Slate Washburn was born the heir to a shipping company in Mistral. At the age of sixteen he convinced his father to dedicate their surplus ships to rescue efforts. Their first operation resulted in the rescue of Pearl Navi from her wrecked ship. As he continued his rescue efforts, he realized his passion was in the assistance of others, and aspired to become a hunter along with his friends. Due to the faunus discrimination in Mistral that affected one of his teammates, he decided to apply to Beacon at the more progressive kingdom of Vale.

Slate carries himself with a veneer of self confidence to hide his actual lack of it. Feelings of inadequacy stemming from his privileged background leaves him with a sense of impostor syndrome. Never fully believing he’s earned his place as a leader.

Slate fights with a loose and agile style. Dodging and taunting his opponent to aggravate them, while sneaking in strikes with his hatchet. He values attrition tactics when leading his team. Distracting human opponents on the frontlines while his teammates pick them off one by one. When dealing with grim he uses scorched earth tactics, hanging back to catch stragglers.

Slate uses a hatchet passed down to him by his father. It’s a standard woodcutting hatchet with a barrel at the top that fires shotgun shells. Slate’s semblance allows him to share aura with someone via a handshake. Their maximum aura amounts combine, and if it breaks for one, it breaks for both.