Herschel

Herschel is disciplined, calculating and ruthless in pursuing Cretan objectives. He treats the people of the valley as obstacles to strategic control of the region and is prepared to deploy chimeras and destructive technology against them.

His mask and reserved demeanor create deliberate distance between him and the other characters. He rarely exposes personal emotion while acting in his official military capacity.

His interest in Milos is not merely territorial, however. The conflict surrounding the Sanguine Star gradually reveals that his involvement in Table City is more personal than his rank initially suggests.

Herschel is an accomplished alchemist and Cretan military commander. His most significant advantage comes from access to a Philosopher's Stone, which allows him to perform powerful transmutations without observing normal equivalent-exchange limitations.

He commands Cretan wolf chimeras and conventional military forces and controls the geothermal installation positioned above the valley.

The Philosopher's Stone also allowed him to survive catastrophic injuries and reconstruct his damaged body, although his face remains scarred beneath the mask.

Herschel enters the conflict as the Cretan commander responsible for the region bordering Table City. His forces pursue Julia Crichton, the Black Bats and the Elric brothers while Creta attempts to secure the area's resources.

He eventually detonates the geothermal facility, releasing lava toward the valley as the competing factions fight over the Sanguine Star.

Herschel is actually Ashleigh Crichton, Julia's older brother, whom she believed had been murdered years earlier. He survived Atlas's attack by swallowing a Sanguine Star and later assumed the identity of a Cretan officer. After revealing himself, he kills Atlas in revenge for their parents' deaths and tries to persuade Julia to join him. Julia refuses, and the siblings ultimately fight over their incompatible visions for Milos.

Julia Crichton is Herschel's younger sister. His true identity is Ashleigh Crichton, and much of his hidden motivation concerns protecting her while pursuing his own plans through Creta.

Atlas is the man responsible for attacking the Crichton family and assuming Ashleigh's identity. Herschel eventually reveals the deception and kills Atlas in revenge.

Edward Elric opposes Herschel's actions after becoming involved in the struggle for Milos.

Alphonse Elric works with Julia and the Black Bats and consequently becomes another obstacle to Herschel's plans.

Miranda commands the Black Bats, whose attempt to reclaim Milos directly conflicts with Cretan control of the region.

Roy Mustang becomes involved in the final confrontation surrounding Table City and the Sanguine Star.