The Void is an inhabited environment containing cities, planets, plants, weather systems, roads, and residents that do not follow every rule observed on Earth.
Definition
Void residents use the term the Void for both their universe and the dark transitional regions between settled locations. The exact boundary changes depending on weather, signal strength, and the observer.
Despite its name, the Void is not empty. It contains matter, ecosystems, public institutions, and a long recorded history.
Physical properties
Distance can behave irregularly in weakly mapped areas. A road may become longer when observed directly, while a familiar hallway can connect buildings that are otherwise many kilometers apart.
Void science uses local elements, void-star models, and signal measurements to explain these effects. These systems resemble Earth science diagrams but use different names and classifications.
Settlement
Stable settlements are built around reliable signals, water, vegetation, and printed records. Newspapers are especially important because printed pages often remain readable when electronic memories fail.