Ethereal Void

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.

The Ethereal Void was first encountered in Ultima IV, by way of the the Shrine of Spirituality. Similar instances followed in Ultima V and Ultima VI, with the Void taking on its familiar appearance in the latter title and finding itself host to the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom at the conclusion. In Ultima Underworld II, a vastly different form of the Void was traversed, consisting of blue, orange, red, yellow and purple zones. Arguably, its most significant appearance came in Ultima VII Part Two, wherein it formed a substantial portion of the lore and, upon the restoration of Balance to Serpent Isle, served as the stage for the Guardian's abduction of the Avatar to the world of Pagan.

Following this event, the Ethereal Void featured in Ultima VIII as a hub to access the respective domains of the four Elemental Titans, all of whom the Avatar was to defeat.

In Ultima IX, the Avatar returned to the Void to restore the desecrated Shrine of Spirituality.

Shrine of Spirituality


The Shrine of Spirituality rests on a floating dais in the Ethereal Void. As the sole method by which one arrives or departs is via moongate, the shrine is adorned by a perennial exit gate leading back to the terrestrial realm.

The shrine itself has changed little throughout its history. During the time of Ultima VII, it notably served as a prison for the Time Lord at the hands of the Guardian. In Ultima Underworld II, it was one of his places of power and housed a Blackrock Gem.

The surroundings of the shrine in Ultima IX differed from the bespangled ambience of prior installments, instead resembling a vast, misty cavern. While here, the Avatar met the ghost of Dupre, as well as any other companions who were slain as Wyrmguard.

Meditating at the shrine, the traveler has to chant the mantra, om, to find enlightenment in the ways of Spirituality.

Dark Path


The Dark Path is a huge network of interconnected passageways residing in the Ethereal Void.

It was constructed by the Hierophants under guidance from the three Serpents to facilitate swift, convenient travel between the various shrines and temples on Serpent Isle. In conjunction with a Serpent Jawbone, it is possible to use one of many Serpent Gates to teleport to the hub of these passageways. Each tooth in the jawbone enables admission to a particular Serpent Gate on the Dark Path, which in turn leads back to its corresponding location on Serpent Isle itself.

The Avatar exploited the Dark Path's network in Ultima VII Part Two as a means to travel unhindered around Serpent Isle. For a map of the Dark Path and the location of the required Serpent Teeth, see Dark Path Help.

Dream Realm


The Dream Realm is one or many domains of unconscious reality encountered in various forms in Martian Dreams, Ultima Underworld II and Ultima VII Part Two. A person's psyche may be quite literally transported there whilst in a slumber, whether natural or induced by other means. It has generally taken the appearance of large, floating landmasses or pathways and often contains dream analogs of actual environments found in the physical world. Other people may be found there simultaneously experiencing their own dreams and can be veritably interacted with as if they were face-to-face.

In Martian Dreams, the Realm was accessed through the Dream Machines. The Martian race had fled there and the Avatar undertook the task of defeating the evil Raxachk, who had taken control over it. It was also there that the Avatar found a way to destroy him.

Its presence in Ultima Underworld II was somewhat more figurative, appearing as a way to interact with the Ethereal Void itself. Eating a Dream Herb and sleeping would induce a dream vision of the Shrine of Spirituality. The Avatar then travelled there physically—even as others found there persisted in a state of dreaming—through the Blackrock Jewel in order to destroy the Guardian's place of power and find a Blackrock Gem, all the while overcoming dangerous Gazers, Daemons and Brain Creatures.

In Ultima VII Part Two, the Avatar was transported to the Dream Realm through a rift in Gorlab Swamp and liberated the souls of the inhabitants of old Gorlab from the tyranny of the evil mage Rabindranath, enabling passage through the boggy marshes upon reawakening.

Mythran's House
Mythran of Pagan, a powerful mage, thrust the interior of his house into the Ethereal Void and was later visited by the Avatar in Ultima VIII. Mythran himself, however, considered this feat as nothing particularly extraordinary and wondered how the Avatar could think of it as fantastic. 

Ethereal Plane
The Ethereal Plane is a vast platform floating in the Void. At its center lies a great stone pentagram, the sole purpose of which is to provide a foundation for the blackrock Obelisk of Pagan. The sovereign elemental planes of the four Titans Lithos, Hydros, Stratos and Pyros are accessed through teleport gates found there.

The platform is infested with changelings; regardless, the Avatar was able to use the pentagram to reconstruct the Obelisk and ultimately depart Pagan.

Ultima VII

 * Time Lord

Ultima Underworld II

 * Prinx
 * Rawstag
 * Spiritual Imp
 * Xorinite Wisp

Ultima VII Part Two

 * Chaos Serpent
 * Great Earth Serpent
 * Order Serpent

Ultima VIII

 * Hydros
 * Lithos
 * Mythran
 * Pyros
 * Stratos

Ultima IX

 * Dupre
 * The Companions of the Avatar