Since finishing Outer Wilds I’ve wanted to do nothing more than find ways to make videos about this game. This not only gives me a reason to jump back into the game but also creates something of value for, well, you. This thought process eventually manifested into the Outer Wilds Iceberg video which I had a lot of fun making but I still felt like something was missing. Then, one day, it dawned on me, I didn’t just want to make a video about Outer Wilds, I wanted to make a video that also made you feel what it’s like to play the game, one that reflects the beauty of Outer Wilds. From the stunning visuals to the incredible music, I wanted to make something that showcased it all. But all that would mean nothing if the video didn’t have a larger purpose, a reason to exist, it needed to be a valuable asset to the viewer. So, I simply searched “Outer Wilds” on Youtube, and quickly found my calling. Out of the hundreds of videos about the game none of them attempted to take the mostly non-linear, tight knit story of Outer Wilds and piece it all together. Giving you a complete view of the beginning, middle, and end of the wonderful story that I can only describe as life changing. But before we begin I'd like to note a few things. First is that this video will contain spoilers for the entirety of the main game as well as the DLC. If you haven’t played the DLC I cannot recommend it enough as it not only plays a much bigger part in the overall story than you may assume but also it has some of the best content, even when compared to the base game. If you do plan on playing it but still want to watch the video without any major spoilers just skip this portion of the video. Or if you want more visual instructions when you see the chapter titled “Seeds of Life” pause the video and skip a few chapters ahead to the section titled “The Nomads of the Universe.” There are a handful of small spoilers you may see after that point, and later on when we near the end of the video, but honestly without context they’ll probably go right over your head. Now, if for some reason you don't plan to play the DLC but still want to know the full story I've worked hard to make sure this video provides enough context that the story makes sense regardless of whether or not you have played it. Although, again, I'd highly suggest playing it yourself. Secondly, at some points in this story there are events that run mostly parallel to each other, especially when it comes to the Ash Twin Project. With those specific events it’s hard to tell what exactly came first as progress for one part of the project would influence another and vice versa. So to keep things simple I tried to segment and streamline the events with the thought that you’d understand some things ran parallel. Last but not least I'd like to ask that you refrain from liking the video or subscribing to the channel. Instead just watch the video like normal and at the end you can decide if the quality of my content is enough for you to like and subscribe. But without any more interruption, I introduce to you, the entirety of the Outer Wilds timeline. The story of Outer Wilds doesn’t begin with an aspiring astronaut waking up to a distant explosion. Nor does it begin with the Nomai picking up on a mysterious signal from deep space. No, this story begins long before all of that, before space, before time. Before anything there was the Eye of the Universe. [Music Harmonizes] It would be a massive understatement to say that not much is known about the Eye of the Universe. There are theories, yes, ranging from it being a quantum black hole to being the consciousness of the multiverse itself. However these theories are just that, theories. Because nobody actually knows what the Eye is. And even if it were possible to learn, it's unlikely that its full purpose would be understood by any being with such a limited scope of their own universe, let alone others. Despite this one thing is known about the Eye, something that it seems to want to indiscriminately share with others. It’s a scream from the depths of space, a possible cry for help, evidence of its presence in not just one universe but every universe. A signal that would not only mark the end of one universe but the beginning of another. [Music Harmonizes with the Big Bang] Every universe is born the same way. From a point smaller than anything you can possibly imagine an entire universe lies dormant. The contents of everything. Every atom of every planet, of every star, of every galaxy. And in a time span shorter than can be measured or described, everything comes into existence. An extraordinary cascade of energy and matter expands out from nothing, to nothing. And while everything may be contained in this brilliant light, one thing is always seen, potential. Because while all universes may start and end the same way, each of them are vastly different. Not just in how they appear but also in how they function. In this universe things are a bit less strict than what you may be used to. Gravity is not as unforgiving, atmospheres aren’t violently ripped from where they lie when introduced to the vacuum of space. With these initial guidelines the universe begins to take shape. Particles such as protons and neutrons begin to form. With those, the lighter elements like hydrogen and helium come into existence. This cycle continues in the dark void of space for millions upon millions of years until eventually stars are born. These stars exist in yet another cycle of birth and death, one that would stay consistent for billions of years. However for reasons unknown this cycle would begin to change, the once linear rate of death would slowly rise. At first it was impossible to notice but as events compounded the fate of the universe would eventually become clear to anyone who was curious enough to look. Thanks to the less than strict rules of the universe, life was not only a possibility, but a seemingly common occurrence. And while there are possibly hundreds if not thousands of civilizations in the known universe there are only two that are important as of right now. Those being the Nomai and the unnamed species I will be referring to as “the Owlks.” It’s not entirely clear which of these two species first emerged; you can make inferences based on certain events but it’s never clearly stated. Regardless, on the cosmic timeline they both just so happened to evolve at around the same time, however it’s the Owlks who happened to be close enough to the Eye to be the first to receive its ancient signal from deep space. The story of the Owlks is one of how curiosity can easily turn to ignorance. At first the Owlks are shown to be a humble species, living on a little moon orbiting a ringed gas giant. On this moon that they called home there was seemingly no reason to leave. Because, while humble, their lives were prosperous beyond belief. They had resources, advanced technology, and generations of progress invested in this