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Lie Ren is a character from the RWBY animated series.
Ren is a former student at Beacon Academy, a member of Team RNJR and one of the remaining members of Team JNPR. His weapons of choice are a pair of green, fully automatic pistols with sickle-like blades attached vertically under the barrels, named StormFlower.
In the AWA fics, Ren is set to debut in a future AWA storyline.
In the XP4 fics, Ren debuted in XP4 Heroes Coalition - Neo-City Diaries.
Appearance[]
Lie Ren is a male teenager with long black hair tied into a ponytail that ends midway down his back. There is a magenta streak on the left side of his hair. His eyes match the streak in his hair, and his clothing appears to be influenced by Chinese culture.
He wears a dark green, diagonally-buttoned, long-sleeved tailcoat that is red on the inside, with black and gold trimming and pink cuffs. The trimming goes down the right side of his torso and forms a black collar.
This color scheme seems to be influenced to some degree by the lotus flower, which is his emblem. He wears a black, long-sleeved shirt beneath the suit and light-tan pants with black shoes.
After the timeskip following the Fall of Beacon, his design is updated. Ren wears his hair down, and it has grown to, as his concept art notes, "almost butt-length". His attire is similar to before in color. He has a longer, sleeveless tailcoat. Under it he wears a black, sleeveless turtleneck with red, tasseled ropes over the hips, pants that get tighter below the knees, and calf-high open-toed sandals. From his middle finger to his biceps run gradient pink-to-black detached sleeves ending in metal armbands.
Personality[]
As a young child, Ren was much more cheerful and even a little sassy according to his mother. He was also shown to be very naive, not understanding how to use Lien or thinking he could buy sake. He also was easily frightened, shown when the bullies looked at him and he was about to run away.
Ren is usually mellow and wishes for peace and quiet, much like Blake Belladonna. He seems very much in control of himself, as shown by his calm and deliberate response to the appearance of the black half of a King Taijitu. He is unbothered by Nora Valkyrie'sbubbly and contrasting personality, showing a great deal of patience when dealing with his hyperactive, happy-go-lucky childhood friend.
Ren is also shown to be quite studious, as seen in "Welcome to Beacon", in which he openly agrees with Neptune Vasilias as to how libraries should be only for reading. Likewise, he is well informed about villages in between kingdoms, such as when he informs Ruby Rose about Higanbana in "Family". However, this is not to say that he is completely humorless. He is slightly playful after finding Nora in the Emerald Forest, during the events of "The Emerald Forest". This is also shown when he and Nora were debating over team names in "The Next Step". Ren is also indicated to be a bit of a cook, as he makes pancakes for the team in "Forever Fall, Pt.2" and is seen fixing dinner alongside Ruby in "Known by its Song". However, not everything he cooks is well received, as the nutrition drink he prepared in "Destiny" made Nora ill even though he drank it with no problems.
In "Remembrance", Ren is more solemn than his teammates are about the destruction of Shion Village. His advice is to keep moving forward. This is something he repeats with a bit more angry emphasis in "Two Steps Forward, Two Steps Back" when Ruby suggests going to the destroyed town of Kuroyuriin search of abandoned medical supplies. Being one of the few survivors of the Grimm massacre of that town manifests itself in Ren's less than calm emotions.
In "No Safe Haven", Ren reveals a much more reckless and vindictive side to him previously unseen, when he lets out all of his anger against the Nuckelavee in attempt to avenge his parents and all its other victims. This is a stark contrast to his usual calm and patience. During the Nuckelavee's execution by his hand, Ren seems to finally come to terms with his trauma, calmly and swiftly delivering justice for his family, the monster's victims, and for himself. Following this, Ren seems to have finally come full circle, being more open with his emotions, particularly his feelings towards Nora.
Since then, Ren has become more noticeably conversational, vocal about his opinions, and is known to speak somewhat philosophically.
XP4 Fanfics[]
Ren is part of the Heroes Coalitions as a trainee. He also attends at the Vanguard Academy as a student.
XP4 Heroes Coalition - Neo-City Diaries[]
In Chapter 2, Ren, alongside Jaune Arc, are seen on top of the Training Facility's rooftop having an awkward conversation about their goals in life before being called down by Donzerg "Zerg Stronghold. Later that night, Ren and Jaune are seen on the same rooftop having the same awkward conversation about their goals in life with Jaune saying that questioning their goals are the most hardest questions in life.
In Chapter 8, Ren, alongside Jaune Arc and Ruby Rose, are seen inside the Vanguard Academy when Faye Bertha Conway made her presence.
In Chapter 9, Ren, alongside Jaune Arc, Wesley Bryans and Ruby Rose, are seen in the track field at the Vanguard Academy where they were getting interviewed by Amelia Sainthearts and Duke Armstrong. Ren and Wesley are seen digging a hole and when it's deep enough, Jaune told them to bury him which they obliged, much to Amelia, Duke and Ruby's bewilderment.
In Chapter 12, Ren, alongside Eustace Bagge, Jaune Arc, Aria "Arinah" Sakurada, Wesley Bryans and Mato Kuroi, is seen doing an obstacle course at the Training Camp.
