The Ancient Tablet - eXputer Wiki

Key takeaways

Use this page as a high-level guide to the documentation loop and the quest’s completion target.

Start the research at Lookout Landing The side adventure begins at Lookout Landing after a regional phenomenon has been completed. Speak with the researcher there before committing to a full search of the sky.
Photographs are the required evidence Link cannot read the Ancient Hyrulean inscriptions directly. Photograph each tablet so Wortsworth can decipher the image.
Search the star-shaped sky islands Ancient Tablets are placed on star-shaped islands in the sky. Reaching the island is only part of the task, because some tablets can fall to the surface when Link stands at the island’s center.
The required set is smaller than the total The world contains 13 Ancient Tablets, but the principal quest completion requires 12. The extra tablet gives explorers an additional documentation target beyond the required set.
Expect rupees and a fabric reward Wortsworth provides rupees for each tablet picture turned in. Completing the required set of 12 earns the Zonai Survey Team fabric for the paraglider.

The Ancient Tablet explained

The Ancient Tablet is a documentation-focused quest entry tied to the Ancient Tablets scattered across the sky in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

The Ancient Tablet quest content is built around the Messages from an Ancient Era side adventure. Ancient Tablets are stone artifacts found on star-shaped islands in the sky, and their inscriptions use Ancient Hyrulean text that Link cannot read for himself. Instead, the task is to record the tablets so that a researcher can study and decipher the images.

The activity begins at Lookout Landing after Link has completed a regional phenomenon. The researcher Wortsworth provides the scholarly link between the tablets and the player: he can be found at Lookout Landing and later at Kakariko Village, where he works through the photographs Link supplies. The quest therefore combines sky-island exploration with a return trip to the research team.

There are 13 Ancient Tablets to locate and document throughout the world, while the quest requires a set of 12 for its principal completion reward. Some tablets do not simply remain in an obvious position: when Link stands on the center of certain sky islands, a tablet can fall toward the surface below. These locations require observation and follow-up rather than a single static search.

The quest has no conventional dungeon boss or combat finale in the supplied information. Its central challenge is reaching unusual sky locations, recognizing when a tablet has moved, photographing the artifact, and bringing the evidence back to Wortsworth. Players should treat the photographs as the quest’s essential progression items rather than relying on Link to translate the writing directly.

Where this sits

PrerequisiteComplete a regional phenomenon

BriefingBegin the research at Lookout Landing

Field workLocate and photograph the tablets

DecipheringGive the photographs to Wortsworth

CompletionSubmit the required set of 12

1Complete a regional phenomenonprerequisiteThis is the stated prerequisite for beginning Messages from an Ancient Era.
●Meet Wortsworth at Lookout LandingbriefingThe research task starts here.
3Document Ancient TabletsexplorationExplore the sky islands and photograph the artifacts.
4Return the photographsturn-inWortsworth studies the images and provides the quest’s incremental rewards.
5Complete the required setcompletionThe principal reward is tied to 12 documented tablets.

The quest progresses from a post-regional-phenomenon briefing into repeated sky exploration and research turn-ins.

Requirements

The known prerequisite is story progress through a regional phenomenon. The remaining requirements are practical exploration and documentation tasks.

RequiredComplete a regional phenomenonMessages from an Ancient Era begins at Lookout Landing after Link completes a regional phenomenon.
RequiredReach the sky islandsThe Ancient Tablets are located on star-shaped islands in the sky, so the quest requires a route to elevated exploration areas.
RequiredPhotograph each tabletLink must record the inscriptions with photographs because he cannot read the Ancient Hyrulean text unaided.
RequiredReturn to WortsworthBring the tablet pictures to Wortsworth for deciphering and reward progression.
RecommendedCheck both research locationsWortsworth is associated with Lookout Landing and later Kakariko Village; use the active research location when turning in photographs.

