Created as a result of war, the Vytal Festival is meant to celebrate the peace between the four Kingdoms after the Great Remnant War. Held every two years in a kingdom chosen to host it, the festival invites all those in the four kingdoms to partake in each others cultures. The Vytal Festival Tournament is the highlight of the festival, where Huntsmen from the academies spar in competition and to test their abilities. With the growth of the Academies and the improved skills of the Huntsmen, a purpose built stadium was created, the Amity Colosseum. Each kingdom contributes to the floating Colosseum, which is hailed as a showcase of both technological aspiration and a symbol of harmony between the kingdoms.
Huntsman and Huntresses are considered to be the best and brightest warriors in Remnant, often outranking kingdom police and military due to their strength and skill. Established alongside the Academies after the great war, the role was hoped to produced elite warriors to stave off the Grimm. Four Academies were founded: Beacon Academy in Vale, Haven Academy in Mistral, Shade Academy in Vacuo, and Atlas Academy in the defunct Kingdom of Mantle (now known as the Kingdom of Atlas). The academies recruited graduates from various combat schools that not only show skill in defeating the Grimm, but also showing protection towards their fellow man. This translates into the formation of teams at the academies, where the traits of these trainee guardians are formed and honed: communication, empathy, and teamwork.Once done with training, Huntmens and Huntresses are allowed to choose how they wish to work and use their abilities via mission boards. While the academies discourage the Huntsmen from being aligned to any of the four kingdoms during their training, after training the decision to align with a kingdom or village is up the individual Huntsman. Atlas Academy however, has come under increasing scrutiny in forcing a military lifestyle on their students, pressuring Huntsmen in enlisting in the Atlas Military's Special Operatives Unit, rather than allowing them to voluntarily join.Regardless of the teaching methods, the same goal is met by each of the academies: Huntsmen and Huntresses make their own paths. Some will stay together in a team, while others will strike out on their own. And all must be expected to serve humanity and not fall into the darkness.
Initially, many forms of long-range communication were limited, be they due to the threat of the Grimm, or that mankind has not accomplished space travel yet due to inefficient use of Dust not working outside of Remnant's atmosphere. Then, came the Cross Continental Transmit System, a technological marvel provided by the Kingdom of Atlas. These towers provide wireless signals to devices like Scrolls, but the signal becomes weaker the further away one is from a relay tower. Moreover, if one of the towers is taken offline, then so does its network along with the rest of the towers.
For many years, an old wizard has lived alone in his home in the woods. One snowy day, he is surprised to see a young maiden outside his window, who introduces herself as Winter, and she was waiting for her other sisters to arrive. The old man, curious as to why she was resting under a tree, decides to rest himself as well. When the old man wakes, he sees Winter is visited by another sister named Spring, who begins planting seeds and watering a garden for the old man. Later on, they are joined by the third sister, Summer, who convinces the old man to step outside his door and embrace the world around him. As they prepare for dinner, the fourth and eldest sister, Fall, arrives to join them. The old man then asks the sisters why they decided to help him, and Fall replies it is because they are able to. In return for their kindness, the wizard musters all of the power he can, and offers it to the four sisters, granting them unique abilities. The Four Maidens are grateful to the old man and set off to share their gifts with the world, promising him that they will visit him again on a yearly basis.
The Vytal Festival Tournament is the ultimate battle of skill, pitting the world's most powerful Huntsmen and Huntresses in training against one another... and it's finally here!
The Vytal Festival continues through team JNPR vs team BRNZ, and team SSSN vs team NDGO. A strangely familiar face drunkenly watches the tournament.
After the arrival of Winter, Weiss and Ruby learn of the tension between her and Qrow.
Mercury displays his tremendous skills as a fighter. Ruby and Yang gain valuable advice from Qrow, while Weiss learns a life lesson from Winter.
During the second round of the vytal festival Yang and Weiss compete against an unfamiliar team.
Ozpin and Pyrrha discuss the story of The Four Maidens. Afterwards, Yang and Mercury's fight reaches a jaw-dropping conclusion.
The Vytal Festival Tournament is the ultimate battle of skill, pitting the world's most powerful Huntsmen and Huntresses in training against one another... and it's finally here! Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang are back for a season of over-the-top action, and they're not alone. New fighters from around Remnant are ready to bring glory to their kingdom, but there are those among them with a far more sinister goal in mind…
Team RWBY recover from Yang's attack on Mercury. Pyrrah suffers under the dangerous decision she must make. Ruby becomes suspicious and the second round begins.
Pyrrah and Penny begin their fight. Ruby and Mercury begin theirs. Cinder sends a deadly message.
Team RWBY is separated as Beacon and Vale suffers a devastating Grimm attack. The Huntsmen must stand together, but Cinder has more plans in place.
Ruby faces off against Neo and Torchwick. The war for Beacon continues, and in the midst of all the chaos, Blake and Adam's encounter reaches a shocking conclusion. Pyrrha makes her decision.
As the battle for beacon reaches a close, Pyrrha makes a decision that changes everything. When it ends, Ruby discovers there is more to her than she thought.
