Finally, the array complete, it was time for the ritual to commence. But things didn't go as planned. With Hohenheim and the Dwarf standing at the center of the array, only they would be the recipients of the effects granted by the ritual. Every living creature not within the center of the array had their souls ripped from their bodies and transformed into the components necessary to create the Philosopher's Stone. Hohenheim watched in horror as over a million lives were snuffed out while his own body and that of the Dwarf's were broken down and reconstructed anew. The Dwarf, who now inhabited a human form cloned from Hohenheim's blood, explained that each of them possessed immortal bodies granted by the immeasurable sacrifice of an entire civilization. Hohenheim had become a human Philosopher's Stone, born of half the population of Xerxes, the other half belonging to the Dwarf.
With no home or family, Hohenheim set out toward the East and the country of Xing, while the Dwarf headed West through the desert toward Amestris. Hohenheim would eventually develop the alkahestry—better known as the “purification arts”— used in the East, while the Dwarf would teach alchemy to the people of Amestris. He would eventually create seven “children,” each of them embodying a different sin, and call himself their Father. Having attained freedom from his flask, the Father now set his ambitions even higher and desired to become a “perfect being”... but his plans would take 400 years to reach fruition.
As the centuries passed, Hohenheim left Xing and made his way to Amestis. Along the way, he began conversing with the souls of the citizens of Xerxes within him, in the hopes of making peace with them. It was impossible for him to think of those people as mere energy forms to extend his lifespan. He felt he needed to make amends to his fellow countrymen... And that choice proved to be beneficial, once he learned of the Father's plans. Having made peace with them, he could rely on their aid in order to exact vengeance on the Father; not for himself, but for the people who were sacrificed for the Dwarf's selfish ambitions, and to save Amestris.
While living in Amestris, Hoheneim came to settle in the town of Risembool, and befriended a local automail mechanic by the name of Pinako Rockbell. He was later introduced to Trisha Elric, and Hohenheim fell madly in love with her. Though they never married, the two of them lived together happily, and eventually, Trisha gave birth to two sons: Edward and Alphonse. Both children inherited not only their father's golden hair and eyes (an ethic trait shared among the all the people of Xerxes), but they also inherited his talent at alchemy, too.
When both children were very young, Hohenheim decided to to leave his family in order to find a way to become mortal again. Now that he had found the love of his life, he wanted to be able to grow old and die with her. He made a promise that he would one day return to her and his children, once his work was completed. And Trisha, in turn, promised to wait for him...
But in a cruel twist of fate, she fell ill, and eventually died before Hohenheim could return. She told Pinako to pass a message along to her husband, when he returned, saying, “Tell him... That I couldn't keep my promise to him. I'll be passing on before him. And please tell him... that I'm sorry.”
Hohenheim did eventually return to Risembool, but he was five years too late... His own sons burned the family home to the ground, and Edward left his hometown in order to become a State Alchemist. The two share a painful reunion in front of Trisha's grave, with Hohenheim scolding his son for destroying their home, and they eventually part ways without either one truly opening up to the other.
Later that year, Hohenheim reunites with his other son, Alphonse, in the city of Lior, which is still currently undergoing construction due to the riots that took place earlier that year. He divulges the truth of his origins and his plans to put a stop to the Father and his insidious plot to create a nationwide transmutation circle, which would result in the deaths of everyone in Amestris...
Van Hohenheim | Fullmetal Alchemist (re-app)
With no home or family, Hohenheim set out toward the East and the country of Xing, while the Dwarf headed West through the desert toward Amestris. Hohenheim would eventually develop the alkahestry—better known as the “purification arts”— used in the East, while the Dwarf would teach alchemy to the people of Amestris. He would eventually create seven “children,” each of them embodying a different sin, and call himself their Father. Having attained freedom from his flask, the Father now set his ambitions even higher and desired to become a “perfect being”... but his plans would take 400 years to reach fruition.
As the centuries passed, Hohenheim left Xing and made his way to Amestis. Along the way, he began conversing with the souls of the citizens of Xerxes within him, in the hopes of making peace with them. It was impossible for him to think of those people as mere energy forms to extend his lifespan. He felt he needed to make amends to his fellow countrymen... And that choice proved to be beneficial, once he learned of the Father's plans. Having made peace with them, he could rely on their aid in order to exact vengeance on the Father; not for himself, but for the people who were sacrificed for the Dwarf's selfish ambitions, and to save Amestris.
While living in Amestris, Hoheneim came to settle in the town of Risembool, and befriended a local automail mechanic by the name of Pinako Rockbell. He was later introduced to Trisha Elric, and Hohenheim fell madly in love with her. Though they never married, the two of them lived together happily, and eventually, Trisha gave birth to two sons: Edward and Alphonse. Both children inherited not only their father's golden hair and eyes (an ethic trait shared among the all the people of Xerxes), but they also inherited his talent at alchemy, too.
When both children were very young, Hohenheim decided to to leave his family in order to find a way to become mortal again. Now that he had found the love of his life, he wanted to be able to grow old and die with her. He made a promise that he would one day return to her and his children, once his work was completed. And Trisha, in turn, promised to wait for him...
But in a cruel twist of fate, she fell ill, and eventually died before Hohenheim could return. She told Pinako to pass a message along to her husband, when he returned, saying, “Tell him... That I couldn't keep my promise to him. I'll be passing on before him. And please tell him... that I'm sorry.”
Hohenheim did eventually return to Risembool, but he was five years too late... His own sons burned the family home to the ground, and Edward left his hometown in order to become a State Alchemist. The two share a painful reunion in front of Trisha's grave, with Hohenheim scolding his son for destroying their home, and they eventually part ways without either one truly opening up to the other.
Later that year, Hohenheim reunites with his other son, Alphonse, in the city of Lior, which is still currently undergoing construction due to the riots that took place earlier that year. He divulges the truth of his origins and his plans to put a stop to the Father and his insidious plot to create a nationwide transmutation circle, which would result in the deaths of everyone in Amestris...