zhautas application

[waxwings]

PLAYER PROFILE
Player name: Remedy
Age: Older than Pudding
Contact: You have my contact info
Characters currently in-game: No PCs

Triggers/Fears/Squicks: graphic decapitation, nail torture

Character Motivation: Ed's more saving the multiverse leaning than wanting in on any of that sex stuff.

VOLUNTEER PROFILE

Name: Edward Elric
Age: 21
Physical Appearance: This magnificent commission, dress
Point in Timeline: Goodbye (Episode 48) - Right after killing Sloth
World Description: There's an article on every major city in the series.
History/Background: I hate the fandom wiki so have this slightly more tolerable link

Time Spent Across Multiverse: TL;DR Version (scroll down for bullet points)

Noteworthy Positive Characteristics:

› ADAPTABLE →

Ed is a quick learner, a problem solver and studious tactician. He thinks on his feet (most of the time), outside the box, and is even calculating under pressure. He’s dedicated, determined and loyal. Edward makes fast friends, sometimes even with those previously perceived as enemies, which shows that he’s capable of adapting well to change. Due to the upbringing with his alchemy teacher he’s a skilled martial artist and a natural in alchemy, able to decode the work of others in a considerably short amount of time. Observant as he is, Edward also has a keen eye for detail, even ones others might overlook, as demonstrated at the Tucker Estate. Ed also has an incredible memory, allowing him to recall the face and name of a woman he saw once four years prior when he meets her again.

› MY OWN PATH →

He doesn't cater to the authority for the sake of it and appears disinclined to follow orders unless they align with his own morals. Ed openly resents those who appear to and also wastes no time on respect solely because of another person's age. He's shown to be a realist who can be incredibly cynical with little patience for concepts he doesn’t believe in. He lives by the concept of always moving forward, imposing this belief upon others during trying times in their lives as shown with Rose when he tells her to figure it out after the fall of the Church of Leto. Just as it had been imposed on him during his own time of struggle Ed pushes people to work with what they have and take control of their own lives. A similar conversation happened in Youswell when he tells the miners to simply pack up and leave if things are so bad in town.

Edward is aware of who he is and strong in his convictions even at a young age, and this is an unwavering truth no matter what he goes through in his life. He doesn’t shy away from bending rules if it may help others who are struggling and has no means to advocate for themselves, but not if it will go to waste or risk keeping him from fixing Al.

He remains an advocate of taking control of one’s own life and holds people responsible for their beliefs and actions, but that doesn’t make him heartless. On the contrary his critical nature is born of a no-nonsense desire to see people succeed and not rely on others or “miracles” for help.

› SELF-ABSORBED →

Despite being rather self-absorbed in a number of ways, Edward Elric is not a selfish person. His goal and desires tend to come first, regardless of the warnings given to him about their danger, however doing what's right is a big priority for him. His own goals are his first priority before others only in the interest of making things right by someone besides himself (most notably his brother.) The whole reason he is driven to put his own interests first is that it’s in the name of restoring his brother back to his own original body.

Not that any of this stops him from being a caring, both sensitive to other's feelings and even sweet to those he develops any level of concern for, given the appropriate circumstances. He’s a compassionate individual, always intending to guide others to a better outcome (even if his methods may not be the best.) There’s a level of empathy within the older Elric that may go completely unnoticed by most, but he hates to see others suffer in any way and will go so far as to reveal the secrets of his and Al’s mistakes if it might prevent another from straying down a similar path.

› FOR THE PEOPLE →

At the start of the series Edward is painted as a selfish character only out for his own gains, demanding Cornello hand over the stone he has so that the Elrics can use it to regain their bodies. The truth is later revealed that Ed's strong moral code is reflected even in his use of alchemy, quoting that "alchemists be thou for the people" and it is their duty to help others, especially those who can not help themselves. Although Ed's primary view of alchemy is using it for the betterment of people, he's been made familiar with the ways this concept can become warped by others. Despite the selfish goal of getting their bodies back, the Elrics put helping others in high regard and believe that alchemy exists for the purpose of doing so. He refuses to back down from doing what's right Joining the military didn't equate to selling his soul for the sake of power, and Ed took on that role fully aware of how it could go against his own moral standards, accepting the reputation of "dog of the military" without backing down. The brothers help several people over the course of the years, many times with no intention of getting anything in return.

› HUMBLE→

Edward is realistic about being no more than any other human and has no qualms telling others the same about both himself and them, should they seem to have lost sight of the bigger picture. Even when things are All About Him or he's indicated to be special, Ed is quick to dismiss the notion, either disbelieving the situation or refusing to see the scope of how much something is actually about him. While he is also shown basking in the adoration of his fame from time to time, Ed’s boastful attitude is not a consistent reflection of his true self. He frequently dismisses his talent with alchemy as a side-effect of having witnessed the Gate, ignoring that he could have only survived seeing it in the first place if he was already a gifted alchemist.

