Vale is one of the kingdoms of Remnant, and like the others, is governed by a ruling council to see to the needs of the people. It is considered a safe haven from Grimm, and it is the primary setting of the first three volumes of RWBY. Vale is located on the northeastern end of Remnant’s largest continent, and is bordered on the northwest by water and southeast by mountains, making it a relatively safe place. Vale’s Huntsman Academy is Beacon, the school attended by the protagonists as they aim to become huntresses.
Atlas, formerly known at Mantle, is located on Solitas, the far northern continent of Remnant. Unlike the other three kingdoms, Atlas’ government, military, and Huntsman Academy all function as one entity. Atlas has harsh climate and tall mountains which kept Grimm away and made it possible to settle, but also made it difficult to live in.
Atlas is known for having a powerful military equipped with the latest technology. Atlas heavily relies on Dust and technology in general in order to persist, and is home to the headquarters of the Schnee Dust Company, the largest supplier of Dust in the world.
Mistral is located on the far eastern continent of Remnant, called Anima. It is governed by a ruling council like the rest of the kingdoms. Mistral controls the most territory of the four kingdoms, encompassing many different climates and cultures within it. Some of the terrain included steep cliffs, where the region was first settled, but Mistral contains a variety of ecosystems and a thriving trade route.
Mistral is also known for having two distinct classes: an upper class known for contributions for high society, such as architecture and theater, and a lower class equally known for its corruption, with thieves, assassins, and even corrupt huntsmen hiding amongst the vast geography of Mistral.
Vacuo is one of the kingdoms of Remnant, located on the western end of the continent Sanus. Vacuo is governed by a ruling council like the rest of the kingdoms, but mostly nominally, as the true power lies with Shade, the kingdom’s Huntsman Academy. Vacuo is located in the middle of a harsh desert. It used to be an oasis in the sand, but years of human activity have made it a barren wasteland indistinguishable from the rest of the desert.
With a relaxed air and little formal governance, Vacuo has little regard for laws and order. Their most important philosophy is that anyone who is able to survive in the harsh conditions there is welcome to live among them.