Palia Trapped in Time Quest Guide & Rewards

This guide explains how to complete the “Trapped in Time” quest in Palia and lists every reward you can earn from it. You’ll need to find and speak with Zeki in the Underground, then gather specific items and return them to him to finish the quest and claim your rewards.

Quest Overview and How to Start

“Trapped in Time” is a quest in Palia that becomes available after you reach a certain point in the main story and have access to the Underground, Zeki’s secret shop area beneath Kilima Village. To start it, you need to have completed the quest “The Void” and reached Friendship Level 3 with Zeki. Once those conditions are met, you’ll receive a letter from Zeki asking you to meet him in the Underground.

When you arrive, Zeki will tell you that he’s been experimenting with a strange device that seems to be stuck in a time loop. He needs your help to gather the materials to fix it. The quest is fairly straightforward but requires some gathering and crafting, so it’s a good idea to have a decent amount of stamina and a few tools upgraded.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Here’s the full walkthrough for the quest, including all the objectives in order:

1. Talk to Zeki in the Underground. He’ll explain the situation and give you the first objective: find a “Chronal Capacitor.”
2. Find the Chronal Capacitor. This item is located in the ruins near the entrance to the Bahari Bay, specifically in the Flooded Fortress. You’ll need to solve a small puzzle involving pressure plates to reach the chest containing it.
3. Return to Zeki. Give him the capacitor, and he’ll ask you to find a “Temporal Stabilizer.”
4. Find the Temporal Stabilizer. This one is in the Underground itself, in a locked room that requires a key. The key is dropped by a special enemy called a “Rogue Golem” that spawns in the area. Defeat it, grab the key, and open the room to get the stabilizer.
5. Return to Zeki again. He’ll then ask you to craft a “Time Repair Kit” using the two items you found plus some common materials (Copper Bars, Silk Thread, and a Sparkstone).
6. Craft the Time Repair Kit. You can craft it at any Workbench. The recipe is automatically learned when you receive the quest.
7. Give the kit to Zeki. He’ll use it to fix the device, and the quest will be complete.

All Rewards Listed

Upon completing “Trapped in Time,” you’ll receive the following rewards:

• 500 Renown – used to unlock fast travel points and other perks.
• 2,500 Gold – standard currency for buying items and upgrades.
• Zeki’s Timepiece – a unique decorative item for your housing plot. It’s a small clock that shows the in-game time and has a special animation when you interact with it.
• +1,000 Friendship XP with Zeki – this helps you level up your friendship with him, unlocking more dialogue and eventually his level 4 friendship reward.

There are no other hidden rewards or bonus items. The quest is a one-time completion, so make sure you enjoy the cutscene at the end.

Tips and Common Mistakes

Many players get stuck on the pressure plate puzzle in the Flooded Fortress. The trick is that you need to stand on one plate while a companion (or another player) stands on the other. If you’re playing solo, you can use a Garden Gnome decoration or a makeshift item like a furniture piece to hold the plate down – this is a known trick that works in many Palia puzzles. Just place the item on the plate and it will stay pressed.

Another common mistake is trying to fight the Rogue Golem without proper gear. The golem is level 15 and has a lot of health, so it’s best to have at least a Fine or Exquisite Bow and some healing potions. You can also lure it to a nearby guard if you’re in a pinch, but they don’t always help.

Also, make sure you have enough inventory space before you start, as the quest items take up slots and you’ll be picking up several other things along the way.

Rewards Comparison and Value

Compared to other side quests in Palia, “Trapped in Time” offers a moderate amount of Renown and Gold, but the unique furniture item makes it worth doing if you’re a collector. Zeki’s Timepiece is one of the few clocks in the game, and it’s a nice conversation piece for your home. The Friendship XP is also valuable because Zeki’s level 4 reward is a rare item that can’t be obtained elsewhere.

If you’re focused on efficiency, the quest takes about 30-45 minutes to complete, so the rewards are decent but not exceptional. However, the story content and the chance to see more of Zeki’s character make it a fun diversion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I replay this quest for more rewards?

No, “Trapped in Time” is a one-time quest. Once you complete it, you cannot repeat it, and you won’t get another Timepiece or extra Renown. The only way to get another Timepiece is to trade with another player if the game allows item trading in the future (currently, trading isn’t available for most items).

What if I lose the quest items?

Quest items like the Chronal Capacitor and Temporal Stabilizer cannot be dropped or sold, so you can’t lose them permanently. If you somehow delete them (which isn’t possible through normal means), you can re-obtain them by talking to Zeki again – he’ll give you a replacement.

Do I need to have a certain level to start this quest?

Yes, you need to have completed “The Void” main story quest and reached Friendship Level 3 with Zeki. If you haven’t done those, the quest won’t appear. You can increase your friendship with Zeki by giving him his favorite gifts (like Chappa Meat or Void Rays) and talking to him daily.

Is the Timepiece just cosmetic?

Yes, Zeki’s Timepiece is purely decorative. It displays the in-game time when you interact with it, but it has no functional purpose beyond that. It doesn’t give any buffs or bonuses.

Can I get the rewards if I decline the quest?

No, if you decline the quest when Zeki first offers it, you can simply talk to him again to accept it. There’s no penalty for waiting, but you won’t get the rewards until you complete it. The quest will stay in your log until you finish it.

Conclusion

“Trapped in Time” is a well-designed side quest that offers a mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat. The rewards are solid, especially the unique Timepiece furniture, and it’s a great way to deepen your friendship with Zeki. Follow the steps above, and you’ll have it completed in no time. If you run into any issues, check the Palia wiki or community forums for additional help – they’re always up to date with the latest patches.

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