Under the Cover of Darkness

Town of Saltmarsh asked you to capture or sink the smuggling vessel, the infamous Sea Ghost. {{Quest | name            = Under the Cover of Darkness | adpack          = Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh | level           = 3 | epic            = 32 | duration        = Short | raid            = false | tier            = | solo only       = false | solo            = 456 | normal          = 820 | hard            = 880 | elite           = 940 | xp              = | ecasual         = 7352 | enormal         = 12554 | ehard           = 12853 | eelite          = 13152 | epicxp          = | bestower        = Anders Solmor | npc             = Anders Solmor | loc             = | zone            = The Snapping Line Inn | patron          = The Gatekeepers | favor           = 2 | free            = | extreme         = false | mappic          = M_Under_the_Cover_of_Darkness.jpg | maplegend       = | othermap        = yes | mappic2         = M_Under_the_Cover_of_Darkness_2.jpg | map 2 alt       = Cargo Hold and Bilge

| loadingpic      = L_Under_the_Cover_of_Darkness.jpg | overview        = Now that we have found smugglers, Anders has asked us to work with Deputy Mazgill to deal with them. | objective_1     = Capture or burn down smugglers ship | objective_2     = Find out what they are smuggling | objective_3     = Find out who their buyers are | obj_failure_3   = | optional_1      = Lie your way to the cargo hold | opt_percent_1   = 5 | optional_2      = Free the sea elf | opt_percent_2   = 30 | optional_3      = Set fire to flammable cargo | opt_percent_3   = 3 | optional_4      = Defeat the captain | opt_percent_4   = 30 | optional_5      = Defeat the deck wizard | opt_percent_5   = 30 | optional_6      = Defeat the first mate | opt_percent_6   = 30 | optional_7      = Defeat the bosun | opt_percent_7   = 30 | optional_8      = Deal with the rat infestation | opt_percent_8   = 10 | optional_9      = Befriend Bimz, the pseudodragon | opt_percent_9   = 30

| expect          = | traps           = | misc            =
 * This quest can be approached in multiple ways. Your three main objectives are:
 * Capture or sink the ship: either kill all four red-named officers or smash 10 flammable barrels (bonus XP.)
 * Discover what the ship is smuggling: find four crests hidden around the ship, or bluff the first mate into letting you in (bonus XP.)
 * Discover the buyer's identities: talk to the Lizardfolk or read the documents in their cabin, or read the documents in the captain's cabin.
 * You can talk to the Lizardfolk as long as the crew aren't attacking you. The best way to do this is to smash an explosive barrel outside their quarters, in which case one emerges to talk to you.
 * Other optionals are:
 * Free Oceanus the Sea Elf: find and open the secret door (Secret door DC), then use Disable Device (DC {{Xpcolors|normal=|hard=|elite=21-27|enormal=|ehard=|eelite=}}) or Open Lock to remove his shackles.
 * Fight the Ship Rats and Infected Ship Rat in the bilges.

Suggested Route
| insidious       = | devious         = | discreet        = | aggression      = 59 | onslaught       = | conquest        = | tamper          = | neutralization  = | ingenious       = | observance      = 1 | perception      = | vigilant        = | mischief        = 17 | vandal          = 23 | ransack         = | bonus_xp_notes  = | chest           = 3 | collectable     = 8 | npcreward       = | unique          = yes | external        = }}
 * Give the expected signal and have the boat proceed to the port side
 * Have a bluffer climb up to the deck and bluff the crew
 * Go into the cargo hold and bluff the first mate into starting a mutiny, he will head into the cargo hold and help to fight the mobs
 * Make sure to grab crests when you see them throughout the ship
 * All mobs on ship will turn hostile shortly, quickly exit the cargo hold enter Punketah's cabin to fight him there. If you stay on the deck too long, he will exit the cabin and you will have to fight him on the deck with respawning mobs and possibly reapers.
 * Enter the captain's cabin and kill him, read the shipping documents.
 * Go into the cargo hold and kill the mobs
 * Free oceanus and lead him to the nearby secret door for him to get his gear, he will help you to fight mobs from then on.
 * Check the brig for a chest and possible crest location.
 * Go up to the fore castle and check the shipping documents, it may be possible to use social skills to avoid fighting the lizard folk.
 * Once you find all crests, open the crest door in the cargo hold.
 * Locked chest (Lock DC) in the second hidden room with Oceanus' equipment
 * In the bilge for dealing with the rat infestation
 * End chest
 * Bilge - Rubble near rats
 * Bilge - Fungus near Shrine
 * Cargo Hold - Adventurer's Pack in the second hidden room
 * Cargo Hold - Cabinet in the second hidden room
 * Forecastle - Adventurer's Pack
 * Punketah's Cabin - Alchemy Table
 * Punketah's Cabin - Scroll Rack
 * Punketah's Cabin - Cabinet