Ling Yao

Ling Yao is Ling Yao from the series "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood." He is the twelfth crown prince of the eastern nation of Xing and the liege of the Yao clan. Seeking a way to ensure his path to the throne amidst deadly inter-house competition, he has ventured from Xing to Amestris in order to find the secret of immortality - the Philosopher's Stone. On the surface, Ling Yao comes off as a rather silly and lighthearted person, frequently engaging in comical behavior and retaining a grin even while making threats. He displays a childlike amusement for new situations whether or not they prove adverse (or even potentially fatal), has a penchant for wandering off on his own only to collapse in the middle of a street, and is infamous in the Elric brothers' minds for having a voracious appetite despite never carrying enough cash to feed himself. Even with his flaws, he is extremely personable and his particularly complimentary nature easily gains him the friendship and trust of those surrounding him. On the reverse side of his frivolous nature is his considerable shrewdness, which makes him quite capable of reading people and situations in order to manipulate them to his liking. He is particularly observant, taking into consideration even the smallest details of his surroundings in order to better understand and deal with challenges, and is not above using cheap tricks or questionable tactics to ensure his own survival. Being singularly ambitious, Ling Yao also has a tenacious will that allows him to overcome virtually insurmountable obstacles and accept inhuman burdens for the sake of his ultimate goal. He has considerable pride that will not stand for having his humanity insulted or condemned by his enemies, but he is also capable of shelving his pride if it becomes something that will stand in the way of his objective. As heir of the Yao clan, he strongly believes that his primary responsibility is the protection and advancement of his kinsmen. He firmly maintains that the priorities of his clan come first, being very protective of his kinsmen and comrades, refusing to allow any harm to come to them and often deeming their safety more important than his own in spite of his own personal ambitions and goals. This stems from his steadfast belief that a king's right to rule is granted willingly by the people and strongly takes to heart the idea that the people are served by their liege, rather than the other way around. Despite his importance, he is unflinchingly self-sacrificing for his people, willing to undergo anything for their sake. During his journeys he has to be reminded several times that his own safety is something upon which many people depend on, using his loved ones as his primary motivation when all hope seems lost. He becomes furious when observing those who willingly or remorselessly cast aside their own comrades or brethren and is sickened by the idea of superiors who reject their duty to those who trust them. Ling Yao is skilled in martial arts and is an expert swordsman, boasting great physical strength and agility. Ling Yao has stereotypical Asian features, his black eyes appearing closed most of the time. He has long black hair that is tied back in a ponytail with spiky bangs covering part of his face. Ling Yao is 5'7" and can typically be found in yellow collared jacket with flame motifs (that is worn open to reveal his torso) and white baggy trousers. He keeps his sword on his back via a belt that wraps around his chest, and wears sarashi bindings around his abdomen and forearms.