Unlock Conditions
Royal Highlands is the third and most demanding zone in Palia. Unlike Bahari Bay, which unlocks relatively early through Jina's questline, Royal Highlands requires you to complete a full arc before the travel route opens.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Main story progress | Complete Jina's Bahari Bay arc — specifically the quest "Echoes of the Crown" — which reveals the Highlands as the origin of the Majiri royal lineage |
| Travel point unlock | After completing the trigger quest, a new waypoint appears at the northern cliffs of Bahari Bay; interact with the carved stone marker to open the Royal Highlands travel map |
| Recommended Mining Level | Level 5+ — Palium nodes require this to harvest; arriving earlier means you cannot collect the zone's primary ore |
| Recommended Fishing Level | Level 6+ — required to reliably catch Rare fish; Legendary fish (Highland Dragon) needs Level 8+ |
| Recommended Hunting Level | Level 5+ — the new large game (Highland Sernuk, Thornback Chapaa) drops rare materials only at this level |
You can enter Royal Highlands before hitting the recommended skill levels — but you will be unable to harvest most of the zone's valuable resources. Spend a week or two in Bahari Bay grinding Mining and Fishing first for a much smoother arrival.
New Resources
Royal Highlands introduces materials unavailable in Kilima or Bahari. Many late-game crafting recipes — including Deluxe furniture, Masterwork tools, and the highest-tier storage chests — require Highlands-exclusive resources.
⛏️ Palium Ore
The rarest mine resource in the game. Spawns on the Thornwall Range ridgelines and in the Royal Ruins cavern. Requires Mining Level 5. Refines into Palium Bar — used in Deluxe crafting recipes and top-tier tools.
🪨 Flow-Infused Stone
A glowing mineral found embedded in cave walls throughout Royal Highlands. Used in Majiri-themed crafting and Jina's late-game quest items. Cannot be bought — must be mined directly.
🌲 Starwood Log
The highest-tier lumber in Palia. Found only in the ancient groves of the Highland Plateau. Requires an upgraded axe (Fine Axe or better). Refines into Starwood Planks for Deluxe furniture and large extensions.
🌸 Thornbloom
A spiky highland flower that blooms year-round at altitude. Key ingredient in several late-game cooking recipes and a loved gift for Delaila. Found on rocky outcrops across the central plateau.
🦌 Highland Sernuk Hide
Dropped by the large Highland Sernuk variant found near the Crown Lake shore. A higher-quality leather used in Deluxe Bag crafting and premium furniture upholstery recipes.
🍄 Frostcap Mushroom
Grows only on the shaded northern faces of boulders in the Thornwall Range. Appears after rain or during Winter. Used in the Frost Bisque recipe and as a loved gift for Reth.
💎 Prismatic Crystal
A gem-quality mineral found in deep Highlands cave nodes. Extremely rare — one or two per mining run if lucky. Sells for high gold or used in top-tier jewelry and lighting recipes.
🌿 Ancient Herb
Foraged from ruins pockets scattered across the Royal Ruins area. Required for Jina's questline and several high-Focus cooking recipes. Respawns on a 3-day cycle.
Palium spawn tip: Palium nodes are on a 2-day respawn timer and are shared across the server. Check the Thornwall ridgeline early in the morning when other players are less active, and always carry extra inventory slots — nodes drop multiple ore at once.
New NPCs
Royal Highlands introduces four new villagers who are not present in Kilima or Bahari Bay. Each has their own friendship system, schedule, gift preferences, and questline.
| NPC | Role | Location | Romance? | Loved Gifts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caldara | Royal Archivist | Royal Library, Crown Citadel | No | Ancient Herb, Flow-Infused Crystal, rare written scrolls |
| Mirren | Highland Ranger | Thornwall Outpost, patrols Crown Lake at dusk | ♥ Yes | Highland Sernuk Hide, Blazing Fin, Frostcap Mushroom |
| Oswyn | Ruins Scholar | Royal Ruins excavation site, daytime only | No | Prismatic Crystal, Flow-Infused Stone, Thornbloom |
| Feya | Highland Herbalist | Healer's cottage near the Highland Plateau entrance | ♥ Yes | Thornbloom, Frostcap Mushroom, Star-quality Highland Sernuk Meat |
New NPC Schedules
- Caldara — Royal Library 08:00–20:00; takes evening walks along the Citadel walls 20:00–22:00
- Mirren — Thornwall Outpost 06:00–14:00; patrols Crown Lake shore 14:00–dusk; rests at outpost overnight
- Oswyn — Royal Ruins excavation 07:00–18:00; returns to a camp tent at nightfall; not accessible after dark
- Feya — Healer's cottage 09:00–17:00; forages Thornbloom on the plateau 17:00–19:00; returns home for the evening
Mirren's patrol route passes Crown Lake at dusk — the same window when night fishing begins. You can catch her on her route and gift her a Blazing Fin or Highland fish immediately after a successful session, making efficient use of the same trip.
Main Questline Walkthrough
The Royal Highlands questline is a direct continuation of Jina's main story arc. It is the most lore-dense content in the game and contains several multi-stage objectives. Complete each quest fully before the next becomes available — they unlock sequentially with no branching.
Echoes of the Crown (Trigger quest — completes in Bahari Bay)
Jina deciphers a Majiri inscription pointing to a royal settlement in the north. She asks you to accompany her to the carved marker on the Bahari cliffs. Interacting with the marker triggers a short cutscene and opens the Royal Highlands travel route.
