Ash Twin Project

*This article contains spoilers!* Outer Wilds and Echoes of the Eye should be played with minimal spoilers, knowing too much will hinder the experience!
Please play the game before reading any of this! (Or don't, I'm not your dad.)

## Ash Twin Project

### Location

Within Ash Twin

The **Ash Twin Project** is a facility built by the Nomai, located within the core of the Ash Twin. The facility itself is fully operational and is powered by an Advanced Warp Core.

The facility is revealed to be the reason for the time loop that the Protagonist finds themself in. When the sun goes supernova, the Ash Twin Project activates and sends their memories 22 minutes into the past, resulting in them experiencing the same 22 minutes over and over.

## Description

The Ash Twin Project is a large ring-shaped structure circling the Advanced Warp Core that powers it. The ring platform is located within a large spherical shell which encases it completely to protect the project. The platform spins rapidly around the core to produce rotational artificial gravity, ensuring that the player does not fall off. Along the ring are various Nomai research notes and pieces of artwork as well as multiple Projection Stones. Upon arrival, directly ahead of the player is the actual project itself. There is a small open room with a console in the middle and eight Nomai Masks surrounding the center, three of which are active. At the end of the ring are two sphere consoles. One of these consoles stops the platform's rotation (thus eliminating the artificial gravity), and the other opens the casing protecting the Advanced Warp Core, allowing it to be removed.

## Purpose and Design

The Ash Twin Project was designed to harness the energy of the Supernova, triggered by the Sun Station, to send data from the Orbital Probe Cannon 22 minutes into the past. This was to make finding the Eye of the Universe a much faster and easier task than it would have been without the project.

The Ash Twin Project has two major components, the Nomai Masks and the Nomai Statues. The statues are designed to "link" with the closest living creature to them when they activate. From that point on, the linked creature's memories are continuously transmitted to the respective mask. One of the masks is linked not to a creature but to the Orbital Probe Cannon's Tracking Module to receive the coordinates of the Eye of the Universe, should it be found by the probe. Upon activation by the supernova, the memories and coordinates are sent back in time to the linked creature (or module) through the statue using warp technology. This puts the creature or module in a perceived time loop that replays the same 22 minutes in a loop until the project is deactivated.

Initially, only the Cannon's statue is activated, so only the cannon is in a loop. Once the Eye is located, the other statues also activate. This would prompt the Nomai (now in possession of the Eye's coordinates) to halt the activation of the Sun Station and thus stopping the loop.

### Advanced Warp Core

The Advanced Warp Core is the power source that keeps the Ash Twin Project running, even without power from the Supernova. Its design is based on the Advanced Warp Core used to power The Vessel and can be removed from the project. If the player decides to remove the core, the Ash Twin Project will shut down, ending the time loop until it is inserted again. Should the player die by any cause without reinserting the core while the Ash Twin project is offline, the player will receive a game over screen and be returned to the main menu.

The Advanced Warp Core is required for the intended ending.

## Initial failure and eventual activation

Upon activation by the Nomai, the Sun Station failed to induce a supernova so the Ash Twin Project did not work, forcing the Nomai to find an alternate way to power the project. They put this on hold when they noticed the Interloper arriving in the Solar System and went over to investigate it. However, shortly after, Ghost Matter erupted from the Interloper's core, flooding the solar system with the lethal matter and killing all Nomai.

While the Nomai never got to see the Ash Twin Project functional, hundreds of thousands of years later the project is eventually triggered when the local Sun reaches the end of its lifespan and goes Supernova naturally. At the end of every loop as the Sun is going Supernova, the Ash Twin Project activates, generating a black hole in the center of the ring and transferring all stored information from the Nomai Masks into it.

After many cycles of only the Orbital Probe Cannon being in a loop, the probe finally locates the Eye of the Universe, prompting the activation of the Nomai Statues. The player happens to be the closest creature to the Timber Hearth statue at that moment, causing it to sync with them and putting them in a time loop as well.

