I appreciate the condolences.  To touch upon a bit of what you're all saying...

The whole group dynamic is, while not a complete scapegoat for the various issues floating around, definitely a problem in terms of RPing.  Having groups of four players that all require collaboration and coordination is doable when everyone's present and engaged, but when legs start to come off a chair, the whole thing starts keeling over pretty quickly.  That's just the way it is with the four-man-team format.

Having Hari disappear was a blow for me too, even I'd already lost the tempo at that point.  Maybe he saw which way the moss was growing and decided to cut ties without a show, having already been host to misgivings about the RP only assuaged by promises of better days that never came about.

RWBY is an amazing premise for creativity, that much is for certain.  One thing I enjoy about the RPs, though only this one has ever lasted, is at the start when all the characters are made and every little cool thing comes together to make a great cast.  I will always respect RWBY, Monty in particular, for providing such a vessel for creativity no matter where the show goes.

I personally have no interest in continuing in this RP, even if it's cut down and revitalized into just the core players.  That brings me to one last thing I might be able to offer: a roadmap.  Obviously, I was fine with letting HoB continue in this sort of malaise, not what I had in mind for it but satisfactory enough to keep some people engaged.  The only other things to do with it would be to make a 'next next chapter' to get new members or to trim the fat and leave only the old members, but Krayzikk brought up good points at the bottom of the last page.  If neither of those routes are taken, the only other option (aside from picking a new GM but not making a new thread) would be as Plank suggested: for the remaining players to control things, come to agreements for how things are to proceed, and so forth.  Of course, I have no input on what path to take.  For a while now, and definitively for the future, the road belongs to whoever wants it.