Artist, writer, creator overall. Official Outer Wilds Scholar™🥴. I love Outer Wilds, I love space, I love aliens, give it all to me. INFP - Sagittarius - Bisexual - Adult - He/Him [SUPPORT LINKS:] https://linktr.ee/approxobserves
Here I give to you my most ambitious project yet for this game:
This thing is two documents in one, one that contains *ALL* Nomai text in the game, both by writer and by computer, and two has all comprehensive information on the Nomai, their tech, design, concepts, and character profiles.
This is something I have been working on since January 10th, and it is meant to be used as a cheat sheet of sorts for fanfiction writing or metas if you really don't feel like booting up the game or scrolling through a wiki or watching a video or whatever.
With that in mind, it is HEAVILY RECOMMENDED you DO NOT open this unless you have finished the game in its ENTIRETY!
I made these documents completely by going through the entire game and scouring every corner for Nomai text because it was important that I not only got the text correct, but also that I had full context for the writing in its location and topic and order. This is entirely my OWN READING on the game and characters and events while also trying to remain as OBJECTIVE as possible, so I did not look at any wikis or metas or deep dive videos, this is all my own work and interpretations.
With that being said, enjoy it in its entirety.
(NOW INCLUDING A THIRD DOCUMENT, TIMELINE OF THE NOMAI)
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devastating when good characters are put into a stupid show. you were born to fly but that evil hag of a showrunner clipped your golden wings. be free on ao3, my little dove. be free
So we've got these symbols, right? I've vaguely labelled them as to what they are, and what their context is. But as you can see in the top right corner, there are two symbols I've datamined that leave me clueless as to whether or not I can find them in-game. I feel like I've searched tirelessly, but to no avail.
Not sure where I would ever find the first symbol here, let alone the second one. But the second one intrigues me as it seems to be a more detailed version of this symbol:
I don't understand why that second mystery symbol existed in the game's code, and it still does, but I cannot find it anywhere in-game, therefore I cannot glean its purpose. Since we already have a symbol for "eye", why include the second one?
These "eye" decals appear to be more esoteric in what they represent when compared to the other symbols, since we already have a design for how the Inhabitants interpret the Eye of the universe. So, we can stand to reason the "eye" symbol is (somewhat) distinct from "The EOTU".
There are many objects that don this symbol, albeit subtly, such as buildings and clothing, but the most notable place where this "eye" symbol appears is on anything deceptive or illusory. Going into "matrix mode" can reveal these symbols in places where you can pass through fake walls.
As to what they represent, I believe it stands for: secrets, enlightenment, knowledge.
This is the decal for the front of every theater house in the Stranger. It's a stylistic rendition of the projector device within, but despite this fact, it's obvious as a vague design of an Inhabitant's face as well. It has two eyes, and a nose and brow shape between them, but note the third "eye" at the top, framing the light, of which it is meant to be the lens of the projector; this design choice is strictly consistent for each theater. I find this to be such a fascinating parallel to the Nomai, and perhaps sheds some light on what the Inhabitants' mythologies and symbolisms could be like, given that they seem to possess a concept of something like "the third eye" or "perception beyond basic vision". This association of this "eye" symbol with concepts as "enlightenment" are affirmed from the very moment you land on the Stranger.
You are immediately confronted with a giant "eye" as you enter the airlock, marking the beginning of your journey into uncovering the biggest scandal in the entire universe, a wellspring of secrets and forbidden knowledge that have been obscured by the crafty Inhabitants. So, as you pass through the false walls and hidden paths, you pass through this "eye" every single time. Shed light, engage the dark, see the truth, and reveal all that has been cast into shadow.
The eyes of the Inhabitants glow with what they can never truly unsee.
So we've got these symbols, right? I've vaguely labelled them as to what they are, and what their context is. But as you can see in the top right corner, there are two symbols I've datamined that leave me clueless as to whether or not I can find them in-game. I feel like I've searched tirelessly, but to no avail.
Not sure where I would ever find the first symbol here, let alone the second one. But the second one intrigues me as it seems to be a more detailed version of this symbol:
I don't understand why that second mystery symbol existed in the game's code, and it still does, but I cannot find it anywhere in-game, therefore I cannot glean its purpose. Since we already have a symbol for "eye", why include the second one?
These "eye" decals appear to be more esoteric in what they represent when compared to the other symbols, since we already have a design for how the Inhabitants interpret the Eye of the universe. So, we can stand to reason the "eye" symbol is (somewhat) distinct from "The EOTU".
There are many objects that don this symbol, albeit subtly, such as buildings and clothing, but the most notable place where this "eye" symbol appears is on anything deceptive or illusory. Going into "matrix mode" can reveal these symbols in places where you can pass through fake walls.