In contrast to the arrogant boastful nature that most equate with Ed, when he offers to pay someone for a job he makes no mention of his power or wealth, simply writing a total on a piece of paper to be deduced from his account and leaving with thanks before the recipient has time to react. The older he gets the less inclined he is to puff up at praise and gossip around his title and his focus always comes off as more about hearing that his reputation is solid as an alchemist of the people who prioritizes helping others.

Noteworthy Negative Characteristics:

› LOYALTY →

Ed is not the most traditional example of codependency, there’s no addiction involved and much of his personality actually reflects on the other side of the roles involved in codependent relationships. Where Ed is often the rescuer, the one that puts his entire life on hold to do by others he’s not the enabler, he’s the enabled in his relationships. His life started with him neglecting all other pursuits to follow after alchemy as a topic when his mother showed pride and interest in the brothers’ discovery of it, his life revolved around making her happy until the moment of her death - and then switching abruptly to bringing her back, without hesitation. When Al was lost the human transmutation attempt at reviving her Edward offered up his arm, his heart, literally anything to get his brother back because in his eyes that was all he had left. Ed has literally attempted suicide more than once to save his brother’s life, without hesitation, he’s the rescuer, the one that has no purpose outside of whoever his eyes are set on regardless of the influence that has on his own life. He joined the military to fix his brother’s body, he learned rocket science to get back to him and when all else failed? He went into a depression and stopped caring about anything to the point of not even keeping a job. In this relationship it’s Alphonse who is the enabler, encouraging - and then allowing, despite protests - Ed to do as he pleases. Al is by no means a pushover, but when Ed digs his heels in about doing something he doesn’t tend to stop him throughout most of their lives.

› WE’RE ALL WE’VE GOT →

Although he does learn to rely on others and focus on the rest of the world rather than just him and his personal interest it takes some growth on his part to adjust his “we’re all we’ve got” mentality to encompass everyone. Despite being far from a selfish person Edward maintains a level of consistency in being self-absorbed, those he cares about - and thus his interests - come first, whether that’s a single person, a whole city or an entire country. Edward spends a good deal of his time in the military with the mentality that it's "us against the world", trying to shoulder the burden of getting their bodies back and proceed without outside help. He grows out of this in canon, both mentioned in an episode and then again later in the movie, however where Edward stands in Zhautas is before either of those canon points. He has to a degree matured past being solely focused on one person, needing to learn about being part of a team in order to survive Purg for all of the years he was there, however Purgatorium also isolated him significantly at the end, leaving him with only one person to rely on and again develop that level of obsessive devotion in relation to her the same way he had with his brother previously.

› DENIAL →

From childhood, Ed has had a habit of avoiding whatever he didn't want to deal with. As early as when his brother first asked about when their father was coming home he'd change the subject, walk away, or outright brawl with the younger Elric to not have to face the problem. This theme continues throughout the series, from the first moment he catches sight of the Fuhrer's secretary until his brother later tries to force him to realize the truth about her identity. Several times throughout the series when Edward doesn't want to deal with something he simply doesn't until he has no choice. It isn't until Sloth gives him no option that he prepares himself for what he has to do in order to face off against her. Even after accepting what she was, as Lust and Sloth explain the truth about homunculi to him Ed continues to deny their claims, refusing to believe what he doesn't want to have to face.

This behavior continued in Riverview when dealing with his brother, shutting out the truth and refusing to acknowledge it as if that would make it go away. Even when Alphonse tried to talk to him about it.

› NAIVE IDEALIST →

Ed, for all of his cynicism, can be naive and surprisingly trusting of others. He’s quick to take people at face value, believing the word of others, even those who are his enemy. He accepts Envy’s word for truth, most notably when the homunculus reveals his true identity and believes what Dante tells him without question, including that the use of alchemy would cause a reaction with the Stone activated in the room.

He goes into the military believing he can follow his own code and gets away with it for a number of years, probably primarily due to his age. Edward expects that he can get away with being in the military without killing anyone, despite the fact that he does before even joining the military at 11-years-old. Although his resolution not to kill is played more towards the angle of not wanting to consider souls bound to armor less than human, Ed protests the concept of killing in general until he faces the fact that he had to, and already has in the past.

