It’s decision time once again, pirates! However, instead of determining the future of a beloved Outpost, you’ll be deciding the fate of the notorious Captain Flameheart and the honorable Sir Arthur Pendragon.
If you side with Belle, you’ll imprison Flameheart’s spirit and exile him to forgotten shores while saving Pendragon from an untimely demise.
If you side with the Servant of the Flame, you’ll resurrect Flameheart and return him to his skeletal remains while condemning Pendragon to a dark void.
No matter which side you take up arms for, you’ll need to capture Sea Forts and collect the Bewitching Dolls found within them to show your support. So, sharpen your cutlass and prime your flintlocks as you compete with other pirates for the fate of Captain Flameheart!
How does the Return of the Damned Adventure work?
The Return of the Damned Adventure is the second Adventure where the community will directly affect the story’s outcome and change the world of Sea of Thieves forever.
The Adventure is divided into two paths, each influencing what happens to Captain Flameheart differently.
Belle’s Path will have you siding with Belle and Pendragon as they work to prevent Flameheart’s return. Choosing Belle’s Path and helping her ritual will also prevent Pendragon’s soul from being cast into a void.
Opposite Belle’s Path is the Reaper’s Path. The Reaper’s Path will have you siding with the Servant of the Flame as he works towards resurrecting Flameheart. Choosing the Reaper’s Path and helping his ritual will also condemn Pendragon to a terrible fate.
You can complete both paths, allowing you to understand the story and earn every available reward. But you’ll have to do more than play both sides to sway the fate of Flameheart’s spirit your way. During the Adventure, specific actions you can perform will either count towards preventing Flameheart’s resurrection or resurrecting him. You can continue to do these actions even after completing each path until the Adventure ends. The more you do, the more it will help the side you want to win!
Behind the scenes, the game will keep track of the number of times you have completed these actions. Then, at the end of the Adventure, the efforts of every pirate who participated will be tallied up, and the fate of Flameheart and Pendragon will be revealed.
How to prevent Flameheart's resurrection and save Pendragon
To help Belle’s side, you must strengthen Belle’s ritual with energy to prevent Flameheart’s resurrection. The more you contribute, the more points you will add to her side.
You can perform two repeatable actions to help power Belle’s ritual and prevent Flameheart’s resurrection. These actions include:
- Delivering Bewitching Dolls from Sea Forts to Belle
- Delivering Enchanted Bewitching Dolls from Sea Forts to Belle
Bewitching Dolls by themselves contain very little energy. So, delivering a Bewitching Doll to Belle will add the least amount of points to her side.
Enchanted Bewitching Dolls contain more energy than regular Bewitching Dolls. More energy means more points. So, delivering an Enchanted Bewitching Doll to Belle will add bonus points to her side on top of the base amount.
You can give Belle Bewitching Dolls whenever you want during the Adventure. You don’t need to actively be doing Belle’s Path for them to count towards her side.
While those are the two actions you can perform to add points to Belle’s side, you can increase these points by capturing Sea Forts in Belle’s name!
Sea Fort Bonus
To increase the worth of a Bewitching Doll even further, you’ll want to have claim over at least one Sea Fort when handing in a doll. Each claimed Sea Fort adds more energy to a Bewitching Doll. So, the more Sea Forts that belong to Belle when you deliver the Bewitching Dolls, the more points you add! The Sea Forts must be in her favor when you turn in the doll to receive the effect.
If you want to maximize your efforts, you could capture all six Sea Forts when handing in an Enchanted Bewitching Doll for the most points possible.
How to resurrect Flameheart and lose Pendragon
To help the Servant’s side, you must strengthen the Servant’s ritual with energy to resurrect Flameheart. Like Belle’s side, the more you contribute, the more points you will add to his side.
You can perform two repeatable actions to help the Servant of the Flame resurrect Flameheart. These actions include:
- Delivering Bewitching Dolls from Sea Forts to the Servant of the Flame
- Delivering Enchanted Bewitching Dolls from Sea Forts to the Servant of the Flame
The point system for Bewitching Dolls works just as it does for Belle. Delivering a regular Bewitching Doll will add the minimum amount of points while handing in an Enchanted Bewitching Doll with six Sea Forts claimed will add the maximum amount of points.
Like Belle, you don’t need to be on the Servant’s Path for any Bewitching Dolls you deliver to count.
How to complete the Return of the Damned Adventure
To complete the Return of the Damned Adventure, you must complete Belle’s Path by working with Belle and the Reaper’s Path by working with the Servant of the Flame.
Completing Belle’s Path will reward you with the Belle’s Ritual Sails cosmetic. Completing the Reaper’s Path will reward you with the Reaper’s Ritual Sails cosmetic.
To earn the Devotee of the Damned title, you’ll need to complete all ten Deeds for the Adventure. You can see the Deeds and your progress toward them in the Adventure Tab.
There are no Checkpoints for this Adventure, so you’ll need to complete each Chapter in one session.
