Huntsmen


 * For the World of Remnant episode of the same name, see Huntsmen (WoR episode).

Our world is experiencing an incredible time of peace, and as future Huntsmen and Huntresses, it is your duty to uphold it.



Huntsmen and Huntresses are elite warriors dedicated to slay the creatures of Grimm and whose duty is to "uphold the peace" of their world.

History
The Huntsman academies were set up following the Great War, on the island of Vytal, where the war came to an end. The Huntsman academies were created with the aim of safeguarding the future of humanity. Every two years, Huntsmen and Huntresses from each of the four kingdoms gather to compete in the Vytal Festival combat tournament, in order to ensure that they always strive for excellence and never mediocrity.

Training
Those who wish to become Huntsmen or Huntresses often first attend primary combat schools like Sanctum Academy (of Mistral) or Signal Academy (located in Patch), which are designed to show new students the fundamentals of combat, weapon crafting and the applications of Dust and Aura in the battlefield. Those who have honed their skills on their own however can skip this step and apply directly, an example being Blake Belladonna.

Potential applicants must then pass a rigorous entrance exam, and those that pass can attend Huntsman Academies, whose sole purpose is to train the next generation of Huntsmen and Huntresses who will in turn live and die to defend the four kingdoms and the lifestyles they have become accustomed to.



The Huntsman academies and the Kingdoms they correspond to are:


 * Vale - Beacon Academy
 * Mistral - Haven Academy
 * Vacuo - Shade Academy
 * Atlas (formerly Mantle) - Atlas Academy

Trainees are generally admitted at age 17 and complete a 4-year course before graduating, however some students, such as Ruby Rose, are admitted as young as 15.

Trainees are grouped into teams of four, with the intention of fostering empathy and teamwork, as well as lasting bonds, between team members – qualities considered of great importance for future Huntsmen and Huntresses. These teams may stay intact after graduation, but teams are also known to disband as their members pursue solo careers.

The course at Beacon Academy includes history lessons and studies of the Grimm. The more active component includes field trips to potentially dangerous locations, sparring matches with other students, as well as an opportunity to participate in the Vytal Festival Tournament and spar with students from other academies. Students also go on actual missions commensurate to their skill level as part of their training; first-years are accompanied by a professional Huntsman, whilst second years and above may go on high-risk missions alone.

Employment


After graduation, the founders of the academies intended that the allegiance of a Huntsman or Huntress would not be tied to a specific Kingdom. Graduates are granted the freedom to choose whom they work for as well of the nature of their work. Huntsmen find employment through the use of mission boards. This approach is not without problems, however, as Huntsmen are known to be employed for disreputable purposes on occasion.

This separation of Huntsmen and Kingdom allegiance was intended as a measure to ensure peace. However, the Kingdom of Atlas does not appear to uphold this distinction. Not only does Atlas Academy exist as the same entity as the Kingdom of Atlas' government, but students are heavily pressured into enlisting in the military's Special Operatives unit, which has drawn significant criticism. Winter Schnee is one notable example of a "Specialist" in the Atlesian military.

Missions


There are many different types of missions for Huntsmen to undertake. Mission boards detail the type of mission, a short description of the task, where the task is needed, and how soon the mission will start. The currently known types of missions available to Huntsmen and Huntresses include:


 * Search and Rescue - Finding a missing person or recovering missing supplies
 * Search and Destroy - Clearing out Grimm when the population is too dense in an area
 * Perimeter Defense - Fortifying walls to keep Grimm out of the city
 * Village Security - Helping a village (not established as one of four kingdoms) fight off Grimm
 * Bounty - Capturing a wanted criminal
 * Escort - Helping civilians move through Grimm infested areas

Beacon Academy staff

 * Glynda Goodwitch: Staff member of Beacon Academy; she is the first known Huntress to make an appearance in the series.
 * Ozpin: Headmaster of Beacon Academy.
 * Peter Port: Huntsman and a long-time associate of Professor Ozpin. He is now the Grimm Studies professor at Beacon Academy.
 * Bartholomew Oobleck: History teacher at Beacon Academy.

Team STRQ

 * Summer Rose: Ruby's birth mother, Yang's stepmother, and Taiyang's second significant other. Went missing in action during a mission and is presumed dead by her family.
 * Qrow Branwen: Yang's biological uncle, Ruby's honorary uncle. Teacher at Signal Academy.
 * Taiyang Xiao Long: Ruby and Yang's father. Teacher at Signal Academy.
 * Raven Branwen: Yang's mother and Taiyang's first significant other. Left for unknown reasons shortly after Yang's birth, has been missing for some time.

Trivia

 * Huntsmen and huntresses are a form of celebrities in Remnant. This is implied several times in the series, such as when Ruby asks for Glynda's autograph, when Jaune refers to his family as famous heroes and the RWBY: World of Remnant episode "Aura" explains that they are widely regarded as the world's greatest warriors.