one place. What could be so important that it would make them want to leave everything behind? [Music Harmonizes] The discovery of the Eye of the Universe was the most important event in Owlk history. Not only because they would quickly discover its pre-universal existence but also because it gave them something that they never previously had, a reason to leave. It’s presumed that the most curious and ambitious among them were the first to propose this idea, one that not everyone may have agreed with but that captivated enough to warrant the biggest project in Owlk history. A project that would not only mean abandoning their moon but also harvesting it to the point of uninhabitability. Their plan was to pull resources from the moon to construct a large ringed space station, visibly similar to their home world. And after years, possibly decades, of development, the station was complete. It’s unknown what they called this station but it would eventually be known as The Stranger. Every single Owlk was to abandon the moon they had called home because now they had a new home that they would use to embark on a lengthy journey to uncover the prime mystery of the universe. Decades pass as the Owlk species had now been a space faring civilization for what feels like generations. In this time they would document their journey to the Eye by embedding their story on slide reels. These were used to document their past for future generations as well as possibly help other life forms make the journey themselves. It was also at this time when the Owlks would conceive grand ideas of what the signal's origin was. Some may have thought it was a pathway through time, meant specifically for their species, others hoped it was a home to answers about the meaning of the universe and their place in it. These seeds of hope took root in their culture, so much so that they began to worship the signal itself. A temple was constructed as a way to show their everlasting commitment to their species’ great gambit. However this would all change when they arrived at their destination. [Music Harmonizes] Their hopes were shattered. They had risked everything to get to this point but in the end they were wrong. Their signal didn’t offer them answers or special treatment, it gave them the harsh reality. That they, along with the universe, were destined to die and there was no way of saving them. It was in this moment that we see an entire civilization renounce something as seemingly fundamental as curiosity. After all it was curiosity that got them here, it was curiosity that gave them hope, and it was curiosity that ripped it away, revealing the harsh truth. The Owlks would destroy their temple, and not only that, they would also begin construction on a device that would keep anyone else from being deceived by the signal like they were. They would even go so far as to cloak the Stranger to keep unsuspecting visitors away. Years pass and the Owlks, being a stubborn species, continue to cling onto their resentment. In fact they have grown even more bitter as they have now fully realized the weight of their decisions. They will never be able to go back home and this place that they have built has only been a constant reminder of what they lost. This gives a select few Owlks an idea, they see the place they live in as a reminder of what they lost not because it’s too similar but because it’s too different. It’s an artificial facade of a better place they can no longer go to. But what if they could flip that idea on its head, what if instead of trying to go back they bring their home here. A prospect that, while far-fetched, isn’t impossible considering their technology. With this idea a new plan is born, one that they believed would mark the end of their suffering. A final project that once again would have them abandoning their home to build a new one. The idea was simple, using their advanced technology they would construct a virtual world nearly identical to that of their home world. This would not only allow them to “fix” their current situation but also, as they would soon learn, live far longer than their physical bodies would allow them to. There were two devices crucial for this project's development. The first were the fires that glowed a brilliant emerald green. These were spread around the Stranger as hubs for the simulation itself, a sort of server that would host the bulk of the data required for the simulation. However another device was required if this simulation were to feel real. A handheld device that would have to calculate the detailed graphics to make it look real. This was what the bulk of the research was dedicated to as each iteration of the device would constantly bring up new challenges or sometimes even discoveries. One of these many discoveries revealed that this device would continue to work even after the host physically died. This meant they could go into the simulation and stay there for eternity. Even if every star in the universe were to explode they would live on forever, one of the many things they may have even thought the Eye would do for them. Soon enough the project was complete and every Owlk made their way into the simulation. They were not to wake up, each of them fully content to live out the rest of their eternal lives in complete ignorance. All except one. Once again, years passed, and the Owlks, while happier in the simulation at first, quickly reverted back to their previous state of despair. Maybe this was because they were truly homesick, both for a time and a place long gone. Or maybe this was the result of guilt, a self inflicted punishment they felt they’d deserved. Regardless, this feeling would stagnate progress for the species as a whole. A dangerous act of groupthink that would only loosen its grip on the Owlks if one of them were curious and brave enough to think differently. This would happen but it would not result in the Owlks salvation, in fact it would lead to the exact opposite. On one fateful day an Owlk with a vivid imagination and curious mind had a revelation sparked by a simple flower. He foresaw that the Eye of the Universe was not at all what his species had envisioned. Like nature, he realized that the universe he lived in, as well as others he didn't, were in an everlasting cycle of death and birth. They would all be born, grow, and eventually succumb to entropy. Therefore the Eye was not just foreseeing the end of them and their universe, it was presenting the opportunity to birth a new one with new life. But this could never happen if they were to stay in this simulation forever. Eventually their true bodies would die therefore ending the opportunity to continue the cycle. The only problem, the rest of the Owlks would never agree with him. They may even see it as a betrayal of everything they have fought to accomplish. He wasn’t sure if he could make it to the Eye without them noticing, but what he could try is disabling the signal blocking