Night Stars, Accompany My Slumber

Patch: 3.0 · Chapter: Heroic Saga of Flame-Chase · Mission 03 of 10Previous: Distant Travelers, Listen to this World's Prayer · Next: Wasteland, Hark Back Glory of Old

Official summary

This leak does not go unnoticed by Aglaea. Through vicious means, she compels you to confess and confirm your intentions. After experiencing this, your impression of Amphoreus suffers a major hit, but at Phainon's earnest request, you enter the Vortex of Genesis to learn about the arduous journey for salvation conducted by the Chrysos Heirs. Thus, you ultimately decide to stay in Amphoreus and aid the Chrysos Heirs to confront Nikador and seize the Coreflames.

Synopsis

The interrogation in the Vortex of Genesis

The mission opens in the Vortex of Genesis, where the Trailblazer and Dan Heng find themselves restrained by a golden thread. In the previous mission they had broken a promise by openly speaking of "the world beyond the sky" in order to save a life — and word of this transgression reached Aglaea, leader of the Chrysos Heirs, whose control over Okhema proves far deeper than the outlanders realized.

Aglaea makes clear this is not a jest but a formal interrogation. She reveals the danger the leak posed. There was once a usurper nation in Amphoreus that built a fleet of "skyships" to break through the blue sky and reach the stars. The moment the fleet took flight, the divine punishment of Aquila, the Sky Titan (the "Eye of Twilight") fell, reducing an entire city-state and all its subjects to ash. Speaking of a world beyond the firmament, she explains, risks provoking the gods to burn the land and annihilate a whole nation of mortals. This is "forbidden territory which can never be ventured into."

Aglaea: This is a world dominated by Titans. And that order can only be toppled by the Chrysos Heirs.

To confirm the outlanders' loyalty, Aglaea invokes a test by golden thread, with Castorice appointed as executioner. Castorice greets them again with unsettling calm, promising a painless death "amid the warm embrace of flowers."

The four questions. Aglaea explains the rules: she will ask four questions; a dishonest answer makes the golden thread tremble, and each tremble advances the executioner one step forward. If Castorice is standing behind the Trailblazer after all four questions, their journey ends. The four questions are:

1. Why have you come to Amphoreus? (Truthful answer: "To allow our journey to continue.")
2. Why did you lend your aid to Okhema? (Truthful answer: "To allow our journey to continue.")
3. If the situation changed dramatically, could you eventually turn your blades on Okhema and its citizens? (The honest, thread-calming answer is the non-committal "I... can't make any guarantees.")
4. An unknown but surging power exists within your body — are you willing to use it to aid the Chrysos Heirs in slaying the gods? (The thread stays calm when the Trailblazer refuses, or admits they don't understand the power themselves.)

Notably, Aglaea can somehow detect the power dwelling inside the Trailblazer — potentially the Stellaron/seed of Destruction — and remarks on how little the Trailblazer understands it. Dan Heng reassures the Trailblazer that so long as their conscience is clear, they will be fine.

Phainon's intervention

The outcome branches on how many answers were truthful, but both branches converge on the same rescue:

• If the trial is failed (three or more dishonest answers), Aglaea declares them a potential threat and orders Castorice to give "a merciful farewell." Castorice lays her pale fingers on the Trailblazer's pulse; a chill spreads through their veins, an unnamed flower's fragrance fills their senses, and reality dissolves into a purple ocean — her "promised land of flowers." As the Trailblazer begins to slip into death, a voice cries out: "...Wait! This story can't end just like that."
• If the trial is passed (at least two honest answers), Aglaea grants a second chance but insists on continued vigilance. An indignant Dan Heng refuses to keep cooperating under such conditions and prepares to leave — until the same voice interrupts.

The voice is Phainon, who rushes into the Vortex to vouch for the outlanders. He recounts how he too was wary of them when they first met in the Abyss, but that fighting side by side during the defense of Okhema showed him the conviction in their eyes — "the look in someone's eyes in moments of life-and-death never lies." He asks Aglaea to trust a warrior's intuition and not throw away two allies when Okhema is desperate for aid. He appeals to Castorice, who agrees:

Castorice: I'm more willing to view "death" as a peaceful farewell than a punishment.

