Chert

 is a Hearthian astronaut located at their camp at the north pole of Ember Twin. They are tasked with observing the galaxy and updating star charts. Their camp is filled with equipment used for astronomy. They play the drums.

Chert is an astronomer who is both knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their work. They are curious about the Nomai and the workings of the universe, and display some level of devotion to their job, commenting, “Sometimes I think I’m the only traveler out here interested in doing any science at all.” When spoken to early in the loop, they seem optimistic and excited about having seen more supernovae than usual. However, when spoken to later in the loop, they have watched more and more stars die out, and become nervous and then panicked about what this might mean for their own sun.

Introduction dialogue
What’s weird is I’ve actually seen a couple of supernovae today. Usually, I’d be fortunate to see just one. Keep an eye or two on the stars, and maybe you’ll spot one yourself!”
 * “Goodness, it’s you! Hello! I take it your first launch went well, then? Welcome to the Hourglass Twins. Mind the sand, now.”
 * > (if already talked to) I have a question for you.
 * Question menu
 * >What are you up to?
 * “Hornfels asked me to update our star charts, so I’m out here observing. This is one of the best places in the solar system to spot astronomical events, you know.
 * Question menu

Secondary dialogue

 * “Hello again!”
 * Question menu

Question menu

 * “Tell me, what can I do for you?”
 * >I found something!
 * Found Something Menu
 * >How do I know if I’ve spotted a supernova?
 * “Supernovae look like extra bright stars to the naked eye, but if you zoom in with your signalscope you can tell that they’re actually enormous explosions. Massive stars go supernova at the very end of their life spans, which is why it’s so unusual to see two in a single day. I wonder if some of these stars are older than we realized?”
 * >What are you doing out here?
 * “Right now I’m documenting stars. Hornfels noticed our star charts are out of date, so they asked me to update them. Please don’t tell the others I said this, but sometimes I think I’m the only traveler out here interested in doing any science at all. ...Er, maybe don’t tell Hornfels, either. I think they’re pretty deep in denial.”
 * >Where should I explore here?
 * “To be honest, I haven’t left this lakebed. I don’t mean to brag, but I’m really quite good with the Little Scout, so I’ve been taking pictures of everything from right here in my campsite. Have you seen the old shipwreck site on the Ember Twin’s southern hemisphere, the one shooting a bright beam of light into the sky? It’s not one of our own crashes, surprisingly enough — this one’s a Nomai ship. You’ll find Nomai ruins across the Twins, but, strangely, not a single settlement! Believe me, if there was one to see, I’d have seen it with my Little Scout. So where did they live? Not on the surface, clearly. The Ember Twin is full of cave systems, though — maybe the answer lies underground?”
 * >How dangerous is that big column of falling sand?
 * “On a scale of one to dead, I’d give it a seven or eight. Awfully pretty, though. Right now sand is flowing from Ash Twin to Ember Twin, but did you know the process eventually reverses? We’re not completely sure why the sand flows back and forth between the Twins, but it seems to be a natural phenomena. Oh, if you’d like to see something interesting, check out the other Twin once a little more of its sand drains off. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
 * >Just saying hi.
 * “Watch out for falling sand, okay? I’ve had to dig myself out once or twice, and that’s not half as fun as it sounds.”

