The Void

The Void or "Nether" is an immaterial plan of reality concealing most of the torrential energy of the dormant star at the heart of Zael. It is conceived as a fundamentally chaotic source of near infinite amounts of energy, which can be instrumentalized by mortals under the form of magic, or by the consciousness of Zael, under the form of supernatural intervention. The power of the void is widely known to be untamable, even by superior entities such as the Primordial and Second Gods. The spirit-link, which was forged by the architects, is the only known way to harness this unimaginably mighty power into a stream of energy flowing throughout the plans of reality, which can in turn be manipulated by other beings. Eversince the Divine War, the consciousness of Zael has further locked accessibility to the Void by placing over its borders a virtual protection known as the Nexus, thus greatly weakening the spirit-link and its flow of energy. However, it is speculated the Fall symbolized the end of the Nexus, the Second Gods having finally broken free from their prison. Collisions between the void and the concrete have been remarked eversince.

Origins
While very little is known about the Void in itself, it is generally thought to pre-exist the planet of Zael and most of the stellar beings within the Great Nothing. Notable magis of influential magocratic organizations such as the Crimson Claw and the Black Concordat have described the Void as an "ageless" and universal dimension, that was instrumental in birth of planets and galaxies. Kya-Esh pointed out in his earliest writings that he "sensed the void in the essence of all terrestrial and celestial things", concluding in later essays that it was rather the very fabric of the universe, "the source of everything", than a mere separate dimension.

However, with little scientific evidences to further such hypothesis, the Void as an entity remains vastly mysterious and highly uncomprehensible for mere mortals, who identified it to chaos incarnate in the years of its discovery. Religion as a whole has been more prolific at explaining its existence, but faiths seem to disagree on its true nature and its purpose in the world. In Tyrashi faith, for instance, the Void, otherwise known as "Oro'Gon" (litt. "The pitt") is seen as the ultimate fate off all beings, prompting its believers to live life with unleashed passion, regardless of the consequences. In many Nature-related cults however, returning to the void is seen as a logical and necessary step in one's life, and is considered a mark symbiosis with the world ("Thou shalt always return to thy roots...").

While nothing can be said about other celestial bodies and/or planets, it seems unquestionnable that Zael was forged by the powers streaming from the void