Timber Hearth

 is the home planet of the Hearthians and where the player begins their journey. It has a mainly rocky composition accented with forests, ridges, and waterfalls. The terrain has little variation outside of grassy plains, mountains and large craters, one of which forms the area of the village.

Geyser Mountains
Large mountains scattered around Timber Hearth that periodically spout water columns from their geyser peaks, capable of launching objects through the atmosphere. A set of four smaller Geyser Mountains lies to the northwest of the Village, and a single larger Geyser Mountain to the Village's south as part of the Nomai Ruins.

The geysers in the four smaller mountains serve as a way to enter the strong underground water currents underneath Timber Hearth's crust. The currents lead to the cavern underneath Quantum Grove Crater and eventually to the First Encounter Mural at the bottom of the largest Geyser Mountain, which also contains the bridge and entrance to the Nomai Mines of Mining Site 2b.

Ash Twin Tower Receiver
The Ash Twin Tower warp receiver leading to Timber Hearth. Like the other warp receivers, it can only be used and warped to from the corresponding warp tower on Ash Twin, and serves as an early encounter with Nomai warp architecture. The Nomai used the warp receiver to transfer ore from Timber Hearth to the Ash Twin Project with ease. A path from the receiver leads through the Geyser Mountain to the Nomai Mines.

First Encounter Mural
The reservoir under the bridge to the Nomai Mines at the bottom of the large Geyser Mountain. Nomai writing can be found, discussing where to locate a mine in light of having encountered native fauna in Mining Site 2a, eventually settling on Mining Site 2b. They describe the creatures as four-eyed and semi-aquatic, implying the species they encountered was the ancient ancestors of the Hearthians. A nearby mural depicts three of the creatures emerging from a pool while two space-suited Nomai look on.

Mining Site 2b
The most significant site of Nomai architecture in Timber Hearth, accessible via the entrance located within the largest Geyser Mountain on Timber Hearth. A large, dark and open cavern lake, containing pockets of mined-out ore, and volcanic vents that spout geyser columns. The mine is ringed with platforms leading to a central gravity lift, that deposits the player onto the top platforms, containing Nomai lore.

The site is where the Nomai mined the ore to construct the impenetrable core of the Ash Twin Project, as it was the only metal strong enough to temporarily withstand the heat of a Supernova.

Backer Graveyard
Behind a building near the launch tower (<100m) are three gravestones naming financial backers of the game's development. The area is only accessible via flight.

Fenced-Off Ghost Matter
"DANGER! Inside this fence is a pocket of ghost matter - a strange and impossibly cold substance that's invisible to the naked eyes. The good news is that you can detect ghost matter with a camera. Moving through ghost matter is uniquely painful and will probably kill you. Don't complain to me if you hurt yourself fooling around. - Hornfels"A small fenced-off area that serves to introduce the player to ghost matter, and teaches them how to spot it with a camera. Arkose can be found throwing rocks into it.

Geyser Cave
Accessible through the mouth of the village geysers is one of many underwater caves that run beneath the surface of Timber Hearth. Aside from connections to that cave system, there's nothing here besides some trash.

Launch Tower
The Launch Tower is a hollowed out tree with a launch pad on top and the starting point for the player's ship. The tower base contains miscellaneous spaceflight equipment (including the pilot chair from Feldspar's inaugural launch into space) and Rutile. The launch pad is accessible by a lift that can only be activated once the player gets the launch codes.

Mica's Model Ship Station
Just off the path from the launch tower, Mica can be found idling by the controls for a miniature version of the player's ship, which can be used to practice the flight controls, though the scale and third-person perspective make it more finicky than the actual ship.

Observatory
The Observatory (or the Museum) is where the player goes to obtain launch codes at the start of the game. The exhibits introduce objects and concepts that will be relevant to the player's travels, including:


 * A recently recovered Nomai bust
 * A rock shard that appears to move on its own when not being observed
 * A live alien anglerfish specimen
 * A gravity crystal
 * An incomplete Nomai skeleton
 * A piece of wall with Nomai writing on it

as well as models and notes about gravity, the perpetual expansion of the universe, and the end-of-life cycle of stars.

This is where the player receives the launch codes from Hornfels, and where they become paired with the memory statue.