With two Chrysos Heirs vouching for them, Aglaea concedes her methods were "too high-handed" and appoints Phainon as host to look after the guests. She gently reminds Castorice to voice her thoughts openly next time. Dan Heng remains prickly, protesting that they are still expected to help after such treatment; Aglaea replies that regardless of their choice, the Chrysos Heirs will follow the path set by the prophecy, and that whether they stay or go is now up to them.

Phainon explains the Vortex, Coreflames, and demigods

Phainon apologizes for arriving late and reveals the truth of the interrogation: the outlanders were never truly in danger. Before the trial even began, Castorice had secretly sent Phainon a message asking him to stop Aglaea — Castorice being one of the few who can sway her. Phainon reflects that Aglaea has "long sealed her heart in ice, for Okhema's sake," wondering if this is the price of being a demigod: standing among mortals yet forever apart from them.

He then explains the great secrets of the Vortex. Overhead is the Astral Zodiac, divided into twelve parts recording the Flame-Chase Journey. The twelve vacant signs symbolize the twelve Titans of Amphoreus; each illuminated constellation represents one Coreflame that mankind has restored to its rightful place. Dan Heng counts six restored Coreflames — the Chrysos Heirs are already halfway through their journey. Phainon notes earlier generations paid a heavy price and stalled for a long time, until Aglaea and Tribbie rallied the Chrysos Heirs from all over the world to re-embark on the prophesized journey.

Phainon lays out the concept of demigods. The prophecy demands that the twelve Titan-pillars be shattered and the world's order rebuilt — but if nothing holds up the broken pillars, the world will collapse before the prophecy can be fulfilled:

Phainon: After the fall of the old gods, someone must hold up the broken pillars and fill the vacant seats until the coming of the Miracle of Genesis.

When a Chrysos Heir returns a Coreflame, they become a demigod, taking over a fallen Titan's duties and filling the vacant seat — "now both human and divine, as well as the bearers of Amphoreus's fate." Aglaea and Tribbie are the only two demigods in Okhema. (Asked whether it should be four, Phainon notes that Tribbie, Trianne, and Trinnon — the three faces of Tribbie — are considered one single divine essence.) Phainon is following in Aglaea and Tribbie's footsteps, aiming to bring down a Titan and claim "his Coreflame."

The Voice of Constellation

Phainon invites the outlanders to listen to the Voice of Constellation, suggesting they start with the Lance of Fury — the voice of Nikador, the Strife Titan. Castorice, meanwhile, quietly questions whether the prophecy's path is truly Amphoreus's only possible fate.

Interacting with the spirit basin, the Trailblazer hears Nikador's whispered lament:

...The day is silent, and darkness has taken the stage... ...Flames rise higher, and drums fall like rain... ...Warriors soaked in golden blood, their cloaks tattered... ...Bronze shields you, and brass echoes my sorrow...

(Listening unlocks the achievement Gods and Mortals.) As the constellation's echoes fade, the Trailblazer hears something else — waves, and the murmurs of a Titan longing to draw their soul's essence into a pool. This opens the Tidal Bounty mechanic (the "Voice of the Tides"), where offering Celestial Ambrosia yields rewards.

Afterward, Phainon extends a formal invitation. He recalls first hearing the Titans' voices as a boy playing with swords, oblivious to life's meaning, and admits he still doesn't know why the prophecy chose him — but is grateful, for without the journey he might have become "a wandering soul on the battlefield." He invites the Trailblazer and Dan Heng to join the Chrysos Heirs and help hunt down Nikador to retrieve the Strife Coreflame. Answering the Trailblazer's questions, the group reveals more lore:

• How are Chrysos Heirs chosen? The workings of the prophecy remain a mystery, but the leading speculation is that it "favors those caught in dire circumstances and bestows miracles upon them."
• History. The first Chrysos Heir was born millennia ago. Later came the Chrysos War — a conflict backed by the gods that brought much bloodshed and claimed many heroes. By Phainon's birth, the Chrysos Heirs had become more legend than history.
• The plan against Nikador. The quest begins once Trianne locates Castrum Kremnos — expected to be "a momentous battle to the death."

