Name: Kaen L. Ventura
Alias: BG (by Lightning)
Sasha Louise Tanner (codename)
Kaye (most often by Roy)
Age: 28
Birthdate: April 24 1887
Gender: Female
Birthplace: Unknown
Family: orphan fostered by Madame Cherisse LaCroix
Likes: cooking, dogs, music
Dislikes: extreme sweets, unneeded violence, arrogance, automail
Occupation: State Alchemist
Alchemist Codename: Shadow Alchemist
Rank: Colonel (at start)
Brigadier General (for most of the series)
Lieutenant General (at end)
Specialty: Reconnaissance and Recovery (Special Ops)
Achievement: Second most often promoted military officer
Asset: Extreme tactical and observational skills
Ambition: To one day make Roy Mustang Fuhrer and carry out his ideals
Alchemy:
Her codename the Shadow Alchemist does not denote the kind of alchemy she uses but instead the way in which she carries it out.
She uses the same transmutation circle as Mustang, but has modified it slightly with two additional symbols.
***The destruction of the tattoo on Riza’s back prevents the formation of a second ‘Flame Alchemist’. Many think this was a futile attempt and the secret lives on within Kaen, however when offered she refused to learn the full secrets of this form of alchemy. Instead she collaborated with Mustang to make Berthold’s transmutation circle simpler for usage purposes and continued her own research on the alchemical form. In this way it may seem that she is less skilled than Roy but it is later revealed that when he left to enroll in the military academy the enraged Master Hawkeye pushed her into a more intense regime than ever before. This prior experience combined with her own natural skill and research has been more than enough to put her at the level of, and potentially even above, Colonel Mustang without knowledge of the true secret of Hawkeye’s research.***
Uses her ability by using two flint metal rings on her thumb and middle finger, and later right automail hand of the same material, to manipulate oxygen particles in the air in order to create explosions and other fire-based maneuvers. She does this by snapping the rings, or fingers in the case of her automail, together in order to create a spark.
This snapping noise is her trademark, often this noise is the only evidence that she has been in an area.
The automail that comprises her hip and knee is this same flint metal material and in extreme instances can be used to aid in alchemy as well.
The rings have the normal transmutation circles etched into them and must be replaced occasionally due to wear. Another transmutation circle is inscribed on the inside of her prosthetic hand.
Has pioneered a special kind of distance alchemy by way of the use of ‘connecter’ circles. These connectors are smaller and less complex transmutation circles with a symbol that corresponds to one of the same in her normal transmutation circle. She can mark anything, living or inanimate, with these smaller circles and control when they explode/burn, also by oxygen particle manipulation, from a distance of up to five miles away (a more advanced version of Kimblee’s distanced explosions).
During wartime she would scout ahead and plant her circles in several locations to be used for later maneuvers and targeting efforts.
Also skilled in basic physical transmutations and experimental theory.
Appearance:
Bright wavy flame colored hair that reaches the middle of her back with chin length bangs and vivid emerald green eyes. Before and during the war she always wore her hair in a loose braid down her back, after her return to active status she wears it completely down. Has a tanner complexion than most with a natural beauty in her facial features and has recently taken to wearing hints of makeup.
Wears a simple black skintight t-shirt under her uniform. In civilian clothes she will wear anything from ripped jeans and the before mentioned t-shirt to feminine dresses that often hit above the knee. Staples of her wardrobe include a black peacoat and a singular black glove she uses to hide her hand when not in uniform.
Identifying Marks:
During the war on Ishval she stepped onto a landmine and was injured horribly on the right side of her body. Under any other circumstances her right leg and hand would have been amputated but instead the military, in a half attempt to experiment on a live specimen and the other half to not lose a skilled solider, found and forced an Ishvalan automail mechanic to help their own doctor with the implementation of prosthetics in her knee, hip, and a complete reconstruction of her hand.
Has her ears pierced once with an extra cartilage piercing on the top of the right.
Has the word ‘remembrance’ tattooed in Ishvalan under her prosthetic hand.
Personality:
In most military situations and dealings she has a calm and professional demeanor. At these times she is strictly business and, despite a small undertone of sarcasm at times, will stop at nothing to complete a task or reach a deadline.
