Guide to getting all the achievements in the game.
Intro
Important note: Achievements are displayed not in the game fresh as you get them, but after you quit the game. If you’re not sure you got it, check your Steam Library.
Also note that every time a wrong guess is made in translating the Ancient script, we postpone the progress of the Language achievements. However you shouldn’t be afraid since as you progress, the main character (or Huang or Six) will say if you have the wrong translation. In addition, there’s ample opportunities to (1) change your mind, (2) find new artifacts, such as those found through ruins, or (3) via New Game+, which remembers your knowledge of Ancient.
The game very frequently autosaves, and thanks to New Game+, you can get all the achievements in multiple playthroughs. However if you want to back up your save before an important decision (surprisingly useful since the game is rather slow with everything), in Windows 10 you will find the save at C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\LocalLow\Inkle Ltd\Heaven’s Vault. The main file to back up is heavensVaultSave.json (there is also heavensVaultSave_Backup.json, which is the game’s safety net, but backing this up too is optional).
Learning Words (Language achievements)
As you progress through the game, you will come across various Ancient inscriptions. These achievements each unlock when the main character is convinced that she correctly translated a particular word from Ancient script. Twice correct is sufficient (you should see a little checkmark and no question mark). Huang can help you with this — Bring him artifacts found on your travels and he will confirm or refute your translation guesses, as well as provide additional stuff for you to translate. These achievements are easily obtained on the first playthrough.
Language: Initiate
Learn 1 word.
Glyph translation: One
Language: Beginner
Learn 3 words.
Glyph translation: Three
Language: Fast Learner
Learn 5 words.
Glyph translation: Five
Language: Scholar
Learn 10 words.
Glyph translation: Ten (lit. Two [times] Five)
Language: Adept
Learn 20 words.
Glyph translation: Twenty(lit. Two [times] Two [times] Five)
Language: Linguist
Learn 30 words.
Glyph translation: Thirty(lit. Three [times] Two [times] Five)
Language: Speaker of Ancient
Learn 50 words.
Glyph translation: Fifty(lit. Five [times] Two [times] Five)
Translating Text (Translation achievements)
These achievements each unlock when the main character solves a phrase (complete or incomplete) in Ancient script. To complete such a phrase, your character has to know all the words in a phrase.
Important note: Not every translation will automatically be considered complete, especially if this is your first playthrough (i.e. not NG+). You’ll need to open the “Inscriptions” menu, select “Solvable Inscriptions,” and click through all the phrases there (this is best done towards the end of your first playthrough but can be done earlier — at any time really), for then they will be “marked as Solved.” Thus these achievements are easily obtained in a single playthrough (but it’s no biggie if you forget and aren’t afraid of NG+).
Translations: Starter
Complete 1 translation.
Glyph translation: One
Translations: Reader
Complete 3 translations.
Glyph translation: Three
Translations: Decipherer
Complete 5 translations.
Glyph translation: Five
Translations: Reader of the Lost Marks
Complete 10 translations.
Glyph translation: Ten(lit. Two [times] Five)
Translations: Tomb Reader
Complete 20 translations.
Glyph translation: Twenty(lit. Two [times] Two [times] Five)
Translations: Discoverer of the Past
Complete 30 translations.
Glyph translation: Thirty(lit. Three [times] Two [times] Five)
People/Place Achievements
These each unlock as you meet a certain character or land on a certain moon. Nothing more is required.
Meet Six
Unmissable. The Robot Six itself finds you at the beginning of the game.
People: Huang
Nearly impossible to miss. We first meet Huang, the University’s Librarian, by the Tree of Knowledge.
People: Timor
Timor is found at the Godsfeet Slums on Elboreth. He runs a quaint little bar and can dish out Raqi (a hard drink) for free. He can also teach you Patois, a.k.a. spoken Ancient. later on in the game.
People: Tapi
Tapi is found in his shop in the Citadel (Catkis) on Elboreth. Good guy for trading artifacts with (and for learning new inscriptions!).
People: Oroi
Oroi is found in her workshop in the Citadel (Catkis) on Elboreth, past the labor market. She’s a good (former?) friend and can help you with anything tech-related.
People: Yazi
Yazi is found in the labor market on Elboreth. He has a damaged arm and helps you on one of your quests.
People: Sya
Sya has been stranded on a semi-remote moon. You find her because of your quest with Yazi. Both don’t like Ioxians and hence are interested in trying to steal your ship.
Maersi
Unmissable. Obtained when you arrive on the moon Maersi.
Glyph translation: Lush(lit. “Many-plant”)
Elboreth
Unmissable. Obtained when you arrive on the moon Elboreth.
