QUEST 135 · FREE-TO-PLAY

The Corsair Curse

From the newly revealed town of Corsair Cove, deep in the south of Feldip Hills, the captain of the Corsairs has sailed to Port Sarim seeking help. His crew is sick, and he suspects that a curse has been laid upon them. If you can unravel the fearful and conflicting tales of ogre relics, vengeful mermaids and demonic possession, maybe you can help his ailing crew overcome The Corsair Curse.

The Corsair Curse — OSRS Wiki quest image
OSRS Wiki image for The Corsair Curse. OSRS WikiGame image © Jagex Ltd
Difficulty
Intermediate
Length
Short
Quest points
2
Released
7 December 2017
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Before you start

Where to start

Talk to Captain Tock at the crossroads north of Port Sarim.

Requirements

None

Items required

STEP BY STEP

Walkthrough

Follow the chapters below. Click any screenshot or diagram to view it at full size.

Before you begin

Be aware that the bank (run by Yusuf) will not be accessible until this quest is completed; ensure you have all items needed before starting the quest.

The cursed crew

Speak to Captain Tock at the crossroads north of Port Sarim. He explains that his crew of corsairs has been inflicted with a curse and requests your help. After the player agrees to help him, a brief cutscene shows the location of his boat at the western Rimmington dock. Speak to him there to sail to Corsair Cove.

  1. 1 <a href="/w/Chief_Tess" title="Chief Tess">Chief Tess</a>
  2. 2 <a href="/w/Captain_Tock" title="Captain Tock">Captain Tock</a>
  3. 3 <a href="/w/Ithoi_the_Navigator" title="Ithoi the Navigator">Ithoi the Navigator</a>
  4. 4 <a href="/w/Gnocci_the_Cook" title="Gnocci the Cook">Gnocci the Cook</a>
  5. 5 <a href="/w/Arsen_the_Thief" title="Arsen the Thief">Arsen the Thief</a> and <a href="/w/Cabin_Boy_Colin" title="Cabin Boy Colin">Cabin Boy Colin</a>
  6. 6 Possessed doll
A map of all the important locations visited during the quest. Open interactive map ↗Map data and tiles: OSRS Wiki · Game imagery © Jagex Ltd

Ithoi's ideas

Visit Ithoi first in his hut, south-west of the Corsair Cove. He will claim there is a curse, and that there are many things that can cause them.

After talking to Ithoi, investigate what may have caused the curse by speaking to Arsen, Colin, and Gnocci in any order. Refer to the map for their exact locations. Note that they are each upstairs in their huts, and you need to climb the stairs to reach them. Each will tell you they caused the curse with various events that occurred to each respectively. Arsen and Colin are upstairs in the large hut found immediately west of the dock, and Gnocci is upstairs in the smaller hut slightly further to the west. Each crew member's claim will need to be investigated further.

Arsen's appropriation

Arsen the Thief will explain that he was asked by Captain Tock to explore some caves west of the cove. On entering, he was immediately spotted by the ogres in the cave, and in a panic, grabbed some loot and quickly fled. He believes he may have stolen a sacred relic, and says the shamans have cursed his crew for stealing it.

Speak to Captain Tock, located on the ship, and ask him for the relic. As he has no use for it, he will give you the ogre artefact.

Head west of the cove and down the hole into the Corsair Cove Dungeon. Speak to Chief Tess at the entrance, and she will tell you that he simply grabbed one of her many tooth-picks, and that her shamans have not cursed the crew.

Return to Arsen to explain what actually happened. Arsen is now assured that the curse was not his fault.

Colin's catcall

Colin sees a mermaid through Ithoi's telescope.
Colin sees a mermaid through Ithoi's telescope. Image source ↗

Cabin Boy Colin believes he may have offended a mermaid after he saw one using Ithoi's telescope. He thinks that perhaps the mermaid didn't like strangers shouting about her appearance and blowing kisses at her, and that she cursed the crew as a result.