Objectives

Begin Messages from an Ancient Era at Lookout LandingApproach the research task after completing a regional phenomenon and speak with Wortsworth.
Locate the Ancient TabletsSearch the star-shaped islands in the sky for the stone artifacts.
Photograph the tabletsCreate a record of each Ancient Hyrulean inscription for Wortsworth to interpret.
Follow tablets that fall to the surfaceOn certain islands, standing at the center can cause the tablet to drop, changing the search from sky-island inspection to surface tracking.
Submit the required 12 photographsProvide enough documented tablets to complete the principal quest objective and receive the final listed reward.
Document the additional tabletA total of 13 tablets exist, leaving one more artifact to locate beyond the 12 required for the main completion reward.Optional

Walkthrough

01
Meet the quest prerequisite
Finish a regional phenomenon before starting the research
Complete one regional phenomenon, which is the stated progression gate for Messages from an Ancient Era. Without that prerequisite, the Ancient Tablet research sequence is not ready to begin at Lookout Landing.
Location: Regional phenomenon area
TipDo not treat the tablet search as an opening activity; establish the required story progress first.
02
Begin Messages from an Ancient Era
Travel to Lookout Landing and find Wortsworth
Go to Lookout Landing after the prerequisite is complete and speak with Wortsworth to begin the investigation. This conversation establishes that the Ancient Tablets are the objects Link must document rather than translate personally.
Location: Lookout Landing
Checkpoint
03
Photograph an Ancient Tablet
Prepare to record the inscription
When you reach an Ancient Tablet, use Link’s camera to photograph the stone artifact and its writing. The photograph is important because Link cannot read the Ancient Hyrulean text on his own, so merely finding the tablet does not replace documenting it.
Location: Ancient Tablet site
Watch outA discovered tablet is not the same as a submitted tablet; make sure the artifact has been photographed before leaving the area.
04
Locate the scattered tablets
Search the star-shaped sky islands
Look for the tablets on star-shaped islands in the sky and plan an approach that lets Link inspect the island’s center. The quest’s locations are spread throughout the game world, so the practical route depends on which sky-island travel options are available.
Location: Star-shaped sky islands
TipInspect the island’s central area instead of only checking its outer platforms.
05
Track a displaced tablet
Watch for a tablet falling from the island
On certain sky islands, standing on the center can trigger the tablet to fall toward the surface below. If the artifact leaves the island, stop searching the sky platform and follow its movement to continue the documentation task.
Location: Certain star-shaped sky islands
Watch outLeaving immediately after reaching the island can cause you to miss this movement cue; observe the center before departing.
06
Build the tablet record
Photograph every tablet you can safely reach
Repeat the inspection and camera step for the remaining Ancient Tablets. There are 13 artifacts to locate and document, and the record of each one is what allows Wortsworth to continue the deciphering work.
Location: Sky islands and associated surface areas
TipKeep a personal list of photographed tablets so you do not revisit the same artifact while still missing another.
07
Submit documented tablets
Return the photographs to Wortsworth
Bring the tablet pictures back to Wortsworth so he can decipher the Ancient Hyrulean inscriptions. He is found at Lookout Landing and later at Kakariko Village, so check the appropriate research location rather than assuming every stage uses the same place.
Location: Lookout Landing or Kakariko Village
Checkpoint
08
Collect the per-picture rewards
Claim the incremental rupee rewards
Wortsworth rewards players with rupees for each tablet picture provided. Turn in the photographs as you progress if you want the research payments during the search instead of waiting until every possible tablet has been found.
Location: Wortsworth’s research location
09
Complete the principal quest reward
Complete the required set of 12
Continue locating, photographing, and submitting tablets until the required set reaches 12. Once that set is complete, Wortsworth gives Link the Zonai Survey Team fabric for the paraglider.
Location: Wortsworth’s research location
Watch outThe known completion threshold is 12 documented tablets, not all 13 artifacts.
10
Finish the optional collection
Decide whether to document the thirteenth tablet
After the required set is complete, the remaining Ancient Tablet can still be treated as an exploration target because the world contains 13 in total. The supplied information does not specify an additional reward for documenting the final artifact.
Location: Remaining Ancient Tablet site

Mission mechanics

The quest’s main mechanic is photographic evidence. Ancient Tablets contain Ancient Hyrulean writing, but Link cannot interpret that text independently, so the camera changes the interaction from reading an object in place to collecting a research record that another character can decode.

The sky-island placement adds a movement-based search pattern. Star-shaped islands are the known habitat for the artifacts, yet certain tablets can fall when Link stands at the center of the island. This means the correct response is sometimes to observe the island’s reaction and then pursue the tablet to the surface below.

Progress is tracked through hand-in conversations with Wortsworth. Each submitted picture contributes to the research and produces a rupee reward, while the required set of 12 leads to the Zonai Survey Team fabric for the paraglider. The thirteenth tablet remains part of the total world collection, but its separate reward status is not established in the supplied facts.