Glyph translation: Poor(lit. “Valueless”)
Renaki
Obtained when we arrive on the moon Renaki. To get there, you either need to learn from Huang that a merchant named Amadu told him about some kind of observatory, or else you need to take the two laborers Yazi and Sya to that moon.
Glyph translation: Market(lit. “Seller-place”)
Miscellaneous Achievements (Part 1)
A Crowning Secret
Basically, you need to find a way to keep the Emperor’s Crown all to yourself.
Specifically: On the first floor of the Hermitage (the moon itself is in the Eye of the Cyclones), take the fire poker, but ask Six to open up the wooden box opposite the fireplace (same room), then after a dialogue option or two, send the robot to the Nightingale (your ship) to get its “prying attachments”. While Six is away, pry open the box, take the crown; and after the robot returns, speak nothing of the crown (tell the robot that the box is empty)!
(Bonus points if you keep it secret from everyone.)
Glyph translation: Secret(lit. “Unobserved thing”)
Pilgrim’s Progress
Basically, you need to get into the Citadel on Elboreth via “Kibenya” while being unable to use “Catkis”. The latter word won’t work if Aliya is armed, and the former word can be found on Maersi. Talk to the villagers there, and they’ll tell you.
Specifically (and note that this is just one method): When you find the Hermitage (the moon itself is in the Eye of the Cyclones), on the bottom floor you will find an engraved dagger above the doorway, and it is very important not to use it as any kind of opener. Meanwhile there is an altar on the other side of the dried-up canal, where you can find a small statue of
Kibenya, the goddess of water and fertility. However it’s likely that at this point in the playthrough you don’t already know her name. If you know it, head over to Elboreth and try to enter the Catkis gate. If you don’t know it, read on.
Upon arrival at Elboreth with the dagger in your bag (or any other weapon, perhaps one from a ruin), try to enter the Citadel. As noted above, the gate will not let you through because you’re armed, so go down into the slums and ask Timor about the Catkis gate. He should tell you a story about the pilgrims who arrived there before and about the need to know the name of the goddess. Then go (back) to Maersi and return the water goddess figurine to the elder there. He will tell you the name of the goddess (Kibenya). Finally, sail back to Elboreth and speak “Kibenya” to the Catkis gate instead of “Catkis” and you have the achievement in your pocket.
Glyph translation: Pilgrim(lit. “Temple-goer”)
A Reunion
Note: It is likely that if you try for this achievement, you won’t be able to get either of the “Face to Face” or “A Change of Heart” achievements (though apparently it is not impossible!).
Basically: Make sure Professor Myari (on Iox) knows about the crown, but ask Oroi to tinker with it. After her place gets ransacked/trashed, Oroi will move in with Tapi (and be completely gunshy with regards to any tech stuff you would otherwise want her to look at).
Specifically: After you get the Crown, go to Professor Myari on Iox, where she will request that you bring the crown to her. Instead, we sail to Elboreth and persuade Oroi to activate the Crown. Once we make it back to Iox, we can listen to the curse of the Professor. Importantly, once we return again to Elboreth, Oroi’s place will be in shambles, and she herself is gone. She can eventually be found in Tapi’s shop. Once you reunite, the achievement is yours.
Note: If you didn’t go to Tapi’s shop during your previous visits to this moon, you may have to sail to another location and return again.
Glyph translation: Find a Friend(lit. “Bring-to-light person-beloved”)
Breaking In
Note: this achievement is mutually exclusive with the “The Funeral” achievement below.
After we inform Professor Myari (on Iox) about the death of Renba, at some point a message will come from Professor Myari about a “celebration.” We must immediately sail back to Iox, where Huang will meet us there. Do everything you can to get into Professor Myari’s office (which requires being as discreet as possible and avoiding the funeral) and snoop around some, and the achievement is yours.
Glyph translation: Thief(lit. “Person-who-do-have-snake”)
The Funeral
Note: this achievement is mutually exclusive with the “Breaking In” achievement above.
After we inform Professor Myari (on Iox) about the death of Renba, at some point a message will come from Professor Myari about a “celebration.” We must immediately sail back to Iox, where Huang will meet us there. Simply attend the funeral (you can speak or remain silent throughout — it shouldn’t matter).
Glyph translation: Death(lit. “No-life”)
The Gates of Iox
Note: as getting this locks you out of Iox, and hence its University, this achievement is almost mutually exclusive with both the “Enrollment” and “The Old Sea” achievements.
Basically, you need to take the two laborers Yazi and Sya to Iox. It may also help to chat with Professor Myari and/or Huang. In time, the two laborers will grow wary and increasingly threatening (likely Huang will say something about it), and at some point, believing that the two laborers are the ones to bring about the Fall of Iox, Professor Myari will have closed down the Gates of Iox… and you can no longer visit anyone there (sad, ngl)!
