Fandom RWBY Prequel: Pillars of Chaos (reboot)

[Quincunx]

Four years before team RWBY and JNPR banded together to protect the Four Seasons, a lonely young woman sought power enough that she'd never need anyone again. As she rose to power with the help of crime lord Roman Torchwick, three teams united to stop her.

In the kingdom of Mistral, three teams of aspiring Hunters and Huntresses come to Haven in order to fulfill their dreams and defend what they hold dear. In a kingdom plagued by the rankest scum of criminals, nobody is afraid to tell these new soldiers that they are the protectors of their world. But they're about to face a force far more sinister threat than they've ever imagined: the grief of Cinder Fall.​

 

[Quincunx]

The inside of the water temple was made of rose-colored marble, the intricate architecture around the many columns depicting scenes of Hunters and Huntresses impaling Grimm. Small waterfalls flowed from the walls into a moat that spanned the entire large room. There were marble bridges over the moat in six directions, each to a door with a chess piece carved into it. The students congregated around a large, simple, circular fountain in the center of the room.


It was opulent and peaceful, a stark contrast to the muddy, scruffy students that had poured in from outside (twenty-four in total). Among them was a team of four girls, striking in their cleanliness: a tall, white-clad girl whose dark hair cascaded down her back; her shorter companion whose hazel eyes seemed to burn; a young woman with beautiful amber skin who carried a massive gunblade; a bunnylike brunette who clutched her chainsaw-pistol like a teddy bear. The hazel-eyed girl held a silver king chess piece in her pale hands.


The other teams were less than immaculate, their clothes dirtied and their auras still in the process of patching up their wounds. The dark-skinned leader of one such team was scrutinizing a silver rook, and her teammates had gathered around to watch. One had a set of three horns and a vacant expression on his face, another carried what looked like a very long sword, and the third had long green ponytails that whipped about as she glanced around nervously. Another team was led by a silver-haired, fair-skinned girl carrying a knight piece, surrounded by a young man with a bolo tie and mean-looking pistols, a girl whose eyes were obscured by a pair of goggles, and a blue-clad boy whose face was hidden underneath his hood.


Team ORCA was also among the bedraggled teams, but a queen gleamed in Ochre Whitt's hands. Aqua Inferno, leader of team ALOE, held a bishop as he faced the corresponding door. And Pascal Nuage of team PERL had taken a pawn, plucked from somewhere in the swamps, or maybe from a mobster's pocket.


A holographic projection of Headmistress Gauri Mayur appeared above the center of the fountain. She stood straight and businesslike in the projection. "Welcome to Haven Academy! Congratulations on making it this far. By this point, you should've met your teams already. As you know, the person who is currently carrying your team's chess piece will be the leader. Now that you're united, one final challenge awaits you before you can board the airship to the academy. Simply enter the door that corresponds to your chess piece, and place it in the piece-shaped keyhole. After all of you have completed this task, the door to the roof will open, where you will be able to board the airship. This recording is set to repeat until you've done this. Welcome to Haven Academy! Congratulations on..."


Little did the teams know that more than a keyhole awaited them behind each door. ALOE's keyhole lay beyond a wide chasm, the only way across being a narrow beam, and Grimm reminiscent of bats (called Draculas) flew in the shadows. PERL's was in the center of a maze they would have to navigate while being chased by a Goliath. And ORCA's was beneath the roots of a giant carnivorous plant Grimm called Kurtz, smaller versions of which crowded the room.


@AnimeNerd5678 @InvaderTennTallest @Syrina @Aryel @GasMaskie @Cruor Flumine @Deltorian Nephran @Dream Killer (I can't tag you for some reason) @Quiet @Dendyne

 

[AnimeNerd5678]

Gauri had finished her speech and the hologram turned off. Team ALOE head to the wide chasm. The see that it's filled with Draculas. Aqua looks at the narrow beam. He slowly got on the beam and slowly walked on it. "Follow my lead." Aqua said, slowly but surely walking on the beam, being very careful.


