VIPs get gold daily dice rolls through October 10th, 2023!
Game mechanics • Newbie guide • In development • DDO Store • Social Media
Challenges • Classes • Collectables • Crafting • Enhancements • Epic Destinies • Favor • Feats
Glossary • Items • Maps • Monsters • Places • Quests • Races • Reincarnation • Skills • Spells
Please create an account or log in to build a reputation and unlock more editing privileges, and then visit DDO wiki's IRC Chat/Discord if you need any help!
The Haunting of Saltmarsh
The Haunting of Saltmarsh is the 1st quest in the Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh story arc![]() Completing everything in a story arc often yields a nice reward.. |
---|
These quests can be completed in any order. |
The Haunting of Saltmarsh • Under the Cover of Darkness • Danger at Dunwater • The Final Enemy • Swim at Your Own Risk |
Townspeople have reported that strange lights and terrifying sounds come from this abandoned house at night.
![]()
|
The Haunting of Saltmarsh | |
Heroic level: | 3 |
Epic level: | 32 (considered Legendary) |
Duration: | Medium |
Heroic XP: | ♣645Solo/Casual ♦1,164Normal ♥1,252Hard ♠1,341Elite |
Epic XP: | ♣6,235Solo/Casual ♦10,645Normal ♥10,898Hard ♠11,151Elite |
Takes place in: | The Haunted House |
Bestowed by: | Krag |
NPC contact: | Krag |
Quest acquired in: | The Snapping Line Inn |
Patron: | The Gatekeepers |
Base favor: | 3 |
Purchase: | Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh |
Extreme Challenge: | No |
Overview
It seems like strange noises are coming from a house up on the hill. Locals say there could be a treasure in there, why not look for shinies?
Spoiler Warning: Spoiler material below this point!
Objectives
- Search for the rumored treasure
- Find the iron key
- Unlock the door in the kitchen
- Search the wine cellar
- Kill Ned Snakeshaft
- Explore the Caverns
- Defeat Sanbalet
- (Optional) Complete the password (2 parts) — Bonus (20%): Heroic( ♣129 ♦233 ♥250 ♠268 ) Epic( ♣1,247 ♦2,129 ♥2,180 ♠2,230 )
- (Optional) Find the silver key — no XP
- (Optional) Kill the Wight — Bonus (30%): Heroic( ♣194 ♦349 ♥376 ♠402 ) Epic( ♣1,871 ♦3,194 ♥3,269 ♠3,345 )
- (Optional) Unlock the trunk — Bonus (20%): Heroic( ♣129 ♦233 ♥250 ♠268 ) Epic( ♣1,247 ♦2,129 ♥2,180 ♠2,230 )
- (Optional) Talk to the Prisoner — Bonus (20%): Heroic( ♣129 ♦233 ♥250 ♠268 ) Epic( ♣1,247 ♦2,129 ♥2,180 ♠2,230 )
- (Optional) Defeat the ancient alchemist — Bonus (20%): Heroic( ♣129 ♦233 ♥250 ♠268 ) Epic( ♣1,247 ♦2,129 ♥2,180 ♠2,230 )
- (Optional) Kill the Wheep — Bonus (30%): Heroic( ♣194 ♦349 ♥376 ♠402 ) Epic( ♣1,871 ♦3,194 ♥3,269 ♠3,345 )
- (Optional) Kill the Slime — Bonus (30%): Heroic( ♣194 ♦349 ♥376 ♠402 ) Epic( ♣1,871 ♦3,194 ♥3,269 ♠3,345 )
Tips and Misc
- Quick overview to complete the quest:
- Find the Iron Key (see details on the Find the iron key optional)
- Once you've done this, head down into the wine cellar and pull a lever hidden between two barrels (north-east corner of the room). This opens the way to fighting Ned Shakeshaft, before confronting some smugglers and end boss Sanbalet.
- A note in the east wing, on the first floor, reading "look behind you" may spawn The Housekeeper.
