The Void

A primordial realm from outside the material world, whose corrupting influence is served by the Void Dragon—a separate entity, not a physical manifestation of the corruption itself.

In the lore of Divinity: Original Sin, the Void is defined not as a specific character or deity, but as a primordial realm or dimension that exists outside the material world. It is not inherently evil, but it is a corrupting force in itself—not a separate entity that taints Source magic. Creatures corrupted by the Void are known as 'Void-woken', a term describing the corrupted beings themselves, not a form of corrupted Source. The narrative reveals that a separate entity known as the Void Dragon serves the Void, but is not the corruption taking physical form. The God Box was created and sealed by the seven Source Hunters (the original Divine Order) under the leadership of the Divine—who is one of the seven, not a separate figure—and Astarte was one of those seven Source Hunters involved in its sealing.

Quick Facts

Affiliation: The Void (Self)

Lore & Background

This corruption is served by the Void Dragon, a separate entity—not the corruption itself taking physical form. Astarte was one of the seven Source Hunters who sealed the God Box, and after the Trife persuaded her to open it, she battled the released Void Dragon for eternity in the Void. The protagonists are the reincarnated souls of the original seven Source Hunters themselves—not ancient generals—who once imprisoned the corruption inside an artifact called 'the God Box'. Their lost memories are recovered through the Godwoken journey, not as crystallized fragments found as Star Stones. When a demonic being named 'the Trife' manipulated Astarte into opening the Box, the corruption was released again, and the Void Dragon emerged to serve it.

Reader's Guide

To understand the Void in Divinity: Original Sin, players must recognize it as an external evil force rather than a traditional antagonist with dialogue. Its primary manifestation is through the corruption of Source magic and the summoning of the Void Dragon via the Trife's manipulation of Leandra. The narrative turning point occurs when the Source Hunters learn from Star Stones that their past lives were guardians who sealed this force in the God Box. Defeating the threat requires reaching the First Garden, confronting Leandra, and fighting the Void Dragon alongside Astarte to reseal the corruption.

Origins and Crowdfunding Success

Divinity: Original Sin was developed by Larian Studios as the fourth main entry in the series, acting as a prequel to Divine Divinity. The project received partial funding through a Kickstarter campaign launched on March 27, 2013. By April 26 of that year, the campaign raised nearly $950,000, bringing the total budget over $1,000,000 against a final budget of €4 million. Although delayed from an intended late 2013 release, the game launched on Microsoft Windows on June 30, 2014. It ships with a modding editor allowing players to create and publish their own adventures.

Core Mechanics and Player Agency

The game features turn-based action and cooperative multiplayer where two customizable heroes act as Source Hunters. In single-player mode, one person controls both characters, while in co-op, each player manages one hero. The gameplay revolves around an interactive world and the use of a modding tool included with the game. A re-release titled Divinity: Original Sin - Enhanced Edition was released in 2015 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Linux, and OS X, featuring an expanded storyline and new gameplay options.

Narrative Arc and Mythological Depth

The plot begins with Source Hunters investigating a murder in Cyseal, leading them to uncover a conspiracy by the Immaculates cult led by Leandra. They travel through Hiberheim and the Luculla Mines, discovering that Leandra uses tenebrium and Source magic to create indestructible Death Knights. The narrative reveals the protagonists are reincarnated guardians of the God Box, which contains the corruption released by the Trife. Their journey culminates in the First Garden where they confront the Void Dragon summoned by the Trife, eventually banishing it back into the box with Astarte's help.

Critical Reception and Franchise Legacy

Divinity: Original Sin received generally favorable reception from critics, with many praising its modernization of the RPG genre. It was Larian Studios' highest-rated game on Metacritic until Divinity: Original Sin II released in 2017. The game sold over 160,000 copies within a week and exceeded 500,000 by September 2014. GameSpot named it the PC Game of the Year, and it was nominated for 'Role-Playing/Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year' at the 18th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.