“This is what it means to have power. To walk in the Void is to have journeyed through the darkness between the most distant stars... to have beheld the births of dark suns and borne witness to the entropy of entire worlds.”―Krovo Scrios
A Voidwalker harnessing the entropic power of the Void
The Void was a mysterious cosmic phenomenon, not fully understood by most sapients of the galaxy, although was worshiped as both a cosmic force and a sapient incorporeal entity by the denizens of Otherspace. The origins and nature of the Void are vaguely described on rare occasions and was believed by some to have been one and the same with the anti-Force utilized by the Waru entity, or at least possessed some bond or connection with it.
The Void was an ethereal, esoteric, infinite, entropic and omnipotent source of power. A universal and detectable power, not unlike the Force, the Void nevertheless differed in that its energy field did was not penetrative and binding, but was instead chaotic and tumultuous. Like the Force, some beings were "tethered" to the Void, which signified a unique connection and powerful union with the energy field. Such individuals were capable of manipulating the Void, and were correspondingly known as Voidborn.
The exact nature of the phenomenon of the Void was not fully understood; it was believed by some that the Void was the anomalous manifestation of the dark matter and energy from the vast vacuum of space. Others believed it to be a metaphysical dimension unto itself, separate from realspace or even Otherspace. Still others believed it referred to all space, the literal distance between all mass, matter and energy in the universe. Another view was held by the Jedi Order and some among the Sith that the Void was referred specifically to the literal absence of life and the Force, a theory which was further supported in that it explained the nature of Void occluses.
Origins[]
We knew it was our destiny to bask in [the Force's] brilliance, architects of its immense power. Perhaps it would have been, had we quelled our inquisitive minds and not beckoned to the Hollow One's call. How foolish we were! As arrogant children tampering with a force beyond our comprehension. But how could we have known?
—Epizon
The Kathol were the first sapients to have discovered the Void and its Presence.
Very little was revealed about the origins, if any existed at all, of the Void. According to Krovo Scrios, the Harbinger of the Charon Dominion, the Void had always been in existence, and the Presence spawned by the Void was ancient enough to have witnessed the creation of the realspace galaxy.
The first known contact between the Void and sapient life was through the ancient Kathol species of the Pre-Republic galaxy. A scientifically-motivated civilization, the Kathol discovered the Otherspace galaxy and its dark world, which they used as the staging ground for their extensive research with dimensional technologies and the Force. Through a tragic undertaking of empirical experimentation, costing the lives of tens of thousands of Kathol, the Kathol were responsible for creating the first "breach" in the realspace galaxy, later identified as a Void occlus, and through its creation, came into direct contact with the Void and its "Hollow Voice", the Kathol's moniker for the Presence.
The Kathol immediately abandoned the Menhir, the research facility created by them on the dark world within Otherspace, and successively sealed the Chasm they'd created which bridged the two galaxies. In spite of their retaliatory measures, the Kathol's actions enabled the Void to anchor its existence within the realspace galaxy. In addition, the Kathol later discovered that their actions, which spawned the Void into the realspace galaxy, induced a degenerative process; when a massive quantity of lives became lost, or the loss of many with particularly strong life essences, the Void was able to "slip" into the gap in the Force that was created, causing more "wounds" or occluses. For the vast majority of galactic history, wounds in the Force would prove to be a mystery to Jedi and Sith alike, until the discoveries made during the Extant War.
Among the denizens of the galaxy, much debate historically surrounded the nature of, and even the existence of, the Void. Contact with the presence of the Void, as well as Voidborn, were scarce throughout known galactic history, before the existence of the Hellmouth. To the greater galactic community, these individuals were typically called "Force Blanks" by the Jedi Order, who at the time did not comprehend the individuals' uncanny existence outside of the Force. On at least one occasion, Voidborn were mistaken as simply being Force-sensitives that were extremely adept at concealing their presence in the Force.
Events surrounding the presence of the Void were more common, and almost always associated with an influx in a sudden mass of deaths. To the Jedi and Sith, these anomalies were called "Wounds in the Force". Such events included the catastrophic massacre at Nathema, the destruction of Malachor V, the devastation of Katarr, and arguably the most grandiose of these, the annihilation of Alderaan. A Voidborn's ties to the Void often become stronger when near these "wounds", which were known to them as a Void occlus, not unlike a Force-sensitive becoming stronger when in proximity to a Force nexus.