As to what they represent, I believe it stands for: secrets, enlightenment, knowledge.
This is the decal for the front of every theater house in the Stranger. It's a stylistic rendition of the projector device within, but despite this fact, it's obvious as a vague design of an Inhabitant's face as well. It has two eyes, and a nose and brow shape between them, but note the third "eye" at the top, framing the light, of which it is meant to be the lens of the projector; this design choice is strictly consistent for each theater. I find this to be such a fascinating parallel to the Nomai, and perhaps sheds some light on what the Inhabitants' mythologies and symbolisms could be like, given that they seem to possess a concept of something like "the third eye" or "perception beyond basic vision". This association of this "eye" symbol with concepts as "enlightenment" are affirmed from the very moment you land on the Stranger.
You are immediately confronted with a giant "eye" as you enter the airlock, marking the beginning of your journey into uncovering the biggest scandal in the entire universe, a wellspring of secrets and forbidden knowledge that have been obscured by the crafty Inhabitants. So, as you pass through the false walls and hidden paths, you pass through this "eye" every single time. Shed light, engage the dark, see the truth, and reveal all that has been cast into shadow.
The eyes of the Inhabitants glow with what they can never truly unsee.
Speaking of Inhabitant symbolism and mythology, this mural never ceases to intrigue me every time I see it. I feel like, beyond what the basic and obvious message this is telling you (ie. if you go beyond this mural, expect to be able to walk to your destination), this is the devs giving us the barest bone minimum of an insight to a deeper mythos for the Inhabitants' culture(s).
A dead tree stood in an endless body of water, the Rings perched right above the barren canopy, and a wooden path leading straight into the dark roots of the tree.
It's absolutely heavy with implied history, there is more that meets the eye here, and it beckons us to explore beneath the surface. I think the symbology here is greater than any of us have the right to assume, and it's so unique compared to all the other murals of the type. Every other painted tree has been lush and thriving, land bound and revered. This one stands out in its decay, it's rendered in a way that evokes dread.
The Inhabitants don't often depict such abstract imagery, with other examples being this:
And this:
I'm sure many people know about the Prisoner's painting based on the unfinished vision in the first story reel, but the board game painting I think doesn't get enough appreciation.
You have the three "Inhabitant" pieces, with one of them laying on its side with a broken antler. It's obvious that it's the Prisoner being the broken and discarded piece. We also see that "eye" symbol being shown again in the central fourth piece. What makes this painting unique is that it can only be found in a singular instance, not repeated anywhere else, hidden away in the secret tribute hall behind the wine rack at the bottom of the lodge in the Endless Canyon. Despite everything, the Prisoner, in some abstract way, still gets a candle in their memory, even if tarnished forever by their betrayal.
To me, this artwork represents resentment, and regret (if only a small amount). It makes me wonder if this board game even originated on their home moon, or if it was created on the Stranger. Maybe it did start at home, but its meaning and purpose was corrupted when the Inhabitants got involved with the Eye.
That is to say, I think there is always more meaning to something than what it has to say on a surface level.
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Speaking of Inhabitant symbolism and mythology, this mural never ceases to intrigue me every time I see it. I feel like, beyond what the basic and obvious message this is telling you (ie. if you go beyond this mural, expect to be able to walk to your destination), this is the devs giving us the barest bone minimum of an insight to a deeper mythos for the Inhabitants' culture(s).
A dead tree stood in an endless body of water, the Rings perched right above the barren canopy, and a wooden path leading straight into the dark roots of the tree.
It's absolutely heavy with implied history, there is more that meets the eye here, and it beckons us to explore beneath the surface. I think the symbology here is greater than any of us have the right to assume, and it's so unique compared to all the other murals of the type. Every other painted tree has been lush and thriving, land bound and revered. This one stands out in its decay, it's rendered in a way that evokes dread.
The Inhabitants don't often depict such abstract imagery, with other examples being this:
And this:
I'm sure many people know about the Prisoner's painting based on the unfinished vision in the first story reel, but the board game painting I think doesn't get enough appreciation.
You have the three "Inhabitant" pieces, with one of them laying on its side with a broken antler. It's obvious that it's the Prisoner being the broken and discarded piece. We also see that "eye" symbol being shown again in the central fourth piece. What makes this painting unique is that it can only be found in a singular instance, not repeated anywhere else, hidden away in the secret tribute hall behind the wine rack at the bottom of the lodge in the Endless Canyon. Despite everything, the Prisoner, in some abstract way, still gets a candle in their memory, even if tarnished forever by their betrayal.