@InvaderTennTallest @Aryel @Syrina

 

[sunnyday]

Obsidian listened intently through the prerecorded speech before her head turned to her leading team mate who seemed to start walking down the beam. She jumped a little with excitement, and followed after the figure, skipping her way down the beam behind him.


She jumped a little with over excitement and a bit of jitters to get going, a smile on her face as she saw the other side as they crossed the beam. At the end of the beam was a chasm of Draculas. Obsidian let out a bit of a squeal of excitement as the stood on the edge looking over, "Well lets not stand here, adventure awaits!" She was practically running in place before she couldn't hold back and recklessly jumped into the chasm.


@AnimeNerd5678 @Aryel @InvaderTennTallest

 

[AnimeNerd5678]

"W-Wait!" Aqua shouted, but it was too late. The Draculas began flying toward Obsidian, ready to attack her. Wanting to protect her, Aqua got out his blue-laser-sword, Blue Flame and slashes at the Draculas.


@Syrina @Aryel @InvaderTennTallest

 

[GasMaskie]

​

The young man's fingers ran across the smooth surface of the metal pawn that he had managed to retrieve. He had borne the brunt of the mobster's attack and his aura had broken within a few moments into their engagement. He smiled softly at the team members that he had stumbled upon during his time in the slums. But, he hated it. Someone like him shouldn't have been the leader.





After some slight hesitation, Pascal took the initiative and made his way across the water temple's marble bridge. He took a deep breath before slotting the silver pawn into the door's slot. The door opened up into suffocating darkness and all that the young man could see in front of him were the cold, gray stone steps that descended further into the darkness. Pascal glance back at his team once more and made a gesture, one that meant 'Follow me.'


As he carefully made his way down to the ground floor of the dimly lit maze, Pascal's grip tightened on the cane that sheathed his weapon. He had proven just how weak of a fighter he was during their engagement with the mobster. But he was determined to prove himself to the others. He had to. Neither they nor his father would acknowledge his worth otherwise.


(@Cruor Flumine, @Syrina, @Deltorian Nephran)

 

[sunnyday]

Ebony had become paired with quiet the team, and their little scuffle for the chess piece had just added on to her impression of them.


She looked up at the boy who was holding the chess piece and she frowned slightly. This was her team leader, the voice in her head wished she was the one holding the chess piece. She watched and waited, he seemed hesitant as she watched him, was he going to put the peice in or not? Ebony's gaze seemed a bit surprised when he finally fit the piece in the slot, she wasn't entirely expecting him to.


She stood in watch from the other side of the water as the door opened into darkness. Ebony watched for a short moment before crossing the marble and giving him an almost reassuring pat on the back, hoping he would stop being so unsure. She couldn't have a team mate who seemed to constantly on edge.


Her feet tapped silently on the hard steps as they made there way into what seem like a never ending hall, with never ending choices. There was no way of caculating a proper out come and it would have to be purely based on instinct. Ebony swallowed, instinct wasn't her best skill as a human, it wasn't quite like that of a faunus.


@GasMaskie @Cruor Flumine @Deltorian Nephran

 

[Cruor Flumine]

Cruor watched as the first two of his team members walked through the darkness. Turning to the last of his team, he gave a quick 'follow me' gesture before following the other two. From what he had witnessed in his time with the three, they certainly had skill and potential, oh so much of it too. The lord had guided him here and with his team, he would walk with them as they made their way throughout the school year, through the good and the bad. That was the least he could do after all, regardless if it was his duty or not. His footsteps echoed on the grey steps as he followed the two.


@GasMaskie @Deltorian Nephran @Syrina

 

[Nexus Placater]

Lapis found himself at the back of the team, watching carefully as team-mates walked out ahead of him. As the last of his team, Cruor, motioned for him to follow, Lapis simply replied by nodding before following after him.


The immediate area after entering the room was completely dark, almost no light entering the room. The sound of his footsteps on the stone floor seemed to echo all around, bouncing around the also stone walls. "This is going to waste my time." He mumbled to himself as he drew Gemstone, slotting a fire dust crystal into the hilt. As soon as he did so, the blade crackled to life, like a torch being lit. The pale blue flames that leaped down the length of the blade cast a small ring of light around him, the stone walls and floors of the narrow corridor around him becoming visible. Seeing the almost never ending hallway, Lapis soon mumbled to himself, "This headmistress is sadistic."