Dan Heng defers the final decision to the Trailblazer ("I trust Phainon, but I trust your judgment more"). If the player chooses Leave Amphoreus in earnest, a non-canonical "bad end" plays: escorted back to the Abyss crash site, the Trailblazer and Dan Heng salvage the Express coach, depart Amphoreus with a Lygus citizen's help, return to find Black Swan has vanished and March 7th worsening, and warp away — with a mock "The End" credits roll. The canonical choice is to stay on Amphoreus. Phainon rejoices, declaring the Trailblazer "the hope of Amphoreus," and says a victory over Nikador should dispel Aglaea's doubts. Castorice suggests the weary guests rest.

Rest, the whispered dream, and Aglaea's true intent

Before leaving the Vortex, the Trailblazer stops to photograph the twelve Titan totems for March 7th. The narration underscores the imagery: the totems "stand like twelve pairs of watchful, imperious eyes, overseeing the world they forged, nurtured, and ultimately brought to ruin," and only when all twelve constellations align will the promised "miracle" illuminate. (Leaving unlocks the achievement I Like to Tie People in My Dream.)

Optionally, Castorice apologizes for her role, explaining she had to obey Aglaea to avoid arousing suspicion, and warns the Trailblazer not to come near her:

Castorice: Because I... am the shadow of "death."

In the Hall of Respite bath chamber, the Trailblazer and Dan Heng debrief. Dan Heng estimates it took about twenty system hours to grasp Amphoreus's situation and build local ties — a good start, though he senses "there's more to everything than meets the eye" and notes the Chrysos Heirs "aren't as unified as we imagined." The Trailblazer teases that Dan Heng has talked more today than in the entire three worlds before this; he retorts that with "the talkative one" (March 7th) absent, someone has to take her place.

Aglaea and Tribbie's private conversation then reveals Aglaea's true motives. Tribbie ("teacher," the prophecy's interpreter) asks whether Aglaea truly intended to kill the outlanders. Aglaea says no — and that Tribbie, who foresees the future, would have intervened if she believed otherwise. Aglaea explains her real plan: she originally meant to use the threat of banishment to test the outlanders' resolve, but when she sensed Castorice's unease and secret message to Phainon, she escalated the threat to execution — both to test whether the pair could stay firm under extreme pressure, and to deliberately strengthen their bonds with Phainon and Castorice by sacrificing her own standing with them.

Aglaea: When our task is to craft the armor for the Deliverer, what harm is there if you and I don humble attire?

Aglaea and Tribbie speak of eventually "stepping off the stage" and leaving Amphoreus's fate to others — a future Tribbie has foreseen. Aglaea observes that although she claims not to believe in human altruism, her own actions contradict her — perhaps because her "humanity is distancing itself from her." She ends on an ominous note about the golden thread hanging "unusually silent," as if the heavens, earth, and ocean are all holding their breath, mourning "the impending downfall of a Titan."

The dream. As the Trailblazer sleeps, a strange, childlike voice mumbles fragmentary, broken phrases in their head — later revealed to be Mem:

???: ...Broken. Lost. Want... complete. ???: ...Sleep. Go sleep. Disturb... should not.

The voice cannot name itself, echoing back the Trailblazer's own words ("Ron? Stella? Who? You... I... Who am I?"). The Trailblazer resolves to tell Dan Heng about it.

Morning: mobilization for Castrum Kremnos

The Trailblazer wakes to Okhema's ever-bright sky. Dan Heng notes the sky has stayed this bright since their arrival, and that the strange animal-like dream voice might be tied to "the rules of this world." He warns that contacting the Astral Express won't be feasible soon, and grimly speculates that Amphoreus's entrance may be a one-way door — "letting people in but not out" — because trying to fly out could incur the gods' wrath. A message arrives from the Amphoreus Welcome Team: the expedition is set to depart after just one night's rest.

At the Chrysos Heirs baths, the outlanders meet the assembled heroes, including a first proper encounter with Mydei of Castrum Kremnos, who scorns "entrusting our fates to two strangers." Aglaea announces that Trianne has dispersed the fog around Castrum Kremnos and verified its location for the first time in years. The mission is set: vanquish Nikador and bring the Coreflame of Strife back to Okhema to fuel the prophesied miracle.