Scout-Launcher Platform
A platform near the ghost matter patch with a stationary scout launcher and signage telling the user what they can expect to see if they fire the scout in certain directions. The player can use this to get a feel for scout use before they get access to their space suit, and to get a feel for the layout of locations on Timber Hearth.

Zero-G Cave
At the end of a mine shaft (which is actively being used for mining by Tuff) is a cave at the center of Timber Hearth that effectively has zero gravity. The player can use a borrowed space suit to test jetting around in zero-g and conduct repairs on a broken piece of machinery to get a taste for repairing their own ship in space.

Accessible via mine shaft, the Zero-G Cave is an effectively zero-gravity cave at the center of Timber Hearth that Gossan (who greets you at the entrance) uses to train Hearthians in extra-vehicular space flight. In the cave is a broken piece of machinery on which the player can practice zero-g repairs, much like they might have to if their ship is damaged in space.

Quantum Grove Crater
A forested crater to the Village's south. A passage within the crater leads to the Grove itself, which contains the Grove Shard. The objects within the grove, including trees, rocks, and the Shard itself, exhibit quantum properties, changing locations while unobserved. Among the objects is also a signpost containing a poem written by Gabbro, that changes stanzas as well as positions, with a total of 24 unique positions.

Also contained is a geyser with quantum properties, that leads to the underground water caverns, whose currents lead to the First Encounter Mural.

The area serves primarily as a close and easy encounter with quantum behaviour and Quantum Shards, being straightforward to find with no unique quantum rules to learn.

Youngbark Crater


A large crater to the north of the Village, within which is a Dark Bramble Seed, having taken root in the planet's surface. Tektite can be found here, having left a note in the Village stating that they saw smoke coming up from the crater and have gone to investigate.

Speaking with Tektite reveals that the seed is beginning to infect the planet, and needs to be destroyed as soon as possible, but not before voicing their intent to shoot a scout into it.

Using the Signalscope on the Seed detects Feldspar's harmonica music inside on the Outer Wilds Ventures frequency. Launching a scout into the Seed's opening at Tektite's suggestion reveals a much larger space within, containing an Anglerfish skeleton with Feldspar's camp barely visible.

The area serves as an early introduction to the mechanics of the space within Dark Bramble, and the act of using both the Scout and the Signalscope to see the area ahead through Seeds. The Seed itself also serves as an early glimpse of Feldspar's camp.

Inhabitants

 * Arkose
 * Hal
 * Hornfels
 * Galena
 * Gossan
 * Gneiss
 * Marl
 * Mica
 * Moraine
 * Porphy
 * Rutile
 * Slate
 * Spinel
 * Tektite
 * Tephra
 * Tuff

Texts and recordings
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Nomai Ruins

 * Ash Twin Tower Receiver (dependent on in-game time, arrival time is always one hundred-thousandth of a second earlier than departure time)
 * Ash Twin Tower Receiver (dependent on in-game time, arrival time is always one hundred-thousandth of a second earlier than departure time)

Departure Time: XXX.XXXX

Arrival Time: XXX.XXXX

Return warp status: CHARGED. Step onto warp platform when ready. First Encounter Mural

COLEUS: After closer observation, mining site 2a wouldn’t be safe for the native life dwelling in some of this cave’s pools, so (unfortunately) we’ll have to mine one of the other sites.


 * COLEUS: On the opposite hand, new life! This species is semi-aquatic, and very hardy. The ecosystem here is quite robust, so I believe they’ll thrive in the long run. Be cautious near the pools if you visit 2a to meet them.


 * CYCAD: I was watching them once during a rest, and the hours escaped from me. They’re fascinating (I wonder what their fourth eye does)!


 * COLEUS: They remind me of a subterranean species that my mentor, Melorae, once told me about (from when our clan used to travel across this universe). I imagine she would have enjoyed these lifeforms greatly.


 * CYCAD: There are a few other cave sites that look promising. What about site 2b (it shares similar formations and strata)?


 * OENO: This sounds promising! Will you and your mentor investigate? If mining site 2b proves safe for this native species, we’ll move our work there.


 * CYCAD: Site 2b is safe! Coleus says we’ll continue to monitor our activity and its effect on life here.

Mining Site 2b - Ore purpose

OENO: I’m still amazed by how much ore the Ash Twin Project requires!


