I pushed through the tavern and the room tightened around me — a clock wound by gossip. You feel the weight of one sentence: someone crossed the smugglers. I told Long Ben what I found, and a small debt turned into a course plotted on my map.
Wet wood creaks underfoot — How to complete Underground Network in Windrose
I’ve chased this thread through Tortuga more than once, and you can clear it with a starter ship if you keep your wits. Read this as a short field guide: where to go, who to talk to, what to avoid, and how to cash the story in. I’ll point out the traps the first time players miss and the small tricks that save time.
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Set sail to Tortuga and ask around for the smugglers.
Follow the quest marker to the tavern. You’ll encounter NPC chatter that opens the first lead — listen for mentions of supply thefts and a name: Marita.
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Talk to Long Ben in the tavern.
Image via Kraken Express Ben gives context: recent attacks, missing stock, and a nudge to speak with the smugglers’ steward. Keep your replies short — the quest triggers on his dialogue.
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Visit Marita at the smuggler’s base (Smugglers Waters).
Set sail to the marked objective. Marita fills in the backstory and points you toward a wrecked camp nearby. Take the ship — there’s nothing here that needs a refit.
Image via Kraken Express -
Find Hale (sail to the marked location).
Image via Kraken Express Near the base you’ll run into Blackbeard’s men if you stray into sight — avoid patrols until you reach the leaf-covered entrance. Head down, kill the guardian beast, loot the chest, then return to your ship. Short skirmish; big payoff in context and items.
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Return to Marita, then report back to Long Ben.
Marita asks you to tell Ben what happened to Hale — that’s the thread that turns rumors into a target. Ben names Marlowe as the traitor; you’ll be asked to make an example.
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Find and sink Marlowe’s ship.
Head to the map marker. Ignore nearby Blackbeard patrols when possible — they complicate things. The target is the Bony Sue, a level three vessel. It’s a slow tank: large HP, minimal threat otherwise.
Image via Kraken Express After the sink, sail back to Long Ben and collect your rewards.
How do I complete the Underground Network quest?
You follow a short chain: Tortuga tavern → Marita’s smuggler base → Hale’s hideout → intercept the Bony Sue. Recommended player level: three. If you’re on Steam or checking the Windrose Wiki, you’ll see players confirming the same flow — the community on Reddit and the official Discord often posts exact spawn coordinates if you want a faster run.
Where is Hale in the Underground Network?
Hale sits in a small cave beneath leaves near the smuggler base. Expect a guard beast and a few patrols above ground; stick to the shadows and move fast. Loot the chest in the room for items, then return to your ship — no town stop required.
How do I sink Marlowe’s ship?
Head to the map marker for Marlowe’s position and hunt the Bony Sue. It’s a level three ship — high HP, low threat. Try to fight it away from Blackbeard ships so you don’t attract reinforcements. Use standard cannon volleys and repair as needed; this is a war of attrition, not a duel.
I recommend checking Steam guides and the Windrose Wiki for screenshots and exact coordinates, and scanning Moyens I/O or Kraken Express images if you’re visual; the community tools save you time and frustration. The sea is a ledger — every choice adds a line to your reputation.
Rewards: 50 Piastre (€5), Five Letters of Favor, Two Brandy, Two Madeira, Two Whiskey. If you want a fast repeat, mark the smuggler base on your map and avoid side encounters.
You’ve got a small, tidy quest that teaches patrol awareness and ship combat — who will you answer to when the smoke clears?