The Void (and as Edgar pointed out, it goes by many names in the game) is the realm between realms. Think of it like this:
It's the empty space between this world and the next. So when Aether leaves the Physical Plane (our world) it is carried through the Lifestream to Silvertear Lake, the fount of all aether in the world, where it passes to the Aetherial Plane (the afterlife) before it is recycled back into our world to create new life.
But only so much Aether can travel between worlds at a time, and this is called the Aetherial Threshold. When that threshold is breached, some aether remains trapped in this world or slips into the Void and feeds the aether-starved creatures living there.
Fernehalwes also mentions that these two planes of existance, the Aetherial Plane and the Physical Plane are in a constant state of flux, moving back and forth and occasionally meeting, which tears holes in our plane of existence, allowing creatures of the Void, or "Voidsent" to enter this world.
Holes can also be opened from our end by way of Black Magic. While the exact process is never described in game, we do know that Black Mages are able to rip holes in our plane and summon Voidsent through them. It may be because Black Magic kills the world immediately around the caster, causing a massive aether shift between Planes, but that's just speculation on my part.
The Void itself is believed to be comprised of Twelve distinct tiers or hierarchies. Think Dante's Inferno or the Hierarchy of Angels and Demons in Judeo-Christian demonology. The closer the number is to 1, the more powerful and dangerous the Voidsent in that Tier become. Also, the more Aether-starved or Aether-hungry they become. Meaning they really really want into this world to feed on our aether, because there is none in the Void.
Sharlayan is a nation of scholars and theologians hailing from the North Seas (The Bloodbrine). They value knowledge above all else and their patron deity is Thaliak, the Scholar. They observe and chronicle the world around them and are greatly responsible for most of our knowledge of Eras past.
Some time ago, in order to better study Eorzea, the Sharlayans built a new city-state (also called Sharlayan just to confuse everyone) just north of Dravania. This is the "Sharlayan" you can see on the Eorzean Map. However, twenty years ago, after the fall of Ala Mhigo and Sharlayan's failed negotiation attempts with the Garlean Empire, the Sharlayans of Eorzea abandoned the city-state and returned north to their Island Sharlayan home in the Bloodbrine Sea.
There are several organizations and people of import hailing from Sharlayan, including the Circle of Knowing, the Sons of Saint Coinach, the Ironheart family, and the Students of Baldesion.
In regards to the Students of Baldesion, we know that they attend a great school called the Studium, located on the Isle of Val. However, during part of the MSQ, the entire Isle of Val mysteriously vanishes without cause or trace. We do not yet know the Students' fates. We also do not know if the Isle of Val was the island on which the nation of Sharlayan was also located or if the Studium was on a separate island from the main city-state. However, considering a Sharlayan colleague of the Scions named Moenbryda arrives from Sharlayan in 2.4 (two whole patches after the disappearance of the Isle of Val), it is safe to assume the city-state of Sharlayan and the Studium are located on separate islands. Possibly a Limsa Lominsa type setup or perhaps Cieldalaes. Don't know. No map. Maybe 3.0, who knows.
Anyways! I hope this helps! ^^ Lemme know if you have more questions. Below I've left some more lore snippets about the Void and Voidsent.
______________________THE AETHERIAL PLANE__________________________
The Void
_______________________THE PHYSICAL PLANE__________________________
The Void
_______________________THE PHYSICAL PLANE__________________________
It's the empty space between this world and the next. So when Aether leaves the Physical Plane (our world) it is carried through the Lifestream to Silvertear Lake, the fount of all aether in the world, where it passes to the Aetherial Plane (the afterlife) before it is recycled back into our world to create new life.
But only so much Aether can travel between worlds at a time, and this is called the Aetherial Threshold. When that threshold is breached, some aether remains trapped in this world or slips into the Void and feeds the aether-starved creatures living there.
Fernehalwes also mentions that these two planes of existance, the Aetherial Plane and the Physical Plane are in a constant state of flux, moving back and forth and occasionally meeting, which tears holes in our plane of existence, allowing creatures of the Void, or "Voidsent" to enter this world.
Holes can also be opened from our end by way of Black Magic. While the exact process is never described in game, we do know that Black Mages are able to rip holes in our plane and summon Voidsent through them. It may be because Black Magic kills the world immediately around the caster, causing a massive aether shift between Planes, but that's just speculation on my part.
The Void itself is believed to be comprised of Twelve distinct tiers or hierarchies. Think Dante's Inferno or the Hierarchy of Angels and Demons in Judeo-Christian demonology. The closer the number is to 1, the more powerful and dangerous the Voidsent in that Tier become. Also, the more Aether-starved or Aether-hungry they become. Meaning they really really want into this world to feed on our aether, because there is none in the Void.
Sharlayan is a nation of scholars and theologians hailing from the North Seas (The Bloodbrine). They value knowledge above all else and their patron deity is Thaliak, the Scholar. They observe and chronicle the world around them and are greatly responsible for most of our knowledge of Eras past.
Some time ago, in order to better study Eorzea, the Sharlayans built a new city-state (also called Sharlayan just to confuse everyone) just north of Dravania. This is the "Sharlayan" you can see on the Eorzean Map. However, twenty years ago, after the fall of Ala Mhigo and Sharlayan's failed negotiation attempts with the Garlean Empire, the Sharlayans of Eorzea abandoned the city-state and returned north to their Island Sharlayan home in the Bloodbrine Sea.
There are several organizations and people of import hailing from Sharlayan, including the Circle of Knowing, the Sons of Saint Coinach, the Ironheart family, and the Students of Baldesion.
In regards to the Students of Baldesion, we know that they attend a great school called the Studium, located on the Isle of Val. However, during part of the MSQ, the entire Isle of Val mysteriously vanishes without cause or trace. We do not yet know the Students' fates. We also do not know if the Isle of Val was the island on which the nation of Sharlayan was also located or if the Studium was on a separate island from the main city-state. However, considering a Sharlayan colleague of the Scions named Moenbryda arrives from Sharlayan in 2.4 (two whole patches after the disappearance of the Isle of Val), it is safe to assume the city-state of Sharlayan and the Studium are located on separate islands. Possibly a Limsa Lominsa type setup or perhaps Cieldalaes. Don't know. No map. Maybe 3.0, who knows.
Anyways! I hope this helps! ^^ Lemme know if you have more questions. Below I've left some more lore snippets about the Void and Voidsent.
