[Warning, ESV Dawnguard Spoiler below]
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In ESV, we get to venture into a previously untouched realm, (Not technically a realm of oblivion, as destroying it's inhabitants to not count in the stats as daedra.) the Soul Cairn. In the sky, we see a giant, "thing" looming down over us. Some of the poor imprisoned souls say that they feel it's staring down at them intimidatingly. But what is that thing? A void perhaps? A rupture in the Auribis leading to the void?Imaginably, this would account for the soul svcking effect of the realm.
We may certainly assume that, "the thing" is very colossal and outlying object, provided that it's relative position does not change as the player travels across the area. Would it be feasible to assume that the, "thing" is actually the equivocal and indefinite consumer we all know and love?
I would be grateful for any additional observations and conjectures including in game dialogue and literature.