First Steps in the Highlands
An introductory quest: Jina wants you to survey three landmarks — Crown Lake, the Thornwall Outpost, and the Royal Ruins entrance. You meet Mirren at the Outpost and Oswyn at the Ruins gate. No combat or gathering required; just reach each location.
The Royal Archive
Caldara in the Crown Citadel Library holds records of the last Majiri royal family. Jina asks you to retrieve three specific tomes from the stacks. The library is a multi-floor interior — tomes are marked on your mini-map once you enter. Deliver all three to Jina outside.
Beneath the Ruins
Oswyn has found a sealed underground chamber at the Royal Ruins. To open it, you must gather ×3 Flow-Infused Stone (mined in the Ruins cavern) and ×2 Ancient Herb (foraged from ruins pockets nearby). Deliver the materials to Oswyn, who uses them to unlock the chamber door.
The Chamber Beneath
You and Jina enter the sealed chamber. A lengthy cutscene plays, revealing the fate of the Majiri royal line and its connection to the player character's origin. No gathering is required — this is a story-only quest. It unlocks after completing step 4 and triggering Jina's follow-up dialogue.
A Feast for the Highlands
To celebrate the discovery, Reth asks you to help prepare a highland feast. Gather ×2 Highland Sernuk Meat, ×3 Frostcap Mushroom, and ×2 Thornbloom. Deliver to Reth, who will cook at the Citadel courtyard. This quest links the cooking and hunting questlines to the main story.
The Crown's Legacy (Final quest)
The climax of the Royal Highlands arc. Jina presents her research findings at the Citadel. You must collect a Prismatic Crystal from the deep Ruins cave and place it in the chamber's central dais. A final extended cutscene closes the Majiri storyline and awards the zone's largest XP and Renown payout.
| Quest | Key Gather Items | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Echoes of the Crown | None | Royal Highlands unlocked, 200 Renown |
| First Steps in the Highlands | None (travel only) | Map waypoints revealed, 50 Renown |
| The Royal Archive | 3 tomes (pre-placed) | 400g, +100 Jina friendship XP |
| Beneath the Ruins | Flow-Infused Stone ×3, Ancient Herb ×2 | 600g, Ruins cavern access |
| The Chamber Beneath | None (story only) | Lore, 150 Renown, +150 Jina XP |
| A Feast for the Highlands | Sernuk Meat ×2, Frostcap ×3, Thornbloom ×2 | 800g, Royal Chapaa Roast recipe |
| The Crown's Legacy | Prismatic Crystal ×1 | 1,500g, 300 Renown, Crown Emblem cosmetic |
Exclusive Fishing Spots
Royal Highlands contains 10 fish species found nowhere else in Palia. All require you to be physically in the Highlands zone — Highlands fish cannot be caught in Kilima or Bahari Bay. There are three main fishing locations:
🏔️ Crown Lake
The largest body of water in Royal Highlands, sitting at the base of the Citadel. Accessible from three banks — north shore, east dock, and Mirren's patrol path on the west. Best overall diversity.
- All 10 Highlands species possible
- Highland Dragon spawns north shore at night
- East dock best for daytime Blazing Fin
⛰️ Thornwall Falls
A waterfall pool at the base of the Thornwall Range cliffs. Fast-moving water produces a different spawn table — strong for Rare-tier fish. Frost Perch bites here consistently through winter.
- Best winter spot (Frost Perch 190g)
- Crystal Bass at summer mornings
- Harder to reach — cliff path required
🏛️ Ruins Reflecting Pool
A still ornamental pool inside the Royal Ruins courtyard, unlocked after completing quest step 4. Smaller spawn pool but produces highly concentrated Rare and Epic catches — ideal for focused rare-fish runs.
- Unlocked via main quest step 4
- Starfall Cod (245g) at fall nights
- Prism Trout in spring mornings
- Sheltered — weather has no effect
All Royal Highlands Fish
| Fish | Season | Time | Rarity | Sell | Best Spot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Minnow | Any Season | Any Time | ★ Common | 🪙 25g | Crown Lake |
| Mountain Carp | Any Season | Day | ★ Common | 🪙 40g | Crown Lake |
| Longtail Killifish | Spring / Summer | Any Time | ★★ Uncommon | 🪙 75g | Crown Lake, Thornwall Falls |
| Prism Trout | Spring | Day | ★★ Uncommon | 🪙 95g | Ruins Reflecting Pool |
| Smoky Wrasse | Fall | Night | ★★ Uncommon | 🪙 100g | Crown Lake (north shore) |
| Frost Perch | Winter | Any Time | ★★★ Rare | 🪙 190g | Thornwall Falls |
| Crystal Bass | Summer | Morning | ★★★ Rare | 🪙 210g | Thornwall Falls, Crown Lake east dock |
| Starfall Cod | Fall | Night | ★★★ Rare | 🪙 245g | Ruins Reflecting Pool |
| Blazing Fin | Summer | Day | ★★★★ Epic | 🪙 390g | Crown Lake east dock |
| Highland Dragon Lv. 8+ required | Any Season | Night | ★★★★★ Legendary | 🪙 480g | Crown Lake north shore |
The Highland Dragon is one of only two Legendary fish in the game. It appears at Crown Lake's north shore on any night of any season, but requires Fishing Level 8 and a Fine or better rod. Its fight minigame is the hardest in Palia — upgrade your rod before attempting it.