#roosterteeth critical

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The Badlands

“The Badlands. Consider it the ultimate secret of all of Remnant- That we only take up 20% of the entire world. All of the landmass that we consider part of the known world, is, in fact, naught but a pile of sand compared to the lands that take up over 80% of the world.  Out of the 300 Excursions to scout and identify this strange land, only 10 have returned.”  ~ A leaked statement from Headmaster Ozpin, Leader of Beacon Academy on the topic of ‘The Badlands.’ Imagine for only a moment how big the world as you perceive it as. Infinitely huge, a single man could only dream of exploring all of it within a single lifetime.  Now, imagine how reality shattering it would be to learn that the world as you know it is nothing but a minor blip on the map- That the world as you perceive it is many, many magnitudes larger than you had ever learned. That is the dilemma that the Hunters and Huntresses of Remnant find themselves in. To keep a secret this huge under wraps for all the world, for, if it were to leak out, a schism would start. People would become confused as to what they thought was correct and what wasn’t.  Not to mention, many more would become curious as to what lies beyond their home nest, and venture out into the seemingly new world outside their own. However, their dreams would shatter the instant they enter the Badlands.  Many excursions have tried, and failed, to bring back any worthwhile information. However, the ones that have returned brought back incredible finds. Ancient texts, signs of previous human habitation- Perhaps from the reign of King Ozma- And even evidence of current human (or, at the very least, humanoid) habitation. The Ancient Texts, scrawled onto Tablets of Sandstone, depict what appear to be myths and legends of an ancient race- Or, perhaps, a developing one- That arose from what appear to be shadows. The text itself is indecipherable, as no translation key has been cracked. Only relying on the images shown, the next few images depict what appear to be these people crafting villages, tools, and even mingling with the native wild life. The last part has sent many scholars into furious debate. As observed within the Badlands by the survivors, there were no animals. In fact, there was no sign of life to be seen anywhere within the horizon. Just sand. Sand, rock, and mountains as far as the eye can see. The heat was purportedly unbearable, but what was worse was the absolute numbers of Grimm sighted within the Badlands. And, not just recognizable ones, no. Within the 2 days one of the scout teams had stayed within the Badlands, they had identified no fewer than 50 new Grimm Species, some taking the form of animals thought long extinct.  To this day, more scout trips have been planned towards the Badlands, in the hope that one day, they will be understood.

[oddosaurus]

Does anyone know exactly what this means?? Was Pat laid off? Or did something else happen?

Update 2: according to Chelsea Atkinson this was NOT a lay-off.

This is probably all we’re gonna head from rt for a while.... still send good vibes towards Pat!

[pungent-things]

do y’all have a masterpost of all the RT scandals over the years? Connect the Hots, animation dept crunch, various assault charges, etc? just thought it would be useful to have a list of them all in one place

I do not, unfortunately. Someone should really get on that, though.

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Part 2: Semblances

“Though history of Aura is generally agreed upon by the Remnant Scientific Community (RSC), but Semblances are where things become more and more debated. Some sources speak of ‘Ozma’ as the first Wielder of a Semblance, while other ancient records tell that the first wielder of Semblances were two unnamed brothers. It is highly unclear, and some Faunus argue that they do not look too deeply into the ancient Faunus records.” - SpellRecords.org/Semblances Semblances, put simply, are the ultimate Aura technique; They are the most difficult technique to unlock, but, ultimately, the most rewarding technique to receive. To unlock a Semblance, the individual must almost perform a ‘soul search,’ a meditation exercise where the user combs their psyche to try and understand themselves. Why is this necessary, one may ask? Well, since Aura is based around emotional and mental states, if an Aura user could ‘master themselves,’ then they would master their Aura. And by mastering Aura, they unlock the ability to use their semblance. However, unlocking one’s Aura can be caused by an event that highly elevates the Aura user’s emotional wellbeing to fever pitches. Though usually attributed to traumatic events, they can be things such as gratefulness for someone, love, surprise or even sadness.  Semblances are based specifically on the user. They are formed around their personality, their life experiences, their thought process and their emotional state. Though an Aura User’s first Semblance may seem set in stone, a dramatic shift in character may cause a change in Aura, and, therefore, a change in Semblance.  Though the steps needed to gain a Semblance seem easy, the actual ratio of those who do not possess Semblances to those who do is actually fairly high; For every person who possesses a Semblance, there’s at least 10 who do not. This can simply be chalked up to those who do not wish to face themselves and accept harsh truths. It can also mean that, if a person who gained a Semblance can accept something that they have kept hidden or perhaps revealing a dark secret and growing on from it allows them to strengthen their Aura and Semblance. 