Volunteers step forward: Phainon (recommending both foreign warriors), Mydei, and Castorice. Aglaea weighs the danger — Nikador is corrupted and his pride waning, but his might endures. She catalogs the other Titan threats that keep the holy city on edge:

• Thanatos (Hand of Shadow, Death Titan) — missing.
• Aquila (Eye of Twilight, Sky Titan) — still coveting Okhema's land.
• Cerces (Reason Titan) and Oronyx (Time Titan) — significant threats despite no overt hostility.

Judging the risk too great to commit everyone, Aglaea orders Castorice to stay behind to guard the city, and rules that only one of the two guests may go to the front line. Phainon selects the Trailblazer for their versatility with weapons and flaming lance, since he and Mydei both specialize in offense; Dan Heng will remain in Okhema to research with Tribbie.

Aglaea binds Mydei with an oath, invoking the body of Kephale, the Worldbearing Titan. Mydei — whose people of Castrum Kremnos were once Nikador's followers — renounces the mad god:

Mydei: I will use my wrath as a human to strip that god of their authority. As for the Coreflame and that soon-to-be-vacant divine throne... If that is the object you desire, you can have it. I have no interest in becoming a replacement god.

Phainon laughingly counters that he intends to deal the final blow himself. Aglaea formally names the expedition party — Phainon of Aedes Elysiae, Mydei of Castrum Kremnos, and the Trailblazer of the outlands — and blesses them, identifying herself as "the demigod who bears Mnestia's divine authority" (Mnestia, the Romance Titan).

Departure through the Century Gate

At the gate, the playful Trianne (one of Tribbie's three faces) prepares to open the Century Gate, chattering about flying with her companions "Snowy" and "De" and dubbing the Trailblazer "newbie Little Gray." Phainon vouches that despite her childlike manner, Trianne is "the best gatekeeper in Amphoreus" and her Century Gate never fails. Mydei grumbles about three warriors facing an entire army.

Before departure, Dan Heng hands over March 7th's camera, telling the Trailblazer to record the journey for March and to stay safe within their capabilities. Trianne delivers a formal blessing, naming herself, Trinnon, and Trianne of Janusopolis as "the demigods who bear Janus's divine authority" (Janus, the Passage Titan), praying that fate seal all dead-end paths and throw open every gate to victory. The mission ends poised on the threshold of Castrum Kremnos.

Key characters

• Aglaea — Leader of the Chrysos Heirs and demigod bearing Mnestia's (Romance Titan) authority. Stages a ruthless mock-execution to test the outlanders and, secretly, to strengthen their bonds with Phainon and Castorice; privately reveals she sacrifices her own reputation to "craft the armor for the Deliverer."
• Phainon — Chrysos Heir of Aedes Elysiae. Rushes in to save the outlanders, becomes their host, explains the Vortex/Coreflames/demigods, and formally recruits the Trailblazer for the Nikador campaign. Aims to claim a Coreflame and become a demigod.
• Castorice — Chrysos Heir and "shadow of death." Serves as reluctant executioner but secretly summons Phainon to stop Aglaea; her death-touch nearly ends the Trailblazer in the fail branch. Ordered to stay and guard Okhema.
• Dan Heng — Skeptical of the Chrysos Heirs after the interrogation; defers the stay/leave decision to the Trailblazer. Stays in Okhema to research with Tribbie and gives the Trailblazer March's camera.
• Mydei — Warrior of Castrum Kremnos, formerly Nikador's people. First real introduction; renounces the mad god, swears the oath on Kephale's body, and joins the expedition with no desire to become a replacement god.
• Tribbie (Trianne/Trinnon) — Demigod bearing Janus's (Passage Titan) authority and interpreter of the prophecy; can foresee the future. Trianne opens the Century Gate to Castrum Kremnos.
• Mem — The mysterious, childlike, fragmentary dream-voice ("Broken. Lost. Want... complete."), heard but not yet identified.