probe. With that, he attempted to right all the wrongs of the past Owlks. [Music Harmonizes] Upon disabling the probe, the signal was free to alert anyone who was capable of receiving it. Unfortunately this act came at a great cost, as the other Owlks were quick to catch on. The probe was immediately activated once more, and the Owlk who had disabled it was to be imprisoned. For this, they built a special structure both in the real world as well as in the simulation to act as his prison. He would forever be alone, trapped in purgatory, forever the prisoner of the Owlks. But in a cruel twist of fate his true punishment was not that he couldn’t live, it was that he couldn’t die. After dealing with The Prisoner the Owlks were not only afraid of what he had done but also of what he had thought. They saw his vision of the eye as a dangerous slippery slope that may bring everything they worked to build crumbling down. Outwardly this manifested in nothing short of total ideological cleansing. They were afraid sympathizers may appear and attempt to continue what the Prisoner started. So they did what they had to do. The probe controls were permanently disabled, meaning the eye’s signal was never going to be broadcast again. Most of the film reels were destroyed, and those that weren’t, left out large pieces of their story. The Prisoners house was burnt dow n and further safeguarded by alarm bells. All of this was to stop anyone from doing or learning anything about the eye in hopes that they would eventually forget themselves. Because in reality they weren’t afraid of what may happen if someone continued what The Prisoner started. They weren’t even afraid of someone reaching the eye, no they were afraid to have hope again. Because the last time they had hope they lost everything. And it’s that very fear that would lead them to seclude themselves in their simulated world for the rest of time. Little did they know, this would not be the end of their influence. Because, unknown to them, what the prisoner did was not only free the signal, but change the course of the universe itself. [Eye Signal Expands to the beat of the Music] Similar to the Owlks, not much is known about the origins of Nomai. What we can infer is that, similar to most life, the Nomai had humble beginnings, starting their journey on an unknown planet. It's there that the assumption can be made that they lived a nomadic lifestyle. Whether that was out of necessity at first is unclear but as they were to progress it’s likely that it had less to do with necessity and more to do with ambition as well as curiosity. This is what was likely to drive them from their home world. Not a planetary catastrophe, nor an outward signal beckoning them to follow it. They left because something inside of them was never content with staying in the same place. They had grandiose questions about the universe and their place in it that could not be answered if they were to stay. So, as soon as they had the technology to do so, they left, and as far as anyone can tell, they never looked back. It’s unknown how long the Nomai had been venturing space before they made their biggest discovery yet. A technological advancement so groundbreaking that the Nomai would go from being an interstellar species to an intergalactic one. This discovery by a Nomai named Annona would quickly become known as the Advanced Warp Core, a way to instantaneously travel through space using the power of black and white holes. This advancement was not only their solution for long distance travel but also a breakthrough when it came to communications. Because unlike the Owlks the Nomai did not stick together when they furthered their venture into space. Instead they were split into differing clans, each with their own Vessel to call home. Whether these clans were formed before or after they left their home world is yet another mystery. What isn’t is that these clans, while separated by space, were always connected by curiosity. This shared connection, as well as the breakthrough of the Advanced Warp Core, gave new life to a Nomai tradition that had become increasingly difficult to sustain as these clans grew further apart. This tradition would have one envoy from each clan travel to a central location every 10 years to share their clan's findings. This would ensure that the findings of the Nomai, whether technological or otherwise, would always be in the interest of curiosity, not competition or political advancement. This would continue for an unknown amount of time until one day one of the clan's envoys’ would fail to show up. And after further investigation the other Nomai clans would find that the Vessel, captained by Escall, simply vanished. This story would grow to become the single greatest mystery of the Nomai, so much so that it would become legend. A story Nomai children would grow up hearing about. But of course a legend is only that, nothing could simply vanish without a trace. Surely there was more to the story, surely Escall and his Vessel couldn’t just disappear, right? [Shimmering Noises] FILIX (f) (excitement): I’m recording now — I’ve never encountered anything like this! The signal the Vessel is receiving appears to be older than the universe itself! ESCALL (m) (excitement): This is our first contact with anything of this nature. Everyone, prepare to warp immediately! FILIX (worry): Escall, wait, I need more time to send an outgoing message! Shouldn’t we tell another clan where we’re going? ESCALL (commanding): We can send the message upon our arrival. This extraordinary signal appeared suddenly; it may disappear just as quickly, and we can’t lose a discovery this incredible! Focus on preparing for the warp, instead. ESCALL (commanding): Annona, is the Vessel ready to warp to the signal’s approximate coordinates? ANNONA (m): The warp core is powered, but this will be a significant jump. Afterward, we’ll need time to recharge the core. ESCALL (commanding): That shouldn’t create a problem, provided we arrive at or near the signal’s source. Everyone, we’re ready to warp! [Warp Noises followed by an Explosion] [Alarm Blaring] FILIX (shock): This is Escall’s Vessel; something went badly wrong during our warp, and our Vessel is mortally wounded. We need help as quickly as possible! FILIX (confusion and panic): Our Vessel appears to have... has it fused with the local environment, somehow? There are vines that are now part of the Vessel! It’s been torn apart from inside itself! FILIX (desperation): We... We are abandoning our Vessel. Any Nomai clans or spaceflight-capable species receiving this message, I implore you, we need your help! FILIX (desperation): Is this broken? static Can anyone hear me? Our Vessel is dying! static We need immediate assistance! feedback During the chaos the Nomai would continue to pour into the emergency escape pods. Escall, being a noble leader, was the last to board. You could imagine what he felt in the final seconds before the