Villains Likely to Join or Effectively Serve in Salem's Inner Circle
Based on RWBY canon (main series, novels, Arrowfell game, and crossovers like DC/RWBY), here's an assessment of which listed villains would plausibly join Salem's faction or function as reliable members. Salem recruits those with personal grudges against Ozpin/humanity, ambition for power, or ideological alignment with division/destruction. Her circle favors loyal, competent subordinates who advance her Relic/Grimm agenda without excessive independence.
Canon Confirmed Members/Associates (already joined or allied):
Neopolitan (temporary ally via Cinder)
Leonardo Lionheart (former informant, killed for cowardice)
Adam Taurus (temporary ally via Cinder/White Fang)
The Hound (Grimm creation)
High Likelihood (Strong Fit – Grudges, Ambition, or Pragmatism):
Merlot (Dr. Merlot from Grimm Eclipse) — Obsessed with Grimm experimentation; could align as an outside associate like in fanworks/crossovers, enhancing Salem's Grimm army.
Lil' Miss Malachite & Melanie/Miltia Malachite (Spider syndicate) — Underworld info brokers; already aided Cinder. Pragmatic criminals could sell services/loyalty for protection/power.
Junior Xiong (Xiong Family) — Criminal boss; similar to Roman, could be coerced/recruited for resources.
Roman Torchwick (if alive/alternate) — Worked seamlessly with Cinder; loyal to power/money.
Jacques Schnee — Allied with Watts temporarily; elitist greed fits short-term deals, but too self-serving for long-term loyalty.
Vernal (if survived) — Raven's decoy; bandit pragmatism could shift allegiance.
Corsac/Fennec Albain — Fanatical Faunus supremacists; cult-like devotion could redirect to Salem's "divide humanity" goal.
Carmine Esclados, Gillian Asturias, Jax/Gillian's Team (The Crown) — Ambitious relics seekers; post-canon, some freed/recruited in novels/comics.
Medium Likelihood (Possible with Manipulation):
Neopolitan — Revenge-driven; worked with Cinder but betrayed easily.
Raven Branwen (Branwen Tribe, if listed indirectly) — Temporary ally out of fear; survivalist, but distrusts Salem.
The Crown overall — Power-hungry; could be suborned.
Shay D. Mann, Trifa, White Fang Lieutenant — Extremist remnants; ideology aligns with division.
Low Likelihood (Oppose Salem, Heroes, or Independent):
Arrowfell villains (Bram Thornmane, Hanlon Fifestone, Amoncio Glass, Team BRIR) — Local Atlas conspirators against Ironwood; no global ties to Salem, defeated/arrested pre-Atlas fall.
DC crossover villains (Joker, Harley Quinn, Lex Luthor, Scarecrow, Gorilla Grodd, Sinestro, etc.) — In comics, some temporarily ally (e.g., Lex with Salem), but mostly oppose or manipulate.
Curious Cat, Jabberwalker — Ever After chaos beings; no Remnant motivation.
James Ironwood & allies — Heroes/antagonists opposing Salem.
Sienna Khan — Killed; White Fang purist, unlikely.
Grimm/robots (Beowolf, Hound, Paladin) — Tools, not members.
Most others (e.g., Curious Cat, Negative versions, Dream Actors) are situational/one-offs without Salem synergy.
In a hypothetical expanded circle, Salem prioritizes controllable fanatics (like Tyrian) or skilled operatives (like Watts/Cinder). Criminals like Spider/Xiong fit as proxies; grudge-holders like Merlot or Albains as enforcers.