Revision 10

Underground Network is the quest chain that unlocks the Hidden Smuggler Base in Windrose. It takes the player from Tortuga to a Foothills Smuggler Camp to the Smugglers Waters archipelago and finally into the Smuggler cave.

How to Start

Underground Network becomes available after reaching Tortuga through the main story. Triggering the quest requires the player to find and clear a Smuggler Camp somewhere in the Foothills (marked as a coastal Pirate Camp on the map). One of the camp's chests contains a Letter to a Good Friend, which is the keystone lore item.

Reading the Letter

The Letter to a Good Friend hints at a Smuggler operation hidden in the Smugglers Waters zone of the world map (marked by green-striped water). The letter points the player toward a specific island within that zone, where a cave entrance can be found along the coast. The Curios Tab stores the letter for re-reading during travel.

Reaching the Smuggler Cave

The Smugglers Waters island chain is a significant sailing trip from Tortuga. Bring naval supplies, a fully provisioned ship, and boarding gear in case of encounters along the way. The cave entrance itself is not combat-heavy; the Smuggler faction is neutral until the player becomes hostile.

Inside the Cave

The Smuggler cave contains Smuggler-aligned guards and a small dungeon layout. Clearing the guards triggers the quest's next objective: refit a Ketch on the beach outside the cave. Refitting the Ketch unlocks persistent fast-travel to the Hidden Smuggler Base and spawns the key NPCs: the Smuggler Buyer (next to Marita), the Smuggler Bounty Agent, and the Smuggler Provisioner.

Quest Rewards

• Permanent fast-travel to the Hidden Smuggler Base

• Access to the Smuggler Buyer (the only luxury/contraband sink in the game)

• Access to the Smuggler Bounty Agent and Provisioner inventory

• Unlocks the Smuggler faction reputation grind

Quest Path

Stage-by-stage progression as recorded in the in-game quest log for Underground Network in Windrose version 0.10.0. The quest runs 7 tracked objectives from start to completion. Stage-level Required Items are objective-gated items the player must bring to progress; Rewards are items granted the moment each stage is closed out.

Quest Rewards

Items granted when the full Underground Network quest chain resolves, as listed in the quest log reward block.

Completion Text

Narrative journal line the game writes once the final stage closes out:

"Besides the usual pirates, nothing else threatens the smugglers anymore. Long Ben got another story for his endless collection, and I got proof that a pirate's past is rarely buried for long, especially at sea."

Stages

The numbered flow below mirrors the objective list in the quest log. Each entry shows the in-game objective title, the journal description the player sees when the stage becomes active, and any stage-bound Required Items or Rewards.

Stage 1: Ask around on Tortuga about the smugglers

Tortuga is alive with rumors. I should ask around in the tavern about who might target the smugglers and why.

Stage 2: Talk to Marita at the smugglers' base

Long Ben said a woman named Marita runs the smuggling on the archipelago. If I want to get to the bottom of this, I need to talk to her.

Stage 3: Find Hale

Marita told me she has not heard from her supplier, Hale, in a long time. I need to find out what is keeping him.

Stage 4: Return to Marita

It's too late to help Hale. I found his body and a note that mentioned someone named Henry again. I need to report back to Marita.

Stage 5: Talk to Long Ben in the tavern

Marita is sure I should ask the innkeeper, Ben, about Henry and his enemies. It seems he knows much more than he lets on.

Stage 6: Find and sink Marlowe's ship

Ben confessed he once went by the name Henry Every, a famous pirate. Captain Marlowe, his old accomplice, is hunting him. Ben promised a good reward if I solve this problem.

Stage 7: Tell Ben that Marlowe is dead

Marlowe will no longer chase the smugglers or Ben. All that remains is to return to the innkeeper and share the good news.

See Also

• Hidden Smuggler Base the location this quest unlocks

• Smugglers of Port Royal faction overview

• Tortuga quest starting hub

• Curios Tab where the Letter to a Good Friend is stored

Marita and the Smugglers Cave

The second major objective sends the player to talk to Marita at the Smugglers of Port Royal Main Base. Her hideout is inside a cave on an island surrounded by green-striped waters on the map. Dock and circle the island; the cave entrance is not signposted from the outside. Once inside, Marita stands near a Buyer.

What Underground Network Unlocks

• Access to the Smugglers of Port Royal Buyer, who pays top Piastres for treasure-class loot and Contraband.

• A free Fast Travel Bell point at the cave base.

• Entry into the Smugglers' reputation track.

Quest Chain Position

Underground Network follows directly after the Buccaneers (Quest) chain. Players reach this point only after delivering Gunpowder to Henri Boucher and tanned hides to Charlie Sharpe. Finishing Underground Network opens Smugglers-specific quests and vendors.

Tips

• Scan the map specifically for green stripes in the ocean; red or plain water does not indicate the Smugglers island.

• Drop a Fast Travel Bell outside the cave so return trips do not require the full sail.

• Save low-tier loot for other vendors; Marita's Buyer specializes in treasure and contraband.

Full Objective List (Seven Steps)

The Underground Network quest log shows objectives one at a time, so a consolidated step list helps avoid dead ends between fast travel points. The full sequence:

1. Ask around on Tortuga about the smugglers (Long Ben in the tavern behind the bar).

2. Talk to Marita at the Smuggler's base inside the Smugglers Waters cave.

3. Find Hale at the underground cave southeast of Blackbeard Waters. A wooden cover hides the cave entrance; a sword swing reveals it. A crab enemy blocks the path. Hale is deceased on interact.

4. Return to Marita and report Hale's death.

5. Talk to Long Ben in the tavern at Undead Waters; choose the "Who's Henry?" dialogue option first.

6. Find and sink Marlowe's ship (Bony Sue) northwest, accompanied by a Blackbeard Gunboat. Recommended character level is 3.

7. Return to Long Ben to close the quest.

Dialogue Shortcuts

Two dialogue moments materially affect quest flow. With Long Ben, the second option in the first pass ("Someone has wrecked the smuggler's caches") moves the quest forward faster than the other branches. With Marita, the first option with an exclamation mark at the end is always the quest-advancing choice, regardless of other branches. Choosing flavor dialogue first and then re-approaching for the quest line also works; no option permanently locks out progress.

Rewards