Hornfels is a Hearthian who acts as Ground Control and the Museum Curator for Outer Wilds Ventures. They are one of the space program's founding members.
Dialogue[]
Initial Conversation[]
- “There you are! I just finished pre-flight observations, and local conditions are good. Time to get our newest astronaut off the ground!
And you’ll be our first astronaut ever equipped with a Nomai translator tool! I confess, I’ve been giddy all day just thinking about it.
We’re better equipped than ever to unravel the mysteries of the Nomai. You and Hal should be very proud of your work!
Tell me, what’s your plan once you’re in space?”- >I’m going to learn more about the Nomai.
- “I might have guessed as much! No sense in making a translator tool if you’re not going to use it to translate anything.
We’ve barely scratched the surface of the Nomai writing in our solar system, so we still know very little about them. We’ve no idea if they originated here or traveled here, or why they disappeared.
That tool of yours should prove indispensible in solving the mystery of this ancient species!”
- “I might have guessed as much! No sense in making a translator tool if you’re not going to use it to translate anything.
- >I’ll meet up with the other travelers.
- “You’re going to check in with them, are you? Not a bad plan - no one knows the solar system better than our astronauts.
Let’s see... Chert is on the Hourglass Twins, Riebeck is on Brittle Hollow, and Gabbro is on Giant's Deep, last I checked.
And... Well, there’s Feldspar, obviously, but of course we don’t know where they are, or if they’re even alive.
Feldspar has been lost for a very long time, I’m afraid.
...On a more cheerful note, you’ll find Esker stationed on the Attlerock. They’re not a traveler so much as a lunar local, but I’m sure they’d appreciate a visit nevertheless.”
- “You’re going to check in with them, are you? Not a bad plan - no one knows the solar system better than our astronauts.
- >I want to go somewhere no one’s gone before.
- “I like it! You’ll have plenty of options to choose from.
No one’s ever landed on the Interloper before, you know. Perhaps you’ll be the first?
I must say... Should you choose to go to Dark Bramble, be very careful. No one’s explored there before, either, for what you’ll find are excellent reasons.”
- “I like it! You’ll have plenty of options to choose from.
- >I think I’ll start with something small.
- “You’d prefer to ease into things? That’s a sensible plan! More sensible than most of our astronauts tend to be, and that’s a fact.
Do you think you’ll go to the Attlerock, then? Our moon would be a safe place to travel to and get your bearings in space, and I’m sure Esker would appreciate the visit.
Plus, we don’t know what the ancient Nomai ruins on the moon are, or why they were built. You could put your new translator tool through its paces!”
- “You’d prefer to ease into things? That’s a sensible plan! More sensible than most of our astronauts tend to be, and that’s a fact.
- >I don’t know.
- “Haha! Overwhelmed by the options, perhaps? I don’t blame you.
If you need help getting started, you could go visit Esker on the moon. They’re alone on the Attlerock most of the time, so I’m sure they’d appreciate it.
Plus, we don’t know what the ancient Nomai ruins on the moon are, or why they were built. You could put your new translator tool through its paces!”
- “Haha! Overwhelmed by the options, perhaps? I don’t blame you.
- >I’m gonna wing it!
- “Planning to follow in the footsteps of Feldspar and the great Outer Wilds Ventures tradition, are you? I might have guessed.
Well, see if you can’t put that translator tool of yours to good use while you’re out there!”
- “Planning to follow in the footsteps of Feldspar and the great Outer Wilds Ventures tradition, are you? I might have guessed.
- >I’m going to learn more about the Nomai.
Launch Codes[]
- “Well then, looks like all that’s left is to send you off! All in all, it’s a fine day for a launch!”
- >I’m ready to get off this rock!
- “Excellent! You’ll be needing the launch codes, then.
Here they are. Best get off the ground before Slate makes any more modifications to your ship, eh?
Good luck out there! Let me know if I can help you with anything.”- Hornfels gives the launch codes
- “Excellent! You’ll be needing the launch codes, then.
- >I’m ready to die in space.
- “I’m not one for superstition, but isn’t that kind of unlucky to say before a launch?
At any rate, here are the launch codes. Try not to worry too much - our ships are every bit as safe as Slate could be persuaded to make them.
Best of luck out there! Let me know if I can help you with anything.”- Hornfels gives the launch codes
- “I’m not one for superstition, but isn’t that kind of unlucky to say before a launch?
- >I’m ready to get off this rock!
Followup conversation[]
- “Hello again!”
(If already gone to space)
- “Back so soon?”
Second Loop or later[]
- “Hey, look at this - the statue opened its eyes! Bet you wish you’d seen that happen, huh? Sigh... Me, too.
I’m not even a little closer to understanding what’s going on with this statue.”
Question Menu[]
- “Was there something you needed?”
- >I found Feldspar!
- “You found Feldspar?! And they’re in Dark Bramble?! Stars above, this is wonderful news! Thank you! Thank you for finding them! That Feldspar didn’t immediately join you on your ship and return here is incredibly Feldspar of them. We were never entirely sure what Feldspar was thinking back then, either.
Still, we ought to fish them out of that dreadful place with all haste! I’ll radio Gossan and have them prepare a ship. It really should be Gossan who brings Feldspar home.
Again, thank you. You can hardly imagine how profoundly happy I am to hear they’re alive and unharmed.”
- “You found Feldspar?! And they’re in Dark Bramble?! Stars above, this is wonderful news! Thank you! Thank you for finding them! That Feldspar didn’t immediately join you on your ship and return here is incredibly Feldspar of them. We were never entirely sure what Feldspar was thinking back then, either.
- >The Nomai staue opened its eyes!
- "What? You say the statue opened its eyes and looked at you?! ...How wonderful for you. No, truly, that's wonderful! It really is. ...Even if I have been pouring over it every night for weeks. It's stupendous you were able to get a reaction from the statue just by glancing at it a few times. Ergh, sorry, that's not a very scientific thing to say, is it? I am glad. I'm just also insufferably, profoundly jealous. You'll have to forgive me. That aside - I have research to do! I wonder why the statue opened its eyes. Surely this means they aren't mere decorative ornaments...?"
- >Where are the other travelers?
- “Well, let’s see... Chert is on the Hourglass Twins, Riebeck is on Brittle Hollow, and Gabbro is on Giant’s Deep.
And... there’s Feldspar, obviously, but of course we don’t know where they are, or if they’re even still alive.
Feldspar has been lost for a very long time, I’m afraid."
- “Well, let’s see... Chert is on the Hourglass Twins, Riebeck is on Brittle Hollow, and Gabbro is on Giant’s Deep.
- >Tell me more about Feldspar.
- “Feldspar was one of the four founding members of Outer Wilds, along with our flight coach Gossan, Slate the engineer, and me.
As ground control and later the museum curator, I didn’t work with Feldspar as closely as Slate and Gossan did. I can tell you Feldspar was absolutely fearless, though. Nothing scared them.
Test-piloted everything Slate ever built! It’s a wonder Feldspar lived to see space, frankly, but they did. Flew all sorts of dangerous stunts and explored everything they could find.
And then one day, they just... didn’t come back. We don’t know what happened, or where Feldspar went, or even whether they’re still alive.
It’s been a long time since they left.”
- “Feldspar was one of the four founding members of Outer Wilds, along with our flight coach Gossan, Slate the engineer, and me.
- >No thanks, I’m good.
- “Take care!"
- >I found Feldspar!