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Part 1: Aura and Dust

Before there was man. Before there was green. Before there was fish in the oceans and before there were was even life teeming within... There was Aura.  Aura. The natural life force that exudes off of every living being in Remnant; Created by a magical force that even the greatest scientists in Mistral have yet to identify. Aura has made it’s imprint upon the world in the form of Dust Deposits. In essence, Dust Deposits are Mineral-like growths crystalline in nature that form when enough Aura is condensed into ‘dust,’ which then begin to collect and create the Dust Deposits. These veins of Dust can be found everywhere within the natural world. In the highest of mountains, in the lowest of canyons; Within the greenest of grasslands and the most arid of deserts. Not only are they incredibly common, they also have the uncanny ability to take on the properties of the environment it forms within. For example, a Dust Vein that vein that forms within the ocean may take on a blue hue and, upon being used, will generate ocean water. Or, perhaps, a Dust Vein created in the mountains would take on a grayer hue and contain the power of wind within it’s crystalline form.  Aura’s most strangest feature is the ability to almost form itself based around the user’s mental state; Should the user become enraged, their Aura will become aggravated. Spiked, or even flame-like depending on the user. Or, should they become depressed or sad, their aura will become dampened and gain a more rounded look. However, the most dangerous component of Aura is the ability to become tainted; Corrupted. When a person gives into evil, they eventually begin to create Tainted Dust. Tainted Dust can then become Corrupt Dust Deposits, an unnatural mineral that not only kills any greenery around it but gives off an energy that incites sickness within most people that get too close to it. It’s most dangerous property, however, is the creation of ‘Grimm.’ Grimm are corrupted living things that have been subjected to high amounts of corruption from the Tainted Dust. Though they are usually woodland animals unfortunate enough to spend too much time around Tainted Dust Deposits, human Grimm are known to happen, and are ranked as a ‘High Priority Threat.’   Of course, with all of this talk of Aura, it would be remiss to not talk about Aura within Non-Human creatures. Though most creatures cannot learn to practically train their auras like humans can, but some are born ‘savants,’ able to naturally use Aura and can possibly even gain Semblances. As well, with how common Dust Deposits are within the world, it is not uncommon to see animals Auras become influenced by Elements that are contained within the Dust. Though this is impossible within humans, a squirrel, who has a smaller life force due to it’s smaller form, could become influenced by the Fire Dust it is near. Their Aura begins to change, and their body soon follows, creating a squirrel with latent fire abilities. The same applies for other woodland creatures, though bigger animals are less likely. However, Tainted Dust is much more influencing on a living creatures Aura, hence why it is able to corrupt even humans easily.

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Kingdoms of Remnant: Atlas/Mantle

