Volume 1[]
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Legends. Stories scattered through time. Mankind has grown quite fond of recounting the exploits of heroes and villains, forgetting so easily that we are remnants, byproducts, of a forgotten past.
Man, born from dust, was strong, wise, and resourceful, but he was born into an unforgiving world. An inevitable darkness – creatures of destruction – the creatures of Grimm – set their sights on man and all of his creations. These forces clashed, and it seemed the darkness was intent on returning man's brief existence to the void.
However, even the smallest spark of hope is enough to ignite change, and in time, man's passion, resourcefulness, and ingenuity led them to the tools that would help even the odds. This power was appropriately named "Dust".
Nature's wrath in hand, man lit their way through the darkness, and in the shadow's absence came strength, civilization, and most importantly, life. But even the most brilliant lights eventually flicker and die. And when they are gone... darkness will return.
So you may prepare your guardians, build your monuments to a so-called "free world", but take heed... there will be no victory in strength. |
” |
Volume 3[]
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A smaller, more honest soul. It's true that a simple spark can ignite hope, breathe fire into the hearts of the weary. The ability to derive strength from hope is undoubtedly mankind's greatest attribute... which is why I will focus all of my power to snuff it out.
How does it feel? Knowing that all of your time and effort has been for nothing? That your guardians have failed you? That everything you've built will be torn down before your very eyes?
Your faith in mankind was not misplaced. When banded together, unified by a common enemy, they are a noticeable threat. But divide them, place doubt into their minds, and any semblance of power they once had will wash away.
Of course, they won't realize it at first. Like you, they'll cling to their fleeting hope, their aspirations. But this is merely the first move. So you send your guardians. Your Huntsmen and Huntresses. And when they fail and you turn to your smaller soul, know that you send her to the same pitiful demise. This is the beginning of the end, Ozpin. And I can't wait to watch you burn. |
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Volume 4[]
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I see no reason for your cruelty towards young Cinder. She's become our Fall Maiden, destroyed Beacon Tower, and most importantly, killed dear Ozpin. So I'm curious, to what failures are you referring? |
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—Salem to
Arthur Watts, on Cinder's preceding accomplishments
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Because of your efforts, Beacon has fallen. And Haven will be next. |
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Do you feel it? Don't fight it, girl. It can sense your trepidation. You must make 'it' dread you. |
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—Salem, encouraging Cinder
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Cinder, I am going to ask you this one more time, and I expect a clear answer. Did you kill Ozpin? |
” |
—Salem, telling Cinder to be truthful
—Salem, shouting at Cinder
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Reinforce our numbers at Beacon. The Relic is there. |
” |
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What are you planning? |
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—Salem, speaking to herself
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I thought you were the girl who wanted power. Did you lie to me? |
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—Salem, to Cinder
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The last eye is blinded... you disappoint me. |
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Volume 5[]
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Leonardo, do you remember the first time we met? I remember. I remember your fear. But, since that day, you've been extraordinarily brave. I won't forget all that you've done for me. Do not forget everything that I can do to you. |
” |
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You will have the power I promised you when the time is right, but remember that it comes with a cost. If Ruby Rose has learned to harness her gift, then you must take care to protect yours. There's only so much I can do to aid you. |
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—Salem, to Cinder
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Leonardo, do you have something you wish to tell me? |
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—Salem asks Leonardo the current situation through the Seer Grimm
—Salem, to Leonardo's demise
Volume 6[]
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Are you surprised? This world is quite literally godless. These Humans have no one to guide them. Perhaps that's all they need. |
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—Salem to
Ozma, telling him that Humanity needs guidance
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We could become the gods of this world. Our powers surpass all others. Our souls transcend death. We can mold these lands into whatever we want, what you want, create the paradise that the old Gods could not. |
” |
—Salem telling Ozma that they can become the new gods for Humanity
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You said we needed to bring Humanity together. In order to do that, we have to spread our word, and destroy those who will deny it. |
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—Salem to Ozma, reassuring him that what they are doing is right
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Don't you see? None of that matters anymore. Why spend our lives trying to redeem these Humans when we can replace them with what they could never be? |
