Ronny Schiatto (Metallurgist)

Ronny Schiatto, hereafter referred to as Ronny I, was a metallurgist who, at the turn of the 3rd century BC, succeeded in the co-creation of a complete homunculus in Egypt. He would later trick this homunculus into leaving its flask and adopting his name—making the homunculus Ronny Schiatto II—and, alongside his confreres, continue to research the elixir of immortality for several decades. Though Ronny I ultimately did not achieve immortality, Ronny II completed the elixir in his stead and, upon formally adopting the name 'Ronny Schiatto' following Ronny I's death, would continue to use the name for over two thousand years.

Appearance
Ronny I's skin and appearance distinguished him as someone who came from a place north of Egypt. For ceremonial purposes, he wore a stone mask for the creation of the complete homunculus who later took his name.

Personality
Though in possession of a brilliant mind, having led the creation of a complete homunculus, development of the immortality elixir, and designed inventions advanced for his time, Ronny I was a jovial and mischievous young man who bantered with his disciples like old friends. He was cunning enough to predict and prepare for the assassination attempt on his life, which he then used to manipulate or otherwise convince Ronny II to become incomplete. For all his frivolity and his schemer's streak, he was a man of determination and ambition who pursued 'impossible' dreams without heeding or minding the discouragement and doubts of others.

Chronology
Ronny Schiatto the First was born in the latter half of the 4th century BC in a land north of Egypt, where he would come to live as a young man and pursue metallurgy and alchemy. Despite his youth, he attracts a relatively large following of young disciples who share his two greatest ambitions: to create a complete homunculus, and to achieve immortality via the elixir of life. This group conducts some or all of their research in a stone building of a small Egyptian town, using apparatuses of Ronny I's design that are more advanced than that which were common to the era of Alexander the Great.

In 300 B.C., Ronny I and ten of his disciples achieve the first of their goals in the secrecy of that building, and with much ceremony. Donning stone masks for the sake of 'atmosphere', the eleven metallurgists gather around a closed, spherical container made of material smoother and more transparent than 21st century glass; then, each cut into their wrists and shed blood over and into the sphere, the liquid somehow penetrating the material. As the blood begins to tremble and swirl, a small black spherical object appears to levitate from the middle of the vortex.

After this is done, and all the metallurgists have discarded their masks, they fall back into lively chatter—which a disembodied voice eventually cuts through. The voice belongs to the black sphere—the 'omniscient homunculus' that the metallurgists had hoped to create and have created, though Ronny I and his disciples treat this significant success with overt nonchalance; after introducing himself to the homunculus, Ronny I resumes 'ignoring' it by resuming inane small talk with his disciples.

When the homunculus—annoyed after some days of passively observing them—eventually asks if they have questions it can answer, Ronny I informs it of the group's current research into immortality. The homunculus immediately refutes this quest as impossible: not only would such a quest outlive them without the homunculus' assistance, it is not particularly keen to offer such assistance in the first place. Ronny I accepts the homunculus' stance without judgment or complaint, and, despite the homunculus' discouraging words, continues to work with no change in enthusiasm or determination.

At some point after this exchange—on a certain day—an 'usurper' demands that Ronny I hand the homunculus over. Having foreseen this event and prepared chicken's blood to fake his death Ronny I refuses. The assassin attempts to stab him; the homunculus "[blows] that assassin to the Nile," failing to realize the attempt failed and failing to notice Ronny I dousing chicken blood on himself. As soon as the assassin is dealt with, the homunculus questions why Ronny I did not prioritize his life by acquiesing. Feigning weakness, Ronny I claims he seeks to vacation in the 'world beyond' and that the immortality elixir he is developing has roots in such 'another world'—and asks if the homunculus is envious that he will travel to a place even an omniscient being cannot know.

The homunculus instead requests Ronny I smash its flask before he dies, so that it may die instead of succumb to boredom. Realizing that the homunculus does not know how to leave its flask, Ronny I suggests it 'give up the future'—in other words, if it becomes 'incomplete', it should be able to leave the flask's confines. This idea frightens the homunculus, and it confesses as much; however, as Ronny I uses his 'dying breaths' to urge it take on his name, property, and to complete the elixir in his stead—the homunculus gives up its knowledge of the future and assumes a human form outside its bottle, becoming the 'man' "Ronny Schiatto."

In the next moment, Ronny I sits up and clarifies the homunculus "doesn't have to" do it if 'he' does not want to, explaining he had acted out of curiosity as to whether an omniscient homunculus would be fooled by a little chicken's blood. Giddy with laughter, he stands, points out that the homunculus' power has been reduced, and invites the homunculus to become one of his metallurgy disciples as "Ronny II."

The homunculus refuses on all accounts, and is further repulsed when Ronny I's other disciples emerge from the building's confines to applaud the occasion. It teleports all of them to the North Pole in revenge, though, ultimately, it chooses to remain in their company and does so for the next fifty years. Upon Ronny I's death, the homunculus formally takes on his name "Ronny Schiatto" and remains committed to completing the immortality elixir per Ronny I's wish, which he does ultimately fulfill. Ronny II moreover makes a promise to the other metallurgists—it is not clear whether he made this promise while Ronny I was alive—to provide whatever knowledge is sought by those who may summon him in the years to come; over the course of more than two millennia, Ronny II remains true to this promise and the name bestowed on him.

Trivia

 * Since Ronny I and his ten disciples directly contributed to Ronny II's creation, Ronny II was unable to predict their futures or warp physics to grant them immortality, knowledge, or strength; his power ended with them. This is why he could only assist their development of the elixir rather than alter their bodies.
 * The short story in which Ronny I and the metallurgists appear, BACCANO! B.C.300 ~Notorious B·E·Ginning~, was published in November 2007 and contains many parodying references to manga, anime, and other media. The story's general events can nevertheless be considered 'canon', as they would be summarized nine years later in Chapter 23 of 1935-D: The Luckstreet Boys, the twenty-second volume of the Baccano! light novel series.