Found Something Menu

 * “Please, do tell!”
 * >I found out the sun is about to go supernova.
 * “What? What makes you think that? It’s true the sun has... changed, lately, but I’ve not seen any evidence suggesting the approaching death of our sun! Stars above, no! I’ll tell you what, though - I’ll keep my eyes on the sun, and if I find any suggestion the its core is collapsing, you shall be the first to know. I hope that puts your mind at ease.”
 * >I found your notes about the Attlerock’s main crater.
 * “Did you! I hope they were useful? The planet I mentioned may have been frozen solid, or just partially made of ice, like a much colder Giant’s Deep - it’s hard to say. It used to be the fifth planet in our solar system. You’ll notice, of course, that there’s no such planet now. In its place is Dark Bramble, which - how to put this - grew into the space the fifth planet used to occupy. That is, Dark Bramble quite literally appeared at the center of the fifth planet and began destroying it from the inside-out. Eventually, the planet shattered completely, and its shards were flung across space. Some of these shards collided with the celestial bodies in our solar system, such as the Attlerock, which I believe is how its biggest crater was formed.”
 * >I found Nomai writing about a hidden planet.
 * “How fascinating! It might interest you to know the existence of an additional planet is entirely plausible, if you look at the physics of our solar system. It would just have to be incredibly far out there - farther than Hearthian ships would be able to travel. And honestly, we don’t know all that much about what’s out there. The farther you go, the less we know! As such, it’s well within the realm of possibility such a planet exists.”
 * >I found Nomai writing about the Quantum Moon.
 * “Oh yes, everyone loves a good mystery, don’t they? Who wouldn’t wonder about a moon that’s sometimes there and sometimes not! I’ve observed the Quantum Moon orbiting each of the five planets, but sometimes, it quite simply disappears from the sky altogether. Maybe there’s another place it travels to! Unfortunately, if there is, I’ve never seen it. Perhaps if I take a closer look at these star charts…”
 * >I found Nomai writing about the Sun Station.
 * “Is that what’s in orbit around the sun, then, do you think? This… Sun Station? Quite clever of the Nomai to devise a way to study the sun up close and personal! It must have been tremendously difficult to construct. ...And hot inside. I can only imagine! I wonder how they were able to travel back and forth from the Sun Station and the Hourglass Twins, when the slightest slip up would have meant a fiery death.”
 * >I found modern Nomai transmissions saying the universe is dying.
 * “You - what? I don’t... um. What? You mean to say there are modern Nomai out in other parts of space? And they believe the universe - all of it, the whole thing - is dying? Currently? ...Right now? If... if that’s true, how could I have missed so many signs? The supernovae were there, but I, but, I’ve been studying the stars for... well, what does it matter if... oh... I’m very sorry, b-but I have to look over my charts. I h-h-hope you don’t m-mind...”
 * >Actually, nevermind.
 * “Nothing you’d like to discuss at the moment? That’s no trouble! If you do discover anything you want to talk about, I’d be happy to help!”

Introduction dialogue

 * “Hm? Oh, it’s you! I take it your first launch went well, then? Welcome to the Hourglass Twins. Mind the sand, now.”
 * > (if already talked to) I have a question for you.
 * Question menu
 * >What are you up to?
 * “Hornfels noticed our star charts are out of date, so I came out here to update them. But something seems... how to put this... off. I’ve seen, what, ten supernovae by now? Twelve? They’re in the double digits now, and that’s, you know, not normal. Not normal at all...”
 * Question menu

Second Introduction dialogue
(If the player has talked to Chert in the early loop)
 * “Hm? Oh, you’re back. Say, have you noticed anything unusual about the stars lately? Something seems... how to put this... off. I’ve seen, what, ten supernovae already? Twelve? They’re in the double digits now, and that’s, you know, not normal. Not normal at all...”
 * Question menu