- A lever in the wine cellar opens the door with the blue crystal.
- A lever (book) in a bookshelf in the basement opens the door leading to the Skeletal Alchemist.
- Optionals:
- Complete the password
- The password is found in two parts, each part in a Weathered Tome found throughout the house.
- The first Weathered Tome is in the library (main floor west wing), which can be accessed by either by pulling a book on the bookshelf in the adjoining conservatory, or picking the lock on the library door.
- A code of some sort is scrawled across this page. You can only make out the first three numbers: 2 1 5
- The second Weathered Tome is on the bed in the guest bedroom (upstairs west wing). Awakened Flame may spawn when the tome is read.
- A code of some sort is scrawled across this page. You can only make out the last two numbers: 7 3
- Unlock the trunk
- The trunk is in the master bedroom (upstairs west wing). Here you may find Weeping Spirit and the Iron Key.
- The code is 21573, which can be found by completing the Complete the password optional.
- Talk to the Prisoner
- The "prisoner" is Ned Shakeshaft, who may appear twice throughout the quest, depending on the choices made.
- To get the Talk to the prisoner optional, go up the main staircase in the entranceway and follow the balcony railing around to the left until you find a glowing lantern set on the floor beside some crates. Search around the lantern and you should find the Gold Key. This key will unlock the bedroom at the far end of the upstairs east wing, where you will find Ned Shakeshaft.
- Find the silver key
- The Silver Key is in one of the crates in the locked storage room in the upstairs north wing. You can either pick the lock, or go to the trophy room below in the main floor north wing and interact with the stuffed Owlbear Head on the wall. After pulling the lever in the Owlbear Head an opening will appear in the ceiling and you can climb up through the opening into the storage room.
- The Silver Key opens the door to the Music Room which adjoins the storage room. Here you may find Mangled Horror and the Iron Key.
- Find the iron key
- The Iron Key can be in one of three locations, each corresponding to a rare optional that spawns at the key location – you can only complete the objective by picking up the key and defeating the fight that spawns in that room. You can get only one of the three rare optionals, depending on which location has the key:
- Kill the wheep
- Weeping Spirit will appear if the Iron Key is in the Locked Trunk, in the master bedroom (upstairs west wing). The trunk is opened by completing the Unlock the trunk optional. Although you can pick up the key, you still must kill the Weeping Spirit to complete the objective
- Kill the slime
- Festering Sludge will spawn if the Iron Key is in the spider's lair, in the bedroom in the upstairs east wing.
- The bedroom door is locked by a red crystal. To unlock, you need to enter the next bedroom over in the upstairs east wing, and drop through the rotted floor down into a room that contains two tile puzzles.
- Flip the lever in the fireplace, then solve the two tile puzzles, to unlock the red crystal door. Return upstairs and enter the spider's lair bedroom.
- If the Iron Key is here, it will be in the fireplace (you need to search near the fireplace to find it). When you pick up the key, Festering Sludge will spawn. Try to avoid splitting the ooze, as doing so causes the door to stick, leaving you trapped in the room. DDO Forums
- If you do split the ooze, you can escape with Dimension Door or /stuck. However, make sure to kill all monsters in the room before escaping. If you don't, the objective will not complete and you'll be locked out of the room permanently, necessitating a reset.
- Kill the wight
- Mangled Horror will spawn if the Iron Key is in the music room (upstairs north wing).
- To get in the room you may either pick the lock or complete the Find the silver key optional.
- Kill the wheep
- The Iron Key can be in one of three locations, each corresponding to a rare optional that spawns at the key location – you can only complete the objective by picking up the key and defeating the fight that spawns in that room. You can get only one of the three rare optionals, depending on which location has the key:
- Complete the password
- Ghosts
- Ghosts (or ghostly happenings) appear at various stages of the quest. They are just part of the story line and have no functional purpose.
- when you climb the stairs in the main entranceway, a voice is heard:
- As you ascend the stairs, you hear an angry voice. "WHO IS IN MY HOUSE?" it howls. "GET OUT!"