Use the telescope in Ithoi's hut and discover that the mermaid Colin was referring to is an ogre named Bugs. If you have completed Big Chompy Bird Hunting, you will recognise him as Rantz's son.


Bug Bug: Since the Sailing update, the ogre is barely in the frame of the camera, likely due to changes in ocean visuals.

Return to Colin to explain what actually happened. Colin is now assured that the curse was not his fault.

Gnocci's no-no

Dig here to find the Demonic Doll
Dig here to find the Demonic Doll Image source ↗

Gnocci the Cook will tell you that while fishing for food, he discovered a doll possessed by a demon and buried it next to the tree where he was fishing. He believes that this demon cursed the crew, and asks you to kill it.

If you did not bring a tinderbox, pick up the one next to Gnocci. If you did not bring a spade, one can be found planted in the sand under the big Tropical Tree south of Gnocci the Cook's hut, near the rocks.

Dig by the lump of sand to the far west of Ithoi's hut (just west of the fishing spot) where he buried the doll during the cutscene. You will discover it is a clockwork toy doll. If you have at least level 18 Crafting, you will also say that you know how to make a doll just like it.

Return to Gnocci to explain what actually happened. Gnocci is assured that the curse was not his fault.

Traitor in the midst

At this point your quest log should end with, "I had[sic] ruled out all the corsairs' theories about how they had become cursed;" if not, repeat your conversations with each corsair as needed.

After debunking Arsen, Colin, and Gnocci's "curses," return to Captain Tock on the boat. He will explain to you that the curse began when he and Ithoi went away for a parlay and returned to find their crew sickly after eating dinner, with Ithoi soon falling ill as well. As Ithoi was with Captain Tock at the time, he rules out the food as the cause of the curse.

Speak to Gnocci to discover that he didn't cook dinner that night, as he was still traumatised from the "possessed" doll. Gnocci will tell you that Ithoi cooked dinner that night, before leaving for his parlay with Captain Tock. He will also rule out the food as the cause of the curse.

Next, speak to Arsen. He will reveal that his brother, Francois, told him that Ithoi may be dismissed from Tock's crew, as they have settled in the Cove and no longer need a navigator.

Speak to Ithoi, and tell him that you heard he cooked the meal that made the crew sick. He will believe you are accusing him of poisoning his crew, and asks why you would think so. Mention that you know the Captain is thinking of firing him and he will confess to the crime, saying that he hoped if the crew believed they were cursed, they would want Ithoi to stay on the crew.

Ithoi runs out to extinguish your fire, proving that he is faking the curse.
Ithoi runs out to extinguish your fire, proving that he is faking the curse. Image source ↗

Speak to Ithoi again and tell him you know the curse is fake. He will tell you he will not get up, thus making you unable to prove he is faking his illness. Leave the hut and use the tinderbox on the driftwood beneath Ithoi's hut, prompting him to get up and run outside to douse the flame with magic.

Return to Captain Tock, and tell him Ithoi is behind the curse. Outraged, Captain Tock will ask you to kill Ithoi.

Taking care of Ithoi

Ithoi the Navigator
Ithoi the Navigator Image source ↗
This fight takes place in an instance.
On death, all unprotected items will be moved to a grave outside the instance. Any items left on the ground will be lost.
The player confronts Ithoi.
The player confronts Ithoi. Image source ↗

Return to Ithoi's hut, and climb the stairs to begin the final fight.

Upon climbing up, Ithoi will attack you immediately. He is level 35 and uses elemental strike spells. He can also use the Curse spell. Lower-leveled players should bring food for this fight, as while he does splash quite often, he can still deal considerable damage. Make sure that if you are using ranged attacks, you are comfortable losing the arrows or bolts that you use during the fight, as they will disappear at the end of the fight.

It is possible to flinch Ithoi if you have low stats and gear by running to the nearby telescope; he will become trapped on one side of the hut entrance, allowing you to attack him and run back to the safespot until he is dead.