In Chapter 20, Ren, alongside Ruby Rose, Jaune Arc and Nora Valkyrie, are seen on a bench in the front yard of the Vanguard Academy exchanging notes and having a conversation about Robin Rose when Qrow Branwen arrives and told them that they're taking part in a mission in Remnant.
In Chapter 31, Ren is seen in the track field of the Training Camp where Nora Valkyrie tries to test out her newest invention when Orihime Inoue arrives and told them that there is a gathering in the auditorium. Later in the auditorium, he witnessed the formation of the New Age Avengers.
In Chapter 39, Ren is amongst the trainees seen inside the training area of the Training Camp while being instructed by the Pyro before witnessing Donzerg "Zerg" Stronghold trying to blast Jaune Arc into smithereens.
In Chapter 45, Ren is present inside the auditorium of the Training Camp where he witnessed the formation of Team Idolo.
In Chapter 54, Ren took part in doing voluntary work in a charity center called The Shelter.
XP4 Heroes Coalition - Remnant Chronicles[]
In Chapter 1, Ren, alongside the Death City Squad, Qrow Branwen, Jaune Arc and Nora Valkyrie, arrives in Mistral. They later met up with Leonardo Lionheart at the Haven Academy where Qrow told him information about the Spring Maiden but Leonard delays going after her, much to their frustration. Later that night, everyone are seen at the living room of their house when Qrow, Death the Kid and Brook arrives and introduced Oscar Pine to everyone, Oscar then revealed that he's Ozpin, much to everyone's bewilderment.
In Chapter 2, Ren, alongside the Death City Squad, Qrow Branwen, Jaune Arc, Ruby Rose and Nora Valkyrie, are seen inside their current residence somewhere in Mistral where they had a conversation about Oscar Pine being Ozpin. They then witnessed Ozpin taking over Oscar, reintroducing himself, telling them his plans to retrieve the Relic of Knowledge and decided to train Oscar alongside Ruby, Jaune, Ren and Nora, much to everyone's confusion and bewilderment.
In Chapter 3, Ren, alongside Jaune Arc, Nora Valkyrie, Mina Majikina and Brook, watches Oscar Pine and Ruby Rose having a sparring session at their house's yard somewhere in Mistral. They later had a conversation about semblances and Gifts when Eijiro Kirishima arrives and told them that additional help has arrived. Then Tatsumi Oga, Baby Bel, Ike, Rey Dynamic and Prince Mufasa arrives, much to everyone's awe.
In Chapter 6, Ren is seen working in the kitchen alongside Jaune Arc, Ruby Rose and Nora Valkyrie in their residence at Mistral. Ren, alongside everyone, watches Ruby reunited with Yang Xiao Long and Weiss Schnee with a smile.
In Chapter 7, Ren took part of a dinner get-together at the residence somewhere in Mistral. After Ichika Orimura and Tomomichi Motoyama left for another mission in Atlas, they had a conversation about their recent experiences, Ruby Rose, Jaune Arc, Nora Valkyrie & himself revealing their Gifts and Ruby & Jaune revealing that they're a couple, much to Weiss' shock and Yang's ire. Later in the living room, they were joined by Qrow Branwen, Oscar Pine and Ozpin, everyone are present when Ozpin explains to them about the magic he gave to Qrow & Raven Branwen and detailed that everyone had a choice. After that, everyone decided to keep moving forward and decided to enjoy the rest of the night.
In Chapter 8, Ren is heard shouting Nora Valkyrie's name.
In Chapter 10, Ren, alongside the Death City Squad, Yang Xiao Long, Jaune Arc, Weiss Schnee, Nora Valkyrie, Qrow Branwen and Oscar Pine/Ozpin are seen gathered in their residence somewhere in Mistral. Qrow then got a call from Leonardo Lionheart and told them to meet them in school however, Shadow the Hedgehog revealed that an ambush awaits for them, much to everyone's shock. After that, they decided to counter their enemies with an ambush of their own.
In Chapter 11, Ren, alongside Jaune Arc and Eijiro Kirishima, are seen riding a jeep while making their way towards Haven Academy when they came across a group of Emotionless. Ren, alongside the Death City Squad, Qrow Branwen, Nora Valkyrie, Jaune Arc, Yang Xiao Long, Weiss Schnee, Oscar Pine and a number of heroes from the Heroes Coalitions, arrives in Haven Academy and confronted Leonardo Lionheart, Cinder Fall's group, Raven Branwen and Vernal. Then both sides got into a battle with Ren and Eijiro gunning down a number Emotionless using their jeep.
In Chapter 12, Ren took part in a battle at Haven Academy where he, alongside Eijiro Kirishima, ran over Mercury Black with their jeep.
In Chapter 13, Ren, alongside Eijiro Kirishima, are seen gunning down a number of Emotionless with their jeep, Ren then later uses his Gift to weaken Hazel Rainart.