Secondary dialogue

 * “Hello again.”
 * Question menu

Middle of loop Question Menu

 * “Was there something you needed?”
 * >I found something!
 * Found Something Menu
 * >Why are so many stars going supernova?
 * “I have no idea! Massive stars go supernova when they reach the end of their life spans, so it’s possible that the stars are older than we realized. Or maybe our models are wrong and they don’t live as long as we expected. Honestly, I’m not fond of either option! If our charts are wrong, what else is wrong? And our sun… No, I shouldn’t jump to conclusions. I— I’m probably overlooking something. That’s it, I just need to collect more data.”
 * >What are you doing out here?
 * “Well, I was — that is, I originally came out here to update our star charts. Now, though, I’m trying to figure out what’s going on with the stars. There are so many — too many supernovae. Why are so many stars dying out? I’ve never seen anything like this. Frankly, I’m worried. And a little scared.”
 * >Where should I explore here?
 * “To be honest, I haven’t left this lakebed. I don’t mean to brag, but I’m really quite good with the Little Scout, so I’ve been taking pictures of everything from right here in my campsite. Have you seen the old shipwreck site on the Ember Twin’s southern hemisphere, the one shooting a bright beam of light into the sky? It’s not one of our own crashes, surprisingly enough — this one’s a Nomai ship. You’ll find Nomai ruins across the Twins, but, strangely, not a single settlement! Believe me, if there was one to see, I’d have seen it with my Little Scout. So where did they live? Not on the surface, clearly. The Ember Twin is full of cave systems, though — maybe the answer lies underground?”
 * >How dangerous is that big column of falling sand?
 * “On a scale of one to dead, I’d give it a seven or eight. Awfully pretty, though. Right now sand is flowing from Ash Twin to Ember Twin, but did you know the process eventually reverses? We’re not completely sure why the sand flows back and forth between the Twins, but it seems to be a natural phenomena. Oh, if you’d like to see something interesting, check out the other Twin once a little more of its sand drains off. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
 * >Just saying hi.
 * “Watch out for the stars. I mean, sand.”

Found Something Menu

 * “Please, do tell!”
 * >I found out the sun is about to go supernova.
 * “What? What makes you think that? It’s true the sun has... changed, lately, but I’ve not seen any evidence suggesting the approaching death of our sun! Stars above, no! I’ll tell you what, though - I’ll keep my eyes on the sun, and if I find any suggestion the its core is collapsing, you shall be the first to know. I hope that puts your mind at ease.”
 * >I found your notes about the Attlerock’s main crater.
 * “Did you! I hope they were useful? The planet I mentioned may have been frozen solid, or just partially made of ice, like a much colder Giant’s Deep - it’s hard to say. It used to be the fifth planet in our solar system. You’ll notice, of course, that there’s no such planet now. In its place is Dark Bramble, which - how to put this - grew into the space the fifth planet used to occupy. That is, Dark Bramble quite literally appeared at the center of the fifth planet and began destroying it from the inside-out. Eventually, the planet shattered completely, and its shards were flung across space. Some of these shards collided with the celestial bodies in our solar system, such as the Attlerock, which I believe is how its biggest crater was formed.”
 * >I found Nomai writing about a hidden planet.
 * “How fascinating! It might interest you to know the existence of an additional planet is entirely plausible, if you look at the physics of our solar system. It would just have to be incredibly far out there - farther than Hearthian ships would be able to travel. And honestly, we don’t know all that much about what’s out there. The farther you go, the less we know! As such, it’s well within the realm of possibility such a planet exists.”
 * >I found Nomai writing about the Quantum Moon.
 * “Oh yes, everyone loves a good mystery, don’t they? Who wouldn’t wonder about a moon that’s sometimes there and sometimes not! I’ve observed the Quantum Moon orbiting each of the five planets, but sometimes, it quite simply disappears from the sky altogether. Maybe there’s another place it travels to! Unfortunately, if there is, I’ve never seen it. Perhaps if I take a closer look at these star charts…”
 * >I found Nomai writing about the Sun Station.
 * “Is that what’s in orbit around the sun, then, do you think? This… Sun Station? Quite clever of the Nomai to devise a way to study the sun up close and personal! It must have been tremendously difficult to construct. ...And hot inside. I can only imagine! I wonder how they were able to travel back and forth from the Sun Station and the Hourglass Twins, when the slightest slip up would have meant a fiery death.”
 * >I found modern Nomai transmissions saying the universe is dying.
 * “You - what? I don’t... um. What? You mean to say there are modern Nomai out in other parts of space? And they believe the universe - all of it, the whole thing - is dying? Currently? ...Right now? If... if that’s true, how could I have missed so many signs? The supernovae were there, but I, but, I’ve been studying the stars for... well, what does it matter if... oh... I’m very sorry, b-but I have to look over my charts. I h-h-hope you don’t m-mind...”
 * >Actually, nevermind.
 * “Nothing you’d like to discuss at the moment? That’s no trouble! If you do find something you wish to discuss, please, come find me! I’ll be here studying the stars for a while yet.”

