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The ninth Sea of Thieves Adventure expansion, Return of the Damned, features another branching path for you and your crew to take on: either help Belle and bring about the return of Pendragon or fight for The Servant of the Flame and bring about the return of Flameheart. To start the Adventure and complete this new Sea of Thieves quest, go to any Outpost Tavern. Speak to Larrina, then pick the “You mentioned Belle and The Reaper’s Bones…” dialogue option:
- For the Belle’s Path, choose the “[BELLE’S PATH]” option.
- Choose the “[REAPER’S PATH]” option for the Servant of the Flame’s Path.
- To get the Devotee of the Damned Title, you’ll have to complete both Paths and acquire all of the Adventure’s Deeds.
Belle’s Path
1. Sail to Shipwreck Bay
Once you arrive at Shipwreck Bay, speak with Belle. She should be standing near a Ritual Table on the island’s southern beach. Then choose these dialogue options to complete the “Speak with Belle” Deed in Sea of Thieves: Return of the Damned Adventure:
- “[COMPLETE CHAPTER] What’s going on? What is all this?”
- “[CONTINUE BELLE’S PATH] I want to help complete your ritual.”
- She will also give you Belle’s Fort Flag item.
Then you will obtain a Note that tells you to sail to any Sea Fort that still hasn’t been claimed by anyone. If you want to check free or claimed Sea Fort, you can use the Ritual Table. Sea Forts that the Reaper’s side has claimed will spew out red beacon signals when you look at them from your ship, while Belle’s side is green.
2. Head to the Indicated Sea Fort
After you land on a free Sea Fort, you will be welcomed by Phantoms and a Captain of the Fortress welcoming party. Beat the Captain to obtain the Fortress Treasury Key, which will be needed to unlock the Fort’s Vault. It can be found in the lower level.
If a Soulflame Captain spawns between the Phantoms, it will drop a soul when it dies (and the “Defeat a Soulflame Captain” Deed should be completed). Hold a Bewitching Doll and interact with the soul to transform it into an Enchanted Bewitching Doll. You should be able to find one Bewitching Doll in the Fort’s Vault, with one or two more scattered around the Fort. Delivering an Enchanted Bewitching Doll to either Belle or Reaper will give a higher score to your chosen side.
Now with the Phantoms gone, climb the Sea Fort until you reach the top. Look for the flagpole, then while holding Belle’s Fort Flag from your Quest Radial, interact with it to claim the Fort for Belle. Doing this will complete the “Raise Belle’s flag on a Sea Fort” Deed.
3. Don’t Forget to Look for Belle’s Journal
You can find two Belle’s Journals at Shipwreck Bay and Royal Crest Fortress Sea Fort. For more details, check out our All Return of the Damned Journal Locations guide.
4. Go Back to Shipwreck Bay
Sail back to Shipwreck Bay and speak with Belle. Give her the Bewitching Doll (or the Enchanted version), and that’s it! You’re done with Belle’s Path. At this point, you should obtain the Belle’s Ritual Sails and “Complete the Adventure” Deed.
Servant of the Flame/Reaper’s Path
1. Sail to The Reaper’s Hideout
Land on The Reaper’s Hideout, then speaks with The Servant of the Flame. He should be standing near the dock north of the main island. Then choose these dialogue options to complete the “Speak with the Servant of the Flame” Deed in Sea of Thieves: Return of the Damned Adventure:
- “[COMPLETE CHAPTER] Is that… Flameheart? What’s going on?”
- “[CONTINUE REAPER’S PATH] I want to help summon Flameheart!”
- He will also give you Reaper’s Fort Flag item.
Then you will obtain a Note that tells you to sail to any Sea Fort that still hasn’t been claimed by anyone. If you want to check free or claimed Sea Fort, you can use the Ritual Table. Sea Forts that Belle’s side has claimed will spew out green beacon signals when you look at them from your ship, while Reaper’s side is red.
2. Head to the Indicated Sea Fort
After you land on a free Sea Fort, you will be welcomed by Phantoms and a Captain of the Fortress welcoming party. Beat the Captain to obtain the Fortress Treasury Key, which will be needed to unlock the Fort’s Vault. It can be found in the lower level.
If a Soulflame Captain spawns between the Phantoms, it will drop a soul when it dies (and the “Defeat a Soulflame Captain” Deed should be completed). Hold a Bewitching Doll and interact with the soul to transform it into an Enchanted Bewitching Doll. You should be able to find one Bewitching Doll in the Fort’s Vault, with one or two more scattered around the Fort. Delivering an Enchanted Bewitching Doll to either Belle or Reaper will give a higher score to your chosen side.
Now with the Phantoms gone, climb the Sea Fort until you reach the top. Look for the flagpole, then while holding Reaper’s Fort Flag from your Quest Radial, interact with it to claim the Fort for Servant of the Flame. Doing this will complete the “Raise Reaper’s flag on a Sea Fort” Deed.
3. Don’t Forget to Look for Servant of the Flame’s Journal
You can find two Servant of the Flame’s Journals at Reaper’s Hideout and Mercy’s End Fortress Sea Fort. For more details, check out our All Return of the Damned Journal Locations guide.
4. Go Back to The Reaper’s Hideout
Sail back to Shipwreck Bay and speak with The Servant of the Flame. Give him the Bewitching Doll (or the Enchanted version), and that’s it! You’re done with Servant of the Flame’s Path. At this point, you should obtain the Reaper’s Ritual Sails and “Complete the Adventure” Deed.
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Sea of Thieves is available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.