Specifically: On Elboreth, nearby Oroi’s place in the Citadel, resides the market of Elboreth, where everything is sold, including laborers. At some point in the game, you’ll get a lead (via your quest involving Renba), and you can convince the saleswoman there to get you Yazi, either for a price, or for free! As you chat with Yazi, you’ll find out that he knows something you don’t: a dig site of Renba’s, and a way to navigate there. Take him there with you. Once there, at some point (either by directly trekking to the camp up high or by exploring first), you should meet Sya, the stranded laborer. One way or the other, Six will hopper you back to the Nightingale for safety, where you can choose to pick up Yazi and Sya.
Do it, and then take Yazi and Sya to Iox, where the robot will leave them somewhere in the lower levels. Now sail somewhere else and (not necessarily immediately) return to Iox. Go to the library and chat up Huang. He will be scared, speaking of “two bandits.” Tell him this could be the beginning of another Fall for the Empire. After that, chat with Professor Myari about the Fall of the Empire. Be sure to speak with Six and order it to inform the Professor that we have brought two workers to Iox. In time, upon returning to the ship, we learn from the the robot that the Professor has sealed the University of Iox and that it is now inaccessible.
Glyph translation: Close the Gates(lit. “Un-open big-entrance”)
Miscellaneous Achievements (Part 2)
A Voice from Stone
The water goddess figurine you found on the Hermitage moon contains a secret: a Rebeske Foil. It is no coincidence that you found it where you did.
There is a whole site, likely first found on a mural (or alternatively, pinpointed with artifacts from ruins) — the Emperor’s Graveyard, where (royal?) souls are immortalized in this form. In the main area of this graveyard, there are a bunch of similar-looking stone pillars, some of which still have their Ancient inscriptions. One of them, critically, has a metal hoop on top (that kinda freaks out the robot for some reason…). At the top of this site (a somewhat remote and high corner found by climbing a stairwell into an area with thin air, affecting Aliya), you’ll find that one of these stone pillars is charged (you’ll know because you will have gotten shocked)! This charge is useful — place the metal hoop on top and the figurine (or alternatively, the Rebeske Foil) inside, and watch the magic happen. You can converse with the dead! After the conversation, the achievement is yours.
Glyph translation: Voice(lit. “Thing-do-speak”)
The Wisdom of Swine
To get the achievement, you must first return the water goddess figurine (Kibenya) to the elder on Maersi.
As you explore the Age of Sail Site (Serpent’s Square, a.k.a. the Domed Market Moon, a.k.a. that abandoned market with a central theater), you will meet the child Aamir. Persuade him to fly with you and take him to Maersi. Once there, persuade the elder to give him shelter, and promise to come back and visit Aamir. Upon returning to Maersi, chat with Aamir, who will be found among the foul muck of the pigs (yes, you can actually enter the area this time — Aliya won’t be discouraged). When you’re done you’ll get the achievement.
Also if you don’t yet have the “Heaven’s Vault” achievement, you can get it if you use those two words in the last phrase of the puzzle involving the pig.Glyph translation:
Swine/Pig(lit. “Creature-happy-earth”)
Heaven’s Vault?
The point of the achievement is to hear about Heaven’s Vault. There are several options, such as asking Oroi as part of the “A Reunion” achievement, or from Aamir as part of the “The Wisdom of Swine” achievement (see above).
Glyph translation: Heaven’s Vault(lit. “High-light-place’s Vault”…I’m keeping some of this secret for super-spoiler reasons)
The Old Sea
Once you get the “Heaven’s Vault?” achievement, go to Professor Myari and question her about it. She will tell you a story — the Legend of the Old Sea, which is either an epic of old, or else a children’s tale (which one is it really? As Aliya might say, “what do you think?”). Shortly thereafter, the achievement will be yours.
Note: in order to get the option in the dialogue, the phrase “Heard the name ‘Heaven’s Vault'” must be somewhere in your timeline.
Glyph translation: The Story of The Sea(lit. “Story of place-water”)
Face to Face
Basically, you need to bring Oroi to the Withering Palace and have her eventually reveal Empress Enkei to you.
Specifically: To start, you need to have a good relationship with Oroi. Really all it should take is to not ask her to tinker with the crown (and maybe also don’t be too rude to her either).
Next, you should have already visited the Withering Palace, where you should have found a hopper eye just beyond the circle of six gods (for those curious, these gods are, starting with the horned goddess and moving clockwise: death god, water/fertility god (Kibenya), vault/earth/(moon?) god, sky god, sun god, and the serpent god). Six should start remembering things — the things of bygone days. At some point, talk to Oroi about this behavior of Six’s. You should be able to convince her to come with you to the Withering Palace. Once she learns about the hopper eye mechanism and what it does, she’ll want to try something with it, and it will involve the robot. Shortly thereafter, Empress Enkei will take control of Six and that’s when the achievement unlocks.