The Return of the Damned Adventure will be available to all pirates from November 3rd to November 17th, 2022. Unfortunately, after November 17th, you will not be able to partake in the Adventure and earn the three Mementos.
Return of the Damned: Step by Step
Step 1: Start the Return of the Damned Adventure
To start the Return of the Damned Adventure, you’ll need to speak to Larinna at any active Outpost across the Sea of Thieves. You can find her just outside the Tavern.
Once you have found Larinna, speak with her. You’ll see several different dialogue options you can select. Choose the last option asking about Belle and The Reaper’s Bones.
Larinna will then prompt you with two more dialogue options. If you choose Belle’s Path, you will work towards banishing Flameheart from the Sea of Thieves. If you select the Reaper’s Path, you will work towards resurrecting Flameheart.
It’s important to note that you cannot start the Adventure if you are actively doing a Tall Tale. You can also cancel the Adventure if you need to via your ship’s Voyage Table like you would a voyage or Tall Tale.
As soon as you choose a path, you will begin Chapter One of the Adventure!
We’ll cover both paths in this guide as you’ll need to complete both for all the rewards, but we’ll start with Belle’s Path.
Step 2: Belle's Path
You will start Belle’s Path as soon as you let Larinna know you want to help Belle. Larinna will then give you a note informing you that Belle needs help on Shipwreck Bay with her ritual to prevent Flameheart’s return.
Shipwreck Bay is in The Wilds region. You can locate the island on your Map Table at the coordinates M10.
Sail to Shipwreck Bay and meet with Belle as soon as you are ready.
Step 3: Speak with Belle on Shipwreck Bay
You can find Belle just North of the large shipwreck on the island’s southern beach. She will be standing next to a ritual table and Pendragon.
Before speaking with Belle, you’ll want to read Belle’s first journal on the shipwreck. You can find the journal on the balcony behind the Captain’s Cabin.
See exactly where the journal is on your map:
Belle’s Journal on Shipwreck Bay
After reading the journal, hop down and speak with Belle. Then, choose the COMPLETE CHAPTER dialogue option to complete Chapter One.
Talk to Belle again and choose the CONTINUE BELLE’S PATH dialogue option to let her know you want to help complete her ritual and start Chapter Two.
Step 4: Complete Belle's Checklist
Belle will then fill you in on her ritual and what she needs from you. She will then give you a checklist and her fort flag. You can equip both of these items from your Quest Radial.
Access your Quest Radial and equip Belle’s Checklist. You’ll see two tasks that you’ll need to complete for her:
- Conquer a Sea Fort and raise our flag there.
- Return to me with a Bewitching Doll or Enchanted Bewitching Doll.
After you’ve completed both those tasks, you can speak with Belle to complete the Chapter and Belle’s Path.
As you can only find Bewitching Dolls inside of Sea Forts, you’ll want to start with the first task: conquer a Sea Fort and raise Belle’s Fort Flag.
Task 1: Conquer a Sea Fort and raise Belle's flag
To complete this task, you’ll need to sail to any of the six Sea Forts that have yet to be claimed or claimed by the Reaper’s Bones.
You can quickly see which Sea Forts have been claimed by referring to the Sea Fort miniatures on the Ritual Table or scanning the horizon for red Reaper’s Bones Sea Fort Claim Beacons.
The models on the Ritual Table will have a Belle-themed flag on them if claimed by Belle or a Reaper-themed flag if claimed by the Servant. The Sea Fort Claim Beacons appear after pirates have claimed a Sea Fort for their side. A green beacon emitting from the Sea Fort means that it belongs to Belle and a red beacon means it belongs to the Servant.
Once you’ve found a suitable Sea Fort, it’s time to sail to it and claim it for your side! If the Sea Fort you chose to conquer is inactive, you can immediately head to the top, equip your side’s flag, and interact with the flagpole to raise it.
However, if the Sea Fort is active, you’ll need to defeat waves of Phantoms and kill the Captain of the Fortress before you are allowed to raise your flag. If the Reaper’s Bones have claimed the Sea Fort you are conquering, you’ll fight Reaper’s Phantoms and a Flame of the Fort instead. You’ll also need to lower their flag before raising yours.
After raising your flag, a green Sea Fort Claim Beacon will rise from the Sea Fort letting other pirates across the sea know that you have claimed the Sea Fort for Belle. You can use Belle’s Fort Flag as often as you like, but only while actively doing the Adventure.
One Sea Fort you’ll want to make sure to visit is Royal Crest Fortress. Belle’s second journal is stashed at the Sea Fort on the floor with all the bunk beds. You’ll find it on a table at the end of the room.
Click images to Enlarge
If you tackle an active Sea Fort, you might encounter a Soulflame Captain. While they are not necessary to defeat to raise your flag, these fearsome foes will be helpful for Belle’s next task.
