A BLESSING IN DISGUISE
MAYDAY. MAYDAY.
This is Captain Marin of the Academy Research vessel Luminara-Horizon calling for rescue. I’ve been stranded on the remote and uncharted planet Enderas after being ensnared in a gravitational anomaly, causing me to crash land. If you are receiving this, please send for rescue.
I’ve been stranded on this planet for nearly a year. Which, if you’re reading this from the comfort of your spacecraft, probably sounds terrifying. You’re probably imagining me rationing water, trembling in fear, or scribbling my last will on the walls of my ship.
But here’s the thing—it’s actually been kind of…fun.
You see, my whole life, I’ve always dreamed of exploring the cosmos. When I was a little girl, I used to look up at the stars and wonder what else was out there. I’d close my eyes and imagine myself on strange alien worlds, off on adventures, solving the grand mysteries of the infinite universe.
It’s always been my dream. It’s why I joined the Academy. It’s why I worked so hard to be at the top of my class. It’s why I volunteered to be one of the first captains of the Luminara ships—intergalactic vessels built to travel vast distances to reach void galaxies (isolated galaxies untethered to galactic clusters—thought to be preserved relics from the early universe).
When I first crashed on Enderas, I was terrified. Alone on an unknown world in the furthest reaches of the universe, unable to contact anyone for help—how could I not be scared? The silence was suffocating. Every shadow seemed alive with threat. I barely left the ship.
But as the days stretched into weeks, something began to shift. The more I ventured out, the more I realized the planet wasn’t hostile—it was extraordinary. I started cautiously cataloging alien minerals that shimmered like stardust, marveling at bioluminescent fungi that cast a soft, ethereal glow in the darkness. Each small discovery chipped away at my fear until it eventually dawned on me that this wasn’t the curse I thought it was... It was the adventure I’d always dreamed of.
I was on an alien planet that had evolved in isolation since the birth of the cosmos, equipped with the most advanced research tools humanity had ever created—and I had nothing but time on my hands. If you’d told the little girl who used to stare up at the stars in awe that this was to be her fate, she would have jumped for joy.
And let me tell you—this planet, Enderas? I couldn’t have dreamed of a better, more unique world to be stuck on.
At first glance, Enderas might look hostile—a world shaped by relentless, violent catastrophes. Volcanic eruptions paint the skies red, and sudden quakes split the ground in two. Life here doesn’t seem like it would come easy. But here’s the fascinating part: these catastrophes aren’t just destructive—they’re transformative. What might seem like chaos is actually the driving evolutionary force behind some of the most extraordinary creatures I’ve ever encountered: Doomlings.
Doomlings are the primary lifeforms that inhabit Enderas. They are a resilient species whose impressive ability to adapt has allowed them to thrive in the planet’s tumultuous environment. But they are not what one would likely expect from creatures born of chaos. They’re friendly, curious, and surprisingly intelligent. Playful too—like mischievous children who’ve somehow built thriving towns and societies.
Oh... they’re also balls. All of them. They’re all balls—spherical balls.
I’ve become particularly close to one of them.
A few weeks after I crash-landed, my ship’s alert system jolted me awake in the dead of night. A dangerous alien creature had breached the perimeter. Half-asleep but fully armed, I rushed to the location, ready for a fight...only to find this plucky little Doomling.
He stood there, hand buried in a bag of cookies he’d swiped from my kitchen. He froze when he saw me, crumbs all over his face, then slowly looked up at me with the widest, most innocent eyes. And then, as if to justify his cookie heist, with his mouth still full, he proudly announced:
“Hello! I came as quickly as I could! I’m here to help you!”
Doomlings talk, by the way. Or at least some do—this one does. A lot. Sometimes too much.
He’s been with me ever since and insists on not leaving my side until he has finished helping me—whatever that means. It was a little annoying at first, but I’ve warmed up to him. He’s funny. He’s kind. And he loves sandwiches—he’s absolutely enamored by them. I guess Doomlings never invented sandwiches.
He doesn’t have a name. I’m not sure if that’s normal for Doomlings. So I decided to call him “Hero”. Honestly, it was a bit of a joke, but now he loves it.
Anyway, while Hero’s antics keep me entertained, what truly fascinates me about Enderas isn’t its inhabitants—it’s the planet itself. At first, I thought the Doomlings had a strained relationship with their planet. Enderas’s frequent catastrophes wreak havoc and cause chaos in their lives. But when I looked closer, I realized the Doomlings actually depend on these events.
They naturally adapt to the chaos the planet throws at them, evolving entirely new traits in response to it. What’s even more remarkable though is how Enderas responds—adapting to the Doomlings themselves. The planet creates new environments shaped by the traits the Doomlings evolve, cultivating unique plant life, and developing extraordinary ecological features inspired by them. It’s like the planet and the Doomlings have a symbiotic relationship, but somehow more intertwined—almost like a personal connection.
I’ve even noticed that the planet is attempting to adapt to me. One of my missing spoons—which the Doomlings have a particular fondness for stealing—turned up outside my ship. Around the spoon, a small garden of spoon-like plants was sprouting.
The Doomlings seem acutely aware of this connection they have with Enderas. They pass down stories of brave Doomlings who have ventured to parts of the planet where this connection is said to be strongest, returning with artifacts and treasures that give them a deeper understanding of their world and themselves: a flower that sings the history of the winds, a crystal that hums with the heartbeat of the planet, pages from the Living Library that tell stories both real and imagined to those who read them, etc.
However, one particular cave on the planet I’ve heard rumors about—a cave no Doomling has ever managed to bring anything back from—has captured my interest. I’ll spare you the details for now, but if this cave is real and I can find it, it might prove that Enderas isn’t just alive... but potentially aware.
Crashing on Enderas may have been the best thing to ever happen to me. I’m exploring, I’m going on adventures, I’m making discoveries. It’s the journey of a lifetime.
This is what I’ve always wanted. I’m finally living the life I always dreamt of.
- Captain Marin
END TRANSMISSION
Written by Raymond Boland
20 comments
Yay!! I’m so excited.
If you click on the box, it looks like new card designs?
Glad your ok
I love this it adds so much lore to the game
Does this mean a new expansion is coming?