Character Fears: Detailed here.
Powers/Abilities:

› MARTIAL ARTIST →

The Elrics were raised by their Teacher to understand that the body and mind must be trained together. As such while studying to improve their alchemical knowledge they have also undergone martial arts training and spent the years since toning their skills in both. Due to this, Ed, in particular, does not like to sit still and will train to keep himself in fit shape at all times.

› AUTOMAIL →

Due to the human transmutation committed as a child, Ed’s equipped with two automail limbs. Although this makes his arm and leg both less susceptible to injury it does provide new challenges as well.

› ALCHEMY →

Edward's specialty is specifically metal alchemy, as evidenced in his ability to transmute his automail arm, the spear he frequents as a weapon, and the metals found within the planet itself.

Personal Item: Val made sure to shove Ed's pockets full of as much materia as they could store before leaving, and he'll also have his personal network device (similar to a smartphone) on him, for the sake of transparency.

If possible I'd also like him to arrive with a gun that he received from a friend but I don't know if that counts as 'fitting in his pocket'.

Ed's personal item will be his laptop.

VOLUNTEER SAMPLES
Network Sample: Audio/Video | Text
Action Log Sample: Action brackets | Prose

Comments

Everything You Need to Know About Alchemy

[waxwings]

The concept of alchemy is that given the proper matter and knowledge, anything can be achieved. Alchemy is a science, based on the idea that anything can be transmuted into another object as long as they share the same base elements and properties. You can not gain something without first giving up something else of equal value, alchemists cannot use more than what they are provided with, and the idea behind this is often referred to as the 'law of equivalent exchange'. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. The amount of matter being transmuted is not limited, as long as the material is available to transmute from one form to another.

In the 2003 anime series alchemists appear to be capable of determining the makeup of their target simply by touch. In one scene Edward repeatedly changes the structure of his automail so that the alchemist he's battling can't predict what it will be made of in order to destroy it. In typical shonen anime style, he explains that as he does it.

To create the energy required to form a transmutation alchemists must make a circle, otherwise referred to as an array. Circles have various symbols in them to aid with specific transmutations, and also in a way reflect the personality of the person who drew it. In the case of alchemists who have performed the forbidden, and attempted to resurrect a human - thus seeing the gate (otherwise referred to as Truth) - drawing circles are no longer necessary to transmute matter. Rather these alchemists have the knowledge provided to them that the necessary runes required to transmute are considered (within) their own body. Because of this, alchemists, in this case, need only make the circle, itself. Since they can use their own body for this, rather than having to draw one out physically, it is almost always the case that these alchemists simply clap their hands together to form the circular shape required for a transmutation. Others have noted this motion to appear as praying, but the circle itself is visible in the shape that their arms make once their hands are closed together - making them the circle necessary to transmute.

Also of note, in this particular canon, someone that is capable of transmuting without circles creates a blue light in their transmutations.

The most familiar form of alchemy known in the real world is the medieval concept of turning lead into gold - an act strictly forbidden in the country of Amestris, second only to one other. The law that transmutations cannot be performed to bring a deceased human back to life. Human transmutation simply does not work, despite the concept that there is, seemingly, no limit to what power alchemists can obtain through knowledge. It has been proven on several occasions (although none are known of, due to the forbidden nature of the taboo.) Life only flows in one direction, nothing can be done to reverse this and return a creature that has passed to the previous state of living.

Time Spent Across The Multiverse (CRAU Info)

[waxwings]

Due to Ed's unique canon situation, his development within Purg was actually quite similar to those he would have taken following his own timeline. Not only does the FMA canon deal with a portal to another world, I think the changes that Ed endured in Purg quieted him, almost in the same way as Conqueror of Shamballa. He was taken away from his home world, never knowing what happened to Al - and it was awhile before he saw his brother again, which made him sort of distant from most people and resigned to being stuck there. Having been given the general store changed things though, just as in the movie Ed realizes that the brothers have to live for more than just the two of them. After taking over the general store - and then Al joining him - Ed was more involved with all people of Purg. As part of the job of the general store was making welcome baskets for the new members and greeting them at the temple upon arrival, Ed started to branch out more and worry about the well being of the general public instead of just his close friends, making him strikingly similar to an end of movie-verse Ed without the canon update.

I think it might also be important to note that Ed's become accustomed to other characters coming and going so he's learned that just because he might recognize someone that doesn't mean he expects them to recognize him. So, even though he might recognize cross-canon CR, he would know enough ICly not to assume that they have any idea who he is. It also gives him the benefit of being able to recognize manga only canonmates (such as Miles, or General Armstrong) where he doesn't actually know them in canon, being from the original anime. This is also something that Edward would have experienced (in a way) in canon because on the other side of the Gate people looked identical to those he knew back home. Meaning Ed had to adjust to recognizing complete strangers who wouldn't know him at all and responding to them in kind.

