Planes of Existence

From Full Metal Alchemist d20

The story of Full Metal Alchemist spans three 'worlds', known to the d20 cosmology as "planes of existence". The three planes are described in detail in terms compatible with the d20 system. The worlds are:

1. the #Material Plane, the only world known to most characters in the story,
2. a #Black Gate through which souls pass after death,
3. and the #Science World, a world like our own where science progressed in place of alchemy.

Note that there is no concept of different planes of existence in Amestris. Very, very few people, every one of them extremely skilled alchemists, know of a sort of spirit world around (and beyond) a Black Gate. The concepts of Heaven and Hell seem to exist in Amestris, but they do not touch on the story and so are not presented here. There may be a fourth plane beyond the gate itself where the spirits of the gate reside, but if such a place exists the physical bodies of the living cannot enter.

Additionally, Science World is specific to the anime canon. The manga has not yet mentioned any worlds beyond the Black Gate.

Table of contents

1 Cosmology 2 Material Plane 3 The Black Gate (Demiplane) 4 Science World 5 Demiplane of Gluttony

Cosmology

In the manga canon, there is only the Material Plane and the Black Gate. The two are coexistent: travel from any point on the Material Plane leads to the Gate itself.

In the anime canon, characters travel between those two planes and Science World. In the cosmology of the anime, the Material Plane and Science World are separate planes, each coexistent with the Black Gate. Portals which seem to connect the two planes are possible, but in fact these portals pass through the Black Gate and are subject to the rules (and dangers) of that plane.

Material Plane

This is the primary world of the story. It strongly resembles our 'real world', and has progressed technologically to where we were in the 1920s. The most notable difference is that alchemy has progressed alongside science.

Progress Level 4. Amestris and its neighbors are in the very early stages of the Industrial Age. Trains, simple automobiles, and firearms exist, but the success of alchemy has slowed technological progress. While talented and sophisticated mechanics can build automail of considerable subtlety, airships are yet unknown and knowledge of biology and chemistry are actually more primitive than we knew them even in the 19th century. Aristotelian chemistry, which described the four basic elements of earth, air, fire, and water has been enough to make alchemy a powerful 'science', but has stopped chemists there. The theory of atoms and elements as we know them has not yet been 'discovered'.

The Prime Plane has the following traits:

• Normal gravity.
• Normal time.
• Alterable morphic.
• No Elemental or Energy Traits (specific locations may have these traits, however)
• Mildly neutral-aligned.
• Limited magic. Magic is limited to Alchemy and, by permission of the GM, spells from the Transmutation school.

The Black Gate (Demiplane)

• Normal gravity.
• Divinely morphic. Alchemy is not known to function around The Black Gate, but the natives of the plane are able to alter the landscape and creatures to some extent.
• Coexistent with the Material Plane. Travel from any point on the Material Plane leads to the 'entry' to the Gate itself.
• Mildly neutral-aligned.
• Limited magic. (describe)
• Self-contained shape. The Black Gate seems to stand at the 'entrance' to a spirit world. Beyond it, little is known. For the purposes of most characters, the plane of the Black Gate is a self-contained sphere. Walking away from the gate will return you to it.
• Timeless.

Natives: Homunculi and hungry spirits are the only creatures known to inhabit the area of the Black Gate.

Science World

Progress Level 4. Science World is in the early stages of the Industrial Age. Trains, firearms, and even simple airplanes are known, and primitive rocketry is being studied. Though atomic theory is still in the future, the idea of four elements and humors have been discredited.

• Normal gravity.
• Normal time.
• Alterable morphic.
• No Elemental or Energy Traits (specific locations may have these traits, however)
• Mildly neutral-aligned.
• Limited Magic. Alchemy does not function in Science World, but magic functions in a standard fashion. Magic is, however, unknown to the denizens of Science World, so learning and casting spells that function will be difficult at best.

Demiplane of Gluttony

The Demiplane of Gluttony is an endless, dark, wasteland. Objects consumed by Gluttony and homonculi with decomposing bite travel here. There is knee-deep blood everywhere and the "ground" is hardened blood.