I've been reading up on this today, and writing about it a bit. Every Diablo site I've visited insists that these two places are separate, yet they have many similarities. They seem to function as prisons, and are feared even by the most powerful beings in the Diablo mythos. Yet both seem to be escapable, since Lilith was able to escape the Void and return to Sanctuary. And even though Tyrael states that Diablo and Mephisto were "banished back to the Black Abyss that spawned them" at the end of Act 4, we know that Diablo at least escaped since he's a boss in D3.
I've been mulling it over and the only major difference I can see is that the Void is "outside the universe", a vacuum of total isolation, while the Abyss seems to be a part of Hell, albeit a primordial one that's scary even to the lords of that realm. Of course, I might be missing a lot.
No, but seriously (That wasn't self-plugging, I swear!)
I don't think the Void is anything specific, whereas the Abyss clearly is. Though, often times, I find that they are purposefully vague with this metaphysical stuff.
Well you're right in that we don't know a whole lot about them. There's more to it than that though.
The Void, like you said, is some sort of vacuum, but clearly not just very far away since there are no stars visible, ahough extrapolating conclusions about a fantasy world using astrophysics might be a bit foolish.
In any case, Mendeln is still very much alive when he's sent there, as is Rathma and Lilith as well. But the Abyss is only ever mentioned as a place where demons go after dying. That's the chief difference between the two as far as we can tell at this point.
As for what the Abyss is, we really don't know. The only thing we know is that Diablo and Mephisto are probably there, and if D2 lore is still accurate Izual's demonic body migth have come from there. Though since demons now have a clear creator in the husk of Tathamet, that's uncertain.
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Well you're right in that we don't know a whole lot about them. There's more to it than that though.
The Void, like you said, is some sort of vacuum, but clearly not just very far away since there are no stars visible, ahough extrapolating conclusions about a fantasy world using astrophysics might be a bit foolish.
In any case, Mendeln is still very much alive when he's sent there, as is Rathma and Lilith as well. But the Abyss is only ever mentioned as a place where demons go after dying. That's the chief difference between the two as far as we can tell at this point.
As for what the Abyss is, we really don't know. The only thing we know is that Diablo and Mephisto are probably there, and if D2 lore is still accurate Izual's demonic body migth have come from there. Though since demons now have a clear creator in the husk of Tathamet, that's uncertain.
Good points, and ones I hadn't considered. Although I had wondered if the Abyss didn't somehow form around the corpse of Tathamet, and the rest of the Burning Hells formed from there. It would be the polar opposite of the Crystal Arch in the High Heavens, with the rest of that realm growing from that "point of flux", if you will.
I've been mulling it over and the only major difference I can see is that the Void is "outside the universe", a vacuum of total isolation, while the Abyss seems to be a part of Hell, albeit a primordial one that's scary even to the lords of that realm. Of course, I might be missing a lot.
Thoughts?
No, but seriously (That wasn't self-plugging, I swear!)
I don't think the Void is anything specific, whereas the Abyss clearly is. Though, often times, I find that they are purposefully vague with this metaphysical stuff.
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http://outofthevoidp...ns.blogspot.com
The Void, like you said, is some sort of vacuum, but clearly not just very far away since there are no stars visible, ahough extrapolating conclusions about a fantasy world using astrophysics might be a bit foolish.
In any case, Mendeln is still very much alive when he's sent there, as is Rathma and Lilith as well. But the Abyss is only ever mentioned as a place where demons go after dying. That's the chief difference between the two as far as we can tell at this point.
As for what the Abyss is, we really don't know. The only thing we know is that Diablo and Mephisto are probably there, and if D2 lore is still accurate Izual's demonic body migth have come from there. Though since demons now have a clear creator in the husk of Tathamet, that's uncertain.
Good points, and ones I hadn't considered. Although I had wondered if the Abyss didn't somehow form around the corpse of Tathamet, and the rest of the Burning Hells formed from there. It would be the polar opposite of the Crystal Arch in the High Heavens, with the rest of that realm growing from that "point of flux", if you will.