Palia Trapped in Time quest randomly triggered while I was chopping trees in Bahari Bay, and suddenly I’m holding this weird amber fossil with absolutely no clue what to do with it.
If this sounds familiar, then you are at the right place. You might have got the same fossil sitting in your inventory right now, wondering if it’s junk or something important. Or maybe you know it starts a quest, but can’t figure out where to begin. That’s pretty much the same stuff that happened to me.
The thing about this quest is that it doesn’t announce itself like the others, such as Proof of Magic does. One minute you’re minding your own business chopping Heartwood trees, next minute you’ve got ancient amber with a dead bug inside. Charming. But here’s the thing – this quest is actually brilliant once you get going. It just takes a bit of detective work to get started properly.
What’s This Trapped in Time Quest is All About?
This is what they call a “Found Item Quest” – basically, you stumble across something weird and it kicks off a whole investigation. In this case, you’ve found an amber fossil with some prehistoric insect trapped inside.
Jina’s the archaeologist who can identify what you’ve found, and from there, you get to choose which villager receives the fossil as a gift. Different villagers give different rewards, so there’s actually some strategy involved.
The quest name makes sense once you think about it – that poor bug’s been literally trapped in time for who knows how long.
Prerequisites for Starting Trapped in Time
Honestly, this quest can catch you completely off guard. You must have these things complete before you even think about getting the quest:
- Foraging/Mining in Bahari Bay (that’s about it)
- Access to large Heartwood trees
- Pure dumb luck with the fossil drop
Unlike other quests, there’s no level requirement or prerequisite chain. You just need to be chopping the right trees at the right moment.
How to Complete the Palia Trapped in Time Quest
Here, I have fully explained the walkthrough for this quest. I would suggest you follow each step carefully and do everything in the same manner to successfully finish it.
Getting the Amber Fossil (If You Haven’t Already)
Some of you might be here because you heard about this quest but haven’t found the fossil yet. Fair enough – here’s how it works.
Finding the amber fossil:
- Chop large Heartwood trees in Bahari Bay specifically
- Not just any tree will do – focus on the big ones
- It’s a random drop – might take several trees before you get lucky
- Check your inventory after each tree – the fossil doesn’t announce itself
I got mine after about the fifteenth tree, but I’ve heard of people getting it on their first go. Pure lottery, really.
Taking the Fossil to Jina for Identification
Once you’ve got the amber fossil, you need to find Jina to figure out what exactly you’ve discovered.
Now it’s time to find Jina. Check Mirror Pond Ruins first, that’s her usual hangout. You can check out the Kilima Village library if she’s not at the ruins. Look for her icon on the map; it will save you from wandering about aimlessly. She moves around during the day, so don’t panic if she’s not where you expect.
When you show her the fossil, she’ll get properly excited about it. Turns out you’ve found something quite special – an ancient insect preserved in amber. Who knew tree chopping could be so educational?
Choosing Which Villager Gets the Fossil
This is where things get interesting. After Jina identifies your fossil, you get to choose which villager receives it as a gift. Each one offers different rewards, so choose wisely.
Your options include:
- Auni – gives certain rewards for the fossil
- Elouisa – offers different compensation
- Tamala – has her own reward structure
- Zeki – provides unique items in exchange
My advice: Pick based on which villager you’re trying to build friendship with, or check online for specific reward comparisons if you’re after particular items.
I went with Tamala because I needed her friendship points, but honestly, any choice works fine.
Delivering the Fossil and Claiming Rewards
After deciding who gets the fossil, head over to your chosen villager and complete the handover.
Now it’s time for the delivery. Find your chosen villager during their usual schedule and simply give them the fossil through the quest dialogue. Collect your rewards; they vary by recipient. Once you have done that quest, completion will register automatically.
The rewards are decent regardless of who you choose, and you get the satisfaction of turning a random tree drop into something meaningful.
Different Rewards from Different Palians
Since everyone always asks about this, here’s what I know about the different reward options:
Each villager has unique rewards:
- Gold amounts vary between recipients
- Some give furniture or crafting materials instead
- Friendship gains differ depending on your choice
- No “wrong” choice – just different benefits
I can’t list exact rewards here because they sometimes change with updates, but all options are worthwhile.
What Opens Up After Trapped in Time?
Completing this quest doesn’t unlock specific follow-up quests, but it does give you valuable rewards and friendship gains with your chosen villager.
The amber fossil discovery also adds some nice lore about Palia’s ancient history and the creatures that lived there before.
FAQs
What trees drop the Amber Fossil?
Only large Heartwood trees in Bahari Bay. Regular trees and small Heartwood trees won’t work.
How rare is the Amber Fossil drop?
It’s random, but not extremely rare. Most players get it within 10-20 large trees chopped.
Can I get multiple Amber Fossils?
The quest only requires one, and I’m not sure if you can find additional ones after completing it.
Which villager gives the best rewards?
Depends on what you need – gold, materials, or friendship points. All options are decent.
Where exactly is Jina located?
Either at the Mirror Pond Ruins or the Kilima Village library. Check your map for her icon if you can’t find her.
Final Thoughts
Palia Trapped in Time quest is one of those pleasant surprises that makes exploring feel worthwhile. You’re just going about your business, chopping trees, and suddenly you’ve discovered something ancient and mysterious.
The random nature of finding the fossil keeps things interesting, and choosing which villager gets it adds a nice decision-making element. Plus, Jina’s enthusiasm when you show her the fossil is genuinely endearing.
It’s not a complicated quest by any means, but it’s executed well and feels rewarding to complete. Sometimes the simple quests are the most satisfying ones. To complete the Palia Trapped in Time quest, you must pay attention to each step and work around a bit. And that’s it, the quest will be finished in no time.
Adam is a gaming guides writer at GamersPlan. His love for gaming has led to become a writer to show off his years of expertise in RPG and Action games. He has used almost all of the consoles, from NES to PlayStation 5. There is no console that he has not played on. Some of his favorite games include Red Dead Redemption 2, GTA V, and Baldur's Gate 3.