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The DLCThroes of the Watchmakerdropped entirely for free inSea of Stars, and with it, we’ve got new activities like a brand-new character, minigames, more puzzles, and, like any good JRPG, more collectibles.
Much likeSea of Stars had the Rainbow Conches, here in Throes of the Watchmaker we’ve got the Time Runes, items that, once collected, hand us a proper secret ending, per se.
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Since it’s only possible to access the DLC in the endgame, chances are you alreadyhave the Falcon-Eyed Parrot. This bird is the best friend of every completionist out there and it’s thanks to him I managed to track down all the runes easily.
So strap in, former Solstice Warriors turned circus performers. In this guide, I’ll show youwhere to find all Time Runes in Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmakerand unlock a neat secret that ties into Sabotage Studio’s other game.
This guide will primarily show the location of all Time Runes. What it won’t do, however, is give you the solution for every puzzle, as some are quite straightforward.
Time Rune I
Horloge Town
I hope you enjoy fishing and Wheels becausethis Time Rune is only available after engaging with those two minigames. Ok, first things first,you’ll need to find the Warlock Figurineto unlock the Wheel champions.
You can find the Warlock Figurine after fishing all four types of… fish (bags, really) the DLC offers. The requirements are a bit misleading becauseyou only have three types of bags, but you still need to fish all of them in every fishing spot.
You can do that as soon as you unlock the train after finishing Rail Forest. Here are all the fishing spot locations and what bags you can fish in:
After reeling in all the bags, go to the Were-Lake, talk to the NPC there, and he’ll give you a Magnet Hook. You can now fish a chest in that same lake and find the Warlock Figurine inside it.
Next, go back to Horloge Town andface the three Wheel champions.You can find them in a tent southwest of the town center.I used a combination of Mage and Thief figurines to beat them all.
As a reward, you’ll get some Clown Noses that you may sell for extra tickets, andafter beating all three, the Time Rune I and a trophy.
Time Rune II
Goodies Pond
After getting access to the train, you can reach the Lost Island Station to the east of the map.You’ll find the Goodies Pond there, which you’re probably already familiar with if you got the Warlock Figurine.
Jump in the water and swim toward the waterfall to the north.Once you miniaturize yourself, you’ll be able to interact with a maelstrom and dive to reach a new area with a box accessible.
Inside this box is a sliding puzzle.As much as I’d love to give you a step-by-step guide to solving it, truth be told, I have no idea how I managed it. It was just trial and error until it worked.
After lining up the tiles correctly, the gate will open, and you will have the Time Rune II.
Time Rune III
Rail Forest
While exploring the Rail Forest, the second dungeon in Throes of the Watchmaker, you’ll come across a grappling hook that launches you toward some grates on the wall.Climb that wall, and you’ll find a hidden entrance to the left.
Inside, there’s a box and, as usual, a puzzle inside it. This one involves rotating four circles.Your goal is to form an arrow pointing upwards.
It’s pretty straightforward, and I suggest starting from the inside out, since the inner circles move the adjacent ones, too. Once you line them up properly, the Time Rune III will be yours for the taking.
Time Rune IV
Ivory Towers Station
When you get the train, your next main destination is the Ivory Towers. Upon arrival at the station, you’ll find yourselfin the overworld. There’s a puzzle box accessible in this area, so head over there.
The puzzle involves swapping the tile circuits so that the energy reaches the lamp. It’s quite easy since you just need to select one tile and then another for the swap to happen instantly.
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There’s no practical way to type the solution,so I strongly suggest using the screenshot as a visual guide for the correct circuit positionsin order to grab the Time Rune IV.
If you happen to solve the puzzle using all the tiles, you’ll light up the second lamp as well and earn a Sour Licorice, which gives a character +1 Magic Attack.
Time Rune V
Ivory Towers
Your goal in the Ivory Towers is to activate four symbols to open the central gate and give the narcissistic Narcis King a good smack. When you’re on your way to activate the fourth symbol, instead of entering the main building,keep going a bit south to find a stairway leading down to an entrance.
Inside this room, there’s a box where a puzzle awaits you. This one involves placing nine levers in the correct position. you may use my screenshot as a guide.
But if you may’t see the screenshot for any reason, here’s a table with the levers' positions. I’ll call the levers 1 to 9, from left to right.
The Time Rune V will pop up as a reward after you place all the levers in the correct order.
Time Rune VI
Before getting this Time Rune,you need the Mule Drone, which is automatically obtained during the Ivory Towers dungeon. Then, head to the northeastern tent in Horloge Town and change the location of the stairs to go up.
Once up, you’ll find a push-the-boxes puzzle. There are two steps to it, but you only need to do one to get the Time Rune. I still recommend doing both.
First, you should align one entrance box with the other one that’s a dead end.Then, jump inside and follow the trail to find the Time Rune locked behind bars. Above it, you’ll find a clue showing the correct position to adjust the boxes to solve the puzzle.
This one’s tricky, but I’ve got your back this time. From the default position, I’ll number the boxes 1 to 5 from left to right. As usual, you may use the screenshot for guidance.
Enter the box, and voilà, you’ll find the Time Rune VI unobstructed.
