The skies have always been a wondrous sight to behold on the Sea of Thieves! Ah, but now, you might find the stars winking down at you even during the day. These stars should help you as you look to the heavens for guidance.
If you’ve unlocked this Tall Tale that means you must have completed the “Shroudbreaker” Tall Tale—retrieving the Shroudbreaker artifact that will ultimately provide your ship passage to those Shores of Gold. Ah, but you still need to find the missing Shroudbreaker stones.
To that end, you’ve also completed the “Cursed Rogue” Tall Tale—slaying Captain Briggsy and giving her skull to Madame Olivia. From the memories in Briggsy’s skull, Madame Olivia identified the names of people who once knew Briggsy—people who might now know there whereabouts of those stones. One such name was “Sudds.”
Sudds can give you a bit of guidance, but even he does not know what the stars may hold for you. That is where this handy guide comes in!
This guide will help you chart your starlit course. Aye, and it comes with another navigational tool: the interactive Sea of Thieves companion map. This map knows every which way the stars may point—including all nine possible outcomes for step 3!
You can find the web version of the interactive SoT companion map here.
Of course, if you’d rather use the interactive map on your phone or tablet, you can use the SoT companion app.
Apple Pirates Click Here
Android Pirates Click Here
Step 1: Stars of a Thief Tall Tale Book
You will start this tale at The North Star Seapost. This Seapost is home to Sudds—a charmingly curious and cerebral old salt who shared his reverence for the stars with Briggsy.
Among his various charts and instruments, you will see the Stars of a Thief Tall Tale book. Vote for the Tall Tale and this book will be added to your Map Radial.
Sudds will tell you about how he helped Briggsy navigate the seas with his knowledge of the stars—knowledge gleaned in part through his use of an Enchanted Spyglass.
He’ll not part with his Enchanted Spyglass, but there is another. It seems Sudds gave Briggsy one of his Enchanted Spyglasses—but it has been buried away for safekeeping, should Briggsy need it.
Sudds is rather disheartened at the idea of the poor Spyglass being no longer able to see the stars. In the hopes of retrieving the Spyglass and once more putting it to good use, Sudds provides you with his notes, which might lead you to its hiding place.
In return for your willingness to retrieve this Spyglass, Sudds’ notes divulge a bit more than the whereabouts of the Spyglass. His notes will also guide you on your way to finding another Shroudbreaker stone—beginning with finding two Star Jewels, and where those Star Jewels must go.
Go to your map radial to open Sudds’ Tall Tale book and determine where you must go to collect these items. Hopefully, you’ll soon be a wee bit closer to a shroudbreaker stone.
Step 2: Find the Enchanted Spyglass
The first pages in Sudds’ Tall Tale book will direct you where to find this new—and rather special—spyglass: Sudds’ Enchanted Spyglass.
Rather than stating the name of the island, Sudds’ notes will direct you to the island by way of the stars.
Depending on the pages, you will be headed to either Rum Runner Isle or Twin Groves. Once you are on the appropriate island, you will dig up an Ancient Chest to find Sudds’ Enchanted Spyglass.
The Enchanted Spyglass on Rum Runner Isle
You’ll know you need to head over to Rum Runner Isle if you get the following text:
“Face north star, see island, buried by a solitary hanging lantern. Dig by lantern on island to find notes and telescope.”
Since Rum Runner Isle is rather small, you will likely spot the lantern rather quickly. If you’d like to get an idea of where you’ll be digging before you arrive, click the image below to get a closer look.
See the exact location on your map:
The Enchanted Spyglass on Rum Runner Isle
The Enchanted Spyglass on Twin Groves
You’ll know you’re destined for Twin Groves if you read this:
“My back to the north star, saw an island where we parted not far from here. One small island made of two.”
On Twin Groves there are two large rocks on the North side of the island. Dig between those two rocks to find this rather special telescope.
Upon finding Sudds’ Enchanted Spyglass, you will unlock the Heavenly View commendation.
See the exact location on your map:
The Enchanted Spyglass on Twin Groves
Step 3: Find the Star Jewels
How to Use the Enchanted Spyglass
The Sea of Thieves constellations are quite different from the ones you might know from beyond the shroud.