 * CYCAD: Isn’t this the ore for the remaining towers being built on Ash Twin ? The completed towers I’ve seen are quite large!


 * OENO: No, the material for those towers is all being taken from Ash Twin . The ore we’re mining here will be used to craft an immensely thick protective shell that will physically seal off the chamber inside Ash Twin ’s core.


 * CYCAD: If they're sealing off all entrances, I hope they've planned a-core-dingly!


 * OENO: I thought you had forbidden your apprentice from making puns, Coleus.


 * COLEUS: How else would he improve?


 * COLEUS: I’m relieved by our clan’s decision to use Timber Hearth ’s ore only for constructing the shell. If, eventually, life on this planet were to evolve to the point of advanced metallurgy, I’m confident we won’t have destroyed their ability to create!


 * Mining Site 2b - Last of the ore

YARROW: My gratitude for the latest shipment, Oeno! This ore should be the last we’ll need for the Ash Twin Project.


 * YARROW: Once we’ve finished the shell that seals off the central chamber, we’ll check to ensure there are no longer any physical entrances. Ramie and I will be checking the interior and then the exterior for cracks (our final safety check).


 * OENO: This is exciting news! Can I offer an extra set of eyes for this final check (specifically, mine)? If my work here is complete, I’d be delighted to help.


 * YARROW: We’d be grateful if you would! The more eyes, the better, as the smallest flaw or opening in the shell that protects the Ash Twin Project could lead to disaster.


 * }

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Quantum Grove Crater

 * Quantum poem (Line order is different every time the player looks away. There are 24 different variations)
 * Quantum poem (Line order is different every time the player looks away. There are 24 different variations)
 * Quantum poem (Line order is different every time the player looks away. There are 24 different variations)

Across old bark

The quiet shade

It's always dark

In the ancient glade I've detected a strange signal coming from somewhere within the grove in this crater.
 * Chert's Notes - Property of Chert!

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.
 * }

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The Village

 * Fenced-Off Ghost Matter
 * Fenced-Off Ghost Matter

DANGER! Inside this fence is a pocket of ghost matter - a strange and dangerous substance that’s invisible to the naked eyes. The good news is that you can detect ghost matter with a camera.

Moving through ghost matter is uniquely painful and will probably kill you. Don’t complain to me if you hurt yourself fooling around.

- Hornfels Museum - Anglerfish

This anglerfish specimen was found attached to the landing gear of one of our ships that flew close to Dark Bramble. It appears well-suited to living in dark places with minimal atmosphere. Museum - Attlerock's gravity

Watch closely... these balls move on their own!

The ground is perfectly level, so what do you think causes this spooky motion?

The answer is the moon! As it orbits our planet, the Attlerock’s gravity pulls on objects from different directions. In fact, it’s pulling on you right now! Museum - Feldspar's pilot seat

This pilot seat, used by pioneering astronaut Feldspar, is all that remains of our inaugural flight into space.

Although it’s been argued such a distinction requires a breathtakingly liberal definition of flight, that day will nevertheless always be remembered as landmark achievement in Hearthian history. Museum - Gravity crystal

This crystal was taken from a Nomai ruin on Brittle Hollow.

It seems to create a local gravity distortion, and was most likely used to traverse steep surfaces. Try it out! Museum - Moving rock

The strange rock moving around in this grotto appears to react to conscious observation.

The level-headed among us realize there must be some sort of optical illusion at play, but Gabbro claims the rock “exists in all possible states until it is observed” (whatever that means).

Whatever is actually happening, both sides of this debate agree the effect is extremely creepy.
 * Museum - Nomai pottery
 * Museum - Nomai pottery

Aside from the dwellings and structures they built, the Nomai also made art. This decorated pottery was discovered on Brittle Hollow.

Some ancient Nomai art depicts strange animals, foreign celestial objects, and other subjects that can’t be found in our solar system, which makes us wonder whether the Nomai originated elsewhere in the universe or simply had vibrant imaginations.

Were the Nomai born in our solar system? Or were they born among other stars and planets - and if they were, how and why did they come here?

These are just some of the questions we hope to answer through further xenoarchaeological expeditions. Museum - Nomai skeleton

What you see here are parts of the Nomai skeleton. We can tell from their skulls that they possessed antlers and, quite unusually, only three eyes.

