Buried Sword Strange Tales NTE Guide
Complete the Secret Tales of the Golden Tree by locating the three broken sword pieces on Sunni Island in Neverness to Everness.
The Secret Tales of the Golden Tree: A Nighttime Hunt
Every region in Neverness to Everness hides its own Strange Tales— side quests that reward careful exploration and a bit of detective work. On Sunni Island, one of the more atmospheric mysteries is the Buried Sword Strange Tales, officially titled "The Secret Tales of the Golden Tree." This quest tasks you with restoring a broken sword stuck in a stone, but the catch is that its pieces only appear under moonlight.
The quest starts with a sword embedded in rock on a small landmass northeast of Sunni Island. A nearby golden tree bears engravings that hint at where the missing components are scattered. But those engravings also tell you something crucial: the three broken items—the Hilt, Guard, and Blade—only spawn at nighttime, and they are always found beside a glowing golden tree. This time-gated mechanic adds a layer of atmosphere, encouraging players to adjust the in-game clock and explore after dark.
At a Glance
- Quest Name: The Secret Tales of the Golden Tree (Buried Sword Strange Tales)
- Location: Sunni Island (northeast islet, near Rero Rero Phonebooth)
- Requirements: Nighttime to find pieces; daytime to assemble
- Items to collect: Broken Hilt, Broken Guard, Broken Blade
- Reward: Sunni Island Footprint points (no obtainable sword)
Once you understand the pattern, the search becomes straightforward. Below are the precise spots for each fragment.
Broken Hilt: South of Sunward Resort
Teleport to the Rero Rero Phonebooth on Sunni Island and head south, past the central building. Behind it, you'll find a glowing golden tree, and the Broken Hilt resting at its base. The tree only glows at night, so if you arrive during the day, switch to nighttime first.
Broken Guard: Northwest of Phonebooth
From the same teleport point, drive northwest. Again, look for the shimmering golden tree. The Broken Guard will be on the ground next to it. The landmarks here are less distinct, but the golden glow makes the location unmistakable after sunset.
Broken Blade: Northeast Near Dance Dance Dance
The third piece, the Broken Blade, is in the northeastern part of Sunni Island, close to where the "Dance Dance Dance" Strange Tales quest is located. Drive up to that area and scan for the golden tree. It's the last item you need.
Assembling the Sword
Once you have all three pieces, return to the original sword-in-stone location. You must be in daytime to complete the quest. Place the components into the stone, and the sword will glow gold along with the three surrounding trees. That's it—the Strange Tales is complete, and your Sunni Island exploration progress ticks up.
It's worth noting that, unlike some game fantasies, you don't get to wield the restored sword as a weapon. The reward is purely a completion marker for your footprint in the region. Still, the quest's puzzle design—requiring night and day cycles, and rewarding attentive reading of the tree engravings—makes it a satisfying piece of environmental storytelling.
Related Guides
If you're building characters on Sunni Island, check out our Lacrimosa Best Teams in NTE guide for team comps, or the Ms Bulan Sunni Island Strange Tales guide for more local mysteries.
Final Thoughts
The Secret Tales of the Golden Tree is a short but memorable detour on Sunni Island. Its reliance on the day-night cycle gives it a personality that standard fetch quests lack. For completionists, it's an easy addition to your Strange Tales checklist. Just remember to set your clock to night before hunting, and switch back to day for the final step.
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