escape pods launched, as he looked back at what had become of the Vessel. He had brought his clan here out of haste, and his fellow Nomai may very well pay the ultimate price for it. three pods launching sound effects Three escape pods were hastily launched from the Vessel. Of these, two would find their way to safety, the other, however, would be met with a fate not dissimilar to that of the Vessel itself. Stranded and alone in the depths of what would become known as the Dark Bramble, the Nomai of escape pod 3 would soon parish, Escall being among them. Their lives however would not be forgotten as escape pods 1 and 2 would safely land on the planets that would eventually be known as Brittle Hollow and The Ember Twin. These remaining Nomai would continue to push forward, despite their circumstances. Because even with all that had happened with losing their Vessel, their leader, and their way out of the system, they knew they came here with a purpose. One that they would see through to the end, even if it would cost them everything. Upon landing on the equator of Brittle Hollow the scanners of the escape pod 1 indicated that the planet, while mostly barren, was habitable. The Nomai were thrilled to learn this however their thoughts still remained focused on prior events. They questioned what exactly happened to the Vessel? And, if the other Nomai had landed unharmed, were they lucky enough to find a hospitable environment? These thoughts were quickly interrupted by a new threat. Because, while hospitable, the planets volcanic moon made the surface of the planet far too dangerous to inhabit. This pushed the Nomai to construct platforms that would help them with their goal to build an entire settlement below the crust of the planet. It’s here, in a hastily constructed settlement suspended above a glutinous black hole, where they were finally able to grieve. For some this manifested into deep thought about what exactly had happened with the warp and the destruction of the Vessel. Others sought further progression, potentially seen in their work with the early prototypes of what would become known as gravity crystals. But for the ones who had lost those closest to them, they were unable to do anything but wonder. As they stared at the mysterious disappearing moon, they wondered if their loved ones had perished. And if they hadn’t, they wondered if they could sometimes see the very moon they were looking at as well. Upon landing on the Ember Twin, the scanners of escape pod 2 concluded that the surface of the planet was far too hot, and therefore inhospitable. Initially, this was extremely bad news for the Nomai aboard, but they would soon learn that the cave systems below the escape pod’s crater were far cooler than the surface above. Before their trek into the darkness, these Nomai, same as the others, questioned the safety of their counterparts, hoping that they had been as lucky as themselves. The journey below the surface was a treacherous one, but after some time they had found the perfect spot. A large cave safe from the harsh environment brought on by the sun, fit with a grove of trees for oxygen as well as interconnected cave systems for ease of access. It's here where they set up their permanent home that they would fittingly call the Sunless City. Similarly to the Nomai of escape pod 1, the Nomai of pod 2 were grief stricken. Those who took action began working on a way to harness their greatest threat, the sun, to power the city. While those who had lost someone dear to them could find some solace in the thought that the strange moon orbiting their world was in some way connected to their lost friends and family. This thought is what kept both groups progressing, knowing that one day they would find a way to reunite. And when they did they would continue their clan's search for the origin of the elusive signal that they had fittingly named “The Eye of the Universe.” After landing on their respective worlds the independent Nomai groups began advancing rapidly. For those on the Ember Twin this was quickly seen after the development of the High Energy Lab, a solar powered facility that was the crown jewel of the Sunless City. Those on Brittle Hollow on the other hand had discovered a massive problem. They had realized that setting up camp on the equator of the planet proved to be ultimately dangerous as the crust above them could collapse at any moment. Luckily for them they had developed a way to traverse the planet from the inside. Using the strange gravitational properties of the ground itself they had developed crystals that would produce an exaggerated gravitational field. This meant they could line a portion of the inside of the planet’s crust with crystals, therefore creating a path they could walk to the planet's poles. The only portions of the planet that were nearly completely stable. It's there that they would construct a new home that they would du b “the Hanging City.” Their next venture would be that of energy. Thankfully they were able to construct the Black Hole Forge to utilize the power of the black hole itself to produce plenty of energy to power the city. Combine this abundance of energy with the strange gravitational properties of the planet and it was only a matter of time before the Nomai on Brittle Hollow would develop space travel once more. And indeed they did. Using the gravity crystals, or perhaps an advanced version of them, the Nomai developed the gravity cannon, a device to launch ships into orbit without consuming fuel. It’s at that point, presumably years, or even decades after the Vessels crash, that the Nomai were finally able to reunite. Families were made whole, friends were reconnected, and those lost were properly grieved. In the decades that passed, the Nomai would shift their focus from that of survival to that of advancement. In this time some would set their sights on the teleporting moon. Others would begin their work on recreating warp travel. But the first of these ventures was to pin down the very thing that brought them here in the first place. In the time after the Vessels crash many Nomai would attempt to rationalize the Eye of the Universe. More specifically the fact that the signal was older than the universe itself. This spawned many theories yet none of them would ever be conclusive enough to satisfy their curiosity. The only way they could truly understand it would be to somehow find it once more. The first of many attempts was to simply build a device that would track the Eyes original signal. This device was constructed on the moon of Timber Hearth as it was the perfect place to view the plane of the system. But unfortunately, after its construction, it was found that the device didn’t work as intended. As when they attempted to focus on the Eye’s signal they were met with wildly inaccurate information. The Nomai involved concluded that this was the result of faulty equipment but after various tests the device