and they were doing an excellent job in keeping the creature unbalanced. When one struck and danced away, the creature lashed out with a brutal attack - fortunately, none of these had struck.

So far, anyway...

I've got to get out of this close range - I'm just draining my Aura at this rate!

Marina dispelled her Semblance, and the sheen disappeared in a flash that, unfortunately, drew the creature's smoldering red eyes back to her. But she pulled the trigger on Bedlam Flourish, and the grenade launcher fired a burst of flame that propelled her non-Anchored body away from the jagged elbow spur aimed for her head. Mud splattered and hardened from the heat of her exit strategy as her feet slid backward across the ground, and she dug her blade point-first into the ground to slow herself down and steady herself on the slick mud. She was now several feet away, out of range of the Grimm's attacks, but not vice-versa.

"Fire in the hole!" yelled Marina in warning to the others as she deployed Bedlam Flourish in full grenade launcher mode and opened up on the monster. Each pull of the trigger caused the heavy weapon to spew a metal canister with slits that glowed from the explosive Dust contained inside. The barrage she unleashed wasn't aimed with special precision - she didn't yet know if this creature had any real weak points, so she fired a spray of grenades that would explode in close proximity, if they didn't whack the creature outright before the explosives detonated. The main care she took was to try to aim where the other Hunters and Huntresses wouldn't be so close that they got caught in the tight-yield blasts as well.

[Scout]

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One by one, the other Huntsmen joined the fray, swinging blades and firing weapons at their foe. He was relieved - this Grimm was a bit bigger than he'd initially thought and making himself the distraction gave the others the opportunity they needed right off the bat. The first attacker was a new face, but based on her equipment and battlecry, she was certainly one of the Atlas folks. The destruction caused by the Great War was still fresh in everybody's mind, and even still Voyd felt a twinge of disgust at the girl's appearance. Of course, he'd been told that Atlas would be sending its own students, but he was rather hoping to find Lorral or the students from Vacuo first.

The beast whipped around, attacking each student in turn as it was struck by them. Voyd furrowed his brow - it was impulsive, lacked strategy and forethought and for now it deemed them all equal threats, so it didn't know which to focus on the most. It looked like everybody was here on time, he noticed, as Lorral joined the fray and a couple of his new comrades took turns in the assault. The long-haired guy was the last to move in. Now that it had received its flurry of surprise attacks and distractions, it would likely regroup and start focusing its efforts more accurately once it recovered.

As Lorral landed nearby, Voyd looked over at her, "Glad to see you made it. We're off to a safe start, aren't we?" He asked with a chuckle, watching as the Grimm's attention was directed at the man with long hair. This was his chance - the creature turned its back on him. He lowered himself toward the ground and kicked into a sprint, readying his blades on the approach. He couldn't rely on his Semblance this early in the fight and it would prove dangerous to his comrades if he used it as a trap instead of a close-quarters supplement. As he approached its legs, both of his blades came around. In a spin, his first blade aimed to leave a gash on one leg while the second arrived a step later to aim for the second before Voyd came out from behind the Grimm. Giving that other guy another chance to attack along with Lorral a chance to regroup would be fine - he could block. Plus, the guns from the others would certainly help hammer it down, Voyd couldn't help from anywhere but up close anyway so this was where he felt most comfortable.

"Good to see I wasn't the only one who wanted a fight!" He called out, both to his new partners and the Grimm before him. He ducked under the swing of a massive paw, gritting his teeth as a second attack from the tail came from behind when he wasn't expecting it. At the last moment, Voyd was able to pull his sword up and block a part of the attack from causing too much damage as it pushed him along the rocky ground and caused him to tumble a few feet. After ea bounce or two, the young man rolled over his shoulder and rose to his feet. A bit of mud soaked his clothes and cheek mixed with the rain, causing it to run gradually. His hair was matted to his forehead. Steam filled the air as the rain fell on the behemoth's flaming arm-blade.

He rotated his shoulders a few times, "Ugh... Well, that was exciting." He muttered, rolling his neck. At least it hadn't directly hit him, that would have left him significantly worse for wear. Voyd stepped forward again - he wasn't done. He rushed in, bringing his left blade up before the beast swung, leaving a soft shimmer in the air before turning and swinging both swords to his right to bat away the second swing. The creature cried out, but didn't seem too hindered beyond the stop of its attacks. If the others wanted a chance to take it down, it didn't seem like they could do it with quick, isolated attacks.

The guy with the hair is right! All at once, the more it takes at once, the more it'll hurt. I don't think we can do this little by little!" He called out, narrowly avoiding a strike from the flaming blade - good god, how the hell did this thing even mutate something like that?!