To me, this artwork represents resentment, and regret (if only a small amount). It makes me wonder if this board game even originated on their home moon, or if it was created on the Stranger. Maybe it did start at home, but its meaning and purpose was corrupted when the Inhabitants got involved with the Eye.
That is to say, I think there is always more meaning to something than what it has to say on a surface level.
So we've got these symbols, right? I've vaguely labelled them as to what they are, and what their context is. But as you can see in the top right corner, there are two symbols I've datamined that leave me clueless as to whether or not I can find them in-game. I feel like I've searched tirelessly, but to no avail.
Not sure where I would ever find the first symbol here, let alone the second one. But the second one intrigues me as it seems to be a more detailed version of this symbol:
I don't understand why that second mystery symbol existed in the game's code, and it still does, but I cannot find it anywhere in-game, therefore I cannot glean its purpose. Since we already have a symbol for "eye", why include the second one?
These "eye" decals appear to be more esoteric in what they represent when compared to the other symbols, since we already have a design for how the Inhabitants interpret the Eye of the universe. So, we can stand to reason the "eye" symbol is (somewhat) distinct from "The EOTU".
There are many objects that don this symbol, albeit subtly, such as buildings and clothing, but the most notable place where this "eye" symbol appears is on anything deceptive or illusory. Going into "matrix mode" can reveal these symbols in places where you can pass through fake walls.
As to what they represent, I believe it stands for: secrets, enlightenment, knowledge.
This is the decal for the front of every theater house in the Stranger. It's a stylistic rendition of the projector device within, but despite this fact, it's obvious as a vague design of an Inhabitant's face as well. It has two eyes, and a nose and brow shape between them, but note the third "eye" at the top, framing the light, of which it is meant to be the lens of the projector; this design choice is strictly consistent for each theater. I find this to be such a fascinating parallel to the Nomai, and perhaps sheds some light on what the Inhabitants' mythologies and symbolisms could be like, given that they seem to possess a concept of something like "the third eye" or "perception beyond basic vision". This association of this "eye" symbol with concepts as "enlightenment" are affirmed from the very moment you land on the Stranger.
You are immediately confronted with a giant "eye" as you enter the airlock, marking the beginning of your journey into uncovering the biggest scandal in the entire universe, a wellspring of secrets and forbidden knowledge that have been obscured by the crafty Inhabitants. So, as you pass through the false walls and hidden paths, you pass through this "eye" every single time. Shed light, engage the dark, see the truth, and reveal all that has been cast into shadow.
The eyes of the Inhabitants glow with what they can never truly unsee.
Speaking of Inhabitant symbolism and mythology, this mural never ceases to intrigue me every time I see it. I feel like, beyond what the basic and obvious message this is telling you (ie. if you go beyond this mural, expect to be able to walk to your destination), this is the devs giving us the barest bone minimum of an insight to a deeper mythos for the Inhabitants' culture(s).
A dead tree stood in an endless body of water, the Rings perched right above the barren canopy, and a wooden path leading straight into the dark roots of the tree.
It's absolutely heavy with implied history, there is more that meets the eye here, and it beckons us to explore beneath the surface. I think the symbology here is greater than any of us have the right to assume, and it's so unique compared to all the other murals of the type. Every other painted tree has been lush and thriving, land bound and revered. This one stands out in its decay, it's rendered in a way that evokes dread.
The Inhabitants don't often depict such abstract imagery, with other examples being this:
And this:
I'm sure many people know about the Prisoner's painting based on the unfinished vision in the first story reel, but the board game painting I think doesn't get enough appreciation.
You have the three "Inhabitant" pieces, with one of them laying on its side with a broken antler. It's obvious that it's the Prisoner being the broken and discarded piece. We also see that "eye" symbol being shown again in the central fourth piece. What makes this painting unique is that it can only be found in a singular instance, not repeated anywhere else, hidden away in the secret tribute hall behind the wine rack at the bottom of the lodge in the Endless Canyon. Despite everything, the Prisoner, in some abstract way, still gets a candle in their memory, even if tarnished forever by their betrayal.
To me, this artwork represents resentment, and regret (if only a small amount). It makes me wonder if this board game even originated on their home moon, or if it was created on the Stranger. Maybe it did start at home, but its meaning and purpose was corrupted when the Inhabitants got involved with the Eye.
That is to say, I think there is always more meaning to something than what it has to say on a surface level.
Speaking of Inhabitant symbolism and mythology, this mural never ceases to intrigue me every time I see it. I feel like, beyond what the basic and obvious message this is telling you (ie. if you go beyond this mural, expect to be able to walk to your destination), this is the devs giving us the barest bone minimum of an insight to a deeper mythos for the Inhabitants' culture(s).