“Tensions rise in the Technological Paradise Atlas and their grounded counterpart, Mantle, as those who are ‘Grounded’ as the Atlaseans call them, call for equality in the work force and payroll. Sources say that those who work in Mantle are only paid a quarter of those who work in Vale, if not less. The Schnee Family, who lead the Atlasean Council, releases this statement:  ‘Atlas is not responsible for the wellbeing of Mantle. It was the civilians who drove us away from their country, and, as such, we are not only not responsible for their economy, but are in fact within our right to not help. After all, why feed the mouth that bites us?’  This statement has not seemed to quell the outrage in Mantle, and, in fact, only served to agitate it. The two states are preparing for another Civil War, though it seems highly unlikely that Mantle will prevail.” ~ Remnant Global News Network (RGNN) The most important distinction to make when talking about the Capital of Solitas is the fact that there is, by all accounts, two. Mantle, which was the original one, remains on the ground, surrounded by mountain ranges as far as the eye can see, as well as freezing temperatures. Solitas, on average during the summer, never escapes above 20 Degrees at the absolute highest. And, at the lowest? Temperatures of -89 Degrees Celsius. Of course, the Grimm here have perfectly adapted to such Temperatures, but the humans are a different matter entirely. Though most people here are used to the colder temperatures, even they have to wear heavy, furred coats nearly every day as to prevent dying from Hypothermia. Of course, Atlas recommends working in the Mines, seeing as how the caves are usually more humid and warm than the outside world. Atlas, on the other hand, only has to worry of Airborne Grimm. And, worst of all, their entire city has been covered in a Hard Light Dome that not only keeps Grimm out, but can be regulated to spread heat to the city by amplifying the Sun’s rays so slightly that it raises the temperature.  Mantle and Atlas’ history started some 4000 Years ago, when Human Settlers had crossed a land bridge created by the freezing temperatures of the north freezing vast portions of the ocean. Upon establishing the town of Mantle, the people there discovered the Dust Rich caves nearby, making them the head of Dust Innovation and Technology. Before the other nations could even discover what Dust can be applied to, Mantle was already creating Dust Weaponry and simple machines- Self-heating ovens, self-propelled boats, etc. It was the Dust Boom Era for the Mantleans. Of course, it became obvious that there was a growing divide between the workers who traveled into the dangerous mines to mine for the Dust and those who traded and created Dust-related items. While those who traversed into the depths of the Dust Mines were paid a pittance of 30 Cindas (Equivalent to 54 Morias today) while those who used the dust they risked their lives for were paid with Gold. The divide only helped to increase frustration amongst the Mantleans, who complained day and night about the pay inequality. This, of course, lead to the Mantle Civil War, which finally ended with the Upper Class creating the floating city of Atlas to escape Mantle’s persecution.  In modern day, Atlas is possibly one of the wealthiest Kingdoms in the entire world, with a National Budget of 154.9 Billion Morias. This is mostly helped by the fact that the people here are all descendants of the 30 Dust Families, who, as you can imagine, are all unreasonably rich. Most notably out of them all is the Schnee Dust Company, famous for their Ancestor, Hagel Eis Schnee, creating Atlas from his blueprints of a flying nation. As thanks for his revolutionary idea, Hagel was placed as the head of the Atlasean Council, a seat that has been reserved for most Schnees within the Dust Company. The current holder of the seat is Jacques Sturm Schnee, head of the Schnee Dust Company. The Atlasean Council, aside from the head, consists of 30 Members, each one from the Dust Companies- Usually the heads of them, but they can also be lower on the ladder. They usually decide what to do, what laws get passed, and other such interesting political actions. An interesting fact is that they describe themselves as separate from Mantle, the Council still controls the going-ons in the Grounded City.  To compliment their new found flight, the Atlaseans refer to themselves as ‘Eagles,’ because they are ‘soaring free from the persecution of Mantle,’ while those who live in Mantle are known as ‘Grounded,’ due to their land locked status. Of course, probably one of the worst treated people within Mantle or Atlas are Faunus. Though they don’t release it to the public, the Hate Crimes against Faunus are almost in the Triple Digits within a Year. Many families have disowned entire sections of their own lineage because they had one half-faunus child, and those who don’t usually try to hide their heritage.  While many Mantleans dress in more Ragged Clothes, their town is actually fairly scenic, reminiscent of a sort of Germanic Towns such as Munich or possibly even Berlin, just less Technologically developed. After all, the only Technology they have to go on is the Trash that Atlas throws down when it doesn’t work. To describe it as a poor town would be slightly exaggerating, but it’s not wrong to say that everyone there is definitely not as wealthy as any of the other kingdoms. According to some Mantleans, it’s ‘where one goes if they just need a place to sleep for dirt cheap.’ Atlas, on the other hand, has more of a Victorian Era Steampunk Vibe to it, with Machines everywhere comprised of either glimmering steel or polished bronze. Atlas Paladin Drones march around, making sure to uphold the peace.  As for Law Enforcement, that is handled exclusively by the Atlas Military Force, comprised of expert hunters and the best Robotics team in Atlas and lead by James Ironwood. James was once apart of the illustrious Steele Family, who prided themselves in their ability to create high quality Dust Weapons. Of course, after renouncing his families families unfortunate ties with Faunus Violence, the Steele Family had dropped him like a hot brick. Going under the last name Ironwood, James then worked in the Atlas Military Force, rising through the ranks until he was appointed as the new Head General. He works to try and bring Faunus Violence down, though that’s a bit hard due to his benefactors.  