@GasMaskie @Syrina @Cruor Flumine

 

[Dream Killer]

Ochre Whitt watched the other teams enter their doors, and looked back at his team, comprised of Cinder, the mysterious raven haired cutie, the filthy mongrel Faunus, Rasp, and Azurra, the sweet blue haired mistress. He gripped the pen that contained his weapon, and pressed the button, causing steel to wrap around his arm, extending to farm a giant sharp steel limb. His face showed nothing but nervousness, something that was very uncommon for him. He smiled a bit, "Everyone ready?" He asked, not waiting for their answers, as he kicked the door open, walking in, blocking a giant vine that swung at him, his face showing struggle, as the vine pressed against his Whet arm.


(Sorry for the wait... Got banned for, err, reasons...)


@Dendyne @Quiet @Syrina

 

[GasMaskie]

The pat on his back from Ebony was slightly reassuring, and he hid the pawn away in a pocket as he advanced down the seemingly endless corridor that led to another and another.





"I suppose they hold the old adage that 'adversity builds character' to be true." Pascal glanced back as Lapis's weapon provided a light source. Visibility was slightly better, though it didn't reveal much about the location. The walls were all uniformly gray and cold to the touch while the ceiling above was a grid of dim yellow orbs that seemed to stretch on towards infinity. Just how large was this maze?


The blind leading the blind. I wonder if those other teams are being tested as rigorously as us. Pascal sighed as he continued to lead the group through the maze. He was savvy enough to leave markings at certain branching paths with La Vie en Rose. The young man grew somewhat suspicious of the endless view of gray stone that welcomed the team at every turn. Had Haven been devious enough to make the maze one that constantly shifted about?


His suspicions came to a halt a moment later along with his steps as the floor rumbled and groaned. A horrible, monstrous parody of a trumpet boomed from the other end of the maze. Goliath. The knowledge of this particular Grimm had suddenly appeared in his mind. Perhaps that woman had spoken to him about it once? Pascal squirmed slightly as he took another step forward upon the shaking ground. Given the size of the underground labyrinth it was likely that it was a younger specimen. Still, it likely knew the maze better than them...


"Let's hurry. Those footfalls are getting closer and I doubt that we'll be able to fell that creature in our current state." Pascal adjusted his hat as he hurried on through another branching path.


(@Syrina, @Cruor Flumine, @Deltorian Nephran)

 

[Dendyne]

Azurra absentmindedly thumbed at one of the points of her spike quarterstaff Thorne while watching the other teams file into their respective doorways of the opulently decorated room, that annoying voice kept relaying the same message over and over again like nails running across a chalkboard but she waited patiently with a relaxed smile on her face while she waited for Ochre, their leader to actually lead them.


He started by gripping something she didn't see before in his hand which seemingly caused his entire arm to grow steel skin, despite this nervous energy was etched across his face as he inquired as to the readiness of the group, not that he waited for an answer before rushing the Queen door and kicking it right down.


A thick brown vine slammed down on Ochre who managed to bring his metallic limb up in time to parry but he visibly struggled against the sheer force that the enlarged root possessed.


"Don't worry, I have your back!" she shouted, rushing forward with Thorne in hand. Despite her distaste for aggressive attacking she felt her razor wire was too helpful in this situation to not come in strong.


Azurra pressed one of her pressure triggers, firing a short steel spike off of her staff that shot off wide to the root's right. Spinning Thorne, and subsequently the extended razor wire into the great vine bearing down on Ochre. The wire cut several inches into the thick root before getting stuck.

 

[Quincunx]

Cinder shrank into the loose huddle her teammates were in as she listened to the headmistress's speech. She was less listening than hearing it through one ear, surveying her teammates with the other. It was a strange concept to her - she wasn't sure how they'd work together. Her first impression of Ochre was that he didn't care about her (what kind of leader would he be? The thought frightened her a bit), and of Rasp, that she was hiding something. Azurra was the only one who didn't give her anxieties any ammunition.