A dead tree stood in an endless body of water, the Rings perched right above the barren canopy, and a wooden path leading straight into the dark roots of the tree.
It's absolutely heavy with implied history, there is more that meets the eye here, and it beckons us to explore beneath the surface. I think the symbology here is greater than any of us have the right to assume, and it's so unique compared to all the other murals of the type. Every other painted tree has been lush and thriving, land bound and revered. This one stands out in its decay, it's rendered in a way that evokes dread.
The Inhabitants don't often depict such abstract imagery, with other examples being this:
And this:
I'm sure many people know about the Prisoner's painting based on the unfinished vision in the first story reel, but the board game painting I think doesn't get enough appreciation.
You have the three "Inhabitant" pieces, with one of them laying on its side with a broken antler. It's obvious that it's the Prisoner being the broken and discarded piece. We also see that "eye" symbol being shown again in the central fourth piece. What makes this painting unique is that it can only be found in a singular instance, not repeated anywhere else, hidden away in the secret tribute hall behind the wine rack at the bottom of the lodge in the Endless Canyon. Despite everything, the Prisoner, in some abstract way, still gets a candle in their memory, even if tarnished forever by their betrayal.
To me, this artwork represents resentment, and regret (if only a small amount). It makes me wonder if this board game even originated on their home moon, or if it was created on the Stranger. Maybe it did start at home, but its meaning and purpose was corrupted when the Inhabitants got involved with the Eye.
That is to say, I think there is always more meaning to something than what it has to say on a surface level.
So we've got these symbols, right? I've vaguely labelled them as to what they are, and what their context is. But as you can see in the top right corner, there are two symbols I've datamined that leave me clueless as to whether or not I can find them in-game. I feel like I've searched tirelessly, but to no avail.
Not sure where I would ever find the first symbol here, let alone the second one. But the second one intrigues me as it seems to be a more detailed version of this symbol:
I don't understand why that second mystery symbol existed in the game's code, and it still does, but I cannot find it anywhere in-game, therefore I cannot glean its purpose. Since we already have a symbol for "eye", why include the second one?
These "eye" decals appear to be more esoteric in what they represent when compared to the other symbols, since we already have a design for how the Inhabitants interpret the Eye of the universe. So, we can stand to reason the "eye" symbol is (somewhat) distinct from "The EOTU".
There are many objects that don this symbol, albeit subtly, such as buildings and clothing, but the most notable place where this "eye" symbol appears is on anything deceptive or illusory. Going into "matrix mode" can reveal these symbols in places where you can pass through fake walls.
As to what they represent, I believe it stands for: secrets, enlightenment, knowledge.
This is the decal for the front of every theater house in the Stranger. It's a stylistic rendition of the projector device within, but despite this fact, it's obvious as a vague design of an Inhabitant's face as well. It has two eyes, and a nose and brow shape between them, but note the third "eye" at the top, framing the light, of which it is meant to be the lens of the projector; this design choice is strictly consistent for each theater. I find this to be such a fascinating parallel to the Nomai, and perhaps sheds some light on what the Inhabitants' mythologies and symbolisms could be like, given that they seem to possess a concept of something like "the third eye" or "perception beyond basic vision". This association of this "eye" symbol with concepts as "enlightenment" are affirmed from the very moment you land on the Stranger.
You are immediately confronted with a giant "eye" as you enter the airlock, marking the beginning of your journey into uncovering the biggest scandal in the entire universe, a wellspring of secrets and forbidden knowledge that have been obscured by the crafty Inhabitants. So, as you pass through the false walls and hidden paths, you pass through this "eye" every single time. Shed light, engage the dark, see the truth, and reveal all that has been cast into shadow.
The eyes of the Inhabitants glow with what they can never truly unsee.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
I was wondering why I couldn't find a sound file for the signal emitted by the radio tower and deep space satellite, but then I took a closer look at the sound it makes and then went searching in the files to compare and edit, and it's literally just the sound the Little Scout makes when it's flying through the air but slowed down by half, lmao
I happened upon this while playing around with an audio randomizer mod, and it swapped out the radio tower signal with the distress beacon sound, but the beacon sounded very slow and distorted, which is how I made the connection. I guess that radio tower has specialized programming hard coded into it that any audio broadcast from it would be altered accordingly.