Aspects and philosophies[]
Void of Oblivion[]
Know this, the greatest paradox of the will of the Void; that we must live so that all others may die. One with the Void is the fate of the living, for what else is the destiny of all life, except unto oblivion?
—Krovo Scrios
A Savant adherent of the Void of Oblivion
To the vast majority of the denizens within Otherspace, the Void was the destiny of where all life inevitably concluded, neither good or evil as most consider the concepts, and was considered to be the astral manifestation of nihility; the paradoxical nothingness in manifested form. Unlike the Force, which was viewed in many different aspects, there was only one significant religious philosophy surrounding the Void, an aspect which was called the Void of Oblivion. Voidborn that draw their power often claim to do so from "oblivion".
The Void of Oblivion dealt nothing in moralities, positive emotions or negative emotions, distinctions between actions of good or evil nature, or personal traits and characteristics such as cowardice, courage, aggression, benevolence, hatred or love. Adherents to the Void of Oblivion, often called "oblivites", believed that the ultimate goal of all life was death, and that only in death, with all life embracing oblivion and returning to the void of nothingness from which all life sprang, could harmony with the entity of the Void be achieved. Indeed, common greetings or wishes of good fortune were "the Void stand with you" or "walk always in the Void", common battle cries were "oblivion awaits" or "to oblivion", and a common explicative curse was "the Void consume you". Ironically, "may the Force be with you" also because a curse of sorts in a mocking tone of what the phrase intended.
Void of Animus[]
A young Savelle Ulesari, devotee to the Void of Animus
Originally branded as the Cult of Light, the Void of Animus was regarded as a heretical deviation from the more mainstream Void of Oblivion. The movement of cult endured only very briefly in Otherspace, as conflict between the two philosophies saw the near-total destruction of the Animites. The religious conflict that erupted became known as the Charon Civil War, and saw its abrupt conclusion when the remnant of Animites managed to escape Otherspace through a dimensional fissure, and entered into the realspace galaxy. In a desperate assault over the Charon homeworld of Erebus, the Animites fled Otherspace after they created a dual hyperspace and phase space singularity, which would later be transformed into the Hellmouth. Following the end of the brief civil war, the Animites fully embraced their spiritual aspect of the Void.
Commonly believed to have shared characteristics with the Light Side of the force, the Void of Animus contrasted with the Void of Oblivion in that oneness with the Void was thought seen as being achievable only through universal balance, manifest both in one's actions and on the spiritual level of the individual. Quiescence, and to a degree, abeyance, were often considered to be defining attributes of the Animites. However, it was not seen taken to the degree of outright stagnation or repose.
The Animites saw some actions as inherently stabilizing and some inherently destabilizing to the balance of the galaxy, regardless of the terms "good" or "bad". In many ways, the teachings of the Animites often contradicted the nature of the Void itself. Actions that introduced discord or ataxia were considered to be destabilizing elements. Concepts such as warfare or political strife, for instance, were shunned by the Animites, while preserving life and cultural, social or political standards were pursued by them. Like the Charon, emotional deadening was still the manner in which Animites tapped the deepest into their potential, although it had often been misunderstood as that the Animites were stoics or apathetic. Although the Animites worshiped the Void, their relationship with regards to the Presence is unknown.
Void abilities[]
It feels... powerful. But not like the Force. The Force is intensity, it burns like the stars. But this feels frigid, like the coldest expanse of dark space.
—Xaga Terron
A youthful Krovo Scrios displaying the Void power of psychokinesis
Unique supernatural abilities were accessible to trained individuals that were tethered to the Void, manifested in both the physical and metaphysical nature. Through mental focus, emotional absence and sheer willpower, certain individuals were capable of astonishing feats, such as psychokinesis, augmented physical attributes and transcendental sensory perceptions. In some avenues, the abilities accessible through the Void were similar to some abilities attainable through the Force. However, it was known that the powers provided by the Void were significantly more limited than the virtually infinite effects potentially producible by the Force. Telepathy was one such instance noted early on as being an advantage not shared by the Voidborn.