- as you approach the conservatory (main floor west wing), the doors mysteriously close
- as you approach the kitchen (main floor north wing), the doors mysteriously open
- 1 ghost appears on the bed in guest bedroom (upstairs west wing)
- 1 ghost appears superimposed over the hanging skeleton in the master bedroom (upstairs west wing)
- If the Iron Key is in the master bedroom, then after taking the key a storyline animation plays where this ghost morphs into the Weeping Spirit.
- 6 ghosts appear seated around the table in the dining room (main floor north wing)
Bonus XP
- Mischief bonus: 35 or more breakables smashed +8% Bonus.( ♣52 ♦93 ♥100 ♠107 )
- Vandal bonus: 45 or more breakables smashed +10% Bonus.( ♣65 ♦116 ♥125 ♠134 )
- Ransack bonus: 56 or more breakables smashed +15% Bonus.( ♣97 ♦175 ♥188 ♠201 )
Loot
- Chests: 2–4 (+1?)
- 1 in a room (main floor east wing), after defeating The Housekeeper
- 1 in guest bedroom (upstairs west wing), after defeating Awakened Flame
- 1 in the secret room in the basement, after defeating the Skeletal Alchemist
- 1 in basement behind fireplace (west wall) in barracks room
- Accessed via a hidden lever (search) in the west room of the main (quest entrance) floor. This is directly above the chest.
- 1 end chest after defeating Sanbalet
- Collectables:
- Fungus in the conservatory (main floor west wing)
- Bookshelf in the library (main floor west wing)
- Fungus in the fireplace of the living room (main floor east wing), this is the room with the tile puzzles
- Adventurer's pack in the room south of the kitchen
- Adventurer's pack in the fireplace of the infested bedroom (upstairs east wing), requires unlocking the red crystal
- Adventurer's pack in the wine cellar (downstairs from kitchen)
- Bookshelf in downstairs storage room (south-east of wine cellar)
- Alchemy table in the secret room with the Skeletal Alchemist
- Adventurer's pack on the scaffolding in the caverns
- NPC rewards:
Named Chest Drop
Last Edited | Item | Type | Enhancements | ML | Bind | Quests |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Amethyst Loupe (edit) | Goggles |
|
3 | Bound to Account on Acquire![]() |
The Haunting of Saltmarsh, end chest |
|
Smuggler's Cap (edit) | Helm |
|
3 | Bound to Account on Acquire![]() |
The Haunting of Saltmarsh, end chest |
|
Duelist's Epee (edit) | Rapier |
|
3 | Bound to Account on Acquire![]() |
The Haunting of Saltmarsh, end chest |
|
Smuggler's Gear (edit) | Leather |
|
3 | Bound to Account on Acquire![]() |
The Haunting of Saltmarsh, end chest |
|
Legendary Smuggler's Cap (edit) | Helmet |
|
30 | Bound to Account on Acquire![]() |
The Haunting of Saltmarsh, end chest, or Legendary version of Epic Smuggler's Cap |
|
Legendary Duelist's Epee (edit) | Rapier |
|
30 | Bound to Account on Acquire![]() |
The Haunting of Saltmarsh, end chest, or Legendary version of Epic Duelist's Epee |
|
Legendary Amethyst Loupe (edit) | Goggles |
|
30 | Bound to Account on Acquire![]() |
The Haunting of Saltmarsh, end chest, or Legendary version of Epic Amethyst Loupe |
|
Legendary Smuggler's Gear (edit) | Light Armor |
|
30 | Bound to Account on Acquire![]() |
The Haunting of Saltmarsh, end chest, or Legendary version of Epic Smuggler's Gear |
Monsters
Name ( picture ) | CR | Type | Race |
---|---|---|---|
Awakened Flame ( view • edit ) | ♠10Elite ●♠43Epic Elite | Elemental | Fire Elemental |
Festering Sludge ( view • edit ) | ♠10Elite ●♦35Epic Normal ●♥39Epic Hard | Ooze | Ochre Jelly |
Gluttonous Rust Monster ( view • edit ) | ♠8Elite ●♦32Epic Normal ●♥36Epic Hard | Aberration | Rust Monster |
Haunted Mage ( view • edit ) | ♠8Elite ●♦32Epic Normal ●♥36Epic Hard | Undead | Skeleton |