After killing Ithoi, leave his hut and return to Captain Tock, who will ask what is happening now. Explain to him that Ithoi was killed for poisoning his crew. He will thank you and say that he plans to let the crew members rest and get better. He will also mention that he will speak to Yusuf, located in the bank north of the ship, allowing access to bank on the cove.

Congratulations, quest complete!

Quick checklist 28 instructions

Use this when you already know the route. The full walkthrough above includes explanations and diagrams.

The cursed crew

  1. Speak to Captain Tock just south of the entrance to Falador farm.

    Say: What kind of help do you need? → Sure, I'll try to help with your curse.

  2. Speak to Captain Tock on the single dock just west of Rimmington.

    Say: Okay, I'm ready to go to Corsair Cove.

  3. Upon arrival to Corsair, make sure to speak with Ithoi the Navigator first or else the other npc chats will not work correctly. Find Ithoi by travelling west along the beach. Climb the stairs of the southernmost building on the beach.

    Say: I hear you've been cursed.

Arsen's, Colin's and Gnocci's "curse"

  1. Speak to Arsen the Thief (upstairs in the first house west off the docks).

    Say: I hear you've been cursed.

  2. Speak to Cabin Boy Colin (in the same room as Arsen, just east).

    Say: I hear you've been cursed.

  3. Speak to Gnocci the Cook (upstairs in the building just north-west).

    Say: I hear you've been cursed.

    • Grab the tinderbox next to him if you don't have one.

    • Grab the spade found directly south of his hut (right by the tree near the water) if you don't have one.

  4. Speak to Captain Tock back on the boat (cross south gangplank) to receive the ogre artefact.

    Say: Arsen says he gave you a sacred ogre relic.

  5. Speak to Chief Tess in the Corsair Cove Dungeon (dungeon entrance is just west, in the middle of four small pillars) .

    Say: I've come to return what Arsen stole.

  6. Use a Spade to dig the lump of sand next to the tree where Gnocci the Cook fished in the cutscene. (see image)

    Say:

    • Three steps east of the tropical tree found west of the fishing spot.

  7. Use the telescope on the deck of Ithoi the Navigator's hut.

  8. Return to Gnocci the Cook and speak to him.

  9. Speak to Arsen the Thief.

  10. Speak to Cabin Boy Colin.

Traitor in the midst

  1. Speak to Captain Tock.

    Say: I've ruled out all the Corsairs' theories... → So what do I do now?

  2. Speak to Gnocci the Cook.

    Say: I hear it happened straight after dinner.

  3. Speak to Arsen the Thief.

    Say: I hear Ithoi cooked the meal you ate that night. → What is the mission Francois is doing?

  4. Speak to Cabin Boy Colin.

    Say: I hear the Captain's thinking of firing Ithoi.

  5. Speak to Ithoi the Navigator.

    Say: I hear you cooked the meal they ate before getting sick. → Maybe because the Captain's thinking of firing you.

  6. Speak to Ithoi the Navigator again.

    Say: I know you've faked the curse. → I bet I can prove you're well enough to get up.

  7. Use your tinderbox on the driftwood under his hut.

  8. Speak to Ithoi the Navigator again.

    Say: I saw you running around! You're not sick!

  9. Speak to Captain Tock.

    Say: I've seen Ithoi running around. He's not sick at all. → I'll be back.

  10. Head west again and kill Ithoi the Navigator (level 35).

    • Use protect from magic to take no damage.

  11. Speak to Captain Tock.

    Say: I've killed Ithoi for poisoning your crew.

QUEST COMPLETE

Rewards

  • Access to Yusuf's bank in the Corsair Cove.
  • The ability to dock your Boat at the Corsair Cove Port
  • Corsair Traitor accessible in the Nightmare Zone.

OSRS WIKI CONTRIBUTORS

Sources & credits

Walkthrough text and preparation lists are adapted from Old School RuneScape Wiki contributors under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. Game imagery © Jagex Ltd; individual image sources are linked in their captions. This page is fan-made and not affiliated with Jagex.

Game icons © Jagex Ltd, via the OSRS Wiki. Interface icons by Lucide.