Ethereal Void
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It is really difficult to describe what the Ethereal Void is. It looks like space, but actually people can live within it. The best explanation would be, that it is somehow an alternate dimension connected to magic, and only accessible through magical means. Despite this, the Void is far from empty, there are quite a number of constructs in there.
The Ethereal Void was first visited in Ultima IV, with the Shrine of Spirituality. The same in Ultima V and VI, but only in Ultima VI, the Void got its final apperance. In Ultima Underworld II, a vastly different part of the Void was visited. In Ultima VII/2 and VIII, the Void again was visited. Actually, the Guardian abducted the Avatar from the Void at the end of Ultima VII/2.
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[edit] Shrine of Spirituality
The Shrine of Spirituality rests on a floating platform in the Ethereal Void, a masterpiece of construction by the mages of Britannia. The only way to enter, and exit from shrine is through a Moongate. Thankfully, an exit Moongate is always available at the shrine.
The shrine changed only little in its history. During the time of Ultima VII, it was the place, where the Time Lord was imprisoned and the Avatar had the task of freeing him from his prison. It is unknown if the shrine seen in Ultima Underworld II is the real shrine of Spirituality, or a dream-image of it. The question remains unanswered. There is an Imp flying just outside the shrine which can be talked. One of its lines mentions that not even Time Lord was able to escape from it. That gives light to the question of shrine being real.
The surroundings of the Shrine in Ultima IX are radically different from all other installments.
Meditating at the shrine, the traveler has to chant the mantra "OM", to find the ways of Spirituality.
[edit] Dark Path
A huge platform construction floating in the Ethereal Void.
The Dark Path was constructed by the Hierophants with the aid of the three Serpents. It enables fast travel between different locations on Serpent Isle. With the help of a Serpent Jawbone, it is possible to use a Serpent Gate to teleport to the platform. Having the right tooth in the jawbone opens the right gates to the Serpent Gates on the Dark Path, which in return led back to various points on the Serpent Isle.
The Avatar used the Dark Path in Ultima VII/2 to travel fast over the Serpent Isle. For a map of the Dark Path and the location of the needed Serpent Teeth, see Dark Path Help.
[edit] Dream World
A really strange place visited in Ultima Underworld II, Serpent Isle and Martian Dreams. People can appear there when dreaming. It is a strange place of floating paths and gateways. In Ultima Underworld II it actually separated into five different zones: Blue, Orange, Red, Yellow and Purple. A dream image of the Shrine of Spirituality also exists there. The place is dangerous, because the Gazers, Daemons and Brain Creatures there are quite real, having found this to be a good place to live.
The Avatar visited this place in Underworld II to destroy the place of power and find the Blackrock gem. There were two ways of visiting the Dream World in this game: by eating a Dream Herb and then sleeping, or by physically visiting via the Blackrock Gem.
In Serpent Isle the Avatar visited this place through a rift in Gorlab Swamp. He/she had to free the souls of the inhabitants of Gorlab from the tyranny of the evil mage Rabindranath to free the way through the swamp.
In Martian Dreams it was accessed through the Dream Machines. The martian race had fled here and the Avatar had to defeat the evil Raxachk, who has taken control over it. It was also in the dream world, where the Avatar found a way to destroy Raxachk.
[edit] Mythran's House
Mythran in Pagan is a really powerful mage, so he had pulled the interior of his house into the Ethereal Void. The Avatar visited it in Ultima VIII. Mythran himself however considers this feat as nothing extraordinary at all, wondering how the Avatar could think of it as fantastic.
[edit] Realm of the Titans
A platform floating in the Ethereal Void. In its middle is a great pentagram, whose only purpose is to be the base for the Obelisk of Pagan. Also, the private elemental planes of the four Titans Lithos, Hydros, Stratos and Pyros can be found here, accessible through teleport gates.
The platform is infested with Changelings, yet the Avatar used the pentagram to recreate the Obelisk to leave Pagan behind.