Haunted Protector ( view • edit ) | ♠8Elite ●♦32Epic Normal ●♥36Epic Hard | Undead | Skeleton |
Mangled Horror ( view • edit ) | ♠10Elite ●♦35Epic Normal ●♥39Epic Hard | Undead | Wight |
Ned Shakeshaft ( view • edit ) | ♠10Elite ●♦35Epic Normal ●♥39Epic Hard ●♠44Epic Elite | Humanoid | Human |
Ochre Jelly ( view • edit ) | ♦5Normal ♥8Hard ♠10Elite ●♦22Epic Normal | Ooze | Ochre Jelly |
Saltmarsh Rat ( view • edit ) | ♦3Normal ♠8Elite ●♦32Epic Normal ●♥36Epic Hard ●♠40Epic Elite | Animal | Rat |
Saltmarsh Skeleton Archer ( view • edit ) | ♠8Elite ●♦32Epic Normal ●♥36Epic Hard | Undead | Skeleton |
Saltmarsh Skeleton ( view • edit ) | ♠8Elite ●♦32Epic Normal ●♥36Epic Hard ●♠40Epic Elite | Undead | Skeleton |
Saltmarsh Spider ( view • edit ) | ♠8Elite ●♦32Epic Normal ●♥36Epic Hard | Vermin | Spider |
Sanbalet ( view • edit ) | ♠10Elite ●♦35Epic Normal ●♥39Epic Hard ●♠44Epic Elite | Humanoid | Human |
Skeletal Alchemist ( view • edit ) | ♠10Elite ●♦35Epic Normal ●♥39Epic Hard ●♠44Epic Elite | Undead | Skeleton |
Smuggler Deck Hand ( view • edit ) | ♦3Normal ♠8Elite ●♦32Epic Normal ●♥36Epic Hard | Humanoid | Human |
Smuggler Lookout ( view • edit ) | ♦3Normal ♠8Elite ●♦32Epic Normal ●♥36Epic Hard | Humanoid | Human |
The Housekeeper ( view • edit ) | ●♦34Epic Normal ●♥38Epic Hard | Undead | Skeleton |
Weeping Spirit ( view • edit ) | ●♦35Epic Normal ●♠44Epic Elite | Undead | Wheep |
- Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh chain quests
- Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh quests
- Epic quests
- Medium quests
- The Haunted House quests
- The Snapping Line Inn quests
- The Gatekeepers patron quests
- Pay to Play quests
- Quests with no traps
- Pages sourced by DDO forums
- Quests with collectables/9
- Quests by name
- Compendium:Level 3 (32 epic) quests
- Level 32 quests
- Level 3 quests
- Quests with 3 base favor reward
- Quests with maps
- Quests with more than one map
DDOwiki maintenance categories
DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories
DDOwiki metacategories
Root > DDO game guides > Maps > Quests with maps
Root > DDO game guides > Maps > Quests with more than one map
Root > DDO library
Root > DDO meta
Root > DDO meta > DDO Official
Root > DDOwiki meta
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Epic quests
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Pay to Play quests
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests by adventure pack > Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh quests
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests by duration > Medium quests
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests by favor reward > Quests with 3 base favor reward
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests by level > DDO Compendium
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests by level > Level 32 quests
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests by level > Level 3 quests
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests by location > The Snapping Line Inn quests
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests by name
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests by patron > The Gatekeepers patron quests
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests by story arc > Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh chain quests
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests by zone > The Haunted House quests
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests with no traps
Root > DDOwiki meta > External links > Pages sourced by DDO forums