The Elric brothers arrive in Lior, where they find it largely controlled by a mysterious cult leader called Father Cornello, who may be in possession of a philosopher's stone, which they seek.
Tropes
- Adaptation Expansion:
- The anime shows Ed and Al traveling to and entering Lior, something that doesn't happen in the manga.
- In the anime, Ed and Al spend a night at Cornello's church after Rose asks him if it's okay. Additionally, Cornello didn't know who the two were when they arrived as they didn't spend a night there in the manga.
- Adaptational Early Appearance: A disguised Lust makes an Early-Bird Cameo at the bar where Ed and Alphonse are at in the episode's opening, and even briefly talks with the brothers. In the manga, she (and Gluttony) don't appear until the end of Chapter 2, after Cornello's fake Philosopher's Stone breaks.
- The Lost Lenore: Through Al, Ed later learns that Rose lost her childhood lover Cain a while ago, a loss that she's still recovering from. She wants to see Cain again so badly that she wants so badly for Cornello to bring him back.
- Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: Discussed. After seeing what Cornello was able to do with the red stone, Al wondered if Cornello really was a holy man that can perform miracles and that the scriptures had information that would be useful to them. Ed doesn't believe either of the things he says.
- Mix-and-Match Critters: The first chimera of the series, a combination of a Lion and a Crocodile, created by alchemy.
- The Reveal: Edward has an automail arm and leg, and Alphonse has no body.
- Scam Religion: Father Cornello runs one, using alchemy to fake miracles and get the populace behind his cult.