would always give them the same results. Their conclusion was that the Eye’s signal was somehow no longer calling out to them. But even after coming to that conclusion they still believed it possible to pinpoint the Eye though it would require a much larger, far more accurate locator. They would begin construction of this locator on the southern pole of Brittle Hollow. As the Southern Observatory was being constructed the Nomai had become aware of many strange properties some areas of the planets possessed. These included a grove on Timber Hearth, the northernmost island of Giants Deep, a cave on the Ember Twin, and a section of crust near Brittle Hollows equator. Each of these areas were home to a large rock formation that, similar to the teleporting moon, possessed strange quantum properties. And these properties didn’t simply affect the rock but the objects around it as well. This gave birth to a theory that these were not simply rocks but shards of the moon itself. With that, the Nomai used these shards to experiment with how quantum objects worked. The one on Giants Deep allowed them to test their theories of quantum observation and with it they learned that they could tie the moon to a single location by capturing a photo of it. They could now finally explore the surface of the moon but this was not their final goal. They had come to understand that the moon didn’t only visit the planets of this system but it would also travel to a secret 6th location outside of the system. Traveling to this 6th location became the Nomai’s collective goal. They believed that it may even be the Eye of the Universe itself and by traveling with the moon they could possibly finally make it to the Eye. This required them to learn two more lessons about quantum objects. That by standing on one and shrouding yourself in darkness you can entangle with it, and that the secret to accessing the 6th location is tied to the northern pole of the moon. With these three “rules” as they were called, the Nomai were able to venture to the moon's 6th location. Upon arrival their theory was proven to be correct, the Eye was the 6th location and most likely the original home of the Quantum Moon. Sadly, their plan to use it to travel to the eye was simply not possible as when they tried to leave the moon from its 6th location they would end up right back where they began. And while this was upsetting, the journey to get here proved to be satisfying in its own right. This started a tradition that had each Nomai, who were of age, learn the three rules of the Quantum Moon and travel to its 6th location. This would prove to be a sort of right of passage, proof that you understood the importance of the two Nomai tenants. Those being “identify” and “explain”, the basis of the Nomai philosophy and their way of life. And while this tradition was instrumental for the preservation of Nomai culture, it was also instrumental in spawning a culture of desperation for the Nomai. They had thought this journey would lead them to the Eye but they were sorely mistaken. Now they knew they had to go to much greater lengths to find what they were looking for. Using their knowledge of the Quantum Moon as well as the recently constructed Southern Observatory, the Nomai were able to learn much more about the Eye of the Universe. They knew, thanks to their past ventures to the 6th location, what the Eye looked like as well as the knowledge that it was in loose orbit around the sun. However it was the Nomai stationed within the observatory who were able to take this information and provide the Nomai with a plan. They knew that, for reasons unknown, the Eye was no longer emitting its ancient signal. But with the knowledge that the Eye was in orbit around the sun they knew there was still one possible way to find it. Because, while enormous, the range in which the Eye orbits is still finite meaning that theoretically they could still physically find it if they were to use something like a probe. But it would be a vast understatement to say that finding the Eye using this method would be like finding a needle in a haystack. The sheer odds of finding something as elusive as the Eye given the range in which it orbits would mean that, at the current age of the universe, entropy would have run its course far before the probe could find it. However it’s noted that there’s a few Nomai working on solving this exact problem. Using the power of Brittle Hollow’s black hole, the Nomai stationed within Black Hole Forge were able to recreate a more primitive form of the advanced warp core. These being the white and black hole warp cores. Unlike their advanced counterpart, these warp cores didn’t allow for free travel across the universe. But they did make travel between astral bodies much easier. This became a near necessity for those living in the Hanging City as the prospect of someone falling into the black hole and being stranded on the edge of the system near the opposing white hole was ever growing with their increasing population. However with the warp core’s development they could now construct a space station near the white hole to transport Nomai back to Brittle Hollow. Upon testing this technology, a Nomai by the name of Poke inadvertently made the biggest discovery in Nomai history. One that was even more groundbreaking than her mentor Annona’s Advanced Warp Core. Shortly after successfully warping to Brittle Hollow’s surface, she observed what she believed to be a simple inconsistency with the warp pads timer. The time of her arrival seemed to suggest that she actually arrived on Brittle Hollow slightly before warping from the White Hole Station. A prospect that defied all logical reasoning. How could someone physically arrive somewhere before they left their original location? Her immediate thought was of mechanical failure in the timer itself. But after countless checks by multiple Nomai there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with it. In fact the device was shockingly accurate which only led to further confusion. However as testing continued the consistency eventually convinced them that this was no mistake. They simply assumed that time was nothing but linear but this proved otherwise, completely changing their view of space, time, and causality. Craving more knowledge they continued to follow proper scientific practice and sent their observations to the High Energy Lab, seeking a second opinion as well as further controlled testing. What was revealed only cemented what those at the White Hole Station had found. If given enough power, black and white hole warp cores can be used to create what they call a “negative time interval.” Meaning that any object or information sent through the black hole would exit the white hole slightly before it had originally entered the black hole. Granted this is only an initial difference of a hundred thousandth of a second, far too quick for it to be of use to anyone. That is until they