Briggs

Briggs is a mountain range located in the northern region of Amestris, which serves as a natural border to the neighboring country of Drachma. It gives its name to Amestris' northernmost military base that guards the Amestris - Drachma border, the Briggs Fortress.

Environment
The temperatures in Briggs are always in the negatives and blizzards are frequent. The only flora in Briggs consists of spruces and sparse mountain vegetation. Aside from small rabbits, wolves, and grizzly bears (reported to grow to immense sizes) not much else is able to live in the climate of this region. A young Izumi Curtis was sent to survive in this harsh mountain range for a total of one month, harnessing her own skills in understanding life and connecting with the nature of the locale.



Residents
Briggs is home to Amestris' first military garrison against Drachma, led by Major General Armstrong. The military base itself is a massive wall comprised of research labs, a prison, gunnery positions, soldiers' quarters, supply tunnels and an immense main tunnel which runs the length of the installation. The nearest other settlement relatively close to the fortress, North City, also serves as a supply center and medical hub for the Briggs troops.

Trivia

 * Briggs' soldiers and the East soldiers are considered Amestris' finest military units, but, while the Eastern Army is the 'perfect attack,' Briggs holds the title of 'perfect defense,' suggesting an alliance between both Briggs and the Eastern Army would provide the perfect military unit.
 * The Amestrian Army have regular exercises between Northern and Eastern forces, which usually take place in the Briggs fortress during the winter. These exercises serve to train the Amestrian army and prepare them for any conflict that might take place between Amestris and its enemies. It is common knowledge that these exercises are usually won by the Briggs forces.
 * Although there is a cease fire treaty between Amestris and Drachma, the Briggs border is known to be a very unstable area, prone to incidents which might lead to the voiding of said treaty.
 * There were complaints that the rations served in Fort Briggs taste terrible, especially the coffee. Another source of complaints has been the supposed lack of beautiful women in the region, save for Major General Armstrong, who is regarded as a tigress instead.
 * None of the Briggs soldiers seem to notice that the doctor is female, as seen in Chapter 71.