She snapped back to reality as the teams began scattering and she inferred headmistress's instructions as she followed Ochre, who asked if she was ready, through the door. "I guess -- ow!" Something bit at her in the darkness, bouncing off of her aura (which had luckily had plenty of time to refill in the temple's center). "Careful!" she called to the other three, activating the ice Dust in her t-shirt and freezing the attacker.


In the blue glow, it looked like a black Venus flytrap with orange eyes, white spines, and red markings (blood? More likely the markings of a Creature of Grimm). That was good - it meant it was rooted to the spot. Probably. She got out her daggers and gave the stem below its frozen head a quick slash, severing it and causing it to dissolve into blackness. She pressed forward, drawing her daggers and loading them with fire Dust, which lit the blades up red and illuminated the room.


She gasped when she saw what lay before her: dozens of plant Grimm, including one gigantic one with arm-thick vines in front. It swung one into Ochre's Whet arm, and she ran over to help. Unfortunately, she fell flat on her face, tripping over another plant Grimm (what were these called? They didn't have them in the city). It loomed over her, mouth wide and ready to snap onto her like a steel trap. "No!" she shouted, with as much conviction as someone who believed it would listen to her. She rolled out of the way as it shot down, and used her dagger to set it ablaze. Jumping back up, she looked around, noticing the rest of her team's locations. It looked like the Grimm were too far apart for her to simply set them all on fire at once.


Well. "Ochre, what should we do?"


@Dendyne @Quiet @Dream Killer (I'm sorry that happened to you :c)

 

[Dream Killer]

Ochre angled his Whet arm downwards, causing the vine to slam into the ground, subsequently sending him flying a few feet back. He landed on his feet, Whet digging into the ground to stop him. He looked to Cinder, "I don't fucking know!! I'm not used to this!!" He exclaimed, as he ripped Whet from the ground, getting into a defensive position. We don't have to kill them... We just have to get past them... He thought, as he looked for an opening. He found one shortly after, although it was still going to be hard to get through, they had to try. He pointed his giant limb to the small thinning in the plant grimm's ranks, and looked to the others. "Focus attacks there." He said, not knowing any proper terms for the situation.


@Dendyne @Mollisol @Quiet

 

[sunnyday]

Ebony continued her silent steps, following in the middle of her team, she felt the glow of the now apparent light source as it reflected off the near by areas in a colored glow. She kept walking, but every step was becoming more hesitant, there was no process to finding the right answer to get out of this now maze. There was no book, equation or map to their way out.


On the outside she was silent, her expression unwavering, but on the inside it was becoming a slow crumble to not have the reassurance of being able to use proper tactics. All of Ebony's fallen pieces started to pick back up at the sound of the rumbling ground; it shocked her back into reality, something familiar. Her head made a small turn to glance behind them before turning back to see Pascal suggest the hightail it out of there.


Ebony's head made a curt nod in agreement before following behind, her pace quickening, causing her footsteps to become more audible as they hit the ground.


@GasMaskie @Deltorian Nephran @Cruor Flumine

 

[Cruor Flumine]

When the light came on, he squinted his eyes at the sudden brightness. Surely a bit more forewarning would be helpful. Regardless, the shaking earth was something much more worthy to be worried about. Nodding silently, he continued to follow his team mates into whatever mess they were leading him into. Rule one of the pit, be prepared to die at any point. It was inevitable, especially where he was from. Drawing Favorable Downfall, he pushed a small bit of aura into the blades, allowing them to ignite, providing a bit more light for the group.


@GasMaskie @Deltorian Nephran @Syrina

 

[Nexus Placater]

"This is why I think the Headmistress is a sadist." Lapis began as the loud footsteps began to echo through the maze that his team had been walking through. Following the rest of his group, another of his team drew their weapon more light flooding the corridor. The maze seemed to continue for a good way, the path almost exactly the same throughout. The sense of dread that came from being lost in a maze was amplified by the heavy pounding of the "Goliath" that was apparently chasing them.