made their second breakthrough. By continuing their tests they found that if the warp cores were supplied with additional power this negative time interval could be extended for as long as you would like provided you supply it with enough power. After sharing these results with those at the Southern Observatory they were then asked a seemingly random question. They were asked how practical it would be for them to extend this time interval to a lengthy 22 minutes. The approximate maximum time it would take for a probe to reach the Eye of the Universe. Given that with every moment that is added to the negative time interval there’s an exponential amount of energy needed to extend it than getting a 22 minute interval would mean they would need an energy source far greater than the one they were currently using. They would also need a place to house the development of this quickly forming project. Somewhere with enough room for whatever they may need and in close enough proximity to the sun that they could maximize energy input. Given those criteria there was one place that stood out among the rest. The plan to deliberately cause a supernova in order to find the Eye of the Universe was not one that was accepted unanimously. Because while some saw it as a necessary evil required to answer their clan's greatest question, others saw it as evidence that their obsession with the Eye had gone too far. That there was simply too much to risk to even attempt such a task regardless of whether or not safeguards were put in place. Despite these concerns the project would continue, as it still remained their best hope of finding the Eye. But before they could begin work on a way to explode the sun there were a few more problems that needed solving. First was a device capable of harnessing the entirety of the sun's energy at one time. The only device they knew of that was capable of doing this was the Advanced Warp Core. This may have been an easier task to complete if it had not been for the loss of Annona long ago. However Poke was sure that with enough time she could develop it once more. They would also need a way to protect the project itself from the power of the supernova. After much research they found that there were ores on Timber Hearth, some of which may be capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures. Another key piece of the project required them to construct a cannon capable of launching a probe to the outskirts of the system in any given direction in just 22 minutes. This meant they would have to build it in orbit of a planet. Giants Deep became the obvious candidate as it’s far from the sun's gravitational pull and the cyclones on the planet’s surface could assist them in sending parts of the cannon into orbit. But all of this would mean nothing if they couldn’t find a way to send the information the probe obtained to the Ash Twin then send that data back in time. All while keeping the Nomai unaware of the loop until the Eye was found. Luckily a team on Giants Deep was positive that they could find a way. Lastly each of these projects would need to be in close communication so a large warp tower for each part of the project would need to be constructed on the Ash Twin. If each of these pieces were fully realized the Nomai would have successfully completed the most ambitious project in their species’ history. A way to run a real world simulation to find something that seemingly defied existence. The passing years were home to some of the most challenging yet rewarding times the Nomai of this system had ever faced. With each team of the project knowing full well that all their hard work would amount to nothing if just one thing were to go wrong. Despite this, their curiosity and ambition pushed them forward, for if they did fail they could at least be content with the fact that they had given it their all. And give it their all they did. Each team would find major success with their specific projects. Starting with the home of the project itself. Using the extreme temperatures of Hollow’s Lantern, the Nomai were able to test various ores found on Timber Hearth. One of these, an ore that resembles a glistening night sky, was able to withstand the temperatures long enough to become the preferred ore for the shell surrounding the Ash Twin Project. Of course it wouldn’t protect it forever but it would keep it intact long enough for the project to transmit all data to the past, as per the Statue Workshops specifications. The necessary design flaw however, was that it couldn’t have any physical access points or it would risk compromising the shell's strength. This was circumvented by the next step in the project which was the construction of the warp towers on the Ash Twin. These would serve to uphold tight knit communication between each of the various teams spread across the vast system. Two of which were headquartered on the monstrous Giants Deep. The first of these teams were given the task of constructing a massive cannon in orbit of Giants Deep. They were successful in this endeavor but it didn’t come without its fair share of problems. During the construction process one of the cannon's components was pushed beneath the current, something thought impossible by the cannon’s engineers. This observation was sent to the Southern Observatory for further research where they found that while most cyclones on the planet sent things upward, a quirk the engineers took advantage of to build the cannon, some cyclones spun in the opposite direction, pushing things downward below the current. Another problem the engineers ran into was that of their fellow Nomai. The engineers in the Construction Yard of Giants Deep knew full well that the Nomai aboard the Orbital Probe Cannon would attempt to raise the power level of the cannon to ensure the probe is launched at maximum speed. This would be fine if it weren’t for the risk of the cannons destruction upon launching the probe. To prevent this from happening they decided to lower the power level of the cannon so that even if it were raised the cannon would at most simply break apart. And upon sending the final module to orbit, their prediction would come true, as the Nomai aboard would set the power level to maximum, ensuring the probe would reach its destination in a minimal amount of time. The second team home to Giants Deep was tasked with developing a way to record and transmit information, memories or otherwise, to the Ash Twin Project. What they developed were the Statues and the Masks. The Statues are a device used to pair with a specific Nomai and send their memories to the Ash Twin. There, each Statue would have a corresponding Mask that would record the host’s information and send it back in time as the project is powered by the supernova. Of course the Nomai aren’t planning on pairing with a statue the entire time as the whole point is that the project would allow them to find the Eye in what they perceived to be a