diff --git a/fabledscryer/templates/base.html b/fabledscryer/templates/base.html
index ae9c0d4..ad0f2ac 100644
--- a/fabledscryer/templates/base.html
+++ b/fabledscryer/templates/base.html
@@ -41,10 +41,15 @@ a { color: var(--accent); text-decoration: none; }
 a:hover { color: var(--accent-hover); }
 code { font-family: ui-monospace, monospace; font-size: 0.875em; background: var(--bg-elevated); padding: 0.1em 0.35em; border-radius: 3px; }
 
-/* Star field */
-#star-field { position: fixed; inset: 0; pointer-events: none; z-index: 0; overflow: hidden; }
-@keyframes star-orbit { from { transform: rotate(0deg); } to { transform: rotate(360deg); } }
-@keyframes star-spin  { from { transform: rotate(0deg); } to { transform: rotate(360deg); } }
+#candle-glow {
+  position: fixed;
+  inset: 0;
+  pointer-events: none;
+  z-index: 0;
+  background:
+    radial-gradient(ellipse 80% 60% at 50% 40%, rgba(200, 168, 64, 0.045) 0%, transparent 70%),
+    radial-gradient(ellipse 50% 40% at 20% 80%, rgba(200, 168, 64, 0.025) 0%, transparent 65%);
+}
 
 /* Nav */
 nav {
@@ -177,8 +182,7 @@ textarea { resize: vertical; }
 </head>
 <body>
 
-{# Star field — orbits around top-left corner, populated by JS below #}
-<div id="star-field"></div>
+<div id="candle-glow"></div>
 
 {% if session.user_id is defined %}
 <nav>
@@ -243,111 +247,6 @@ function setTimeRange(val) {
         {% block content %}{% endblock %}
     </main>
 
-<script>
-(function () {
-  var field = document.getElementById('star-field');
-  if (!field) return;
-
-  var W = window.innerWidth;
-  var H = window.innerHeight;
-  var maxR = Math.sqrt(W * W + H * H);
-
-  // Subtle purple glow anchoring the field to the top-left corner
-  var glow = document.createElement('div');
-  glow.style.cssText = 'position:absolute;width:500px;height:500px;left:-250px;top:-250px;border-radius:50%;background:radial-gradient(circle,rgba(124,94,244,0.06) 0%,transparent 65%);pointer-events:none;';
-  field.appendChild(glow);
-
-  // Compute polygon points for a 5-pointed star inside a size×size box
-  function starPoints(size) {
-    var cx = size / 2, cy = size / 2;
-    var R = size / 2 * 0.95;   // outer radius
-    var r = R * 0.382;          // inner radius (golden ratio)
-    var pts = [];
-    for (var i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
-      var oa = (i * 72 - 90) * Math.PI / 180;
-      var ia = (i * 72 - 90 + 36) * Math.PI / 180;
-      pts.push((cx + R * Math.cos(oa)).toFixed(2) + ',' + (cy + R * Math.sin(oa)).toFixed(2));
-      pts.push((cx + r * Math.cos(ia)).toFixed(2) + ',' + (cy + r * Math.sin(ia)).toFixed(2));
-    }
-    return pts.join(' ');
-  }
-
-  // 22 wizard-hat stars: [size(px), opacity, isGold, orbitDuration(s), spinDuration(s)]
-  var defs = [
-    [230, 0.09, true,  200, 28],
-    [144, 0.08, true,  260, 40],
-    [ 92, 0.10, false, 150, 22],
-    [190, 0.07, true,  310, 35],
-    [116, 0.09, false, 175, 18],
-    [260, 0.07, true,  280, 45],
-    [ 80, 0.11, false, 135, 20],
-    [164, 0.08, true,  230, 32],
-    [104, 0.09, false, 165, 24],
-    [200, 0.07, true,  295, 38],
-    [ 70, 0.10, false, 120, 16],
-    [150, 0.08, true,  245, 30],
-    [ 88, 0.09, false, 140, 21],
-    [210, 0.07, true,  320, 42],
-    [128, 0.08, false, 180, 26],
-    [ 76, 0.10, true,  160, 19],
-    [175, 0.07, true,  290, 36],
-    [ 96, 0.09, false, 155, 23],
-    [220, 0.07, true,  305, 44],
-    [110, 0.08, false, 170, 25],
-    [ 84, 0.09, true,  235, 31],
-    [140, 0.08, false, 185, 27],
-  ];
-
-  var n = defs.length;
-  defs.forEach(function (def, i) {
-    var size = def[0], opacity = def[1], isGold = def[2], orbitDur = def[3], spinDur = def[4];
-
-    // Spread evenly across a ~110° fan from top-left, small random jitter
-    var angleDeg = 4 + (i / (n - 1)) * 108 + (Math.random() * 8 - 4);
-    var angle    = angleDeg * Math.PI / 180;
-    var radius   = (0.15 + (i / n) * 0.7 + Math.random() * 0.15) * maxR * 0.88 + 60;
-
-    // Star center position in parent coords
-    var cx   = Math.cos(angle) * radius;
-    var cy   = Math.sin(angle) * radius;
-    var left = cx - size / 2;
-    var top  = cy - size / 2;
-
-    var orbitDelay = -(Math.random() * orbitDur);
-    var spinDelay  = -(Math.random() * spinDur);
-    var color = isGold ? '#c9a84c' : '#c8b4f8';
-
-    // Outer wrapper handles orbit — transform-origin points back to (0,0) corner
-    var wrapper = document.createElement('div');
-    wrapper.style.cssText = [
-      'position:absolute',
-      'left:'  + left + 'px',
-      'top:'   + top  + 'px',
-      'width:' + size + 'px',
-      'height:'+ size + 'px',
-      'opacity:' + opacity,
-      'transform-origin:' + (-left) + 'px ' + (-top) + 'px',
-      'animation:star-orbit ' + orbitDur + 's ' + orbitDelay + 's linear infinite',
-      'pointer-events:none'
-    ].join(';');
-
-    // Inner SVG handles spin — transform-origin defaults to 50% 50% (star center)
-    var svg = document.createElementNS('http://www.w3.org/2000/svg', 'svg');
-    svg.setAttribute('width',   size);
-    svg.setAttribute('height',  size);
-    svg.setAttribute('viewBox', '0 0 ' + size + ' ' + size);
-    svg.style.cssText = 'display:block;animation:star-spin ' + spinDur + 's ' + spinDelay + 's linear infinite;';
-
-    var poly = document.createElementNS('http://www.w3.org/2000/svg', 'polygon');
-    poly.setAttribute('points', starPoints(size));
-    poly.setAttribute('fill',   color);
-    svg.appendChild(poly);
-    wrapper.appendChild(svg);
-    field.appendChild(wrapper);
-  });
-}());
-</script>
-
 {% block extra_scripts %}{% endblock %}
 
 </body>