## Accessibility

There is no direct route to the Ash Twin Project, and accessing it is not as straightforward as most other locations. To access the Ash Twin Project, the player must utilize the teleportation towers on Ash Twin while Ember Twin is directly above.

It takes approximately three full orbits of the Ember Twin for the Ash Twin tower to be fully uncovered by sand. The tower in question will be the broken one of the two towers that are close together with a bridge connecting them. Outside the correct tower's entrance will be the corpse of a Nomai. The player will need to stand in the center platform inside of the tower for the teleporter to work, however, it will only work when the Ember Twin is directly above. Due to the sand flowing from Ash Twin to Ember Twin, the player can easily be sucked through the roof. To avoid being pulled out, it is recommended for the player to seek shelter under the bridge outside or under the small intact sections of the tower's ceiling until the pillar of sand is directly in the center of the tower. When the pillar of sand is in the center, the player must quickly run into the teleporter, if done correctly they will immediately warp to the Ash Twin Project. Alternatively, the Little Scout can be used to activate the teleporter, after which the player can quickly follow.

## Texts and recordings

X MINUTES, X SECONDS AGO: Received data from previous cycles.
MASKS RECEIVING DATA FROM:

Probe Tracking Module

Giant’s Deep memory statue

Timber Hearth memory statue
X MINUTES UNTIL END-OF-CYCLE TRANSMISSION
YARROW: Today we finished the excavation of Ash Twin. Here, in this space we carved, we will craft our most ambitious project yet: the Ash Twin Project, powerful enough to send information back in time.

COLEUS: We’ve also finished relocating all subterranean plants we met while digging.
RAMIE: We’ll need to keep our eyes on how significantly we’ve altered the environment here.
YARROW: Poke just sent the warp core for the final tower to us from the Black Hole Forge. Now Ash Twin can be connected with Giant’s Deep, where Cassava is working with Avens to craft the Orbital Probe Cannon, and where Phlox is sculpting the memory statues.

CASSAVA: Hypothesis: It was not by accident the core of our warp tower was the last to be forged.
POKE: Hypothesis: The cores could have been forged faster if Cassava had interrupted my work less frequently to ask for updates.
YARROW: The important point is we are all connected through Ash Twin now, and also that I’m no longer needed for mediating your disagreements. | **Text wall - Orbital Probe Cannon tests**
YARROW: Our friends on Giant’s Deep tested the Orbital Probe Cannon today. Mallow tells me the cannon is doing well, and that Avens advocates for more launch power. If anyone can coax the maximum power from a device, Avens can.

YARROW: But then, if anyone can goad a device into exploding, that, too, is likely Avens. Perhaps I should check in with the Orbital Probe Cannon crew in the interest of safety.
YARROW: Phlox and Daz finished the memory statues today, and they are truly remarkable.

YARROW: When the Ash Twin Project succeeds (or in the event it fails), the memory statues will activate, allowing us to gather more data before we shut down the project. | **Text wall - Sun Station complete**
YARROW: Pye and Idaea have worked hard on the Sun Station, and it at last is complete. If everything goes as planned, this structure will prompt the sun’s explosion, which will in turn supply the power the Ash Twin Project requires.

YARROW: We’re nearly ready to activate the Ash Twin Project! Here is what will happen: First, the Sun Station will receive the order to fire at the sun, prompting it to explode.

YARROW: Using the energy from the resulting supernova, the Ash Twin Project will send the order for the Orbital Probe Cannon to fire back in time by 22 minutes.
YARROW: Exactly 22 minutes after these orders are received, the Sun Station will again trigger the supernova to send the probe data from this cannon launch back in time.
YARROW: In total, each cycle created by the Ash Twin Project will last precisely 22 minutes. We can end this cycle at will. | **Text wall - Sun Station failed**
YARROW: These words are difficult to write: The Sun Station did not work.

