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Under the Cover of Darkness

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Under the Cover of Darkness is the 2nd quest in the Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh story arcIcon tooltip.pngStory arcs  are chains of quests that make up a story line.
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 • Swim at Your Own Risk • The Final Enemy


Town of Saltmarsh asked you to capture or sink the smuggling vessel, the infamous Sea Ghost.

Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh adpack icon.jpg
DDO Point icon.png Requires access to adventure pack: Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh
Under the Cover of Darkness
Heroic level: 3
Epic level: 32
(considered Legendary)
Duration: Short
Heroic XP:  ♣456Solo/Casual ♦820Normal ♥880Hard ♠940Elite
Epic XP:  ♣7,352Solo/Casual ♦12,554Normal ♥12,853Hard ♠13,152Elite
Takes place in: On the Trail of the Smugglers
Bestowed by: Anders Solmor
NPC contact: Anders Solmor
Quest acquired in: The Snapping Line Inn
Patron: The Gatekeepers
Base favor: 2
Purchase: Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh
Extreme Challenge: No
M Under the Cover of Darkness.jpg
Cargo Hold and Bilge
Loading screen

Overview

Now that we have found smugglers, Anders has asked us to work with Deputy Mazgill to deal with them.


Spoiler Warning: Spoiler material below this point!


Objectives

  • Capture or burn down smugglers ship
  • Find out what they are smuggling
  • Find out who their buyers are
  • (Optional) Lie your way to the cargo hold — Bonus (5%): Heroic( ♣23 ♦41 ♥44 ♠47 ) Legendary( ♣368 ♦628 ♥643 ♠658 )
  • (Optional) Free the sea elf — Bonus (30%): Heroic( ♣137 ♦246 ♥264 ♠282 ) Legendary( ♣2,206 ♦3,766 ♥3,856 ♠3,946 )
  • (Optional) Set fire to flammable cargo — Bonus (3%): Heroic( ♣14 ♦25 ♥26 ♠28 ) Legendary( ♣221 ♦377 ♥386 ♠395 )
  • (Optional) Defeat the captain — Bonus (30%): Heroic( ♣137 ♦246 ♥264 ♠282 ) Legendary( ♣2,206 ♦3,766 ♥3,856 ♠3,946 )
  • (Optional) Defeat the deck wizard — Bonus (30%): Heroic( ♣137 ♦246 ♥264 ♠282 ) Legendary( ♣2,206 ♦3,766 ♥3,856 ♠3,946 )
  • (Optional) Defeat the first mate — Bonus (30%): Heroic( ♣137 ♦246 ♥264 ♠282 ) Legendary( ♣2,206 ♦3,766 ♥3,856 ♠3,946 )
  • (Optional) Defeat the bosun — Bonus (30%): Heroic( ♣137 ♦246 ♥264 ♠282 ) Legendary( ♣2,206 ♦3,766 ♥3,856 ♠3,946 )
  • (Optional) Deal with the rat infestation — Bonus (10%): Heroic( ♣46 ♦82 ♥88 ♠94 ) Legendary( ♣735 ♦1,255 ♥1,285 ♠1,315 )
  • (Optional) Befriend Bimz, the pseudodragon — Bonus (30%): Heroic( ♣137 ♦246 ♥264 ♠282 ) Legendary( ♣2,206 ♦3,766 ♥3,856 ♠3,946 )

Tips and 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. Make sure there are no mobs currently aggroed before entering the forecastle.
  • Other optionals are:

Suggested Route

  • Give the expected signal and have the boat proceed to the port side
  • Have a bluffer climb up to the deck and bluff the first mate via dialog
    • You do not actually need bluff, you can pick the "Who's Fred?" option followed by "(Guess) Someone who knows there is no Fred", but this may require a stat check of some kind.
    • Everyone else should stay near the ladder or on the boat at this point, or the mobs will become hostile. Trying to go anywhere else on the boat such as near Punketah's cabin will also cause them to become hostile.
  • All party members should then follow the first mate into the cargo hold and convince him into starting a mutiny with social skills (Bluff, Intimidate or Diplomacy). There is no difference except that bluff is harder. The first mate will try to move to the Bosun and attack him, but he frequently glitches and just stands there.
    • Do not tell the First Mate that the captain is dead, as he will attack you to try and take the ship for himself.
  • Clear the cargo hold, there will be several ways and Punketah will be in one of the waves.
    • If you convince the first mate to start a mutiny, one stealthed cabin boy will switch sides and become friendly. As long as this cabin boy remains alive, no reinforcement waves will enter the cargo hold, making the quest much easier. Note that he usually gets killed quickly by the other mobs as he starts surrounded by enemies.
    • Free Oceanus (located behind a secret door) and lead him to another nearby secret door for him to get his gear, he will help you to fight mobs from then on.
  • Make sure to grab crests when you see them throughout the ship.
    • Common locations are the nets in the cargo hold, the bilge, the forecastle and Punketah's cabin.
  • Make sure there are no remaining enemies in the cargo hold, then go to the forecastle. You can use Diplomacy or Intimidate to read the shipping documents without fighting the lizardfolk.
    • If any enemies are still alive and actively fighting, the lizardfolk will immediately become hostile when they see you.
  • Enter the captain's cabin and kill him, read the shipping documents.
  • Once you find all crests, open the crest door in the cargo hold.