Before the military she tended to be carefree and quite hyper with a natural curiosity and want to learn. Occasionally, and due to her upbringing, falling into fits of indifference and melancholy.
During her time in the academy and before the war she continues to have a sunny outlook on life with the same occasional instances of depression. She also tends to be more of an idealist than logical. Also still retains her curiosity and natural talent for quick and observational learning of skills.
After the war and following her reconstructive surgery Kaen’s personality becomes cynical and she refuses much social contact (save Lightning and Ikarus, as well as rare messages and calls from Mustang) for the two years it takes her to recover full motion of her prosthetics.
After recovery and still an inactive soldier she begins to once more come out of her shell and favors contact with others over being alone. At this time she is kind and rather reserved, but still retains a professional commanding demeanor and undertones of icy sarcasm and cynicism.
When she once again becomes active she resorts back to her normal military personality.
Overall she is kind, self sacrificing, sarcastic, not easily angered, not easily forgiving, hesitant to fully trust, observant almost to a photographic scale, a tactical prodigy, moreover optimistic, realistic, logical, calculating, reserved with her true emotions, calm, and professional.
"But a criminal is not complicated. What you really fear is inside yourself. You fear your own power. You fear your anger, the drive to do great or terrible things."
Relationships:
Roy Mustang- Her closest and dearest childhood friend as well as love interest. She knows Roy has feelings for her as well but she tries to force herself to not be attracted to him because she does not want him to have to deal with her bad health and potential short lifespan. She pushes him away constantly with sarcasm and reluctance and has only recently, after almost two years, seen him in person again.
Maes Hughes- Close friend she met at the academy with Roy. Often annoyed by his antics and random phone calls she was also quick to silence him. Despite this annoyance she feels that he is indeed has all the makings of a great man both in and out of the military. She believes his death was something that could have been prevented and has dedicated much of her time at Central on such measures. She is also a good friend of Gracia and visits the widow and her daughter whenever she is in town.
Riza Hawkeye- Daughter of her alchemy teacher. Tolerates the other even though she knows Riza hates her for unknown reasons. It may seem her only goal is annoy the other woman but in truth she tries to decode her hostility more often than not.
***The reasoning is later explained as the fact the Riza believed her father was trying to replace her with the ‘perfect’ Kaen because of her talent with alchemy and also partially out of jealously over Mustang. Once Kaen explains that her father was more interested in her as a test subject and not surrogate daughter and Riza sees the sacrifice Kaen made for Mustang the two’s relationship less hostile.***
Major Tobias Lightning- Close subordinate who looks up to her as a role model. Tobias attended academy with Riza and followed Kaen’s accomplishments through it and the war. After the conflict and following her rehabilitation Lightning seeks out and begs the former to become her subordinate. After some pushing she finally accepts his offer. Tobias often puts Kaen on a pedestal but is also considerate of her faults as well as strengths. Despite his constant glorifying the two are very close.
Private Mikhail Ikarus- Close subordinate of Kaen. He is the Ishvalan automail mechanic who was forced to operate on her after the incident. He joins the Armestrian military to be closer to her and help with her automail repairs because he feels for her being treated like a mere pawn. His wife and daughter were killed by the explosion of a building during the war (unbeknownst to him Kaen caused this explosion).
***He later returns to Ishval with Dr. Marcoh and Major Miles to help rebuild. ***
Edward and Alphonse Elric - She met the two young alchemists in Rush Valley and then again in Central. She feels sympathy for the both of them and their trials but is also hard on them purposely to make them work harder.
Chris Mustang- Roy’s foster mother, acted as a surrogate mother to the young girl. She often still visits the older woman.
Hercules- Kaen and Roy’s old dog. The closest thing she had to family aside from Roy and Chris.
History:
Was adopted/fostered by Madame Cherisse LaCroix at the age of five. She was one of over thirty young girls of varying ages and at different times fostered by the older woman. LaCroix used these girls as her ‘ears’ in and around town and the surrounding areas. From a young age they were taught to panhandle, basic theft and pick pocketing, and espionage techniques. In addition were hired out as help for odd jobs and household work. When they reached approximately the age of 15 they were then forced into prostitution and sexual favors for information.