What works and what does not

Strengths

The quest gives exploration a clear purpose by connecting distant sky islands to a single research objective.
Photographs provide a readable progression loop: find an artifact, record it, and return the evidence to Wortsworth.
The per-picture rupee rewards let progress pay out incrementally rather than reserving every reward for the end.
The final listed reward, Zonai Survey Team fabric, gives the documentation task a visible paraglider customization payoff.

Weaknesses

The tablets are distributed throughout the game world, so the quest can involve substantial travel between research turn-ins and remote sky locations.
A tablet that falls from an island can be easy to overlook if the player leaves without watching what happens at the center.
The supplied information does not identify a complete route, exact coordinates, or a full tablet-by-tablet order, so this page cannot provide a verified shortest path.

Best uses

Treat the quest as a companion objective during broader sky-island exploration.
Return to Wortsworth whenever several photographs have been collected to confirm research progress and collect rupees.
Use the camera immediately when a tablet is found to prevent an otherwise avoidable revisit.

Completion checklist

Complete a regional phenomenonRequired before the side adventure begins.
Speak with Wortsworth at Lookout LandingUse this conversation to start the research.
Search the star-shaped islands in the skyThis is the known setting for the Ancient Tablets.
Inspect the center of relevant islandsSome tablets fall when Link stands at the center.
Follow any tablet that drops to the surfaceContinue the search below if the artifact leaves the island.
Photograph each tablet foundLink needs images because he cannot read the inscriptions directly.
Submit the photographs to WortsworthThe researcher deciphers the images and pays rupees per picture.
Reach 12 submitted tabletsThis is the required set for the principal completion reward.
Collect the Zonai Survey Team fabricWortsworth gifts it after the required set is completed.
Check whether the thirteenth tablet remainsThere are 13 tablets in total, although 12 are required.

Collectibles and secrets

01
Ancient Tablets
Where: Star-shaped islands in the sky and, for certain tablets, the surface below after they fall
There are 13 Ancient Tablets to locate and document. Photographing them supplies the evidence Wortsworth uses for the research quest.

Failure conditions

Starting before the prerequisiteThe research begins after completing a regional phenomenon, so attempting to start the quest earlier may leave the sequence unavailable.
Leaving without photographing a tabletFinding the stone does not create the required research record; Link must photograph the tablet before moving on.
Missing the falling-tablet eventOn certain islands, the tablet can drop when Link stands at the center. If the player leaves without observing the event, the artifact may need to be tracked down later.
Stopping at fewer than 12 submissionsThe principal completion reward is tied to the required set of 12 documented tablets.

On failure

The supplied facts do not describe a conventional game-over state or a permanent miss. They identify documentation, observation, and the 12-tablet threshold as the practical points at which progress can be interrupted.

Rewards

Rupees
Wortsworth rewards Link with rupees for each tablet picture provided.
Zonai Survey Team fabric
Completing the set of 12 tablets required for the quest earns this fabric for Link’s paraglider.

Characters in this mission

MineruLater placed the tablets on sky islands.

AftermathSpoilers

The research reward

After Link provides the 12 tablet pictures required for the quest, Wortsworth gifts him the Zonai Survey Team fabric for the paraglider. The world contains 13 Ancient Tablets in total, but the supplied information does not establish a separate reward for the thirteenth photograph.

Trivia

The tablets use Ancient Hyrulean text, which makes the camera an essential research tool rather than merely an optional way to record scenery.
The artifacts were written by Lenalia, Zelda’s chamberlain, and were later placed on sky islands by Mineru.
The quest’s total of 13 tablets is one higher than the 12-tablet set required for its principal reward.
Some tablets create a two-stage search: first locate the relevant sky island, then follow the artifact if it drops to the surface.

Relationships

quest context

Messages from an Ancient EraRelated side adventureThe Ancient Tablets are central to this side adventure.

characters

WortsworthResearcherReceives and deciphers the photographs Link provides.

locations

Lookout LandingStarting locationThe research sequence begins here after a regional phenomenon.
Kakariko VillageLater research locationWortsworth is later found here while working on the tablet research.

collectibles

Ancient TabletsQuest objectsStone artifacts photographed across the sky islands and associated surface areas.

items

Zonai Survey Team fabricCompletion rewardParaglider fabric awarded after the required set of 12 tablets is completed.