Introduction dialogue

 * “The stars! They’re all dying! There’ve been too many supernovae for it to be anything else! We’re next, do you understand?! Our sun! By Hearth’s name, we’re next!”
 * Question menu

Late in loop Question Menu

 * >What do you mean, “we’re next”?
 * “It’s the stars, you see. All the other stars are dying out. Oh, why did we have to be born at the end of the universe? And our sun, it… The star charts! Why? Why did I want to update them so badly? I didn’t have to know, but no, oh no, I had to update the star charts! I had to go looking for things I shouldn’t have! And now our sun is about to… about to… oh…  ...I don’t feel well. I’d like to be alone, please.”
 * >I found something!
 * “Why, isn’t that great! Do you know what, I’ve found a few things myself! Most of them have to do with the sun exploding! Oh, who cares?! What does it matter?! Nothing matters anymore! The sun is about to go supernova! And me, all my research, my life’s work, wasted! Wasted, you understand?! ”
 * >Why are the stars dying?
 * “I don’t know — they’re old! Far older than we realized and now all of them are dying! What does it matter?! It doesn’t! It doesn’t matter at all! Nothing matters anymore! All my research, my life’s work, wasted! Wasted, you understand?! ”
 * >What are you doing out here?
 * “The star charts! It’s all the star charts’ fault! I didn’t have to know, but no, oh no, I had to update the star charts! I had to go looking for things I shouldn’t have! And now our sun is about to… about to… oh… ...I don’t feel well. I’d like to be alone, please.”
 * Question menu
 * >Where should I explore here?
 * “Where should you go? Where can anyone go? Can’t you see it’s too late now? Oh, who cares?! What does it matter?! Nothing matters anymore! The sun will probably blow up before you can even get there! And me, all my research, my life’s work, wasted! Wasted, you understand?! ”
 * >How dangerous is that big column of falling sand?
 * “Not as dangerous as what’s about to happen to our entire solar system! I… I don’t feel well. I’d like to be alone, please. I can’t believe this…”
 * >Just saying hi.
 * “I can’t believe this. I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t… I won’t! I won’t believe it!”

Secondary dialogue

 * “Please, just... Leave me alone, won’t you?”

Introduction dialogue

 * “Oh, hello… Come, sit with me, my fellow traveler. Let’s sit together and watch the stars die.”
 * >Sure, why not.
 * “We only get so much time, don’t we? Ah, there was still more I wanted to do... How unlucky to have been born at the end of the universe.”
 * > (second loop or later) If it helps, we’re in a time loop, so we won’t really die.
 * “Ah, that’s a lovely thought. Is that how you’re coping with this? Does it help?”
 * >No, thanks.
 * “Perhaps you’re right. ...Yes, we should face this alone. That’s the way. We enter this world alone, and we leave it alone...”

Talking again

 * “Any minute now...”
 * (if choose the time loop dialog option) “A time loop, you said? I like that idea…”

Ending

 * “The stars were beautiful, weren’t they? Even if our star is what ultimately killed us. I’ll wait here and remember them while you gather everybody.”

(after all travelers have been gathered):


 * “Shall I begin?”
 * >Yes.
 * “Well, then, here I go!”
 * >Not yet.
 * “Take your time! I don’t think there’s anything left to go supernova.”

After Campfire Song

 * “Even if it’s over now, I had a good time learning. But I think the rules are about to change.”

Quantum Grove Note
"Chert’s Research Notes — property of Chert!

I’ve detected a strange signal coming from somewhere within the grove in this crater. It’s very similar to the signal emitted by the Quantum Moon, so it stands to reason the two signals are probably related. We don’t know much about the Quantum Moon, seeing as no one’s ever been able to land on it, but hopefully studying the signal in the grove will reveal more about it."

Trivia
In the game files the different states of Chert as the supernova approaches are referred as :
 * Regular Chert!
 * Distracted Chert!
 * Distraught Chert! AKA Chert period 3, AKA the part where Chert stops being useful to players.
 * Horrified but calm Chert!