YARROW: However, this is the closest we have ever been. The Ash Twin Project is theoretically sound; we were only unable to power it. Perhaps there is another way.
PYE: Suppose we redesign the Sun Station. To generate power of that magnitude, a supernova is still our only viable option.
RAMIE: I believe we can still find a way to create a supernova, my friend. Don’t lose hope!
IDAEA: This is easier expressed than accomplished.
YARROW: We are halting our research into creating a supernova for this moment; a comet has newly arrived in this solar system, and we’re anxious to explore it.

YARROW: It’s been a very long time since we last explored somewhere new, so we’re excited to welcome this comet. Imagine what knowledge might be gained there! | **Projection stones - Brittle Hollow: Advanced warp core**
CLARY: I have good news, Yarrow! The advanced warp core is ready to be installed in the central chamber of Ash Twin.

YARROW: I’m intrigued, love! Everyone here working on the Ash Twin Project is excited to see it (Pye is beside herself with joy!).
POKE: No, it isn’t!
YARROW: Is everything well at the forge?
CLARY: Don’t worry, love; Poke is only nervous. The core is extraordinary, and her design work is beautifully clever.
POKE: The core’s durability could still be improved! I need more time!
RAMIE: I’ve installed the masks inside the Ash Twin Project, Phlox. They look beautiful (although I do feel as though I’m being observed!).

RAMIE: It’s comforting to know the statues will not pair until the project succeeds. Otherwise, I imagine the experience would be hard to endure!
PHLOX: Ideally, they’ll only need to activate once the project succeeds; as a safety measure, however, the statues will also activate in the event of equipment failure.
RAMIE: They will? Why is that?
PHLOX: If anything goes wrong with the Ash Twin Project, the statues (and their masks) will make us aware of the situation and enable us to fix it. Otherwise, it would be possible for us to remain permanently unaware of the problem.
RAMIE: I hadn’t thought of that! What a profoundly horrific fate that would be. | **Projection stones - Probe Tracking Module: Ash Twin Project and probe**
YARROW: I have exciting news, Privet: The Ash Twin Project is almost prepared to receive the probe data from the Orbital Probe Cannon.

YARROW: Ramie is adding some finishing touches here, but she’ll be finished soon. Are you and the Orbital Probe Cannon well?
PRIVET: We are! The Probe Tracking Module is ready to record each launch’s flight trajectory and will automatically transmit all relevant data to you.
PRIVET: Once the probe determines the location of the Eye of the universe, I’ll send an alert directly to you and Ramie.
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. | **Project Control - Gravity**
 **Project Control - Core**
Caution: You are about to access the core while the Ash Twin Project is active.
WARNING: Removing the core will disable the Ash Twin Project.

## Notes

* Due to the significant amount of time it takes to enter the Ash Twin Project, once the **Advanced Warp** is removed, the player may have as much as 13 minutes remaining in the loop.
* Meditating after removing the Advanced Warp Core soft-locks the Game on Xbox One.
* The earliest the Ash Twin Project can be reached through its Warp Tower is 7:50 minutes after spawning (or T-Minus 14:10 to the Sun going supernova). By this point, enough of the Warp Tower has been uncovered to stand on the pad in time for the alignment to occur. Care should still be taken to not be drained out through the Tower's broken ceiling with the sandfall.
* Taking out the Advanced Warp Core and then dying will not delete the save file.

## Gallery

* The array on the northpole of Ash Twin powering the Ash Twin Project in the event of a supernova
* The Hourglass Twin towers on Ash Twin. The right one leads to the Ash Twin Project
* Inactive Nomai Statue
* A wall containing Nomai text
* The controls for the gravity and the project itself

## References

1. ↑ YARROW: We are halting our research into creating a supernova for this moment; a comet has newly arrived in this solar system, and we’re anxious to explore it. YARROW: It’s been a very long time since we last explored somewhere new, so we’re excited to welcome this comet. Imagine what knowledge might be gained there!
2. ↑ Eye of the Universe Observatory: The Nomai who came to our solar system were following a signal from the Eye of the universe. They perished when the Interloper arrived, bringing with it the deadly substance we called ghost matter that flooded the entire solar system almost instantly and without warning.