Aye, according to cannon, upon crossing the shroud into the Sea of Thieves, the constellations change.
The Enchanted Spyglass will allow you to see these constellations.
You will find your new Enchanted Spyglass in your Map Radial. Equip your Enchanted Spyglass, and point it toward the heavens!
Now, slowly scan the skies. If you see a cluster of stars that seem a bit brighter than the rest, hold your gaze over that cluster. You’ll soon hear a celestial sound, as the spyglass brings forth the constellation’s lore-infused namesake.
With Sudds’ Enchanted Spyglass
Constellations appear both Day and Night!
How to Solve the Stars of a Thief Stories and Riddles
Never Fear!
The solutions to every story are listed below.
However, we thought we’d add in this section for those who are simply looking for insight on how to solve the riddles themselves.
You might have noticed that Sudds has a rather peculiar way of speaking, particularly to himself. Alas, his notes are no different—often taking the form of stories.
In your Tall Tale book, you will find two short stories—each with individual titles on a title page. These two stories will always be followed by a page titled, “An Elusive Story.”
Each story is centered on your ability to navigate the seas with only the stars to guide you.
Aye, Sudds navigates this world with the stars as his guides. Thus, his notes assume an intimate knowledge of his friends in the sky. To a pirate who is less acquainted with his “friends,” these stories read like riddles.
Luckily, Sudds’ notes will help you get better acquainted. Open your Tall Tale book. You will find several pages with drawings of the Sea of Thieves constellations.
Each constellation’s picture is accompanied by a bit of lore. These will serve as your key, helping you decipher Sudds’ stories.
If you would like to attempt to solve the stories yourself, you will first need to use the constellation key to determine which constellations the stories reference.
Then—using Sudds’ Enchanted Spyglass—you will need to find those constellations in the sky to determine the stories’ corresponding compass direction.
One of the key points for this Tall Tall in solving the stories and finding the Star Jewels is understanding the constellations.
Each Constellation represents a Compass Direction.
When the story asks you to head toward that constellation—rather than giving your pirate a crick in the neck trying to figure out if you’re heading toward the constellation itself—head toward the compass direction that the constellation represents.
For example, if the story asks you to head to the Arrow, you will head South West from your current location. To help you on your journey, we made an infographic depicting each constellation’s corresponding compass direction.
We’ve also written out each constellation’s corresponding direction below—sorting the constellations alphabetically, if you prefer.
Arrow = South West
Bear = South by South West
Boar = North East
Boat = West
Crab = East by South East
Eagle = North West
Feather = South by South East
Fish = East by North East
Flame = West by South West
Kraken = North
Queen = North by North East
Scarab = South East
Shark = South
Snake = West by North West
Turtle = North by North West
Warrior = East
Below are the possible stories that you might need to complete, using those constellation compass directions.
Possible Stories to Complete for Step 3
Great Eagle Landing
Starting at Lonely Isle, use your telescope to find the constellation shown in the page and follow it to the closest island—Lone Cove.
Once on Lone Cove, you will want to line yourself up on the island so that the Eagle constellation looks to be perched on top of the large center rock.
To get that Eagle perfectly perched, stand to the South East of the main rock and look to the North West. Take a few steps this-a-way, and a few steps that-a-way until you line it up just right.
When you have it lined up, you should be standing near a fence around an unmarked grave site. Dig right where you are standing, and behold: a Star Jewel!
The Man Who Lost His Gem
This story will take you to Mermaid’s Hideaway. Once on Mermaid’s Hideaway, go to the middle pond, dive down into the underwater cave and take the first right. You will find the Star Jewel atop a pillar in the main underwater cave room.
A Hunt
From Kraken Watchtower, head South by South East (Feather) to Shipwreck Bay. From Shipwreck Bay head South West (Arrow) to The Reaper’s Hideout (formally an uncharted island) at J12.
Go to the South side of The Reaper’s Hideout and dive really far down. You will find a deep ravine. Follow the ravine East to find a kraken skeleton. The Star Jewel should be nestled near its jaws.
