Salem

Salem is a primary antagonist of RWBY. In "Ruby Rose", the first episode of Volume 1, she serves as the narrator, giving the opening voice-over for the series. She is also the narrator of the first four RWBY: World of Remnant episodes. She makes her first on-screen appearance in the Volume 3 finale, "End of the Beginning".

Salem is a very mysterious figure in Remnant, highly knowledgeable about the world and its forgotten history. Her goal appears to be nothing less than the extinction of mankind. She is opposed by Ozpin, with whom she speaks directly in "Ruby Rose" and "End of the Beginning". She is also linked to Cinder Fall and her faction.

Salem is voiced by Jen Taylor.

Appearance
Salem's skin is a deathly pallor, covered with tortuous, deep red and purple veins that run up her arms and face. The sclerae of her eyes are jet black and her irises glow red. She has a black diamond-shaped marking in the center of her forehead.

She wears a very long black cloak with red designs resembling eyes. The designs bear a striking visual resemblance to the markings found on Cinder's Glove. She has grey hair formed into a bun with six offshoots from which ornaments are suspended.

Personality
Salem is insidious, patiently moving to undermine and destroy her enemies with cold, deliberate resolve. She is also highly intellectual, with a healthy respect for her enemy, mankind, which she recognizes as possessing both resourcefulness and ingenuity. She also acknowledges humanity's capacity to draw strength from hope, but uses this knowledge to subvert and destroy them.

She is very confident and self-assured, secure in her knowledge that she can best whatever Ozpin sends to stop her.

Powers and Abilities
Salem is known to have an extensive knowledge of the nature of Aura, Dust and the Grimm, as well as an understanding of human nature, society and history.

Trivia

 * The name "Salem" comes from the Hebrew word שלם (shalém), which means the state of being whole or intact. The name also has associations of witchcraft and the occult, due to the Salem witch trials, where many people were accused of witchcraft and executed.
 * Interestingly, this name is one of very few which doesn't appear to follow the Color Naming Rule of Remnant, a distinction shared with Ozpin. In-universe, naming children after colors was a tradition that began after the Great War. Many fans speculate that Salem and Ozpin thus pre-date the Great War entirely, explaining why they are exceptions to the rule. However, this is not confirmed by any official source.
 * Salem was named Mysterious Narrator in the credits of "Black and White" and "Breach".