The brief Snezhnaya quest A Letter From Zapolyarny Palace leaves the Traveler with an official Tsaritsa-appointed title. Vesna’s message promises a mysterious “prize” at the palace, but many players hit a snag right away: approaching the marker won’t advance anything. You must open the invitation yourself before the quest can continue.
Quick answer: First track A Letter From Zapolyarny Palace in the Quest Menu. Then use V on PC, press the controller’s left stick (L3/LS), or select the objective below the mini-map to view Vesna’s invitation.
Requirements before the quest appears
The quest becomes available only after your account level and story progress meet the requirements. Neither gate can be bypassed to start the letter sooner.
- Adventure Rank 18 or higher.
- The Snezhnaya Archon Quest concludes with White Night, Like A Dream Upon Waking (Chapter 7, Act 3).
Once both conditions are met, A Letter From Zapolyarny Palace sits in your World Quest list, and you can also reach it through the Secret Tsarist Assignment event menu under Part I.
Open Vesna’s invitation to clear the first objective
On a controller, depress the left analog stick (L3 on PlayStation or LS on Xbox). On mobile, tap the quest objective line shown beneath the mini-map.
Success is confirmed when the objective switches to “Go to the Zapolyarny Palace” and a marker appears. On PC, if you don’t see the read prompt, go back into the Quest Menu and check that A Letter From Zapolyarny Palace is selected for tracking; then press V once more. Still no prompt? Restart the game, then select the quest again.
Travel to Zapolyarny Palace
Once you’ve read the invitation, open the map and find the palace in Snezhnaya. Select the Tsaritsa’s icon, choose Zapolyarny Palace, and use Teleport to land at the entrance.
Pick the Zapolyarny Palace waypoint and confirm the teleport. You can also walk there from Snezhnograd if you prefer; either way, entering through the main doors starts the next stage.
A Guard is posted outside. He stops you with “Halt. What business brings you to the palace?” Tell him you are there to claim the prize, and he lets you in on the commander’s orders.
What happens inside the throne room
The icy throne hall holds Vesna, Danica, and the Cryo Archon Anastasya. The prize turns out to be bait. Vesna used it to get the Traveler in front of the Tsaritsa for an audience, and the real subject is a vacant advisory position that sits outside the reach of Snezhnaya’s military and government.
Vesna supports the Traveler for the role, pointing to their abilities, experience across other nations, and freedom from Snezhnaya’s political factions. The Tsaritsa needs a candid view of her country, rather than one shaped by her ministries. Danica counters that someone with no allegiance could simply refuse to follow orders.
Rather than swear loyalty, the Traveler offers friendship and help. Anastasya agrees, provided they remain free to travel throughout Snezhnaya. She directs Chayka to list the Traveler as Consultant to the Tsaritsa and gives them an Envoy’s Medal. Chayka, who serves as the Tsaritsa’s secretary, must welcome the Traveler at later audiences and provide resources required for the position.
Rewards and what the quest unlocks
Finishing the quest grants the Envoy’s Medal as a quest item plus a set of upgrade materials.
| Reward | Amount |
|---|---|
| Envoy’s Medal | 1 |
| Hero’s Wit | 3 |
| Teachings of Mercy | 3 |
| Sanctifying Unction | 3 |
Completion also opens the activities tied to the Traveler’s new standing. The Secret Tsarist Assignment panel refreshes and shows progress at 1/6 under the Consultant to the Tsaritsa heading, which covers Parts I, II, and III along with their listed rewards, including cosmetics such as the Wings of Starry Winterfrost and recipes like Royal Grilled Fish.
Before leaving the palace, visit Chayka by the throne after the ceremony. You can check the edict details and confirm the assignment panel has updated.
That’s the entire quest. The opening objective is the sole tricky bit; after reading the letter, you just teleport and sit through a lengthy conversation.