Glyph translation: Welcome the Empress (referencing Enkei; lit. “We-speak-meet Law-person”)
A Change of Heart
This is somewhat of a continuation of the “Face to Face” achievement. After the Empress takes over the robot, you can ask Oroi to return Six or leave her. To get the achievement, you must leave the Empress (who will then be permanently with you, insulting you with terms such as “Servant” and “Cretin”, where once the robot only sheepishly called you “Mistress”).
Glyph translation: Release the Empress (referencing Enkei; lit. “Do-high-life Law-person”)
Renaki Achievements
Note: these achievements are in their own section since the opportunities to visit Renaki are limited (because this game does not allow for any sort of free travel — you have to have a “real” reason for everything). Making backup saves is recommended here, especially with the “Enrollment” achievement since the dialog is so sensitive in that one!
Bought a Gecko
There is a main marketplace with a central fountain. Along one of its edges is a gecko saleswoman. Simply buy one using your precious little artifacts, and the achievement is in your pocket along with that gecko.
Lost a Gecko
Continuing from above, once you have bought your gecko, try to choose a name for it. Press “next” on the dialog options screen until Six notices that the gecko has run away. Feel bad about everything and wonder if you can try to get it back (
if you look around your ship when next you’re there, you’ll find your gecko friend! They’ll never be far from you, in fact.).
Sold a Friend
Prerequisite: You must have a good relationship with Six during your trip (really all it takes it to be respectful and cordial to the robot, nothing more).
When you find the servo seller Amadu, during the conversation, offer to sell him your robot. Once you agree, he will order the robot to kick you out of the store. Do not say anything, but instead, wait until the robot kicks you out of the store. The achievement should now be yours.
(Also, you still kinda need the robot to progress, so… you’re gonna have to re-enter Amadu’s shop.)
Glyph translation: Sell a Robot(lit. “Sell Robot”)
Enrollment
When you get to the main marketplace, immediately turn left, where there will be a girl (Mina) reading books in a corner (you might’ve also noticed her if you remarked on the vases after looking at them). The essence of the achievement is to convince her to sail with you to Iox. However, she is very coy and a bit shy, so under no circumstances should you “force” anything on her, no matter how nicely it’s done.
For the first dialog, make sure you haven’t first visited Amadu (go visit him later). Some key options:
- “What’s your book?”
- “I’m from Elboreth”
- “I work mostly on Iox.”
- “Iox has three.” (This is especially important since this builds the allure for Mina.)
- “I’m quite serious.” (This is especially important since this builds the allure for Mina.)
- “How can you see the Nebula if you don’t sail?” (I think if you choose another option, she won’t try to come with you.)
- “I lose my way sometimes.”; (I think if you choose another option, she won’t try to come with you.)
- “They’re clear on that, are they?”; (I think if you choose another option, she won’t try to come with you.)
A sign (maybe not necessarily definitive) that things have gone well is that the conversation should end with both Aliya and Mina wishing each other “Good Faith.”
Immediately try to leave the main market square. If you did the dialog right, Mina should catch up with you and give you the key to some Ancient Library. Go find this library — it’s a place where you can only last for seven minutes and has a gigantic book full of translateable Ancient. After you’ve visited that place (you may need to have the giant book with you, but I haven’t confirmed this), tell Mina that the library is gone. After that, don’t say anything about Iox(remember, she’s still coy and doesn’t like to be pressured into sailing…), just wish her well and leave. She will catch up with you again and ask you to take her to Iox. Finally once you introduce her to Huang, this rare achievement is yours.
Ending Achievements
These are all obtained inside Heaven’s Vault, a “graveyard” (the robot’s words) for robots.
Inside the Vault
Unmissable. Received at the entrance to the Vault.
Glyph translation: Inside the Ship (lit. “Place-in Ship”)
Complete the Game
Unmissable. Finish the game. Any ending will do.
Glyph translation: The End(lit. “Time no-begin”)
Restored the Nebula
Shut it all down.
Glyph translation: Restored (lit. “Gave life”)
Vaulted
Do you wish to vault? Yes you do.
Glyph translation: Vaulted (I’m keeping the literal translation of this one secret for super-spoiler reasons)
Looking Deeper
Really all you have to do here is start a New Game+. Note that the achievement is not obtained instantly, but after you first speak with Professor Myari.
In NG+, you keep all your dictionary knowledge of Ancient, as well as the Nebula river map (though no points of interest are saved, and not all of the rivers are traversable at once) from the previous playthrough, but the inscriptions now consist of longer phrases, giving you an opportunity to learn more Ancient.
Glyph translation: Again (lit. “Time [like] and”)