Task 2: Return to Belle with a Bewitching Doll or Enchanted Bewitching Doll
You can find Bewitching Dolls on Sea Forts. Specifically, you can find them hidden inside cabinets, cupboards, crates, and other furniture that you can open. Once you find a piece of furniture, interact with it to open its door and reveal the contents inside. You will usually find treasure and gold pouches. However, if you are lucky, you will find a Bewitching Doll.
There will be at least two Bewitching Dolls hidden in a Sea Fort. You are guaranteed to find one of them inside the cupboard of the Fortress Treasury. To open the Fortress Treasury, you’ll need to slay the Captain of the Fortress and use the Fortress Treasury Key he drops.
What you will not find is Enchanted Bewitching Dolls. Instead, you’ll need to make those yourself. To make one, you will use the soul of a defeated Soulflame Captain to enchant a Bewitching Doll and turn it into an Enchanted Bewitching Doll. Unfortunately, Soulflame Captains are not guaranteed to spawn at a Sea Fort, so you’ll need some luck to create an Enchanted Bewitching Doll.
Enchanted Bewitching Dolls will provide more ritual power for Belle and the Servant of the Flame’s ritual. The extra power also means Enchanted Bewitching Dolls will add more points to your side than standard Bewitching Dolls upon delivery.
Bewitching Dolls will appear again in a Sea Fort once it resets after 12-15 minutes of it being vacant and no one near it.
With a Sea Fort conquered and a Bewitching Doll in hand, head back to Belle on Shipwreck Bay!
Step 5: Speak with Belle
Deliver your Bewitching Doll to Belle, and you will cross off the second task on Belle’s Checklist and you will complete Belle’s Path.
If you want to continue fighting for Belle, speak with her to continue Belle’s Path again, receive Belle’s Fort Flag, and conquer more forts while collecting and delivering Bewitching Dolls.
If you are ready for The Reaper’s Path, sail to The Reaper’s Hideout.
Step 6: Speak with the Servant of the Flame on The Reaper's Hideout
You can find the Servant of the Flame on the beach just outside of the main structure on the island. He is standing next to a ritual table and the remains of Captain Flameheart.
Before speaking with the Servant, you’ll want to read the Servant’s first journal on the Southside of the main structure. It sits in a wooden crate below the wooden scaffolding with the cannon facing South.
See exactly where the journal is on your map:
The Servant’s Journal on The Reaper’s Hideout
After reading the journal, head to the Servant and speak with him, and choose the CONTINUE REAPER’S PATH dialogue option to let him know you want to help complete his ritual.
If you started this path by speaking with Larinna, choose the COMPLETE CHAPTER dialogue option and then talk to him again to help with the ritual.
Step 7: Complete the Reaper's Checklist
The Servant will then fill you in on his ritual and what he needs from you. He will then give you a checklist and his fort flag. You can equip both of these items from your Quest Radial.
Access your Quest Radial and equip the Reaper’s Checklist. You’ll see two tasks that you’ll need to complete for him:
- Raise our Reaper’s Flag high atop a Sea Fort.
- Bring us a Bewitching Doll or Enchanted Bewitching Doll.
After you’ve completed both those tasks, you can speak with the Servant to complete the Chapter and the Reaper’s Path.
To complete the Reaper’s Checklist, you’ll need to sail to a Sea Fort to conquer it and find the Bewitching Dolls hidden within.
Task 1: Conquer a Sea Fort and raise the Reaper's flag
Similar to Belle’s task, you’ll need to sail to a Sea Fort that is unclaimed or claimed by Belle for you to raise the Reaper’s Fort Flag.
Once you have found an unclaimed Sea Fort or cleared a claimed one from any threat, head to the top and raise your flag on the flagpole.
If you are recapturing a Sea Fort from Belle, expect to fight Ancient Phantoms and a Priest of the Fort instead of the regular Phantoms and Captain of the Fortress.
One Sea Fort you’ll want to make sure to visit is Mercy’s End Fortress. The Servant’s second journal is sitting on a bench on the first floor by the large Kraken skull.
Click images to Enlarge
Task 2: Return to Belle with a Bewitching Doll or Enchanted Bewitching Doll
Again, similar to Belle’s task, you’ll need to scour the Sea Fort for Bewitching Dolls. Don’t forget that you can always find one in the Fortress Treasury. Enchant a Bewitching Doll if you can and sail back to The Reaper’s Hideout with at least one Bewitching Doll.
Step 8: Speak with the Servant of the Flame
Deliver your Bewitching Doll to the Servant of the Flame, and you will cross off the second task on the Reaper’s Checklist as well as complete the Reaper’s Path.
If you want to continue fighting for the Servant, speak with him to continue the Reaper’s Path again, receive the Reaper’s Fort Flag, and conquer more forts while collecting and delivering Bewitching Dolls.
Continue the fight!
With both paths complete, it’s time to choose your side and give them your support! Continue to deliver Bewitching Dolls to Belle and the Servant of the Flame while you claim Sea Forts in their name!
1 thought on “Sea of Thieves: Return of the Damned Adventure 9 Guide”
List of the flames at each fortress would be useful.