Windrose throws you into a pirate adventure, and one of the first side quests you will discover is called “Fifteen Men on a Dead Man’s Chest.” This quest introduces you to treasure hunting and digging mechanics, but it also throws a nasty surprise your way. This guide shows you exactly where to find the buried chest, how to defeat the Drowned enemies, and what rewards await you.
Windrose Fifteen Men on a Dead Man’s Chest Quest Overview
| Question | Answer |
| Windrose Release Date | April 14, 2026 (Early Access) |
| Price | $29.99 (10% launch discount until April 21) |
| Platforms | PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) |
| Quest Type | Early-game side quest |
| Required Tool | Shovel |
| Quest Starter | “Blurry Sketch of the Island” curio from a shipwreck |
| Enemies | 4x Drowned (level 2 melee mobs) |
How to Start the Fifteen Men on a Dead Man’s Chest Quest
You cannot begin this quest without first finding a specific item. Head to the eastern coast of the starting island and look for a shipwreck. Inside that shipwreck, you will find a curio called the “Blurry Sketch of the Island.” Loot it and then open your Journal (hotkey J) to read it. After reading, a blue map marker appears on your map. That marker leads you directly to the quest location.
Where to Find the Buried Treasure
Follow the blue marker to the quest area. When you arrive, you will notice four skeletons lying on the ground in a rough square or circle formation. The buried treasure is not visible on the surface. You need a Shovel to dig it up.
Crafting the Shovel
Before you can dig, you must craft a Shovel. Here is the recipe:
| Ingredient | Amount |
| Copper Ingots | 3 |
| Wood | 10 |
You obtain Copper Ore by mining rocks, then smelt it into Copper Ingots using a Furnace. After crafting the Shovel at a Workbench, equip it and return to the skeleton circle.
Digging Up the Chest
Once you stand at the quest marker with your Shovel equipped, use the Dig action (press Z or X depending on your keybinds). Dig directly in the center of the four skeletons. The chest will appear immediately after you dig the right spot. Do not dig randomly – aim for the midpoint between the four corpses.
The Trap: Dealing with the Drowned
When you interact with the chest to open it, the four skeletons rise from the dead. They transform into Drowned enemies, which are level 2 melee mobs. They also have a Throw Rock ranged attack. Fighting four enemies at once early in the game can be brutal, especially if you lack good gear.
Combat Tips for the Drowned Encounter
| Tip | Why It Works |
| Stack food buffs before the fight | Increases your maximum HP for better survivability |
| Bring Healing Potions | You get 10 potions from the early quest “Twist of Fancy” |
| Keep moving in a circle | This helps you avoid the rocks they throw |
| When a Drowned charges at you, attack as it gets close | You can stagger them and break the charge animation |
| Hit once or twice, then back away | Blocking against four enemies is ineffective |
| Focus on one Drowned at a time | Reduces their numbers quickly |
Important warning: If you die during this fight, all four Drowned despawn. You must then interact with the chest again to respawn them and restart the encounter from scratch. There is no checkpoint mid-fight.
Rewards for Completing the Quest
After you defeat all four Drowned, loot the chest again to claim your rewards. Here is what you receive:
| Reward | Amount |
| Experience Points (XP) | 50 |
| Silver Ingots | 4 |
| Guineas | 5 |
| Pearls | 2 (according to some sources) |
The Silver Ingots are particularly valuable early on. You need them to craft and upgrade jewellery. The Guineas allow you to trade with smugglers for rare items. The Undead Essence dropped by the Drowned themselves (from their corpses, not the chest) can also be useful for crafting later.
Final Tips for Success
Do not attempt this quest without a Shovel. You cannot dig up the chest without it. Also, consider waiting until you have at least one Healing Potion and a decent melee weapon. The Drowned hit hard, and fighting four at once is one of the toughest early challenges in Windrose. However, the Silver Ingots and Guineas make the effort worthwhile. Now go dig up that treasure, pirate.
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