Revision - smugglers cache - Windrose Wiki

The Smuggler's Cache is a hidden point of interest on the starting island in Windrose. It contains the player's first Fast Travel Bell, making it one of the most important early-game discoveries. The entrance is concealed behind coastal foliage and guarded by a dangerous enemy.

Location

The Smuggler's Cache is marked on the player's map as a point of interest on the starting island, along the coastline. Despite having a map marker, the entrance is not immediately visible when you arrive because it is hidden behind dense foliage and vines.

Finding the Entrance

Open your map (M) and travel to the Smuggler's Cache marker along the coast
When you arrive, look for dense foliage or vines along the cliff face or coastline
Attack and clear the foliage with a Stone Axe or Sabre to reveal a narrow path leading into the cache
Prepare for combat before entering

The Drowner

A Drowner enemy patrols near the entrance. This is one of the tougher early-game enemies and can deal heavy damage to unprepared players. The recommended strategy is to attack once and retreat instantly using the dash mechanic (CTRL key). Patience and spacing win this fight. Do not try to trade hits with the Drowner early in the game.

Counter Strategy

Lock on with T before the first engagement
Use hit-and-retreat: one swing, then dash back
Watch for red-glow unblockable attacks and dodge (not block) them
Keep stamina above 30% at all times; Winded state is fatal
Stack two food buffs before approaching (Strength or Agility plus a health/stamina buff)
Consider luring the Drowner away from the entrance to avoid back-line ambush during the foliage chop

Loot

Inside the Smuggler's Cache is a Smuggler's Chest containing the player's first Fast Travel Bell. This is the earliest opportunity to unlock the fast travel system. The bell can be used to craft a Fast Travel Point (additional materials: 10 Copper Ingots + 3 Rope at a Workbench, then 20 Wood to build the point structure).

Why It Matters

The Fast Travel Bell from the Smuggler's Cache enables teleportation between placed bells and instant returns from your boat to your base. Without it, travel between islands requires sailing the full distance each time. Placing your first Fast Travel Point at your main base and a second one near pirate camps or dungeon entrances creates efficient loot-and-return cycles. Most players prioritize clearing the Smuggler's Cache within the first few hours of gameplay for this reason.

Second Fast Travel Bell

A second Fast Travel Bell is found at the Abandoned Buccaneer Camp, a ruin located west of the starting island. This camp contains two chests (one requiring platforming, the other a hidden button under the stairs) with Tumbaga Ingots and a Sturdy Saber. It is guarded by aggressive boars rather than undead enemies. Clearing both the Smuggler's Cache and the Abandoned Buccaneer Camp in the early game gives you two pre-placed bells plus the crafting headroom to place up to 8 more (for the 10-bell cap).

Additional Smuggler's Caches

Whether additional Smuggler's Caches exist on islands beyond the demo content is not explicitly confirmed. The demo represented approximately 2.5% of the planned Early Access map, and the launched EA build is significantly larger (roughly 30 islands, 90+ points of interest), so more hidden caches are expected throughout the archipelago. The in-game discovery tracker shows Key Discoveries (Fast Travel Bells among them) as you explore new islands.

Revision 4