Cosmic Comet

Lore & Background

The Nomai, having built a civilization throughout the planetary system after their Vessel became embedded in Dark Bramble, discovered the Interloper as it entered the system. They investigated the comet and found that it contained an extremely pressurized source of "ghost matter," a highly lethal and invisible substance. Before the Nomai could inform the others of their discovery, the source ruptured and a powerful wave of ghost matter spread throughout the system, killing all of the Nomai. This event occurred long before the Hearthians evolved on Timber Hearth. The Interloper remains in the system, orbiting the sun, and its ghost matter can still be encountered by the Hatchling.

In Their Own Story

The Nomai who investigated the Interloper found it contained an extremely pressurized source of "ghost matter." Before they could inform the others, the source ruptured and a powerful wave of ghost matter spread throughout the system, killing all of the Nomai. The Interloper remains in the system, orbiting the sun, and its ghost matter can still be encountered by the Hatchling.

Reader's Guide

The Interloper is an icy comet that enters the Outer Wilds planetary system on a long elliptical orbit. It contains a highly pressurized source of "ghost matter," a lethal and invisible substance. The Hatchling can explore the Interloper during the time loop, but must be cautious of the ghost matter, which can kill them if they come into contact with it. The Interloper's orbit brings it close to the sun, and it can be reached by flying the spacecraft to its location. The Interloper is not directly involved in the time loop mechanics or the Eye of the Universe, but its history is crucial to understanding the extinction of the Nomai.

Did You Know?

• The Interloper contains an extremely pressurized source of "ghost matter," a highly lethal and invisible substance.
• The Nomai discovered the Interloper and investigated it, but before they could warn others, the ghost matter ruptured and killed all Nomai in the system.
• The Interloper remains in the system, orbiting the sun, and its ghost matter can still be encountered by the Hatchling.
• The Interloper is an icy comet that enters the system on a long elliptical orbit.