” |
—Salem to Ozma, telling him they can replace Humanity with their children
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We finally had freedom... |
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—Salem to Ozma, before killing him
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It's important not to lose sight of what drives us: Love, justice, reverence... but 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. |
” |
—Salem, to her subordinates
Volume 7[]
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The brave Huntsmen and Huntresses bested Arthur Watts. Congratulations. |
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—Salem, to the group
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Time isn't on your side, James. It's always been on mine. |
” |
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The people of Atlas have suffered enough. Surrender the Staff and the Lamp to me, and they needn't suffer any further. |
” |
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Simply accept the futility of your situation… And this can all be over. |
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—Salem, to Ironwood
Volume 8[]
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This game is not yours to win, Cinder, it's mine. Just because you're more valuable to me than a pawn, does not make you a player. Everything is already in motion. All you need concern yourself with is your ability to act when I tell you to. |
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—Salem, to Cinder
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I have questions for you. But first I need the one who can show me how. Bring him to me. |
” |
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My long-lost Ozma, found at last. |
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—Salem, upon reuniting with Ozma
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So small, this new host of yours. It's a wonder my Hound didn't break you. It's been how many years since we saw each other like this, face to face? And nothing to say? |
” |
—Salem, to Ozma
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You can pretend, boy, but you're not fully him. Not yet, at least. |
” |
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The Beacon Relic. My forces have been unable to locate the Relic beneath the school. If I know my Ozma, he has used some means of deception to hide its location differently than the others. I need to know where it is. |
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—Salem, asking Oscar for the location of the Relic
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The lies come out of you so easily. Like-minded souls indeed. |
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—Salem, to Oscar after he lies about the
Lamp
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One of you is going to tell me what you know. I don't much care if it is you or Ozma. Either way, I'll finally have the Relic. |
” |
—Salem, to Oscar
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An experiment. So far I am pleased with the results. Did you need something, Cinder? |
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—Salem, to Cinder about The Hound
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Do you hear that, my pet? She thinks. She wants. As if she's done something that warrants me caring about either of those things. |
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—Salem, to The Hound about Cinder's failures
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I would like to think I have shown a great deal of patience over my many years walking Remnant. But I do hate repeating myself. You will remain here. Is. That. Clear? |
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—Salem, giving Cinder an ultimatum
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Ozma. You have wonderful timing. The show is about to begin. |
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—Salem, returning to Ozma and Hazel
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Speaking of which... Cinder. You chose to disobey my specific instructions - just to fail again. And I've realized... it's all my fault. You've fought your whole life unwaveringly for what you want and here I am holding you back instead of lifting you up. You deserve so much more than I've given you. |
” |
—Salem, torturing Cinder through her
Shadow Hand before manipulating her
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Go to Atlas, recover Watts. He can lead you to the girl. Whether you or my Hound get to her first, you will finally have the Winter Maiden's power, and I will have my Staff. |
” |
—Salem, directing Cinder to locate Watts and Penny
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The Seers... seems we have guests... The Lamp! Find them! |
” |
—Salem, telling "
Hazel" and Emerald to track down Yang's group
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You really have been honing that Semblance of yours. |
” |
—Salem, catching Emerald in the act of helping Yang's group escape
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What did you do with the Lamp? [...] It's missing. Where is it? |
” |
—Salem, to Emerald
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Look how you've diminished. How you've lessened yourself, and for what? These children, this ruined world? Why. Do. You. Keep. Coming. Back?! |
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—Salem, losing patience with Oscar and Ozma
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And who is it I've taken from you, girl? [...] Hm... Her again. |
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—Salem, to Yang regarding Summer Rose
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So you've decided against vengeance for your sister after all this time. |