I was wondering why I couldn't find a sound file for the signal emitted by the radio tower and deep space satellite, but then I took a closer look at the sound it makes and then went searching in the files to compare and edit, and it's literally just the sound the Little Scout makes when it's flying through the air but slowed down by half, lmao
In the wake of the Interloper's arrival and subsequent annihilation of the Nomai in the solar system, it seems that the anglerfish were spared the same fate. It could be due to how dimensionally corrupt Dark Bramble is that prevented ghost matter from properly dispersing throughout the interior, or perhaps the fog is too saturated with water vapor (less likely). If the Nomai wanted to evade the Interloper's exotic bomb, in this sick twist of fate, their best chance of survival would be to take refuge within Dark Bramble. But, even if they took copious amounts of resources with them to settle long term, they still wouldn't last long enough in that environment to wait out the evaporation of the ghost matter. It took roughly 280,000 years for ghost matter to even mostly fade away, so what chance do the Nomai have in any direction of survival? It'd be like having to start from square one all over again for them.
Let's imagine the period of time passed between the failure of the Sun Station and the arrival of the comet was extended by a year or so. During that time, attention was split between multiple tasks and projects.
Spire went to upgrade the locator at the Southern Observatory to expand their range of what can be spotted as a last ditch effort to find the Eye the old way, since the project wasn't going to be activated any time soon. Poke, Clary, and Root devise a new probe that hosts warp retrieval capabilities and a newer technology that repurposes their metal holograms to broadcast a live video feed in the form of sonar (launching it with Brittle Hollow's gravity cannon); this would be utilized to explore Dark Bramble without the need to actually send a Nomai inside, and hopefully they would be able to locate the Vessel. Yarrow would negotiate with Idaea and Pye to continue their work on the Sun Station, now recruiting Cassava and Daz to work alongside them.
The probing of Dark Bramble enabled further study of its unique ecosystem from a safe distance, and the remote crew were able to ascertain the warped nature of its dimensions, but they were no closer to finding the Vessel. During this probing project, Spire was able to successfully upgrade the Southern Observatory locator and make it even more sensitive than it already was, with a larger range than before. It could now seek energy spikes and unique signals against the radio background of deep space, and Spire hoped to fine tune it to seek the Eye in more precise measures this way.
Amidst the busyness of the ponderous Nomai, Spire detected a foreign energy spike approximately several hundred astronomical units away. A long scan deduced that it was a form of space rock composed of an exotic matter not found in the solar system, and that it was highly volatile and unstable, but most importantly, it was headed their way.
Spire sent an alert Yarrow's way, and he in turn urgently informed the rest of the clan of the imminent danger. Evidently, they were now operating on a timer beyond their control. They had two options: hope and pray they can finish their work here before the comet arrives so they could warp away, or devise an evacuation plan whilst leaving behind all of their hard work and progress to ensure their survival. The choice was simple, but frustrating. They had no time to build a Vessel, nor build a new warp core, and they certainly couldn't remove the core from the ATP either without disabling their safety net. It seemed nowhere was safe from what would be the biggest disaster they had ever seen, nowhere except the dastardly Dark Bramble, at least based on the studies they did with the probes.
So the clan gathered all the resources they could and set off for Dark Bramble, hoping that the plant's inherent discombobulation would save them from the apocalypse, against all odds. They would send members of the clan off by shuttle, operating them from the outside until the last Nomai were accounted for. The Nomai now had to call Dark Bramble home for the foreseeable future, and did their best to combat against the zero gravity and airless environment for as long as they could.
The clan occasionally sent out probes from Dark Bramble after the comet arrived, and as long as the probe came back covered in crystals, they knew it wasn't safe to leave. After thousands of years, only few outcomes remained. The Nomai either died or adapted, with taming the Bramble to their liking, or evolving with the environment.
It's more fun to think they would evolve, seeing them become accustomed to the zero g and minimal atmosphere and glide around with their own anatomy. They would know no light but that of the fish, no water but that of what the fog provided, no food except for the floating bugs and young vines. At this rate, could they ever reintegrate with the solar system?
In the wake of the Interloper's arrival and subsequent annihilation of the Nomai in the solar system, it seems that the anglerfish were spared the same fate. It could be due to how dimensionally corrupt Dark Bramble is that prevented ghost matter from properly dispersing throughout the interior, or perhaps the fog is too saturated with water vapor (less likely). If the Nomai wanted to evade the Interloper's exotic bomb, in this sick twist of fate, their best chance of survival would be to take refuge within Dark Bramble. But, even if they took copious amounts of resources with them to settle long term, they still wouldn't last long enough in that environment to wait out the evaporation of the ghost matter. It took roughly 280,000 years for ghost matter to even mostly fade away, so what chance do the Nomai have in any direction of survival? It'd be like having to start from square one all over again for them.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