In Chapter 14, Ren, alongside everyone, are seen taking on Hazel Rainart, Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai but their enemies escaped after Emerald uses her semblance to create a large illusion of Salem. After the battle, everyone decided to regroup when Yang Xiao Long, Tatsumi Oga & Baby Bel, Ike, Prince Mufasa & Rey Dynamic and Ghira Belladonna, Kali Belladonna, Sun Wukong, Ilia Amitola, Alisa Ilinichina Amiella, Ciel Alencon and Nana Kozuki met up with everyone. They later witnessed the reunion of Team RWBY. In the aftermath montage, Ren alongside Eijiro Kirishima, are seen fixing the jeep somewhere in Menagerie.
XP4 Heroes Coalition - Welcome to Herowood[]
In Chapter 10, Ren is seen inside a cafe somewhere in a mall called Multiverse's Crossroad in Herowood.
Abilities[]
Lie Ren is a very capable fighter and can hold his own against creatures of Grimm, such as a King Taijitu. He demonstrates peak physical ability, being able to do various acrobatics. He can move and react with impressive speed.
Ren appears to be proficient in martial arts, using palm thrusts and various combat stances when fighting the King Taijitu. His combat skills were also seen in "Best Day Ever" during a food fight with Team RWBY, where he briefly held his ground against Yang Xiao Long, although he was soon bested by her.
Ren appears to have a high degree of control over his Aura. When fighting in the Emerald Forest, he first uses it defensively by forming a shield against the attack of a King Taijitu. After tearing its fangs off, Ren uses his Aura offensively by blasting the black King Taijitu's fang through its own eye, blowing its head to pieces.
Despite this, he still has a very limited amount of stamina. Ren is shown collapsing after he, and the rest of JNPR, defeat the Death Stalker during "Players and Pieces". His average endurance is also seen after he defeats the King Taijitu as he catches his breath. This could be due to his heavy usage of Aura, which is needed to fight as shown in "Jaunedice". However, his lack of endurance is shown once again in "Best Day Ever", where Yang defeats him in very few blows.
He also has some form of extrasensory perception, as shown when he knows Tyrian Callows is approaching Team RNJR in the episode "Tipping Point".
Weapons[]
Main article: StormFlower
Along with his physical abilities, Ren can also skillfully wield his weapons, StormFlower, and effectively uses them for both ranged and melee combat. As of "The Next Step", he can even use his weapons as boomerangs by throwing them as he did with one during the battle against a Geist.
Ren carries a dagger that originally belonged to his late father, Li Ren. The blade of the weapon is similar in shape to the blades of his StormFlower. As seen in "No Safe Haven", the dagger itself is strong enough to easily sever the limbs of a Nuckelavee whereas the weapons of Team RNJR could not, even after repeated attacks. The dagger itself can also be skillfully thrown in an arcing loop.
Semblance[]
Ren's Semblance masks negative emotions, which aids him in avoiding detection by Grimm, as demonstrated the night Kuroyuri was attacked. When he first used it that night, he was hiding in a small channel, gripped with panic. His Semblance activated, and soon after, he became calm and rushed to help Nora with no interference from nearby Grimm. Once there, he activated his Semblance again, extending its effects to Nora, who stopped trembling and whimpering. A Nevermore that was perched atop the house moved down and looked around, but it left them alone.
When his Semblance activates, the affected person's colors become temporarily desaturated to at least the viewer.
Ren can also channel this ability through the ground to reach those from a distance, as shown when he desaturates Jaune and Qrow in "No Safe Haven."
Trivia[]
- Ren alludes to Hua Mulan. For more information on this allusion, as well as other choices the creators made for this character, see Lie Ren/Behind the Scenes.
- Liè is Chinese for "ardent". Ren is Japanese kanji for "lotus", hence his emblem. Chinese translations use the same characters, translating his name as (liè lián). Japanese translations generally render his name phonetically using katakana as (rai ren)
- The spelling of his name is also taken from the pinyin for the Chinese word for "hunter", lièrén, a reference to him being an aspiring Huntsman.
- Despite Monty stating that real-world countries do not exist in RWBY, Ren is still based on Chinese culture as his clothing is reminiscent of traditional Chinese clothing and his habit of resting a coffee mug on his palm instead of holding it by its handle, a style seen more often in Eastern cultures, as Eastern-style mugs have no handles.
- Ren's weapons are described as "dual SMGs with wind and fire blades" by Miles Luna, though Kerry Shawcross qualifies this as only "kind of". Kerry also hints that certain elements of StormFlower's original design were "saved for something else".
- In the episode "Players and Pieces", Ren appears exhausted twice. The first time is after he and Nora ride on an Ursa, and the second time is after Team JNPR killed the Death Stalker. Since Ren was voiced by the series' creator, Monty Oum, this could be a nod to Monty's tweets about his sleep deprivation, which he was well known for.
- Monty Oum, Ren's original voice actor and director of the show, passed away on February 1st, 2015. In light of his passing, the RWBY team ultimately turned to Monty's brother, Neath Oum, to voice the character.
- Ren had an alternate accent as a young child, which he eventually lost.
- Ren's Semblance reflects the symbolism of the lotus; the way he puts his negative emotions beneath him can be compared to the lotus flower growing out of the mud/murky waters.
Gallery[]