Lost an Eye
You will be lead to Shark Bait Cove for this Star Jewel. It is located in the center of the island underwater. Head to the North side of main statue to find it. It will be in a small tunnel just under the Shark Statue.
The Patient One
“The oldest creature in the sea, hid a stone where only he can see, in belly of large southern isle, he watches it through hole in sky.”
The Star Jewel is by the shipwreck on Thieves’ Haven. The shipwreck is located on the bottom level of the island near the water. Perhaps more noticeably: the shipwreck is below the big hole in the island.
Dig between the campfire and the shipwreck to find the Star Jewel.
Battle in the Heavens
From Crook’s Hollow, head South (Shark) to Cutlass Cay. From Cutlass Cay, travel South East (Scarab) to Mutineer Rock. The Star Jewel will be found between the four large rocks on the West side of the island.
Sea Queen’s Promise
The Sea Queen’s Promise will guide you to Isle of Last Words in The Wilds. You can find the Star Jewel glittering underwater off the West side of island.
They Were Voyagers
Discovery Ridge will be your final destination. Head to the tip of the island to the West and search here for the Star Jewel. It seems to have sunk just off the coastline on the North West side of the island.
Snake’s Deception
Staring on Crescent Isle, you will ultimately be traveling to the tiny Rapier Cay for this Star Jewel. Given the small size of the island, this one shouldn’t be too difficult to spot. It is located on South East end of the island. Equip your shovel and dig in the sand on the South East most piece of land.
Step 4: Awaken the Ancient Statue
The last page that you should have in your quest book tells you where you need to place the Star Jewels. If you are an Old Salt on the Sea of Thieves, you will recognize the location. Head on over to N13.
You will need to enter the underwater cave to place the Star Jewels in the Ancient Statue. Dive under the water just West of the red plant in the middle of the uncharted island. There you’ll see the tunnel that leads to the cave.
Once in the cave, you will see a large statue. Place the Star Jewels in the Ancient Statue.
Step 5: Find the Ancient Vault
Placing the Star Jewels in the statue will reveal a totem. The totem indicates where you will need to go next.
Boar Totem – Devil’s Ridge
Crab Totem – Uncharted Island at N13
Moon Totem – Crescent Isle
Scarab Totem – Crook’s Hollow
Snake Totem – Mermaid’s Hideaway
Shark Totem – Kraken’s Fall
Also…
There are extra notes on the Ancient Statue which you must grab. These notes contain the solution to the puzzle you are about to solve.
Depending on which totem spawned, go to your map table and plot the coordinates to the island.
The six islands mentioned above now have Ancient Vaults hidden within. These Ancient Vaults can only be opened by placing the island’s Totem in the lock near the vault’s door. Below are the locations to the vault doors—and the corresponding locks—for each of the islands mentioned above:
Ancient Vault on Devil’s Ridge
The Ancient Vault for this island is a bit easier to find than other islands. Head to the island’s south east beach. Take a look around and you will see boar head rock paintings. The Totem’s lock is just off to the lefthand side.
See the vault’s location on your map:
The Ancient Vault on Devil’s Ridge
Ancient Vault on the Uncharted Island at N13
If you were lucky enough to get the Crab totem, the Ancient Vault is right behind you! Turn around and jump up over the workbench. The Totem’s lock is to the left of the crab rock paintings.
See the vault’s location on your map:
The Ancient Vault on N13
Ancient Vault on Crescent Isle
The Ancient Vault for Crescent Isle is located in the Northern cave of the island. Head to the middle of the tunnel located in the center of the island. Walk North into the cave and then look to your right. The Totem lock will be underneath the crescent shaped rock paintings.
See the vault’s location on your map:
The Ancient Vault on Crescent Isle
Ancient Vault on Crook’s Hollow
Walk over to the cave that has a waterfall pouring over the East entrance to it. You should see lots of scarab rock paintings in this cave. On the South wall will be the Totem’s lock.
See the vault’s location on your map:
The Ancient Vault on Crook’s Hollow
Ancient Vault on Mermaid’s Hideaway
On the West side of the Northern arch will be Snake rock paintings. Look for the Totem’s lock on the West side of the arches feet.