The Nomai body was most likely adapted for living exclusively on land. The differences in the Nomai’s anatomy, such as their shockingly fragile bone structure, show us that Hearthians couldn’t have descended from Nomaian ancestors.

It’s not clear where the Nomai originated from, or why they disappeared. We hope to find more clues to this puzzle as we explore our solar system. Museum - Nomai statue

This remarkably intact statue was carved by the Nomai, an ancient species who dwelled in our solar system thousands of years ago.

The statue provides us with our most detailed look yet at the Nomai, who appear to have been covered with a layer of fur. Note the decorative jewelry that has been carved as part of the antlers.

Although their artifacts and structures have been found on almost every planet in this solar system, we still have no idea where this species came from or what happened to them. Museum - Nomai technology

The Nomai technology brought back from space by our astronauts has been a great boon to Outer Wilds Ventures, allowing us to modify expedition gear in exciting and useful ways.

For example, the Little Scout now boasts a warp retrieval capability that allows astronauts to recall their scouts almost instantly. This has dramatically reduced the number of scouts lost to the depths of space. Museum - Nomai writing

This piece of Nomai writing was essential to deciphering their unique language.

Although this text is linear, Nomai text often branches off from a central point. Interestingly, each branch tends to be written by a different author.

CASSAVA: We’re nearly ready! Filix and I have finished construction, and she says calibrating the device won’t take long.


 * FILIX: Fortunately, the Attlerock ’s lack of atmosphere will make calibration simple. After all this time, I’m thrilled to finally resume our search!

Museum - Outer Wilds Ventures founding members

Outer Wilds Ventures founding members. Clockwise from top left: Hornfels, Gossan, Slate, and Feldspar. Museum - Outer Wilds Ventures additional members

Big thanks to these additional founding members of Outer Wilds Ventures, without whom we would never have gotten off the ground:

Matthew Steinhauer

Ben Etherington

QwertyuiopThePie Jordan Frith

Tom Cummings

Sean "sharktemplar" Farrell

Steven Ursell

Ryan / Ohmwrecker Museum - Outer Wilds Ventures exploration

Outer Wilds Ventures, Timber Hearth’s first and only space program, was founded to explore the farthest reaches of our solar system.

Feldspar was the first Hearthian to be intentionally launched into space. They completed the first orbit around Timber Hearth and later made the first of what would be many landings on our moon, the Attlerock. Museum - Sky Shutter

This projector is linked to our "Sky Shutter" satellite, which is currently orbiting Timber Hearth.

The satellite is equipped with two onboard cameras. See if you can take a snapshot of our village! Museum - Sun life cycle

Stars like our sun generate light and heat by fusing hydrogen into helium.

As it grows older, the star runs out of hydrogen and starts to contract.

As the star’s core contracts, it gets hotter, causing the outer layers to expand. The star has become a red giant.

When the core is hot enough, it starts to fuse helium into carbon.

If a star is massive enough, it will continue to fuse carbon into even heavier elements like iron.

Ultimately, the star will collapse under its own gravity and then explode in a violent event called a supernova.

Based on Chert’s observations, this will one day be the fate of our own sun. Observatory - Notes part 1

Hornfel’s Observations

This is incredible! At first I thought the points of light in this image were stars, but they’re not... they’re galaxies!

And this image covers just a tiny patch of the whole sky, which means the universe contains at least a thousand times more galaxies than we previously imagined.

I... I think I need to sit down. Observatory - Notes part 2

Hmmm, this is odd. According to my redshift calculations, every single galaxy in this image is moving away from us.

In fact, the farther away a galaxy is, the faster it appears to be moving away.

It’s almost as if the entire universe is expanding.

But if that’s true, was everything closer together in the past? And how far back can we extrapolate? Did the universe have a beginning?

At this rate of expansion, it won’t be long until all of the galaxies are too far away for us to see. I need to hurry and take more observations! Scout-Launcher Platform

I saw smoke coming from Youngbark Crater up north and figured I should go check it out. You can use the scout launcher, just please don’t break it while I’m gone.

– Tektite Zero-G Cave

Hey! Come say hi to your old flight coach before your launch. I’ve got zero-g training set up if you want a refresher.

-Gossan
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