It was a few minutes later, the Lapis having no idea where he was in the maze. "We're wasting time. We should find some way to beat the damned thing." He said impulsively, glaring menacingly behind him as he continued on, half ready to bolt in the other direction. "It's easier to kill the damn thing so we can figure out where the hell we are."


@GasMaskie, @Syrina, @Cruor Flumine

 

[GasMaskie]

"Ordinarily, I'd agree with your sentiments Lapis. But, that's a Goliath. And we're currently in a very narrow corridor. If it were a Boarbatusk, we'd likely be able to stand our ground. But, with a Goliath an encounter would be like trying to stop an advancing wall. Nevermind the fact that none of us are quick enough to weave through its feet." Pascal stopped for a second and rubbed his head. Where was all this information coming from? A dull, throbbing pain filled his head as he rounded another corner and noticed a mark. They had gone in a circle - and the Goliath was closing in.


Their previous fight against the mobster had gone splendidly for the rest of his team. Pascal, however, had been taken out within a few moments of actual combat. The axe-wielding crimelord had proved to be a surprisingly quick foe - one swing had managed to knock the young man across the room. But... he had known it going in. His Aura depleted far quicker than others - and scroll readings seemed to indicate that he possessed a fraction of the average. Still, he had barely managed to make it past the preliminary examinations. "You're just dead weight."


"Splitting up in a maze seems like tactical suicide without any form of steady communication so I doubt that ambushing the Goliath from the back will work." Pascal glanced back at Team PERL. All three of them had potential as future Hunters. This initiation had made that clear enough. And it also made another fact clear. At his current state, he wouldn't survive a day as a Hunter. Even taking charge had been a mental ordeal for the young man. "You'll die here, alone and unloved like the filthy animal you are."


"...Ebony, Cruor, Lapis. I'm going to intercept the Goliath. You two have light sources. Focus on finding the goal while I lure it away." Pascal brought his solemn gaze over to his teammates. If anything, Ebony could step-up as the leader if anything happened. Had they been able to choose, he would have cast his vote for her as the team's leader. "And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell."<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2016_04/Leo_Somber.png.c4691cc6262dcbfeeb5f5562a41970ed.png" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="120329" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2016_04/Leo_Somber.png.c4691cc6262dcbfeeb5f5562a41970ed.png" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p>

"I'll make it back, don't underestimate me. Just get the door open and I'll make it." "But that's a lie." Pascal tossed the pawn into the air towards his teammates before bolting towards another narrow corridor. What little of his Aura that had slowly regenerated allowed him to get some distance between them with his sprint. He had no doubt that this decision would likely lead to his death if Haven didn't intervene. But, perhaps, he'd succeed in his gambit. Perhaps, they'd be able to find the goal soon enough. But, this wasn't a fairy tale. A somber expression made its way onto his visage as he continued his breakneck pace towards the Goliath. The heavy footfalls of the enormous monster grew stronger as he continued to make his way through the maze. Yet, the Little Lamb's steps never faltered as he rushed towards the maze's beast.


And, as expected, the Grimm took notice of the young Hunter's emotional turmoil. The despair was like sweet nectar to the beast.





"The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one."


(@Syrina, @Cruor Flumine, @Deltorian Nephran)

 

[Aryel]

Eminence Faustine Yowlumne

Eminence heaved a sigh at the sight of her new team. They seemed more excited than careful of their surroundings. She began following her two teammates that looked to be in a rush, not forgetting to turn to her other teammate that was behind her. "Hey.. Better hurry up." she called out, turning on her heel with Aaibel in one hand while Andel was fixated on her back. Eminence began swinging Aaibel around herself as she casually walked on the beam like it was no big deal.


Her ears twitched as a Dracula swooped in from her left side, crashing into Aaibel in the process. "W-wait!" she heard her leader shout out of nowhere. Eminence turned to watch her other teammate jump into the chasm, with the leader following suit. Heaving another sigh, she continued to bat the Dracula's away with Aaibel, taking Andel out so as to use them both. "Here goes nothing." she murmured, running to the end of the beam and into the chasm to pursue the two.