matter of minutes. While the probe, that would always be tied to a mask, could search for the Eye millions of times, with each attempt being recorded and sent back to the project for readjustment in the next loop. The final steps of the Ash Twin project were the completion of the Advanced Warp Core and the Sun Station. The first of these to be completed was the Advanced Warp Core which, while it did have a lengthy development period, was a fairly uneventful process. The completion of Sun Station however was the furthest thing anything could get from being uneventful. If everything went according to plan the Ash Twin Project would function as follows: The Sun Station would successfully jumpstart the Sun’s natural lifecycle causing a supernova. This energy would in turn send enough power to the Ash Twin Project, and in turn the Advanced Warp Core, to power the 22 minute loop. At the beginning of this loop the Orbital Probe Cannon would launch the probe at a random coordinate in hopes of finding the Eye of the Universe. The Statue and Mask paired to this probe would be used to keep all information the probe learned at the end of the loop so if the Eye was not found then no other Statues in the system would activate and it would be like the loop never happened to the conscious observer. This would effectively allow the probe to run a real world simulation that nobody would have to suffer through because the loop for the Nomai would only be activated via the Statues after the probe is successful in finding the Eye’s coordinates. Then the Nomai could simply deactivate the Sun Station, therefore stopping the supernova, and travel to the Eye of the Universe. However there was a major problem. After every other part of the Project was completed the Nomai began their tests with the Sun Station. And even after all their hard work, after overcoming the impossible to get to this point, the Sun Station was incapable of accelerating the sun's life cycle. This was a devastating blow to the Nomai, to know that after all this time, after literally rewriting their laws of physics, they couldn’t overcome this single challenge.Luckily there was a cosmic interloper soon to enter the system. And after all this time of exploring the same planets, the Nomai were excited to explore something new. Growing up on the Ember Twin, Solanum had never experienced life outside the system. She of course knew of the other Nomai and that her clan was unique in that they were stranded here after following the Eyes signal. But she did not see this in the same way that others did. Others saw it as the mistake it was, something that could not have been avoided given Escalls knowledge. Solanum saw it in another light, she saw it as a potentially deliberate attack, a malicious attempt from the Eye to destroy their clan. For years she sustained the thought that this may be the case. That is until she matured and started to question why she had thought this. Her conclusion was that she wanted to believe her clan was special, that the universe itself had either chosen or condemned them. But now she believes that the universe is not something that chooses anything, it simply exists, and their circumstances are exactly that: circumstances. This maturity would help in her next endeavor, a tradition that had been ongoing for generations at this point, the journey to the Quantum Moon’s 6th location. Upon coming of age, Solanum would learn each of the quantum rules, and in turn gain a newfound respect for her culture. She would then prepare for her final venture where she would land on the moon, entangle with the quantum tower, travel to the northern pole, and enter the 6th location. Unbeknownst to her after just a few moments she would meet an unlikely visitor who would inform her that the universe she once knew was all but gone. Upon landing their shuttle on the surface of the Interloper, the three Nomai aboard immediately picked up on a strange anomaly coming from deep below the comet’s icy surface. Wanting to explore more yet fearful that the ice may endanger their shuttle, one of the Nomai stayed behind while the other two investigated the anomaly. The Nomai who left found that the sunward side of the comet had a small fissure, allowing them to travel inside where the energy readings steadily increased as they traversed deeper. At the core, the energy readings spiked when faced with an emerald colored spherical crystal. Investigating further, they found that the energy readings weren’t coming from the crystal, but from what was inside of it. Their heart rates climbed as they began to realize the situation they were in. This was no crystal, it was a time bomb just waiting to blow, and the only thing keeping it from doing so was quickly fading away. Without warning, the crystal erupted, sending out a powerful shockwave of exotic matter that killed anything it touched. Within seconds the entire system was enveloped in a green cloud of matter. Any place it could reach, it did. Just one crack is all it needed to infest the entire volume of a planet, building, or ship. The entire system was a desolate wasteland, a shell of its former lively self. And while life had been nearly completely wiped out there was still one place this ghostly matter couldn’t touch. The place that was home to the next generation of cosmic explorers. Those who would root their curiosity in the mystery of the Nomai. And someday, continue their legacy. Hundreds of thousands of years pass and the once lively atmosphere brought on by the Nomai was replaced by an eerie stillness. Or so it seemed from afar. As if you simply focused on Timber Hearth the system was not as stagnant as first presumed. The once aquatic creatures living in the flooded caves of the planet had been gradually evolving. At first they made their transition to the land where they would eventually evolve to walk upright. This would free their hands for the use of tools which they would put to use in various ways such as fishing or building a shelter. These activities required advanced communication which would be the final evolutionary stepping stone for this species. As it’s at this point that they would become actively curious of the universe around them. They would begin to wonder who they were and what role they played in the universe. And as they could now voice these curiosities they would soon begin their collective search for those answers. But for this they would need a name for both them and their home. Their home world would be dubbed Timber Hearth, so it’s only fitting that they themselves would be known as Hearthians. As the Hearthians advanced they would only become more curious about the universe around them. Unlike most speciesh the Hearthians had never assumed they were alone in the universe. After all there was evidence everywhere that there had been some other species that called this system home long before they did. But this only spawned even more questions such as where