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4/3/14 13:30Character Basics
Character Name: Edward Elric
Canon Name: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Canon Type: Anime TV
Character In-Depth
History:
Ed had a normal enough childhood for the first few years. He was born to Trisha Elric and Van Hohenheim in 1889, and a younger brother, Alphonse, followed shortly after. Van Hohenheim deserted the family when Ed was still quite young, although Ed wouldn't find out the details until much later. He grew up largely resenting his father, but was very happy with his mother and brother. Ed showed an early proficiency in alchemy, able to easily transform things.
Ed and Al's mother died when they were still young, and they were largely left in the care of the Rockbell family who lived nearby. Winry Rockbell was close in age to Ed and Al, and became an early playmate.
When skilled alchemist Izumi Curtis (who claims to be just a simple housewife, thank you) came traveling through, Ed and Alphonse entreated her and were able to enter under her tutelage. This training greatly helped them advance their survival, alchemy, and combat skills. Unbeknownst to Izumi, Ed also was beginning to work out a formula for human transmutation -- the only taboo in alchemy, which involves resurrecting the dead.
When they returned from training, Ed completed his formula and he and Alphonse attempted to raise their mother. It went terribly. During their attempt, they both passed through the "Gate of Truth." Ed was shown a great deal of alchemical knowledge and in return for it, paid with his left leg. Alphonse lost his entire body. Worse, they were unable to raise their mother -- instead, creating a moaning mass of flesh, organs, and bones. Distraught at his failure and that he might have lost his brother, Ed traded his right arm to maintain Alphonse's soul, which he then bonded to a nearby suit of armor using a blood link.
Ed and Alphonse were taken to the Rockbells, where Pinako constructed an automail arm and leg for Ed. It wasn't until a state alchemist, Roy Mustang, showed up that Ed found new purpose though. He persuaded Ed to also become a state alchemist, challenging him to use his skills to try and find a way to restore his and Alphonses' bodies. Ed forced himself to become accustomed to the new limbs, and then took his state exam. Because of the knowledge he gained through the Gate, he could now perform alchemy without a circle, a rare and almost unheard of feat amongst alchemists. He could just clap to perform alchemy. This ability helped him pass his exam and, at the age of 12, became the youngest state alchemist. He was given the moniker, the Fullmetal Alchemist.
Ed and Al left their family home, burning it to the ground, and began to travel on behalf of the government, investigating any strange instances of alchemy, or helping people out with alchemy, while simultaneously looking for a solution for themselves.
Early on, they look for Philosopher's Stones, which enhances alchemy to the point of the impossible. However, while looking for these stones, and stumbling across quite a few on their travels, they begin to piece together a conspiracy that links not only back to the government they work for, but also to their own heritage.
They learn that Philosopher's Stones are created from the souls of people who are sacrificed. They agree never to use a Philosopher Stone to fix themselves, but also learn that the government has been making Philosopher Stones, and used such things in the War of Ishval.
The boys are constantly followed by Homunculus, beings that are the embodiments of human avarice. (Lust, Pride, Wrath, Greed, Gluttony, Sloth, Envy.) The Homunculus were created by a being they call "Father," who cast them aside to make himself a superior being and uses them as his servants now. Each of the Homunculus has an incredible wealth of power, and one of them actually is the leader of the country. They learn later that "Father" is also a being created partially from Van Hohenheim, and their own father accidentally helped "Father" sacrifice a nation. Van Hohenheim is now working to stop the same thing from repeating -- because that's the ultimate goal of "Father's" plan: Everything from then to the war to now, has been done to sacrifice the Elrics' homeland. But "Father" needs alchemists who have crossed through the gate to do this. Both Elrics are marked as sacrifices, hence the Homunculus' interest in them.
The Elrics make a lot of allies as they travel and prepare to fight against "Father" in what has become known as the "Promised Day." They align themselves with Scar, an Ishvalan who was originally trying to extinguish all state alchemists because of their evil deeds during the war; Ling, a Xing prince who has come to try and obtain immortality and also takes on the personification of Greed; Roy Mustang (a sacrifice) and his team; their teacher, Izumi (another sacrifice); the soldiers of the Northern Fortress, Briggs; and chimera who are the offcast experiments of the government.
Ed will arrive in AI the morning of the Promised Day. At this point, they have defeated Lust, Gluttony and Sloth; the rebellious Greed is their ally; and they believe Wrath, Pride, Envy are contained or defeated. Ed and his allies are heading toward Central with a plan to protect the country, defeat "Father," and install a better government.
Tell us about your chosen exit point, why you chose it, and why you want to play the character at All Inclusive: I chose Ed's exit point, because it's a pivotal point in his development as a character. He's finally come understand the machinations of the world surrounding him. Furthermore, he cares about these machinations, and particularly about the people this evil will affect. He understands the role he can play in them, and how vital it is he step up and do what he can in order to stop the country from being sacrificed. He's grown to be a hero, but doesn't necessarily see himself that way yet. I also chose this point, because, by the end of the series, Ed has lost his alchemy, gained one of his limbs back, and restored Al's body. I like taking him before the end of his journey, because he still has a lot of motivation to try and figure out how the hotel works, if he can get home, and also if the construction of the hotel can be of any of benefit to him in the final battle and in restoring his limbs. I also like that he'll be brought in on his own, because while he's grown more independent over the last few years, it will still be unsettling for him to be on his own -- and a maybe a little problematic at first, because he'll probably need to find a mechanic at some point.
I want to play this character at AI, because I feel that Ed is something of a nontraditional hero -- he very much is a hero, but scorns that term. He's a traveler in the marrow of his bones, so I think he'll find AI fascinating and want to get to know people, but be incredibly good at offending them at the same time.
Tell us about your character's personality: Edward Elric is easily described a prodigy. He began practicing alchemy at a very young age, showing an immense proficiency with it and became one of the youngest state alchemists to ever exist. He could master techniques that were difficult, far beyond what he should have been able to do, but was also able to adapt them to suit his needs. While his attempt at human transmutation failed, he tried to complete it at a very young age, and came up with a theory as good as many alchemists much older than him.
Because of his attempt at human transmutation, Ed has the ability to survive what would break most people. He didn't allow his failure or the loss of his limbs to stop him; instead, he forced himself to adapt to his automail limbs even faster and to secure his certification. Instead of surrendering, Ed often takes challenges as just another reason to work even harder. He's incredibly stubborn and an utter survivor.
Despite being a state alchemist, he is a very moral individual. He can fight incredibly well, but doesn't give into violence for violence's sake and is not comfortable with the idea of blindly killing. He also feels responsible for innocents. Also, despite being a state alchemist, he doesn't respond well to authority figures. While he can work very well in a group, he doesn't like responding to orders.
While he's experienced things beyond the capacity of many adults, he doesn't always have the emotional capacity of an adult. He's very temperamental and prone to outbursts and temper tantrums. He shouts quite a bit and is incredibly sensitive when it comes to his height. He has a difficult time expressing his emotions even to those he cares about. However, that doesn't mean he doesn't love -- he does very deeply. Keeping his promises is one of the most important things there is to him, and he's unfaltering loyal. He's more likely to crack a joke or make some kind of snide comment, however. In this matter, he comes off incredibly sarcastic and cynical.
He can be somewhat short-sighted. When he's focused on something, it can take him a little bit longer than others to see the bigger picture, but he does eventually get there.
At the end of the day, for everything he's experienced and gone through, and for all the intelligence and promise he has, he still is a teenager, and that means that every day is a learning experience for him.