@Syrina @AnimeNerd5678 @InvaderTennTallest

 

[Midnight2902]

Midnight stared at the beam for a bit " ... This... Isn't what I thought would happen at all..." She said with a confused look


Midnight then followed behind everyone else, she then went into the beam " this better not be a death trap..." She said


@Syrina @AnimeNerd5678 @Aryel

 

[Cruor Flumine]

Catching the pawn, he looked up, watching Pascal disappear into the darkness. His eye twitched annoyingly. "PASCAL, DAMMIT! GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE!" He yelled down the corridor. He would've bolted after the leader, but he was already too far ahead for him to catch up. He hadn't much of his aura left either. He needed to save what little he had just in case he needed to go berserk in the near future. With an angered sigh, he turned from where Pascal ran and changed one of his blades into an axe before slamming it into a wall. He ripped the weapon out of the wall and morphed it back into its falchion form. "Let's go. All we can do now is pray for the poor man."


@Syrina @GasMaskie @Deltorian Nephran

 

[sunnyday]

Obsidian let out a cry as she jumped into the chasm, "YIP-EEEE" she had sceamed with a smile on her face. Her hair flying out of her face until she reached the ground her feet planting firmly on the ground and her black locks forminh back around her face.


She heard the thids of her other team mates behind her, and almost forgot they were coming. Obsidian pulled her large weapon, Silent Crow, off her back and placed a dust crystal in the hilt of it; causing veins of orange to spread through the staff and blade. It gave off a bit of light that illuminated her face and a bit off the area around her, "What are we waiting for?" She asked in a chirpy voice, "Lets go!!" She said with a large grin and turned and began to skip towards the exit so she didn't fall behind when her team mates started to catch up.


Walking through the chasm, Obsidian's eyes wandered. They were never in one place for very long, though she was walking through a pit of Draculas, they were not her issue and she simply continued to look around. Grimm, where blood thirsty by choice and some would lunge at Obsidian, but she would simply push them away and continue walking; finding no need to use Free Bird.


@AnimeNerd5678 @Aryel @InvaderTennTallest

 

[Midnight2902]

Midnight finally reached the end and face planted the floor, She quickly stood up and looked around


" ... This place is definitely dangerous... Maybe even worse... Should we stay together or split?" She asked the team





@AnimeNerd5678 @Aryel @Syrina

 

[sunnyday]

The team had stopped a moment to come up with a plan, but there hadn't been much of a plan to be made. Pascal had already decided that he was going to lire it away. He threw the chess piece and one of her team mates caught it and started running. Ebony didn't like his plan, he was foolish, he didn't finish thinking before he acted. She burst into a run in Pascal's direction, her long strides stepped quickly down the corridor. She had come to pride herself in her built speed and stamina she had created for herself over all the years. As she began to catch up she closed her eyes to breath and feel her aura around her.


Ebony easily caught up to them, and ran beside Pascal for only a short moment vefore pulling him to the side against a dark wall, "You blubbering idiot.." She stated. Their backs pressed into the shadows of the wall, as the Goliath turned down a different hall, "It's not gonna be fooled for long, so we need to go back and catch up with our team.." She stated, never talking so much in her life. This guy was going to turn her into something else, she opened her mouth to say something, but closed it before letting out a sigh and looking up at him, "Our team needs you.. You're our leader." She said poking at his chest for emphasis, "So don't make rash decisions."


Ebony's head turned down the hall that the Goliath was running in the opposite direction of them from, it's going to wear off soon, we have to loose it before if does she though to herself. She grabbed Pascal's wrist, there was no time to dilly dally and they sprinted back off in the direction they came.


@GasMaskie @Cruor Flumine @Deltorian Nephran

 

[AnimeNerd5678]

Aqua looked at Midnight. "It's best if we stay together. It's be too dangerous to split up, considering how dangerous and deadly Draculas are." He had a good point; Draculas are one of the most deadliest Grimm in the world.


@Aryel @InvaderTennTallest @Syrina