The Void-Touched are enigmatic beings, shrouded in mystery and terror, whose very existence defies mortal understanding. Few, if any, can claim to have interacted with a Void-Touched and returned to tell the tale in full, for they represent something far beyond the realms of material existence and reason. These strange entities, seemingly made of immaterial space and cosmic energy, are believed to be bound to the Void of Infinitum, also known as the Infinite Layers of The Abyss.
Origins and Transformation
Though the true origins of the Void-Touched remain unknown, what is understood is that they were once beings who somehow came into contact with the Void of Infinitum, losing themselves in the endless layers of chaos and madness that comprise that realm. Whatever they were before—mortals, deities, or something else—was erased when they encountered the abyss. In the Void, all sense of identity, form, and sanity is stripped away, leaving only fragments of consciousness warped by the influence of Khaos.
Some scholars hypothesize that the Void-Touched may have once been human or elven, or possibly other humanoid races, but they have been utterly transformed by their exposure to the Void. Others claim that they are beings beyond the reach of the known cosmos, touched by the will of Azhorra'tha, the Watcher in the Abyss, and made into vessels for its incomprehensible plans.
Appearance
Visually, Void-Touched resemble distorted echoes of their original humanoid forms, but their bodies are no longer made of flesh, blood, or even physical substance. Instead, they appear as collections of stars, nebulas, and cosmic energy in vaguely humanoid shapes. They shift and ripple like the night sky, with their forms constantly in flux, as though the very fabric of reality is unable to fully contain them. Their appearance is mesmerizing yet deeply unsettling, invoking feelings of unease in all who witness them.
Despite their immaterial nature, the Void-Touched often possess a haunting grace, their movements fluid and dreamlike, as if they are perpetually in between worlds. At times, they seem almost transparent, blending seamlessly with their surroundings, and in other moments, they stand out starkly, as if the very universe around them recoils from their presence.
Acolytes of Azhorra’tha
It is widely believed that the Void-Touched are servants of Azhorra'tha, the Watcher in the Abyss, though whether they act knowingly or simply as puppets of his will remains unclear. They seem to exist only to fulfill the dark dreams and chaotic desires of the eldritch being. Their very presence is often considered an omen of great catastrophe, and sightings of Void-Touched are said to precede the eruption of Khaos into the world.
The Void-Touched communicate in an ancient, forgotten language that few, if any, still understand. It is a language of madness and entropy, a form of speech that reflects the formless chaos of the Void itself. Some who hear their words claim that it seeps into their minds, planting seeds of confusion and insanity. Only other Void-Touched or beings deeply connected to the Void seem capable of understanding this language, and its mere utterance can drive mortals to the brink of madness.
Signs and Omens
To encounter a Void-Touched is considered a grave omen. These beings are viewed as harbingers of doom, their appearance signaling an impending catastrophe born from the tides of Khaos. Their connection to the Void makes them both unpredictable and dangerous, as they represent forces of chaos and madness beyond mortal comprehension.
In dreams, the appearance of a Void-Touched is often interpreted as a warning, though such warnings come in the form of nightmares too fragmented to be understood. It is said that to dream of a Void-Touched is to stand on the precipice of a great calamity, whether it be the collapse of an empire, the rise of a great evil, or the awakening of Azhorra'tha himself.
Nature and Purpose
What drives the Void-Touched is unclear, and their motives, if they possess any, are unknowable. Some theorize that they have no true will of their own, acting as mindless extensions of the Watcher’s will. Others suggest that they retain fragments of their former selves, but those fragments are twisted and corrupted beyond recognition, leaving only madness and chaos in their wake.
Despite their inscrutability, one thing is certain: the Void-Touched are not to be trifled with. Their very existence challenges the boundaries of reality, and their presence signifies the ever-looming threat of Khaos—forces that threaten to unmake the world as it is known. To see a Void-Touched is to gaze into the abyss—and for the abyss to gaze back.