Nevertheless, the powers of the Void were abnormally effective in defeating the abilities, and even canceling the presence, of the Force. According to the Sith Queen Jasael, those that wielded the Void were likened to natural predators of Force-sensitives. With very rare exceptions, Voidborn were impossible to detect through the Force in a manner that exceeded even the Force-absent Yuuzhan Vong, due to their status of being "Force-dead". Coupled with the frequent ability displayed in which a Voidborn was capable of deadening the Force in their proximity to the degree that even lightsabers would cease to function, the Charon Savants proved early on to be nigh-perfect Jedi and Sith slayers.
The powers a Voidborn was capable of utilizing were often determined by the time of their birth; the more powerful a Voidborn was, the stronger the abilities they could employ. Voidwalkers of weaker prowess could typically accomplish little more than extrasensory perception. Those of moderate strength were capable of more varied abilities, such augmenting their healing process or teleportation. Voidborn of exceptional potential were capable of glimpsing episodic visions of various possible futures, with more potential futures made visible depending on how powerful the user was. Krovo Scrios, the Harbinger of the Charon, and Savelle Ulesari, one of the three Logos during the Extant War, were both capable of seeing visions of the future, and were likewise both considered to be amongst the most powerful wielders of the Void of their time.
There were relatively few inhabitants of the realspace galaxy that were capable of harnessing the power of the Void, with galactic historical records only having classified any two individuals within a given generation. In contrast, the occurrence of sapients tethered to the Void in Otherspace were significantly higher. As scientific study into the nature of the Void was considered heresy by the Charon Voidborn, the manner of which one is connected to the Void, or how strongly a connection would be, is not understood, such as Force-sensitives being linked to a high count of internal micro-organisms called midi-chlorians that were found in the Force-sensitive's blood.
Disruptions and abnormalities in the Void[]
One side calls us 'tainted'. The other deems us 'mongrels'. But I see us for what we truly are. I see us for what we could aspire to be. Neither Sith nor Savant... something greater. Something only ones such as we can become.
—Sith King Koldun V to Xaga Terron
The Logos were considered to be unnatural manifestations in the Void
In extraordinarily rare happenstances, events that transpire either through or against the Void can spell effects that cascade through its presence, which was detectable by those tethered to the Void. Spelling effects varying from headaches and vertigo to the inducing of legarthy and even a comatose state, all depending on the severity of the event and the depth of the Voidborn's connection to the Void, such events were known as disruptions. Disruptions were the rippling effects through the Void that inevitably touched all that were tethered to it.
Because of the entropic state of the Void, very few events could affect, and thereby cause disruptions, within it. Certain instances in which the Presence communed with a Voidborn, usually the Harbinger, caused some degree of disruption in the Void due to the Presence's imposing of stability and order, which was required in order for it to manifest. More severe disruptions were discovered to have occurred and impacted the Voidborn following the Jedi Order's experiment to "heal" a wound in the Force. The sealing of a Void occlus, which effectively served to impose stability and life where the Void had previously existed with entropy and the absence of life, delivered a surge through the Void that affected all Voidborn in the realspace galaxy.
Although seen as the most significant events of the Void, there were also considered what was known as abnormalities in the Void. The only known instances of these were the existence of the Logos; Force-sensitives that later bonded also with the Void. Dubbed 'mongrels' by the Savant Caste, the natural Voidborn of the Charon Dominion were known to have relayed the sensing of the Logos as being 'foul' and 'repulsive', which were sentiments shared also by as least some Force-sensitives as well, specifically among the Sith Hegemony.
Established Void institutions[]
Due to the rarity of Voidborn in the realspace galaxy and the dominance of the Charon in the Otherspace galaxy, only two traditions centered around the Void had been established by the time of the Extant War. However, as was discovered following the Siege of the Sky Vault of the Third Imperium, it was believed that more Voidborn were being born in the realspace galaxy, which would inevitably have, in time, resulted in the increase of more religions and practices that capitalized on the Void, as opposed to the Force.
- Savant Caste
- Animites
- Logos (dually Void and Force institution)
Behind the scenes[]
The concept of the Void was an inspired three-part amalgamation of the Void from the StarCraft universe, and the anti-Force and Void in the Force phenomena of the Star Wars Legends continuity. Much of the phenomena related to the Void was also, and deliberately, based on similar analogues in the Force.