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Part 6: Hunters/Huntresses and Academies

[Fade from black into what appears to be a giant prestigious castle-like building. Multiple people wearing student uniforms seem to be approaching it, talking and laughing. Most of them are human, though there are about 4-5 Faunus in the crowd.] ‘We here at Beacon Academy offer the finest, state-of-the-art Hunter and Huntress training one can afford.’ [It cuts to multiple classrooms, before showing a shot of the Training Arena, where students appear to be training.] ‘Founded by the Great Warrior King Ozma long, long ago, Beacon Academy prides itself in being one of the first, and longest running academies in Remnant. Were he alive today, Ozma would be proud at the state of affairs.’ [It then shows a weapon tinkering class; A student makes a mistake, but they all laugh it off jovially. A caption at the bottom appears, in very small text reads ‘Paid actors.’] ‘Experience state of the art Dust Technologies-’ [A teacher opens up a Hardlight chalkboard, before they begin to draw on it with a sort of plastic laser-baton.] ‘Experienced teachers and high quality, hands on lessons-’ [A combat instructor spars with a student, before knocking them on their ass; The teacher then helps them back onto their feet.] ‘And, of course, a homely and family-like atmosphere.’ [It shows a bunch of students at the cafeteria, eating and talking, laughing all the while.] ‘And now, we are proud to announce the Faunus Integration, as instructed by new headmaster Ozpin Ambroise Diggs.’ [It shows a Faunus Student and a Human Student shaking hands, smiling and nodding.] ‘So, please, consider joining the family. We promise only the finest education needed to become a high quality hunter or huntress.’ [The commercial then devolves into explaining how much money is needed to enroll, who to call, and what to expect. It then ends with a shot of Beacon Academy, students lined up in front of it towards the camera, hands behind their back.] Hunters and Huntresses were among one of the first jobs in the ancient world of Remnant; When Humanity became aware of the threat Grimm pose, they needed people who could stand up to the monsters. They went by many names throughout the years. Shamans. Priests. Knights. It was the Warrior King Ozma that christened them with their current name however, when he enacted the ‘Great Hunt.’ Of course, the connotations of the name have been a bit marred with Anti-Faunus meaning. However, since there are no better titles, most like to ignore these rocky beginnings. Generally speaking, a Hunter’s job is to hunt Grimm, but what they don’t generally explain in most common places is hiring. Hunters and Huntresses can’t just begin to hunt Grimm- Not unless they don’t want to be paid for their services. As such, they usually seek out private contractors, such as big companies or possibly even Academies, to send them out on jobs. Some include Grimm extermination, but, more often than not, they are usually sent off to do odd jobs for the contractor. Whether it be collect dust, ingredients, or even protect specified people, Hunters and Huntresses must then be instructed on various other subjects: Botany, Biology, Dust and their properties, People Skills, so on and so forth.  Generally speaking, a pre-requisite to even join an Academy is the ability to control your Aura. Though it makes sense for the type of work the job entails, it still doesn’t help that, since a majority of Faunus are not able to manipulate Aura, the school does not consider them eligible. The actual percentage of Faunus that are eligible to attend Academies is about 28%, with a total of 13% actually attending. Of course, cities like Atlas have a policy that bans Faunus from participating in any sort of Academia, and since Mistral is still highly unknown, Vacuo is the only city with a high percentage of Faunus attendance in it’s academies. Unfortunately, those Academies are usually considered the bottom of the bin in terms of quality, with the only quality Academies either not allowing Faunus, or having strict entry prerequisites.  The top three Academies in the entire world of Remnant are thus; Caelum Private Academy, located in Atlas. It is an all-boys School that promises only the finest in Male Hunter Training. Getting a Hunter’s License from there is usually a must for those seeking political aspirations. Next is Accipiter Woman’s Academy, located in Atlas as well. Much like how Caelum Private Academy was an all-boys university, Accipiter Woman’s Academy is an all-girls university. And, finally, Beacon Academy, located within Vale. It is not only prestigious for it’s history and up-to-date equipment, but also prides itself in being established by the Warrior King Ozma. It is so distinguished, that only recognizable descendants of Ozma can become Headmaster.  In terms of curriculum, there’s the already discussed options, but there’s also extracurricular classes that one can take if they feel so inclined. Sewing, Cooking, Fine Arts, Theatre, as well as Music and Band are available. Though, of course, the real meat and potatoes of the Academies are the combat classes. The top three use Dust Altered Arenas to not only simulate multiple environments, but also climates, and even Weather. Of course, other less up-to-date schools usually settle for an empty sand lot with benches around it. And, of course, a must for any school is a Scoreboard, displaying the students’ grade level, semblance, and school determined statistics. Though it may change from school to school, the statistics are such: Strength (A measurement of pure brute strength and power, usually determined through a test of lifting incrementally heavier weights), Endurance (A measurement of stamina, used to determine Aura strength), Intelligence (A measurement of quick thinking, strategic thinking and wits, determined by a test) Speed (A measurement of agility and acrobatics, determined by an obstacle course with a timer) and Perception (A measurement of Senses and how the student applies it, usually tested by a reaction test.). Of course, these tests and statistics have not only been proven to be highly inaccurate at times, but can also be a detriment for the students mental health. The statistics are ranked from E to A+, with Aura being determined by measurement of the Aura emanated off a person.  Most high quality Academies require a student uniform of some sort. Though the rules on what they must be varies from Academy to Academy, most of the upper echelon of Academia simply opt for unisex student uniforms, with strict guidelines on combat apparel in place. 

