#vermillionraddock

Lionheart Concerning Morals: RRBW Spoilers

Lionheart, unlike his canon counterpart, is somewhat better—by a long shot.

See, in canon, Lionheart basically sold out humanity to Salem just to survive. The best thing he did was admit he was terrified, unlike Raven. Still, he was a coward to the end, which ended with his death.

In RRBW, he has much more reason to join the villains. Though, in my opinion and many others', it doesn’t mean he gets off scot-free. Lionheart sided with Salem after discovering she couldn’t be killed, hoping that with her victory, there would be no more need for the Academies and seemingly using students as sacrificial pawns—without realizing that Salem plans to destroy the world. He’s clearly remorseful about betraying Ozpin’s circle. And while Lionheart may be serving as Salem’s mole, he does not tell her that Pyrrha is the new Fall Maiden and makes a weak attempt to persuade her not to go after Ruby, showing he does not want children to be harmed. He has a picture in his drawer of a human woman holding a young Lion Faunus child in her arms, meaning he also has reason for trying to end the war to keep his family alive.

Here’s the problem, though—it depends on how sympathetic you are to Lionheart.

Theories on Why Salem Didn’t Control More Villain Factions or Manipulate More Than Six People to Work Together Effectively

Using the canon details from the provided RWBY wiki entry on Salem's Inner Circle, I'll theorize why Salem, despite her millennia-long campaign and immense power, limited her direct control to a small group (six key members: Cinder, Tyrian, Hazel, Watts, Vermillion, and later the Asturias siblings) and didn’t consolidate more villain factions or manipulate a larger network to work cohesively. These theories are grounded in her goals, personality, and strategic constraints as described.

1. Salem’s Need for Absolute Control Limits the Size of Her Inner Circle

Canon Basis: Salem’s warning to her followers—“The moment you put your desires before my own... they will be lost to you. This isn’t a threat, this is simply the truth. The path to your desires is only found... through me”—reveals her demand for unwavering loyalty. She prioritizes absolute obedience over managing a sprawling network, as a larger group increases the risk of betrayal or conflicting agendas.

Theory: Salem deliberately keeps her inner circle small to maintain tight control. Manipulating more than a handful of people risks dissent, as seen with Hazel’s defection after learning her true goal (summoning the Gods to destroy Remnant) or Cinder’s repeated disobedience (e.g., pursuing Penny against orders). A larger group could amplify such issues, especially since each member has personal motivations (Hazel’s revenge, Watts’ grudge, Tyrian’s fanaticism) that require careful management. Controlling numerous factions like the White Fang or Hana Guild directly would dilute her ability to enforce loyalty, as evidenced by Adam Taurus’ independent actions leading to his expulsion after Haven’s failure.

Why Not More Factions? Coordinating multiple villainous groups (e.g., the White Fang, Hana Guild, or other criminal networks like Roman Torchwick’s) would require delegating authority, which Salem avoids. Her killing of Leonardo Lionheart for his failure shows she discards those who don’t meet her standards. Managing disparate factions with their own leaders (e.g., Sienna Khan or Jacques Schnee) risks rebellion or inefficiency, as seen when Adam killed Sienna to seize control, disrupting Salem’s plans.

2. Salem’s Strategy Relies on Precision and Specialized Skills, Not Numbers

Canon Basis: The Inner Circle’s members are chosen for specific roles: Cinder as the Maiden power vessel, Tyrian for tracking and assassination, Watts for technological sabotage, Hazel for brute force, Vermillion for artifact hunting, and the Asturias siblings for Vacuo operations. Each fills a niche in her plan to secure the Relics and destroy the Academies.

Theory: Salem prioritizes quality over quantity, selecting individuals with unique skills or motivations that align with her goals. Manipulating more people or factions could lead to redundancy or conflicts, as seen when Cinder’s underlings (Emerald, Mercury, Neo) clashed with her leadership, or when Raven Branwen only allied briefly for self-preservation. A larger network might lack the precision needed to infiltrate Ozma’s defenses, like accessing the heavily guarded Vaults. For example, Watts’ hacking in Atlas or Lionheart’s insider intel in Mistral required specialized betrayal, not mass recruitment. Salem likely avoided broader villain alliances (e.g., controlling all of Mistral’s underworld beyond Vermillion’s Hana Guild) because they’re harder to direct toward her specific endgame—unlocking the Relics to summon the Gods.

Why Not Better Coordination? Her current circle struggles with cohesion due to clashing personalities (Cinder’s ambition vs. Tyrian’s loyalty, Mercury’s indifference vs. Hazel’s principles). A larger group or more factions would exacerbate this, as Salem would need to micromanage competing egos or agendas, diverting focus from her Relic hunt.