Bonus XP

  • Aggression bonus: 27 or more monsters killed +10% Bonus.( ♣46 ♦82 ♥88 ♠94 )
  • Onslaught bonus: 54 or more monsters killed +15% Bonus.( ♣68 ♦123 ♥132 ♠141 )
  • Observance bonus: 1 or more secret door discovered +8% Bonus.( ♣36 ♦66 ♥70 ♠75 )
  • Mischief bonus: 17 or more breakables smashed +8% Bonus.( ♣36 ♦66 ♥70 ♠75 )
  • Vandal bonus: 23 or more breakables smashed +10% Bonus.( ♣46 ♦82 ♥88 ♠94 )

Loot

  • Chests: 3
    • Locked chest (Lock DC) in the second hidden room with Oceanus' equipment
    • In the bilge for dealing with the rat infestation
    • End chest
  • Collectables: 8

NPC end rewards

Randomly generated loot, ML correlates with effective quest level.

Named Chest Drop

Last Edited Item Type Enhancements ML Bind Quests
  • Update 53.0.2
  • 2 years, 7 months, and 13 days
  • Cru121
Splintermast
Splintermast.png
(edit)
Dart  3 Bound to Account on AcquireIcon tooltip.pngBound to Account on Acquire: This item is Bound to Account on Acquire Under the Cover of Darkness, end chest
Sailcloth Cloak
Sailcloth Cloak.png
(edit)
Cloak  3 Bound to Account on AcquireIcon tooltip.pngBound to Account on Acquire: This item is Bound to Account on Acquire Under the Cover of Darkness, end chest
  • Update 66.0.1
  • 7 months and 11 days
  • Stumpy
Sir Squilliam III, Esq.
Sir Squilliam III, Esq..png
(edit)
Rune Arm  3 Bound to Account on AcquireIcon tooltip.pngBound to Account on Acquire: This item is Bound to Account on Acquire Under the Cover of Darkness, End chest
  • Update 67.3.1
  • 4 months and 5 days
  • BugTime
Dockworker's Outfit
Dockworker's Outfit.png
(edit)
Clothing  3 Bound to Account on AcquireIcon tooltip.pngBound to Account on Acquire: This item is Bound to Account on Acquire Under the Cover of Darkness, End
  • Update 53.0.2
  • 2 years, 7 months, and 13 days
  • Cru121
Legendary Splintermast
Legendary Splintermast.png
(edit)
Dart  30 Bound to Account on AcquireIcon tooltip.pngBound to Account on Acquire: This item is Bound to Account on Acquire Under the Cover of Darkness, end chest, or Legendary version of Epic Splintermast
  • Update 66.0.1
  • 7 months and 11 days
  • Stumpy
Sir Squilliam V, Esq.
Sir Squilliam V, Esq..png
(edit)
Rune Arm  30 Bound to Account on AcquireIcon tooltip.pngBound to Account on Acquire: This item is Bound to Account on Acquire Legendary version of Sir Squilliam IV, Esq.
  • Update 67.3.1
  • 4 months and 4 days
  • BugTime
Legendary Dockworker's Outfit
Legendary Dockworker's Outfit.png
(edit)
Clothing  30 Bound to Account on AcquireIcon tooltip.pngBound to Account on Acquire: This item is Bound to Account on Acquire Under the Cover of Darkness, end chest, or Legendary version of Epic Dockworker's Outfit
Legendary Sailcloth Cloak
Legendary Sailcloth Cloak.png
(edit)
Cloak  30 Bound to Account on AcquireIcon tooltip.pngBound to Account on Acquire: This item is Bound to Account on Acquire Under the Cover of Darkness, end chest, or Legendary version of Epic Sailcloth Cloak
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Monsters

Name ( picture ) CR Type Race
Bimz( view
Bimz.png
 • edit )
 ♦3Normal ♥5Hard ♠8Elite ♦32Epic Normal ♥36Epic Hard ♠40Epic Elite Dragon Pseudodragon
Bloody Bjorn( view
Bloody Bjorn.png
 • edit )
 ♦5Normal ♥7Hard ♠10Elite ♦35Epic Normal ♥39Epic Hard ♠44Epic Elite Humanoid Human
Cabin Boy( view
Cabin Boy.png
 • edit )
 ♦2Normal ♥4Hard ♠7Elite ♦31Epic Normal ♥35Epic Hard ♠39Epic Elite Humanoid Human
Captain Sigurd Snake-Eyes( view
Captain Sigurd Snake-Eyes.png
 • edit )
 ♦5Normal ♥7Hard ♠10Elite ♦35Epic Normal ♥39Epic Hard ♠44Epic Elite Humanoid Human
Crew Mate( view
Crewmate.png
 • edit )
 ♦3Normal ♥5Hard ♠8Elite ♦32Epic Normal ♥36Epic Hard ♠40Epic Elite Humanoid Human
Foul Frithoff( view
Foul Frithoff.png
 • edit )
 ♦5Normal ♥7Hard ♠10Elite ♦35Epic Normal ♥39Epic Hard ♠44Epic Elite Humanoid Human
Grizzled Smuggler( view
Grizzled Smuggler.png
 • edit )
 ♦4Normal ♥6Hard ♠9Elite ♦33Epic Normal ♥37Epic Hard ♠41Epic Elite Humanoid Human
Infected Ship Rat( view
Infected Ship Rat.png
 • edit )
 ♦5Normal ♥7Hard ♠10Elite ♦35Epic Normal ♥39Epic Hard ♠44Epic Elite Animal Rat
Lizardfolk Envoy( view
Lizardfolk Envoy.png
 • edit )
 ♦4Normal ♥6Hard ♠9Elite ♦34Epic Normal ♥38Epic Hard ♠43Epic Elite Reptilian Lizardfolk
Punketah( view
Punketah.png
 • edit )
 ♦5Normal ♥7Hard ♠10Elite ♦35Epic Normal ♥39Epic Hard ♠44Epic Elite Humanoid Human
Ship Rat( view
Ship Rat.png
 • edit )
 ♦3Normal ♥5Hard ♠8Elite ♦32Epic Normal ♥36Epic Hard ♠40Epic Elite Animal Rat