See the vault’s location on your map:
The Ancient Vault on Mermaid’s Hideaway
Ancient Vault on Kraken’s Fall
The Totem’s lock is located underneath the North side of main arch.
See the vault’s location on your map:
The Ancient Vault on Kraken’s Fall
Upon placing the Star Jewels in the statue, you will unlock the Eyes Filled with Stars commendation.
Step 6: Solve the Ancient Vault Puzzle
You’ve entered the Ancient Vault, only to find no treasure! Ah, yes, Briggsy carefully added yet another layer of protection.
Perhaps out of hubris, trust in Sudds, or a mixture of both—Briggsy likely thought only she and Sudds would ever know the secrets of the stars. These secrets would be the only way to decipher the code Briggsy left for herself with the Ancient Statue.
Ah, but Sudds’ notes have betrayed those little secrets—secrets you can use to solve Briggsy’s little riddles. Here’s how…
Activating the Vault—once you are truly ready
Entering the Ancient Vault you should see a room with an altar in the middle of it and four large stone pillars behind it. The pillars will be blank until the puzzle starts. Lighting the four braziers on the corners of the altar will start the puzzle.
Don’t light the four braziers just yet!
Once you light the braziers, the vault will begin to fill with water. If that water gets too high, you might drown before correctly entering the vault solution.
If you drown before completing the vault puzzle, you will be forced to restart from your last checkpoint!
So, you will want to have your solution ready to enter before raising your lantern.
Deciphering the Vault Riddle
There is an unsolved story on the last page of the book, which consists of two paragraphs. These two paragraphs hold the solution to the vault puzzle.
We will be using the first several pages that list the constellations and describe each. The paragraphs on the last page refer to the constellations by the descriptions from the first pages.
For example, in the unsolved story below you’ll see mention of “Old Mother’s spy.” In the early pages of Sudds’ notes you learn that “Old Mother’s spy” is the One-Eye Shark.
Entering the Vault Riddle Solution
To set the combination, you will rotate the center block in each pillar to match the symbol in that pillar’s corresponding sentence.
Starting with the left-most pillar, you will rotate the blocks to match the symbol indicated in the first sentence. Move right to the next pillar, and rotate the blocks to match the symbol indicated in the second sentence. Continue until you’ve completed each of the four pillars.
There is a button front-and-center on the vault’s main altar (the one you lit to begin). After you’ve completed each of the four pillars, you will need to hit that button to confirm the combination and move onto the next paragraph.
Unsolved Stories and their Vault Riddle Solutions
Below are examples of the possible unsolved story riddles you might encounter, and the vault solutions you’ll need for those Ancient Vault blocks.
For ease of explanation, we will refer to them as sequence A, B, C, etc. The number indicates whether it is the first or second paragraph.
Possible Vault Unsolved Story—A
Sequence A1:
Sequence A2:
Possible Vault Unsolved Story—B
Sequence B1:
Sequence B2:
Possible Vault Unsolved Story—C
Sequence C1:
Sequence C2:
Possible Vault Unsolved Story—D
Sequence D1:
Sequence D2:
Possible Vault Unsolved Story—E
Sequence E1:
Sequence E2:
Possible Vault Unsolved Story—F
Sequence F1:
Sequence F2:
No matter which sequence pair you happen to get, after entering both sequences correctly you will have solved the Ancient Vault puzzle! Now, the Shroudbreaker stone will reveal itself…
Grab the stone and head back to your ship!
Step 7: Return the Shroudbreaker Stone
With the Shroudbreaker stone in hand, head back to the North Star Seapost. Sudds is awaiting your return with his notes—and hopefully with his Enchanted Spyglass.
Return these to Sudds by handing over your newfound Shroudbreaker stone. In his gratitude, Sudds will gladly agree to ensuring the stone makes it to the Mysterious Stranger.
Upon turning in your stone, you will unlock the Stone of the Heavens commendation.
Completing this tale will unlock the Stars of a Thief commendation.
The Shroudbreaker is now a bit more powerful!
Onto your next Tall Tale…
Journal Locations
We also have a guide to help you find all five journals for all nine Tall Tales.
