Vortis was created by Bris and Ilex, two Gods of Light, as their student science experiment. They selected Menoptera from an unknown world and transplanted them to the project world. (PROSE: Twilight of the Gods [+])
The Elder Horrors once dominated life on Vortis. This included Clynex and possibly the Animus. (COMIC: The Naked Flame [+])
Early in the history of Vortis, the Zarbi, led by a queen, fought a war against the Menoptera, forcing them to flee to the moons. An advance scouting party was sent to spy on the Zarbi, where they were attacked by a group of Atlanteans who had crash-landed there. Soon afterwards, the Menoptera discovered and captured the First Doctor, who was making his first visit to Vortis. The Doctor escaped and encountered the Atlanteans, who took him to their ship, having assumed that he was one of them. The Atlanteans escorted the Doctor back to his TARDIS, where a battle between the Zarbi and the Menoptera was being waged nearby. From the TARDIS, the Doctor watched as the Atlanteans were cornered and killed by the natives of Vortis. (PROSE: The Lost Ones [+])
A long time afterwards, the native species of Vortis lived in harmony in the flower forests that covered the world. At some point, the malevolent Animus invaded and the planet became barren and lifeless. (TV: The Web Planet [+]) The Clynex was also weakened by the coming of the Animus. (COMIC: The Naked Flame [+]) Most of the Menoptera fled to Pictos, while the few that stayed behind evolved into Optera. It was in this situation that the Doctor returned, bringing with him Ian, Barbara and Vicki. After aiding the Menoptera in destroying the Animus, the Doctor hoped that Vortis could once more regain its verdant beauty. (TV: The Web Planet [+])
