Ah, Genshin Impact. Teyvat is a land where you battle hilichurls and collect characters. You can even manipulate time. But let’s talk about something grounded, the “Time and Wind” quest. Ever found that Nameless Island and felt a breeze of mystery? We will dive into the quest, time manipulation, and shadows.
I. Conquering the Chronos-Challenged: “Time and Wind” Quest
Heard whispers of a quest about time and wind? Maybe a Nameless Island sounds ominous? Good. This quest, while not world-ending, is a puzzle wrapped in an enigma. Let’s detail how to kick it into action and solve it.
Triggering the Quest: Island Hopping to Mystery
First, find the quest giver or the quest location. Forget NPCs for a moment; your GPS is set to “Nameless Island.”
Nameless Island: Your Starting Point
Where is Nameless Island? It’s not marked with neon signs. Think of it as Genshin’s secret hideaway. You need to set sail southeast of Mondstadt. Specifically, look for a small island off Starsnatch Cliff. It’s a swim unless you use hydro characters to create an ice bridge. Once you spot it, you’re on track.
Exploring the Ruins: Center of Attention
You’ve made it to Nameless Island! Now, head straight for the island’s center. Among the windswept sands and crabs, you’ll find ruins. Not just any ruins, but ones that hold the key to get started.
Ravaged Carvings: Sundial Secrets
Among these ruins is a sundial. Look closely for “Ravaged Carvings.” Examine them. This interaction triggers the “Time and Wind” quest. You whisper the magic words to unlock temporal secrets. Quest started! Let’s get to the steps.
Quest Steps: A Windy Walkthrough
You’ve interacted with the sundial carvings. The quest log is ready. It’s time to do stuff. Here’s a breakdown of steps to avoid running in circles like a confused Dandelion Knight.
Island Exploration: Take a Look Around
The quest description hints at exploration. Wander around Nameless Island a bit. You’ve been to the center ruins, but get a feel for the area. Admire scenic views and pick flowers. Familiarize yourself with the island’s layout.
Shadow Observation: Timing is Everything (Literally)
The quest mentions observing a shadow on the sundial. But only between 02:00 and 05:00 in-game time. Those early hours matter. Shadows reveal secrets at specific times. If not during this window, use the Paimon Menu time-skip function. Return to the sundial after altering time and observe the shadow.
Elemental Sight Trail: Following the Wind
Shadow observed? Excellent. Now activate Elemental Sight. With it running near the sundial, you’ll see a trail. This is no ordinary trail; it’s an elemental breadcrumb leading to your next objective. Follow this trail towards the coast.
Wind Cluster Dispersion (0/3): Blowing Away the Breeze
The elemental trail will lead you to the northern coast of the island. With Elemental Sight still active, spot clusters of wind. Your task is to disperse three of them (0/3). Use Anemo attacks. Think Venti or Sucrose. Scatter these wind clusters using Anemo abilities.
Deposit of Wind: Double the Gust
Wind clusters dispersed? Not yet, adventurer. Use Elemental Sight again to locate a “deposit of wind.” It’s a substantial gust of energy. Just like clusters, scatter this deposit using Anemo attacks.
Eye of the Storm Pursuit: Chase the Tempest
Deposit scattered? Now an “Eye of the Storm” appears. This enemy, a swirling vortex, is your next target. Pursue it as it tries to fly away.
Eye of the Storm Search: Location, Location, Location
If you lose track of the Eye of the Storm, don’t panic. Search nearby areas around the northern coast. It should be close, waiting for an elemental beatdown.
Henry Morton and His Notebook (Optional): Lore and Letters
While hunting for the Eye of the Storm, you might find NPC Henry Morton near the sundial. While optional, he adds flavor to this quest with hints about island mysteries. Also optional is Henry Morton’s Thick Notebook in a nearby camp for lore context.
Dawn Wind Clusters (Repeat): Deja Vu with Gusts
Those wind clusters? They’re back! You need to disperse them again, but wait until dawn between 02:00 and 05:00 in-game time, again. Set the clock accordingly, return to northern coast, and use Elemental Sight to locate three wind clusters.
Deposit of Wind (Again): Gust Encore
After dispersing dawn wind clusters, find and scatter the deposit of wind again. Use Elemental Sight, locate it near the…
same area), and unleash your Anemo skills upon it. Consider it the encore performance of your wind-dispersing abilities. Once you’ve scattered this second deposit, you’re likely on the home stretch of the quest. Now go face that Eye of the Storm you probably defeated once. Victory awaits!
II. Bending Time to Your Will: Time Manipulation in Genshin Impact
We’ve talked about time-sensitive quests. But what about manipulating time in Genshin? Want to skip to daytime because you’re tired of night? Or advance time for daily commissions to reset? Genshin gives you the power of a tiny temporal deity (within limits). Let’s see how to become a mini-Chronos.