Like in canon, Ed had to learn to fight alongside those that he'd originally consider his enemies. He struggled with anything from floods, famine, boiling temperatures, the risk of freezing to death and regular monsters. Teamwork as a method to succeed was a big theme where he came from, both in Purg and in Lang. The experience opened Ed's eyes to possibilities beyond his wildest dreams, living side by side with homunculi that on his own world had tried to kill him. Lessons were learned about cooperating with the enemy, as in some cases people were divided into teams and pitted against each other.

The most outlandish thing about his development over the years is most likely the fact that he's learned that some animals can just talk without being a chimera, science experiment, horrifying thing to think about. They can just naturally communicate, and he's come to accept that after much exposure to certain characters.

Although Ed openly scoffs at religion canon paints him as more of a naytheist, implication that he believes or once believed in God and simply refuses to acknowledge it (outside of claiming God must hate him personally) is evidenced throughout the series. For someone who professes a vocal disbelief or opposition to God he certainly puts a lot of blame on an entity he claims to be so irrelevant. This is important to note because within the confines of Purg and Attollo, Edward was introduced face-to-face with gods and eventually worn down into believing who they were and what they were capable of. In Riverview skeptics who had powerful beings from their own worlds that weren't gods tried to lead Edward back into disbelief and this is still something that he struggles with today.

To summarize, Ed's time in other games has mellowed him out and matured him in a similar way to being in Germany. He's not as quick to outbursts, although they do still exist when pushed, and he's overall more concerned for the "whole" of the world than just his own goals, whatever they may be at the time. He's also far more accepting of things he'd otherwise dig his heels in about as a teenager.

Most notable changes include the following:

Due to the sexual experiences:

more open to relationships and physical intimacy

more comfortable in public situations (shared showers, shared sleeping space etc.)

more open to casual relationships (although still just barely)

Due to the horror experiences:

more of a team player, his "we're all we've got" mentality has extended to his community

heavily dependent on his friends

more used to death, dying and revival mechanics

more open to the concept of gods as a reality

prone to certain triggers that will be outlined in the fears section

Obsessive devotion to his best friend Valeria Myles, similar to that of Alphonse in canon

Due to the multiverse experiences:

aware of the concept of face twins (which is dealt with in canon after his canon point)

more aware of and comfortable with varying levels of technology

more open to making friends with a wider variety of acquaintances
- able to relate to a wider range of people (Nico Di Angelo)
- making friends with questionable morals (Jason Todd)
- making friends with creatures that would previously disturb him for existing (talking animals and aliens)

Character Fears

[waxwings]

Guilt Complex:

Ed spent most of his life convinced that his brother hated him for the human transmutation attempt and causing him to lose his body. He lives in a constant state of fear of being a disappointment or actual danger to those he cares about and this has only been made worse thanks to his time in Purgatorium.

Abandoned Horror Settings (In Particular):
- schools
- hospitals
- prisons

Certain Food Products (Fear/Psychological Trigger):
- Tea
- Crab

Automail:

Concerns/fears/cautions Ed has relating to his automail include sensitivity to extreme heat and cold. Automail being removed could leave him practically helpless with two limbs and the process of reconnecting them is particularly painful considering that they connect to this nerves. Despite being sealed to make bathing a non-issue the limbs are particularly heavy, so swimming with them is impossible as the wearer would sink. He also suffers pain in the ports, particularly in rainy or changing weather or when exerting himself too far.

Loss Of Control:
- Particularly hurting/killing a loved one
- Failing the people he cares about
- Fear of corruption

Feel free to ignore this TL;DR on corruption, but I wanted to add it anyway.

Ed spends the entire series arguing that alchemy is for the people and meant to be used to help others. He even bends rules in order to make it work. This is a big theme for him and many situations challenge his views on that. Most notably Tucker insisting that they're the same and his attempt to revive his mother was no different than transmuting Nina and Alexander. An act of desperation twisted to sound like nothing more than a thirst for knowledge, for the ability to test the limits of his alchemical ability. One of Ed's biggest demons could easily be seeing himself in others who use alchemy dishonorably. Using alchemy for personal power is a big pet peeve of his, Edward very much views himself as no different from any other human, using self-deprecating references to a closeness to god to illustrate his point that humans cannot create life. The implication that he would take experimentation so far as to harm others or use them as his own pawns haunts him because people are not disposable to him, but he's painfully aware of his own desires and how they line up with the less scrupulous motivations of others.

Valeria:
Betraying, hurting, losing again etc. Val is a major point of weakness for Ed.