Nomai Ancestors

Lore & Background

The Nomai were a nomadic species who arrived in this solar system after following a signal from the Eye of the Universe. They established settlements and research stations across multiple planets, driven by their insatiable curiosity and desire to understand the Eye. They developed advanced technologies such as gravity cannons, warp cores, and the Ash Twin Project—a mechanism designed to send information back in time to find a way to safely reach the Eye. Tragically, the entire Nomai civilization was wiped out when the Interloper, a comet carrying deadly ghost matter, entered the system and released its lethal substance. Their ruins and writings remain, telling the story of their discoveries, their hopes, and their ultimate demise. Notably, the Nomai discovered the remains of an even older, unknown species—the Strangers—inside Dark Bramble, proving they were not the first advanced civilization in this solar system.

In Their Own Story

The archaeologist stood before the mural on Briar, her torch casting long shadows against the stone. The figures carved there were taller than any Nomai, their limbs elongated as if they had grown among different gravity wells. She traced the lines with a trembling hand, feeling the weight of eons pressing down on her fingertips. They had seen it all before us, she thought. They knew the sun would burn and still chose to build anyway. The silence in the cavern was heavy, filled only by the distant hum of machinery deep below that they had left running for millions of years. She wondered if they were watching from somewhere beyond the stars, or if this entire system was simply their tomb.

Reader's Guide

Long ago, a mysterious species known as the Ancestors arrived in this system before the Nomai ever existed. They constructed massive structures like the Hourglass Twins to manage energy flow across time and space. Eventually, they departed or vanished without explanation, leaving their advanced technology behind for future explorers to find. Millennia later, the Nomai discovered these ruins during their own exploration of the solar system. Intrigued by the machinery on Briar and within the Eye itself, they studied the Ancestors' work closely. The Nomai realized the predecessors had understood the universe's cyclical nature long before them. This knowledge became crucial for survival against the impending supernova. Using this ancient wisdom, the Nomai constructed the Eye of the Universe to contain the explosive energy safely. They hoped to prevent destruction while allowing time to flow normally for their people. However, their own experiments eventually triggered the time loop we experience today. The Ancestors' legacy remains hidden in murals and ruins, waiting for a traveler to uncover their true purpose among the stars.

Did You Know?

• The Nomai were not native to this solar system; they arrived after following a signal from the Eye of the Universe.
• The Nomai built the Ash Twin Project to create a time loop, allowing them to send information back in time to find a safe way to reach the Eye.
• The Nomai were wiped out by ghost matter released from the Interloper, not by a supernova or any cosmic event they tried to contain.
• The Nomai discovered the remains of an even older species—the Strangers—inside Dark Bramble, meaning they were not the first advanced civilization in the solar system.
• The Nomai writing system is the same throughout their ruins; there is no distinct 'Ancestor' language.