I don't think you're trying to interrogate me, if that's what you're getting at. But a 'good' story is generally one the listener wants to hear, I think - at the same time, I don't believe in laying any motives I may have out on the table like that. What I said about not believing in charity extends to any information I may give.
However! I see no problem with illustrating the point through these 'stories' and allowing you to form your own conclusions; you can either accept what I tell you as it is, or use such things to pass judgement on me if you like - it matters very little to me either way.
[...all right, where to start.]
There's a region in southeastern Amestris, basically in the middle of nowhere - it's surrounded by desert on all sides; the environment is very harsh and unforgiving. Nevertheless, people had settled there many years ago; it was its own country once, I believe, but that country came to an agreement with the Amestrian government and was annexed a fair while back. However, due to cultural differences, the region remained a point of contention; for one thing, they rejected the practice of alchemy altogether, claiming it to be an abomination in the eyes of their god, Ishvala.
Between that and the fact that there had been several conflicts between Amestris and the Ishvalan people that occurred before the annexation - well, it wasn't long before the inevitable happened. Almost fifteen years ago, an Amestrian soldier accidentally shot and killed an Ishvalan child; apparently this was a breaking point, as it led to rioting, and was what eventually started a rather blood-soaked civil war in the area.
[Of course, there's no need to mention the truly unpleasant things - like how the shooting wasn't an accident at all. And the fact that Kimblee works for the guy who did it.]
The Ishvalans were greatly outnumbered, but they managed to hold off the Amestrian military for quite some time; I believe they were receiving assistance from a country that borders Amestris to the south, a nation called Aerugo. Either way, they managed to draw the conflict out for seven years, at which time Fuhrer King Bradley gave the order for State Alchemists to be sent into Ishval as human weapons - something that had been avoided up to that point.
I was one of those sent to the front lines, and I was considered a valuable asset due to the nature of my alchemy; my primary task was the destruction of the Kanda district, one of the last regions still standing after the fall of the Gunja and Daliha districts.
I did as I was told, as that's what a soldier is expected to do.
no subject
However! I see no problem with illustrating the point through these 'stories' and allowing you to form your own conclusions; you can either accept what I tell you as it is, or use such things to pass judgement on me if you like - it matters very little to me either way.
[...all right, where to start.]
There's a region in southeastern Amestris, basically in the middle of nowhere - it's surrounded by desert on all sides; the environment is very harsh and unforgiving. Nevertheless, people had settled there many years ago; it was its own country once, I believe, but that country came to an agreement with the Amestrian government and was annexed a fair while back. However, due to cultural differences, the region remained a point of contention; for one thing, they rejected the practice of alchemy altogether, claiming it to be an abomination in the eyes of their god, Ishvala.
Between that and the fact that there had been several conflicts between Amestris and the Ishvalan people that occurred before the annexation - well, it wasn't long before the inevitable happened. Almost fifteen years ago, an Amestrian soldier accidentally shot and killed an Ishvalan child; apparently this was a breaking point, as it led to rioting, and was what eventually started a rather blood-soaked civil war in the area.
[Of course, there's no need to mention the truly unpleasant things - like how the shooting wasn't an accident at all. And the fact that Kimblee works for the guy who did it.]
The Ishvalans were greatly outnumbered, but they managed to hold off the Amestrian military for quite some time; I believe they were receiving assistance from a country that borders Amestris to the south, a nation called Aerugo. Either way, they managed to draw the conflict out for seven years, at which time Fuhrer King Bradley gave the order for State Alchemists to be sent into Ishval as human weapons - something that had been avoided up to that point.
I was one of those sent to the front lines, and I was considered a valuable asset due to the nature of my alchemy; my primary task was the destruction of the Kanda district, one of the last regions still standing after the fall of the Gunja and Daliha districts.
I did as I was told, as that's what a soldier is expected to do.