they originated from, what all the technology they built is for, and why they seemed to have randomly passed away. These questions were their main drive for the development of the next step in Hearthian advancement. An ambitious organization that would help them discover more about themselves, the greater universe, and the prehistoric species they called “the Nomai.” This organization would be known as Outer Wilds Ventures. Feldspar, Slate, Hornfels, Esker and Gossan, these were the founders of Outer Wilds Ventures. The original idea was that each of them could bring their own unique strengths to the table such as Feldspar being a fearless pilot, Gossan being talented at repairs, especially in a zero-G environment, Slate being a genius yet reckless engineer, and Hornfels who acts as their ground control as well as the Hearthians primary astronomer. With this group, Outer Wilds Ventures was able to successfully land a ship on the Attlerock, making Feldspar the first ever Hearthain to be intentionally launched into space. He would attribute some of this success to his good nights sleep under the stars. An act that would become tradition for any space venturing Hearthian. This began a new era of exploration for the Hearthains as each launch would bring about new innovations and discoveries. Many of these would be brought back to Timber Hearth where Hornfels would put them on display, in turn inspiring new generations of Venturers such as Gabbro, Chert, and Riebeck. Other discoveries however would be of more practical significance. Most of which would be aged Nomai technology that Slate would regularly put to good use. But of all the things left behind by the Nomai there was none more significant than a single piece of stone found on the surface of Brittle Hollow. Found by Feldspar, and put on display at the observatory by Hornfels, these few lines of Nomai text would do much more than anyone could have imagined. When you were hatched into this world there was nothing more intriguing than what lay beyond Timber Hearth. You weren’t sure why but you had always felt an inherent pull to the stars, like there was something out there, beckoning you to find it. It was only when you saw that Nomai writing that it became clear what you were meant to do. Over the next few years you, with the assistance of your friend Hal, attempted to translate the Nomai language. This was tedious work when compared to your astronaut training but with the help of the Nomai writing in the observatory you and Hal eventually cracked it. You could now learn how the Nomai got here, what they were doing, and what happened to them. But deciphering each word was a lengthy process. From what you had been told by other Ventures there are hundreds of places the Nomai left messages and deciphering each one of them would be completely impractical. This was when you and Hal had an idea, what if you could make a device to translate Nomai text in real time. This would allow you to learn so much more about the Nomai in just a fraction of the time. With this, you and Hal got to work developing it. And after what felt like years you finally finished it. With no time to waste, your first launch is scheduled as soon as possible. Tomorrow you plan to discover everything there is to know about the Nomai. All that’s left is to get a good night's sleep under the stars, as is tradition before venturing into the Outer Wilds. You wake up to see Giants Deep in your immediate view. Like every other time you’ve seen it, you wonder what the purpose of the strange space station orbiting it truly is. But unlike the other times you’ve viewed it you know that today you could actually figure it out. So, without hesitation, you go to the launch pad elevator, forgetting that you don’t have the launch codes. Slate is eager to remind you to go talk to Hornfels in the observatory to obtain them which you hastily do. At the observatory you notice a new statue you’ve never quite seen before. Hal notes that Gabbro recently brought it back from Giants Deep as it’s the first Nomai statue he’s found that’s in near perfect shape. After pressing forward you take a look at the observatory once more, reminding yourself that this may be the last time you’ll get to look at this place before you know the Nomai’s story once and for all. After talking to Hornfels you begin to make your way back to the observatory’s entrance exiting it completely uninterrupted, except for Hal of course, who once more congratulates you. At the launch pad, you ride the elevator upward, remembering all the training you’ve gone through to get to this point. And as you buckle into your seat you say to yourself that you’d gladly go through it all again if it meant learning just one thing about the Nomai. One piece to what you can only imagine is a rich history. You say that to yourself as you journey into space for the first time. Unbeknownst to you, while this was happening, the sun was going on a journey of its very own. [Supernova] As the supernova expands past the Ash Twin the advanced warp core at its center kicks into gear. It’s been lying dormant for who knows how long but now it’s ready to fulfill its purpose. It sends a signal to the Orbital Probe Cannon 22 minutes in the past to begin its search for the Eye of the Universe. You wake up to see Giants Deep in your immediate view, except this time something has happened that you’ve never seen before. The strange space station orbiting it breaks apart as you see a glowing foreign object zip past Timber Hearth. You question the nature of this for a moment before remembering that, whatever that was, today you could possibly figure it out. Like before, you attempt to go to your ship before being directed by Slate to go to the observatory. You then talk to Hal, explore the observatory, grab the codes, and launch into space for what you think is your first time ever. Little did you know that this cycle would repeat another 9,318,053 times before you would even begin to understand what was happening. But once you did you finally got what you were looking for. You finally understood how the Nomai got here, what they were building, and how they met their end. You met people like the Prisoner and Solanum, giving them hope that what they and their species had accomplished was not for nothing. You would continue their legacy by doing what you were born to do. You would follow that pull to the stars which you now understand has nothing to do with the Nomai, the Owlks, or the Eye of the Universe. In fact it was not a pull at all, but a drive. A drive that you learned would never be satisfied for as long as you’d live. But that’s the beauty of curiosity. It’s not about what it leads to. It’s the journey itself and what you learn that gives you purpose. So next time you follow your curiosity, remember why you did it and what you learned along the way. Because when you reach the end you may just regret not taking the time to savor the journey.