3. Salem’s Immortality and Long-Term Perspective Discourage Broad Alliances

Canon Basis: Salem’s Inner Circle has existed for millennia, but its modern form is recent, with members like Cinder, Tyrian, and Watts recruited in recent decades. Her true goal (destroying Remnant to end her immortality) requires all four Relics, a task she’s pursued patiently across centuries.

Theory: As an immortal, Salem operates on a timescale where short-term alliances with volatile factions (like the White Fang or other criminal groups) are less valuable than a small, controllable team. Historically, her subordinates like the unnamed female warrior or Tock were deployed for specific missions (killing Ozma or Silver-Eyed Warriors), suggesting she prefers temporary, focused operatives over sprawling networks. Building a vast coalition of villains risks exposure to Ozma’s group, who’ve countered her for millennia. For instance, her limited alliance with the White Fang under Adam collapsed after Haven, and the Hana Guild served only as Vermillion’s tool, not a core faction. Salem likely sees large-scale manipulation as unsustainable, given her past failures (e.g., Tock’s death due to recklessness).

Why Limited Manipulation? Salem manipulates through personal promises (e.g., Hazel’s revenge, Cinder’s power), which are tailored to individuals. Scaling this to dozens of people or factions would strain her ability to deliver, risking rebellion. Her torture of Cinder for disobedience shows she enforces loyalty through fear and reward, a method less effective with larger, less personal groups.

4. The Nature of Remnant’s Villain Factions Limits Cooperation

Canon Basis: The White Fang, under Adam, allied with Salem but pursued its own Faunus-centric goals, leading to friction (Hazel’s discontent with Sienna’s death). Other allies like Raven or Lionheart acted out of self-interest, not loyalty, and defected or failed. Cinder’s faction (Emerald, Mercury, Neo) shows internal strife, with Emerald defecting and Neo blackmailing Cinder.

Theory: Remnant’s villainous factions are too self-serving or ideologically driven to align seamlessly under Salem. The White Fang prioritized Faunus rights, not her world-ending agenda, and Adam’s takeover destabilized their usefulness. Similarly, criminal groups like Roman’s or the Hana Guild focus on profit or local power, not global destruction. Salem likely avoids uniting them because their goals conflict with hers, and forcing cooperation could alert Ozpin’s group (e.g., Qrow uncovering Lionheart’s betrayal). Even within her Inner Circle, coordination falters—Cinder’s defiance, Hazel’s defection, and Watts’ betrayal by Cinder show how even a small group struggles to work together. A larger coalition would amplify these fractures, especially since Salem’s true goal (world destruction) alienates potential allies, as seen with Hazel and Emerald’s defections.

Why Not Manipulate More? Salem’s manipulation requires deep psychological leverage, which is resource-intensive. She recruited Tyrian by saving him, Hazel by offering vengeance, and Watts by exploiting his grudge. Scaling this to dozens of people or factions would dilute her influence, especially since many villains (e.g., Adam or Raven) prioritize their own survival or power over her apocalyptic vision.

5. Salem’s Reliance on Grimm and Isolation Reduces the Need for Human Allies

Canon Basis: Salem’s headquarters, Evernight Castle, and her mobile base, Monstra, are in the Land of Darkness, tied to the Creatures of Grimm, which she commands effortlessly. Her Inner Circle operates as an extension of her will, not a replacement for her Grimm armies.

Theory: Salem’s primary strength lies in her control over Grimm, which don’t require manipulation or loyalty and can be deployed en masse (e.g., her Atlas assault). Human allies are a secondary tool for infiltrating human societies where Grimm can’t operate subtly. She limits her human circle to a few key players because they’re sufficient to handle tasks like stealing Maiden powers or sabotaging academies, while Grimm handle brute-force destruction. Controlling more factions or people would require integrating them into her Grimm-centric strategy, which is impractical given their human limitations (e.g., fear of Grimm like The Hound). Her isolation in the Land of Darkness also suggests a preference for minimal human contact, relying on fear and mystique to keep her small circle in line rather than managing a sprawling network.

Why Poor Cooperation? Salem’s authoritarian style (e.g., punishing Cinder, killing Lionheart) fosters fear but not teamwork. Her followers compete for her favor (Cinder vs. Watts, Tyrian’s blind devotion vs. Hazel’s doubts), and she seems to encourage this to prevent unified rebellion. A larger group or more factions would make this dynamic unmanageable, as seen when Cinder’s ambition repeatedly disrupts group cohesion.