Time Rune VII
Lost Island Station
With the train,go to the Lost Island Station and hop in the puzzle box in the easternmost part of the region. The puzzle in it is one of the easiest ones.
You have to adjust the platforms' heights so the electrical circuit lights the bulb and gives you the Time Rune VII. Use the screenshot as guidance for the correct heights.
For those who prefer written directions,the northernmost platform should be raised to its maximum height. The one to the left of it should be one level below, and the two remaining ones should be just one tap above ground level.
Time Rune VIII
In Were Rock, you’ll need to grab some Bridge Keys that can be used on lamp bulbs to activate bridges.After finding and crossing the first bridge, you’ll enter a cave full of climbable walls.
When you reach the middle of the cave, climb down the wall to find a lone entrance. Inside, you’ll find a puzzle box. Miniaturize yourself and step inside to face a puzzle.
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The puzzle is relatively simple. Activate the purple pedestal in the center, and a contraption will appear. You need touse the levers to align the platforms, so the contraption can slide throughthem and reach the other side.
This puzzle is timed, soI suggest pre-aligning the platforms.As the contraption slides, you change its direction until it reaches the end. The bars will open, and Time Rune VIII will be yours.
Time Rune IX
Time Rune IX is the first you’ll find, but probably the last one you’ll obtain.It can be found in Horloge Town and requires a few steps before you can access the spot where it’s located.
If you go to a tent on the east side of the town,you’ll find an NPC asking for an item called Certificate of Balloonery. Let’s find this blessed Certificate first.
Step out of the tent and walk southeast to drop off a ledge. Below, you’ll find a rope you can walk on. Follow it, and soon, you’ll bebehind a box that can be pushed with a burst of air.
Then, using that box as support, climb it and enter a passage to the left. Keep going until you find a puzzle box.This puzzle involves pushing three boxes under gears.
Now,go to the center of town, where the floor clock is located,and walk southwest toward the Wheel Champions' tent. You’ll be able to jump down a ledge and bounce on the balloons to reach the other side, where you’ll find an entrance on the ground.Go inside to grab the Certificate of Balloonery.
Give the Certificate to the NPC, and he’ll let you access the box behind him. But be warned: The next area doesn’t have a puzzlebut rather five high-level monsters.
I beat them at Renown 5, but I recommend trying it at Renown 6 with the gear you encounter at the Big Top dungeon. It’s a hard fight, but manageable. After victory, you’ll get Time Rune IX.
Time Rune X
You need the Mule Drone to get this Rune. At Lost Island Station, enter the first box in the overworld. There’s a puzzle involving grappling and the Mule Drone, but it’s simple.
First, ignore the starting lever andhijack the nearest grappling spot with the Drone. Keep walking forward, descend the ladder, andplace the grappling on the next available spot. Flip the lever to raise it.
Then climb the ladder and grapple your way to the other side. The puzzle will be fairly straightforward from now on. Line up the grappling spots as intended, take down the enemies up top, activate the timer at the start, and soon, the Time Rune X will be yours.
Time Rune XI
The penultimate Time Rune is found in the Big Top, the DLC’s last dungeon.Progress the dungeon normally until you defeat Pif, Paf, and their robot, Pantouf.
After that, you’ll need to go through two more mandatory areas to collect more tickets. As you progress through the right-side area,you’ll find a staircase outside a circus tent that leads to an entrance downstairs.
Go there, enter the cube, and you’ll face a puzzle. The puzzle’s goal is toalign the three lampposts in the middle, where the floor has a greenish metallic tone. You do this by moving the pieces via columns or rows.
I can’t give exact directions because I winged it most of the time until it worked. But if someone like me managed to solve it, you can as well. After aligning the lampposts, the bars will open, and the Time Rune XI will be yours.
Time Rune XII
As soon as you finish the game and defeat the big baddie of Throes of the Watchmaker,you’ll automatically return to the pub in Horloge Town.
Step out of the establishment, and Time Rune XII will be waiting for you right outside. If you follow this guide closely, you will have all Time Runes and can place them at the clock at the center of town to witness the secret vision.
Rewards For Finding All The Time Runes
There’s a trophy or achievement tied to finding all Time Runes, which, for me, is reward enough. But if you were expecting a prize in the form of an item, like equipment or even a new combo scroll, you’ll be bummed out.
The true reward forfinding all Time Runes in Throes of the Watchmaker is an easter egg that shows even more of the connection between Sea of Stars and The Messenger, Sabotage Studio’s inaugural game.
After finding all the Time Runes, go to the clock at the center of Horloge Town and interact with the device. The Runes will slot into the mechanism, transforming into an elevator that takes you to another place.
As always, Garl will show up and steal the spotlight. He will witness a vision of the future where two familiar individuals, known to those acquainted with The Messenger, are deciding their future wicked plans.
Garl decides to pass a message through the ages to ensure the world has a future. To do so, Garl, now dubbed Ovate of Hope (ugh), decides to create a prophecy.
This is a beautiful and heartwarming nod that ties really well into The Messenger’s narrative. However, it won’t mean much to those unfamiliar with The Messenger, so collecting the Time Runes becomes more of a puzzle challenge than anything.
Still, it’s a great way to finish Sea of Stars, which pretty much confirms that Throes of the Watchmaker was the last content this awesome indie RPG will receive.
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