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Part 5: Faunus

“. . . Tensions rise as White Fang leader, infamous terrorist and radical extremist Adam Taurus, issues a statement towards Atlas Officials regarding the increase in Faunus related hate crimes. ‘Your kind will not learn through words. That much you have demonstrated. People talk of how the ‘Pen is mightier than the sword,’ though, in most cases, the pen does not capture the audience’s attention. A sword, however, will always draw attention[. . .]  I do not condone violence. But, if someone is shooting at us, telling us we are inferior, and killing my people day by day... Then I condone the right to fight back.’” ~ Vale News Station Humanity’s apprehension and tension with Faunus began extremely early on; Though multiple theories exist to how Faunus came into existence, the most widely accepted and the most factually accurate and least biased opinion relates to the theory of ‘Aura Evolution.’ To put it simply, the use of Aura ‘speeds up a creature’s evolution’ by unknown means. Whether it be by boosting the intelligence of animals or by altering their bodies, it is still debated upon heavily in most scientific groups. However, the interesting part of Faunus history was how, for the first thousand years after their evolution, they found themselves isolated away from Humanity, hence why early records of humanity do not list the Faunus. The earliest known recount of Faunus in human history was by the Warrior King Ozma, who states: ‘[. . .] It was during our exploration of K’nador (the desterous region of Sanus) that I found strange beast-like men. They were feral, savage, and were an almost mockery to man. They approached us, but, before they could try to get an attack in, I told my men to attack. They put up a noble struggle, but, after a long and arduous fight, the beasts went down. [. . .] They were horrid to look upon. Their faces reminded me of the animals I saw in the forest, their bodies strange and contorted[. . .] The great alchemists theorized they could be a new form of the Zarak (Grimm).’ With such a first encounter, it is no wonder why the history of Human-Faunus Relations has been tumultuous at best. It was not long after this encounter that Ozma began ‘The Great Hunt’ to hunt down the Faunus. Enlisting the help of the best hunters in the Kingdom, he lead a great sweep of the lower end of Sanus. Though the battle was tilted in their favor at first, the tables began to turn when some Faunus began to display the ability to manipulate Aura. Suddenly, a few Faunus were able to hold back an entire group of trained hunters, heavily armed, too. After two years of quarrel, Ozma withdrew, leaving the Faunus to live in peace after seeing their aptitude and their fierceness, the King had realized that they were not Grimm. Though he could not accept them, he at least respected their courage and prowess. On the topic of Aura within Faunus, it is a widely believed misconception that Faunus are ‘not capable of gaining control on Aura as well as Humans.’ Not only has this been heavily debunked by multiple Faunus hunters, but the misconception only began because of humanity’s refusal to teach most Faunus how to unlock control over their Aura. Even in modern day, Aura teachers for Faunus are few and far between, and those that unlock theirs only do so by accident. As such, many Faunus use the abilities their animalistic features as an edge over Aura manipulation, something that gets ridiculed by most hunters in the world due to their ‘savage behavior.’ Many Faunus hunters are usually ridiculed for being a ‘wild beast’ and are usually harassed in their work places. And, unfortunately, most Faunus-Human Relationships do not end well, as multiple groups have saw fit to ‘protect the human blood line’ from Faunus.  Faunus in and of themselves are only humanoid in physique. Most faunus tower over most humans, the shortest Faunus recorded clocking in at 5′11″. Though the vary wildly in terms of appearance, their height is usually their most defining feature. And, of course, the fact that Faunus’ can be based on any type of creature on Remnant. Ants, Sharks, Otters, Lions, if it can have an Aura, it is most likely a Faunus. As well, the most interesting trait of Faunus is their ‘hybridization.’ Usually, with humans, when a child is born, it takes traits from it’s parents; The same is true with Faunus, but much, much more extreme. Hybrid Faunus are rare, as the child is more liable to be born as an animal species similar to their mother or father. If, for example, there was a child between a Spider Faunus and a Bull Faunus, the child would have a 45% chance to be a Bull/Cow Faunus, 45% chance to be a Spider Faunus, or a 10% chance for it to be a combination of the two.