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The Void Realm is the name given to the mysterious, dark world that was discovered in the year 432. The exact location of this realm is unknown, but some scholars believe that it lies somewhere beyond the land of Oberin – perhaps even in another dimension. The first being to attempt to study this dimension was Marthonis, when the great Rift of 432 appeared in the sky above Foehan. After that catastrophe, the Rift and the Void fell silent,

Aethon Map copy 2

A map of the rifts of 441.

until it was accessed again in 441 by the organization of enchanters known as A.R.D.E.N.T..

The Void Realm is a shadowy and cold place, inhabited by all sorts of dark creatures, such as Phase Serpents, Giant Bats, Poison Beasts, and Blink Hounds. But none of the Void's inhabitants are as fearsome as the Void Beasts, malevolent creatures that can be identified by the cacophony of maniacal whispers that sound out whenever they are near.

It is unknown what connection this Void Realm might have to the Zionidic Plane, from which Phase Serpents and Zionidic Crystals originate. However, the researchers that first accessed the Void in 441 were reported to have been collecting Zionidic Crystals during their experiments.

The Void can currently be accessed from the Voidgate, which was built just outside Foehan in the year 443. The key required to use the portal is a Small Moon Fragment – just make sure to bring an extra one for the return journey. 

It is what lies on the far side of the rift. The rift that is now silent... A very complicated realm. I have not yet fully learnt of its nature. But in a way, it is the inverse of Creation. Whether you believe in God, or Gods, or nothing... there is creation. That within which we lie. All I have yet determined is that it is somehow linked to creation. And malevolent to it. Or an unintended reflection.

Marthonis on the Void Realm, ca. 432 (Source missing)

Discovery[]

A.R.D.E.N.T. is responsible for rediscovering the Void Realm in 441. During their Void campaign, they researched the mysterious realm, and ways they might be able to access it. Not long after this project began, strange small rifts began to appear all over the surface of Oberin, like little vortexes of distorted reality.

Over the next few moon cycles, many adventurers crossed over into the new realm, by way of these vortexes. One one occasion, a group of hunters was sucked into a vortex by Hermit Lake. Inside, they discovered a barricaded structure called East Bastion, guarded by a knight in burning armor – the only human to have ever been encountered within the Void Realm. This knight claimed to be a member of the “Order of Fire”, and a servant of Lord Edgard IV. He also explained that the barricade existed to keep out the Void Beasts. This knight then attempted to detain the intruders, but they escaped and returned to Hermit Lake.

Sometime later, the smaller rifts disappeared, and in their wake emerged several enormous columns of darkness that descended from the skies. This began off the coast of Lerilin, under the Harvest Moon of 441. At the site of the rift, phase serpents and bats and other creatures of shadow came pouring out, wreaking havoc on the coastline.

ARDENT 4 – Lerilin Rift copy

The rift of Lerilin.

The group that came to investigate was sucked in, finding themselves in an immense field of total darkness: the Shadowy Plains.

This group discovered a portal somewhere within, as well as a magical display that listed three other locations in the Void Realm: “Void Outlook”, “Spellfire Armory”, and “Bastion”. Lastly, they discovered that fire was the key to activating the portal and returning home - but the column of darkness remained, alongside the massive rift it had created on the surface.

There were a total of seven of these large rifts. The locations of the others: an island near Andris Bridge, the waters near the hall of the Andris Vanguard, the island of the Children of the Sun, the Poison Island of Marali, the waters near the Volcano, and near Marali Lake. It is worth noting that all of these sites involve bodies of water.

Adventurers exploring the rift by the Children of the Sun discovered another unknown region, this one littered with the remains of a great battle or execution. Several old skeletons were found that appeared to be the remains of Knights from the Order of Fire - one of them clutching a bag of candles. Further explorations in this region turned up the ruins of a large fortress called "Bastion". However, there was also a sign found at the site that read, "first void war cycle 456", implying that some sort of temporal warp had taken place. This group eventually found a portal identical to the one from the Shadowy Plains, and they used it to return home.

ARDENT 5 – Shadowy Plains copy

Lost inside the Shadowy Plains.

Disappearances[]

A few moon cycles later, the seven rifts began to destabilize, and more creatures of shadow poured out. Simultaneously, a formless entity known only as the "Black Shadow" emerged, striking down many of the world leaders of Oberin in the catastrophic Black Shadow Assassinations.

In the midst of this crisis, Senator Morgans of Andris disappeared into the rift by the Andris Vanguard, in the Fighting Moon of 441. And toward the end of that moon, Edgard (the leader of A.R.D.E.N.T.) also became trapped inside the Void. As of late 448, both of these leaders remain stuck inside, without any means of contacting Oberin.

Two years later, A.R.D.E.N.T. completed construction on a portal to the Void Realm: the Voidgate. This Voidgate remains the only secure way to access the Void, as the six rifts mysteriously vanished at some unknown date, leaving no trace behind. Two expeditions into the Voidgate have transpired: one in 443, and one in 446. Neither of these groups found any evidence as to the whereabouts of the missing Edgard and Morgans.

References[]

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