Conclusion

Theories on Why Salem's Inner Circle Took So Long to Locate and Target the Maidens Until Cinder Fall's Involvement

Based on the provided canon details from the RWBY wiki on Salem's Inner Circle, I'll outline some reasoned theories for the delay in effectively finding and pursuing the Maidens. These are speculative but grounded in the timeline, group dynamics, and challenges described. Salem's conflict with Ozma spans millennia, yet her systematic hunt for the Maidens—whose powers unlock the Relic Vaults—only ramps up with her modern recruits, particularly Cinder. Here's why that might be:

1. The Secrecy and Random Nature of Maiden Power Transfers Made Early Detection Extremely Difficult

The Maidens' powers pass to a random young woman (typically under 30) upon the previous holder's death, often based on the dying Maiden's last thoughts. This unpredictability would make tracking them a logistical nightmare without insider knowledge or widespread surveillance.

Ozma (Ozpin's previous incarnations) designed the system this way to protect the Relics, hiding the Maidens' identities even from most allies. For example, the Spring Maiden had been missing for years before Tyrian's hunt, and the Fall Maiden (Amber) was kept secret and protected by Ozpin's group.

In earlier eras, Salem's subordinates like the unnamed female warrior or Tock were focused on direct assassinations (e.g., killing Ozma's incarnations or Silver-Eyed Warriors) rather than a broad search for elusive, hidden figures. Without a network of spies in the Kingdoms or academies, Salem couldn't pinpoint Maidens until she built her current circle, which includes infiltrators like Leonardo Lionheart (who provided intel on Huntsmen but could have helped with Maiden leads).

2. Salem's Earlier Subordinates Lacked the Skills, Loyalty, or Resources for a Sustained Maiden Hunt

Historical members, such as the female warrior (who targeted "The Infinite Man" and The Circle millennia ago) or Tock (who hunted Silver-Eyed Warriors decades prior), were more like lone operatives or raiders focused on elimination rather than intelligence-gathering or power theft. Tock ignored Salem's advice on her Semblance, leading to her death, suggesting early followers were unreliable or short-lived.

Salem's group has existed for millennia, but the "inner circle" as a coordinated faction seems relatively modern. Recent recruits like Cinder, Tyrian, Hazel, Watts, and Vermillion Raddock bring specialized skills: Cinder's ambition and Grimm-based power-stealing method (key for becoming a "vessel" for Maiden powers), Watts' tech expertise for infiltration (e.g., hacking in Atlas), and Tyrian's tracking prowess (he was assigned to hunt the Spring Maiden before being redirected).

Before this, Salem may have lacked a team capable of operating in human societies without drawing attention. Grimm are her natural allies, but they're mindless and can't infiltrate academies or Kingdoms effectively. Building a human inner circle took time, possibly because potential recruits needed personal motivations (e.g., Hazel's revenge for his sister, Watts' grudge against Ironwood) that only arose in recent decades.

3. Ozma's Evolving Defenses and the Establishment of Academies Delayed Salem's Progress

The Relics were hidden in Vaults beneath the Huntsman Academies, which Ozma founded relatively recently (post-Great War, about 80 years before the series). Before the academies existed, the Maidens might have been nomadic or less centralized, but Ozma's system made them guardians tied to specific locations—yet still hard to access without knowing their identities.

Salem's past efforts focused on disrupting Ozma's broader plans, like slaughtering The Circle or hunting Silver-Eyed Warriors (a threat to Grimm). The Maidens, being a later creation by Ozma, might not have been a priority until he fortified the Relics behind them. Even then, successful infiltration required waiting for vulnerabilities, like corrupting Lionheart or allying with groups like the White Fang.

Failures in early attempts could have set her back. For instance, if previous subordinates tried and failed (similar to Tock's demise), Salem might have shifted focus to weakening Ozma's influence first—destroying Beacon, then targeting Haven, Atlas, and now Vacuo—before fully committing to Maiden hunts.

4. Salem's Long-Term Strategy Prioritized Building Power Over Immediate Action

Salem warns her followers that their desires come second to hers, emphasizing patience: Relics first, personal goals later. This suggests a deliberate, methodical approach rather than rushed aggression, possibly to avoid alerting Ozma too early or wasting resources.

Her true goal (summoning the Gods to destroy Remnant and end her immortality) requires all four Relics, so partial Maiden successes wouldn't suffice. Until she had a reliable "vessel" like Cinder—who could absorb powers via Grimm methods (developed recently?)—killing Maidens might just scatter the powers randomly, making them harder to reclaim.

Recent events show acceleration: Tyrian hunted the Spring Maiden pre-Beacon, but only Cinder successfully stole powers (half from Amber). This implies Salem waited for the right tool (Cinder) and timing (e.g., after recruiting Watts for tech support or Vermillion for artifact hunts in Mistral).