Skipping Time: Paimon Menu Magic
Changing the time in Genshin is easy. No rituals or artifacts needed. Just the Paimon Menu, your trusty gateway to game settings and time manipulation. Accessing this menu varies by platform, but it is always straightforward.
Paimon Menu: Your Time-Traveling Hub
On PC, it’s the Escape key. On PlayStation, hit the Options button. On mobile, just tap Paimon’s adorable icon. Boom, Paimon Menu. Among the options, you’ll see “Time.” Click or tap it. Behold, a clock appears! It’s not a TARDIS console, but it works.
Time Selection: Half-Hour Hops
The clock interface is intuitive. You can adjust the time forward. A couple of rules apply. First, you can only select a time at least half an hour after the current time. No going back to fix cooking mishaps. Second, you can’t jump more than two days at a time. You can advance time freely within these limits.
Two-Day Limit: Temporal Restraints
Genshin will not let you become a true time bender. The two-day skip limit prevents potential chaos in the game economy. Imagine skipping ahead to claim daily rewards. While you can push time forward, it’s gentle rather than a wild leap across time. Use it wisely to manage your gameplay.
Understanding Teyvat Time: 24 Minutes to a Day
Ever wondered how long a day in Teyvat is compared to real life? Does time work the same way in a fantasy world? Genshin gives us a compressed version of time. Let’s unravel Teyvat’s clock.
Teyvat Day = 24 Real-Life Minutes: Compressed Chronology
A full day-night cycle in Teyvat lasts just 24 real minutes. Each in-game hour is just 60 seconds of real time. When you skip 12 hours in-game, you jump ahead 12 real-life minutes. This timescale keeps day-night cycles dynamic without needing 24 real hours for one in-game day.
III. Shadow Play: Decoding Sundials and Shadows
We’ve discussed time manipulation and a quest with a sundial. But what is a sundial? And why are shadows important? Let’s delve into shadows and sundials, because knowledge is power and might impress Henry Morton in conversation.
Shadow Observation 101: Light, Object, Screen
To see a shadow, you need three key ingredients. It’s basic physics.
Light Source: Let There Be Illumination
First, you need a source of light. Without light, there are no shadows. In the real world, our main light source is the sun. In Genshin, it’s still the sun, enhanced by Celestia or something. Light is essential for shadow formation.
Opaque Object: Blocking the Rays
Next, you need an opaque object. This means something light cannot pass through. Your body, a tree, or a rock all act as opaque objects. Light can’t pass through them, thus forming shadows on the other side.
Screen Behind: Shadow Stage
You also need a “screen” behind the opaque object. This screen is simply a surface where the shadow can be cast. The ground or a wall can act as the backdrop for shadows. Without a screen, shadows remain unseen. Think of it as a stage for shadow performances.
Reading Time on a Sundial: Shadow as Timekeeper
Sundials rely on shadows to tell time. How do they work? It’s about the gnomon and its shadow.
Gnomon Shadow: The Time Pointer
A sundial has a part called the gnomon. It’s usually a stick or triangular piece that rises from the sundial face. As the sun moves, it casts a shadow. This shadow allows for time reading. In sunlight, the gnomon’s shadow acts like a clock hand powered by the sun.
Shadow Alignment: Time Revealed
The sundial face is marked with numbers representing hours. The shadow moves across these numbers. The number aligned with the shadow indicates current time. If the shadow points to “three,” then it’s three o’clock (most likely PM). Sundials elegantly use sun movement and shadows to tell time.
Shadow Spectrum: Umbra, Penumbra, Antumbra
Shadows have different parts with varying shades. Let’s explore the shadow spectrum: umbra, penumbra, and antumbra.
Umbra: The Core of Darkness
The umbra is the darkest part of a shadow. It is where the light source is entirely blocked by the opaque object. If you stand in umbra, you are in total shadow—the deepest part.
Penumbra: Fuzzy Edges
The penumbra is a lighter, outer part of a shadow. It’s partially blocked light, usually making edges fuzzier than umbra. It is halfway between dark and light.
Antumbra: Shadow Ring
The antumbra is rare. It occurs when the light source appears smaller than the opaque object from the screen, creating a shadow surrounded by lighter regions. This happens during solar eclipses, leading to “rings of fire.” Antumbra shadows are niche but still part of the shadow family.
Now you know about triggering the “Time and Wind” quest to understanding shadows and time manipulation in Genshin Impact. You are equipped to tackle temporal puzzles and may even impress NPCs with this newfound knowledge. Now go forth, adventurer, and let your in-game clock be set to adventure time!
