In generations past, the features of the ethereal void were known to its travelers as the shapes inside one's house. In the bosom of ether could be found a spiritual weightlessness that cleansed the mind of its many and tiny woes. The assumptions of our world sag outward in the void to link the past with the distant, to connect Old Sosaria with the worlds of tomorrow. In the void, one travels as if by thought, yet sees neither friend nor foe. For the uninitiated, a journey through the void can change one's view of life itself.
The Ethereal Void, also known as the Vortex, is an all-encompassing celestial framework within which the cosmos is bound. It has been a major presence throughout the Ultima series, enveloping its many worlds and dimensions and drawing vast power from the life-forces of each. Superficially, it is perhaps best described as resembling outer space, yet entirely habitable to forms of life. A higher plane of existence, the Void cannot be reached by physical travel; it is permeated by magic and accessible only by such means. Nevertheless, a number of beings, objects and artificial constructs find their places in this astral domain.