Sienna Khan

"I was one of the first to suggest violence where violence was necessary. Peace bred complacency and acceptance of our place in the world. I will not allow humanity to push us down without pushing them back"

- Leading into explaining to Adam how he took her policy too far. Sienna Khan is a minor antagonist introduced in Volume 5 of RWBY. She was the leader of the White Fang, before Adam Taurus killed her in a coup he engineered.

She was voiced by Monica Jean Rial.

Background
Sienna became leader of the White Fang at some point after Ghira Belladonna stepped down. It is unknown if Sienna directly succeeded Ghira when the latter stepped down as leader of the organization.

History
Adam Taurus, with the help of Hazel Rainart, meets with Sienna Khan to seek the assistance of the White Fang for an assault on Haven Academy and by extension a war on Humanity. Amidst her refusal, Adam’s true aim for the meeting is revealed as he commits a coup, killing Sienna Khan and taking her place as High Leader of the White Fang. Hazel, who was not informed of the plan, expresses his frustration at the lack of communication Adam had with him as well as his disappointment in the unnecessary death of Sienna Khan.

Appearance
Sienna Khan is a female, middle-aged, tiger-based Faunus with orange eyes, dark complexion and wild black, chin length hair with an asymmetrical bob style. Her Faunus trait manifests as an extra pair of ears, and her body is adorned with numerous tattoos resembling tiger stripes. She wears golden earrings on all four of her ears, as well as a small jewel on her forehead.

She is seen dressed with a form fitting black dress with light green accents on the rims of the outfit; the dress leaves most of her back open, has two long splits on the side which reveal a pair of black shorts, a shorter split in the front and a small squared keyhole. Over the dress she wears a back revealing red cape with gold accents, as well as a green waist cincher with red rims that has a black belt over it, which fastens a green pouch on her right hip. Aside from that, she wears black stockings in conjunction with green sandals that have red laces which are tied to her calfs, as well as a black elbow length fingerless glove on her right hand.

Personality
Sienna is loyal to the White Fang's policy of using fear and violence to get be rid of the human prejudice towards Faunus. She initiated this method, believing it necessary achieve the organization's goals. Having personally created this change and become the leader of the White Fang, she is strong and willing to be violent. However, she understands where the line is and has no interest in terrorism that results in global consequences.

She is easily in touch with her anger, but does not let it overrule her judgment. As she lets herself listen to Hazel Rainart briefly and also does not outright punish Adam for his misdeeds, choosing instead to lecture him.

Her strength and independence is also notable after it becomes clear that Adam has committed a coup, intending to overthrow her from the position of High Leader. She states quite clearly that she will not simply follow beneath him, which was predictable enough in her character that Adam had already decided to kill her.

Trivia

 * "Sienna" refers to a reddish shade of brown, while Khan translates as "sovereign," "king", or "military leader", in a number of languages.
 * She may allude to Shere Khan from Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book", which is all the more evident as the predecessor, Ghira Belladonna, the previous leader of the White Fang, may allude to Bagheera from the same story.
 * Shere Khan is a tiger, and Sienna is a tiger Faunusindicated by her ears.