RWBY Ice Queendom: Who is Shion Zaiden?

gamerant.com:

Studio Shaft's new take on RWBY dedicated the first three episodes to retelling the first season of the original series and while some thought it was a tad rushed, there were some effective changes. However, one big change was the addition of an original character, who is now a primary figure behind the original arc currently airing this season.

While the main characters battle monsters in the woods as part of their initiation to the school, Shion Zaiden joins Professor Ozpin and Glynda Goodwitch in observing the students. Zaiden is introduced as a hunter seeking a particular prey that is lurking about, that might try to attack one of the students.

RWBY: Ice Queendom Gets Off To A Cool Start

It wasn't until episode 3 that Shion's purpose in the story was made clear when Jaune fell victim to an affliction by a creature of Grimm. Shion formally introduces herself as a «Nightmare hunter,» Nightmare being the title of a breed of Grimm that latches onto people through their stress and then traps them in nightmares.

By trapping people in dreams, they can exploit their fears and insecurities and — no matter the form of the dream — slowly leech away at their life force. Shion explains that the only way to save someone is to send the friends of the afflicted into the dream to pull them out and that only their friends can do this.

Zaiden's methods are made that much more interesting by the technology used to accomplish this task. For a series that emphasizes action and monster hunting, it's refreshing to see a character whose primary tools aren't inherently weapons.

They wield a staff with a dream-catcher on the end, fitted with glowing threads that can be used to create a hammock of sorts for those going into the dream and the