Kaen first met Roy Mustang when she was seven and he was eight. She had run off from her usual chores and had ended up in the local park where she, literally, ran into the young boy. He was impressed by her carefree personality and from then on the two were practically inseparable.
When Roy became started learning alchemy with Berthold Hawkeye she became interested as well. Often Roy would come by after a day of studying and teach her small tricks involving alchemy. By learning these tricks and techniques and reading the texts he often brought back it was obvious she had a talent for the science. One day Master Hawkeye had information to relay to Mustang at his home and happened upon the two children creating flames right outside the house. Hawkeye could see the young girl had talent and questioned her about her experience and learning. When he found out she learned only from what she had observed from Roy he decided to take her on as a pupil as well. Of course Madame LaCroix was completely against anything that would take Kaen away from making money or a living and when Hawkeye visited asking for permission to teach the younger she responded with a stout no. Knowing that the girl wanted to learn, and wanting to use her skills in his research as well, he offered to hire her as a maid, though as his own daughter fulfilled all of these duties he was paying her to learn alchemy. In the following years Kaen and Roy flourished under the teachings of Master Hawkeye.
Kaen was not happy when Roy decided to join the military academy but supported him in his decision the best she could. When he left she wrote letters weekly and continued her alchemical training.
Months passed and soon Kaen was to be moved up to LaCroix higher levels of ‘information gathering’. She had heard nothing from Mustang since he left and was starting to become depressed until one day she stumbled upon a packet of not only the letters she had written to him but ones he had written to her hidden in LaCroix desk. After this she decided to join the academy herself to escape her life.
At 15, and a year after Roy, she joined the military academy and quickly moved up in the ranks. At this time she also reconnected with Mustang and a new friend, Maes Hughes, and continued to study alchemy.
When she heard about the death of Berthold she was deeply hurt, even though he hadn’t supported Roy or her in their want to join the military he was still a prominent figure in her life.
During the war she was placed in the Special Ops core of Mustang and Hughes Unit. They were later joined by Riza Hawkeye the late Master Hawkeye’s daughter.
One day on a scouting mission she stepped on an active landmine and was horribly injured (see: Identifying Marks). After her surgery she was moved out of the warzone and spent the next two years recuperating. When she was finally able to take care of herself again she became an inactive soldier and spent her days researching flame and distance alchemy.
Because of her service and injuries during the war she promoted to Colonel.
During the duration of the series she has become reinstated as an active officer and promoted to Brigadier General by order of the Fuhrer and works in and out of Central with survey and protocol business.
After Mustang’s men are relocated she continues her work directly under Bradley and is surprised to find that he has taken on Hawkeye as an assistant. When they meet again the two women finally resolve their issues for the most part. This whole time she has been reporting her research and observations to Mustang by way of Lightning and Ikarus. When Bradley realizes what she is doing and her connection to Mustang he tries the lure the other out of hiding by threatening her life. Mustang refuses to believe that Kaen has gotten herself captured and ignores Wrath. Kaen fights Wrath and loses. She is rescued by Lin who feels for her like his own Lan Fan and returns her near lifeless form to Mustang. Her hand is now missing and nearly all of the automail left on her body is ripped apart and in terrible array. Knox tried to operate to hold her for the time being but she falls into a coma due to shock. She remains this way for the remainder of the series and is later seen to have fallen victim to the Nationwide Transmutation Circle's activation, but is revived thanks to Van Hohenheim's countermeasure.
At the end she is seen, now a Lieutenant General and fully repaired, at the side of now General Mustang and accompanied by Riza Hawkeye.
Misc.:
Has had horrible health problems and an almost nonexistent immune system since birth. Because the automail surgery she underwent cost so much she is in constant debt to the military and undergoes experimental treatments in an attempt to remove it.
After the war personally transferred Riza Hawkeye, unbeknownst to anyone other than herself, to be one of Mustang’s subordinates.
Does not think she will survive the ongoing treatment process and not wanting Roy to feel bad for her or have to deal with her eminent death she hopes that, by way of her transfer, he will become romantically interested in Hawkeye because of their past and forget his feelings for her.
Believes Mustang to be the only true flame alchemist.