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—Salem, before doing
battle with Hazel
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In pursuit of a new world… no cost is too great. You’ve done well, Cinder. Our work here is done. |
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—Salem, to Cinder upon possessing the Lamp and Staff
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Dust. By definition, it is a naturally occurring energy propellant that can be triggered by the Aura of Humans and Faunus. But in reality, it is much, much more. |
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—Salem, on the subject of
Dust
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Despite working, fighting and even turning a profit with it, Humanity has still yet to understand how Dust came to be, and more importantly, how their involvement with Dust will ultimately change the world of Remnant |
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The world of Remnant is a dangerous place, particularly for man. In the countless years that Humanity has roamed the planet, civilizations have grown and fallen. But four have withstood the test of time: Atlas, Mistral, Vacuo, Vale. These four Kingdoms, with the help of natural barriers and Human tenacity, have proven that they have the will to survive. |
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—Salem, on the subject of Kingdoms
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Yes, the world of Remnant is indeed a dangerous place. But the four Kingdoms stand as beacons of hope, as safe havens from the darkness that surrounds them. They are the key to mankind's survival, as long as they stand united... |
” |
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For as long as Humanity can recall walking the surface of Remnant, so do they remember this wicked force. |
” |
—Salem, on the subject of
Grimm
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And in the end... killing is all that matters. |
” |
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With enough training and focus, a user's Aura can turn them into something much more than just a man. |
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—Salem, on the subject of
Aura
About Salem[]
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I've seen the things she's made, and let me tell you – they are fear. |
” |
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Salem's smart. She works from the shadows, using others to get what she wants so that when it comes time to place the blame, we can only point at each other. She's trying to divide us - Humanity - and so far, she's done a pretty damn good job. |
” |
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What happened at Beacon shows that Salem doesn't care if you're standing against her or not. She'll kill anybody, and that scares me most of all. |
” |
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The Creatures of Grimm... have a master named Salem. She can't be stopped, she can't be reasoned with and she will not rest until Humanity crumbles at her feet. |
” |
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She cursed the Gods. She cursed the universe. She cursed everything, everything but herself. |
” |
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Salem's goal has always been to divide us. |
” |
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An ancient and terrible evil lies outside of our Kingdom. It was responsible for the destruction of Beacon, the attack on Haven, and for the recent attacks on Mantle. This powerful force goes by the name of Salem. Salem seeks only to divide us, to turn us against each other. If she can incite hatred in us, then we will lure in the Grimm and destroy ourselves. |
” |
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This isn't some new enemy or invading Kingdom. This is a force we've faced before, for centuries… Salem. The White Fang, Atlesian drones, even the Grimm themselves have all been controlled and manipulated by her, in order to tear down the Huntsman Academies. |
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—Ruby, addressing Remnant in "
Amity"
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Salem can't be stopped. She's a force of nature. I've seen it first hand. |
” |
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When Salem gets all four Relics, there will be no world left at all. Don't you get it? She's been alive longer than you can comprehend. All she craves now is release… death. |
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—Ozpin, to Hazel about Salem's true goal in "
War"
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When she came for me, I killed her over and over again. The longest she was gone was only a few hours, before she put herself back together. |
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—Hazel, about his first encounter with Salem in "War"
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Salem's creature was destroyed, but that doesn't mean we've stopped her. She will return and she will throw everything she has at us until there is nothing left. And we are perilously close to that already. |
” |
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Salem used to kill people with Silver Eyes, like Maria. But she’s always wanted me alive. But why would that change unless, when she met Mom, she learned she could do something new? |
” |
—Ruby, on the possible reason why Salem wants her alive in "
Risk"
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If I were you, I’d be more worried about… Oh, who was that scary sorceress you mentioned? Uh… Salim? Salem? How many more Relics does she need to end the world again? How are you even supposed to stop her now that Atlas is gone? |
” |
References[]
- ↑ Volume 3 DVD Directors' Commentary Chapter 12