Windrose is overflowing with secrets and lore, and that includes on the starting shore! So, today, we explain step by step how to complete Windrose’s first treasure hunt in our Windrose 15 Men on a Dead Man’s Chest Quest Guide.

Windrose 15 Men on a Dead Man’s Chest Quest Walkthrough Guide

Starting the Quest

Regardless of the many procedurally generated possibilities, one “?” symbol on the starter island will always be next to the sea, where a dead captain leans against their lifeboat with a chest at their side. It is rarely far from spawn and easily encountered by exploring “?” symbols on the beach. The “15 Men on a Dead Man’s Chest” quest officially begins upon looting the note found within the captain’s chest.

Finding the Treasure

The note reveals the captain’s dreadful fate and that their loot is hidden inland, beginning the hunt. A quest marker should display the general location of where to go next. Upon arrival, four skeletons can be seen. Their bodies form an “X,” and the treasure can be found by digging right in the middle. However, that is easier said than done.

Crafting a Shovel

Crafting a shovel to dig requires copper bars. Thankfully, one of the “?” locations on every starter island will be a cave where copper can be mined. Upon crafting a pickaxe at the crafting bench, head inland, find the cave, and mine away. Obtaining copper ore will reveal the furnace and charcoal kiln recipes, which only need some stone and clay. Clay is not marked on the map as a point of interest, but it should always be found on the starter island. It appears as rough-looking dirt on the ground with no vegetation on it. With all these items in hand, head back to camp, smelt three copper bars, and craft the shovel at the crafting bench.

Digging Up the Treasure

This portion of the quest contains a combat encounter. We recommend buffing up with food and crafting some bandages before proceeding. When prepared, head to the marker and use the newly crafted shovel to dig up the chest. Attempting to open it activates a combat encounter with four drowned. Only when all four have been defeated, without dying, can the chest be looted.

A Quest Completed

With the dead put to rest, the reward of silver and gold becomes yours! Simply open the chest to complete the quest. We recommend holding onto the shovel as Windrose has many more treasure hunts in store. After all, pirates just love to bury their gold.