Lore notes

• Coreflames & demigods: Each Titan holds a Coreflame. When a Chrysos Heir returns a Coreflame to its "rightful place," they become a demigod — both human and divine — who holds up the fallen Titan's "pillar" and fills the vacant seat until the Miracle of Genesis. If no one fills a seat, the world collapses before the prophecy completes. Currently only Aglaea and Tribbie are demigods in Okhema.
• The twelve Titans / Astral Zodiac: The Vortex of Genesis ceiling shows twelve constellations for the twelve Titans; six Coreflames are already restored (journey half-complete). Titans named or referenced this mission: Aquila (Sky/Eye of Twilight), Nikador (Strife/Lance of Fury), Thanatos (Death/Hand of Shadow, currently missing), Cerces (Reason), Oronyx (Time), Mnestia (Romance, Aglaea's authority), Janus (Passage, Tribbie's authority), Kephale (Worldbearing, invoked in oaths).
• The forbidden sky: A former "usurper nation" built skyships to reach the stars and was annihilated to ash by Aquila's punishment. Speaking of "the world beyond the sky" risks divine retribution on all of Amphoreus — hence the interrogation. Dan Heng fears Amphoreus may be a one-way door, letting people in but not out. [?] Whether the outlanders can ever leave, and whether flying out truly triggers divine wrath, is unresolved.
• The prophecy: Deliberately ambiguous — it urges defiance of the gods but withholds any clear glimpse of the future. People's faith in it is what unites them around the Chrysos Heirs; if that faith is ever shaken, "all will crumble." Aglaea and Tribbie both foresee "stepping off the stage" and leaving Amphoreus's fate to others (i.e., possibly the Trailblazer/Deliverer). [?] Who is "the Deliverer" Aglaea speaks of crafting armor for?
• The Trailblazer's inner power: Aglaea can detect "an unknown but surging power" within the Trailblazer — likely the Stellaron/seed of Destruction, though the Trailblazer doesn't understand it themselves. Connects to the ongoing Stellaron/March-7th thread.
• Mem's whisper (foreshadowing): The fragmentary dream-voice — cannot name itself, wants to be "complete," and warns the Trailblazer not to disturb it — is the first appearance of Mem, tied to "the rules of this world." [?] Its nature and connection to the Titans/Coreflames is left open.
• Nikador's lament: The Voice of Constellation ("Warriors soaked in golden blood... brass echoes my sorrow") foreshadows the Strife Titan's fall and the Castrum Kremnos campaign, and hints that Nikador is a fallen, sorrowful, "mad god" rather than a simple monster.
• The Chrysos War: A past god-backed conflict that killed many heroes; deep-history context for the Chrysos Heirs, whose origin (first Heir born millennia ago) predates living memory.
• Tribbie's three-in-one nature: Tribbie, Trianne, and Trinnon are three individuals but "one single divine essence" — clarifying why they count as one demigod. Trianne's Century Gate is the transport method to Castrum Kremnos.
• Connections: Directly sets up mission 04, Wasteland, Hark Back Glory of Old (the expedition to Castrum Kremnos). The Abyss encounter and Okhema defense referenced by Phainon occurred in the prior missions.

Sources

• Night Stars, Accompany My Slumber — HSR Wiki

Hindsight (full arc)

• Foreshadowing: The "unknown but surging power" Aglaea detects inside the Trailblazer is their seed of Destruction — the same origin as Phainon's; it is consecrated as "Khaslana / Destruction" only in 3.7 and remains unexplained even there.
• Foreshadowing: Aglaea and Tribbie foreseeing themselves "stepping off the stage" pays off in 3.3, where Aglaea engineers her own death, and in the finale where all the demigods become walking memories who take a final bow.
• Reread with the reveal: Mem's dream-whisper "Broken. Lost. Want... complete" is the memory-Seed (the future Cyrene / PhiLia093) asking to be made whole; "complete" is fulfilled in 3.4 when the world's memories reunite.
• [?] resolved: The "Deliverer" Aglaea says she is crafting armor for is Phainon, whom she grooms as the Worldbearer (3.3); the title and the name Khaslana ultimately pass to the Trailblazer (3.4).
• [?] resolved: Dan Heng's "one-way door" fear is answered indirectly — Amphoreus is a sealed, simulated celestial body gatekept by Lygus (3.2/3.4), not a world merely bounded by Aquila's wrath.