You’re out there in the middle of a thick, suffocating fog, the kind that makes the wooden hull of your little trawler feel like eggshells. The engine is sputtering. Your sanity meter is flickering like a dying lightbulb. Then, through the haze, you see it. A splash of Royal Purple against the gray. It’s the figure in purple, standing perfectly still on a desolate shore, just waiting.
Honestly, the first time I saw one of these hooded figures in Dredge, I nearly turned the boat around. Black Salt Games nailed that specific "lovecraftian" dread where you aren't sure if you're looking at a quest giver or a hallucination brought on by three days of no sleep and too much panic. But these aren't just window dressing. They are part of the "Pursuit" system, and if you aren't careful, they will die. Right there. On the beach. Because you took too long to find a specific crab.
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What exactly is the Figure in Purple?
The figure in purple is one of four "hooded figures" scattered across the archipelago. You’ll find this specific individual hanging out at [E10], on a small island in the corner of the map between Little Marrow and the Devil's Spine. They’re wearing tattered, vibrant robes that look way too fancy for a swamp.
When you pull up, they don't give you a name. They don't give you a back story. They just hand you a scroll and demand food. Specifically, they want three very specific types of sea life. This is a timed quest. I can't stress that enough. If you trigger the dialogue and then decide to go spend a week gold-farming or hunting for research parts, you’re going to come back to a pile of purple rags and a "Pursuit Failed" notification. It’s brutal. It’s cold. It fits the game perfectly.
The Shopping List: Finding the Goods
You’ve got to be fast. The figure in purple is hungry for a very specific menu.
First up is the Tarpon. You can find these in the shallow waters around the Devil's Spine. They aren't particularly rare, but if you don't have the right fishing rod equipped—specifically something that can handle "Shallow" water—you’re stuck before you even start. Most players usually have the gear by the time they wander out to E10, but it’s worth double-checking your rig at the Shipwright first.
Next, they want a Horseshoe Crab. This is where people usually mess up. You don't "fish" for these in the traditional sense. You need crab pots. You’ll want to drop a few pots in the shallow areas around the Devil's Spine. Then, you wait. It’s a bit of a gamble. Sometimes you get one in six hours; sometimes it takes a full day. Since the clock is ticking on the figure's life, I usually drop about four or five pots in a cluster to maximize the odds.
The final request is a Barreleye. This one is a bit of a trek. You need to head over to the Stellar Basin. You’re looking for "Abyssal" fishing spots. If you haven't unlocked Abyssal fishing yet by completing the main quest line in that area (the one involving the researcher and the giant octopus-thing), you literally cannot finish this quest.
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Why the Stakes Feel So High
There is something deeply unsettling about the way Dredge handles these NPCs. Most games treat quest givers as immortal statues. Not here. The figure in purple is a reminder that the world doesn't revolve around you. If you get distracted by a shimmering fishing spot or a message in a bottle, the NPC pays the price.
The rewards are actually decent, though. Completing the full set usually nets you the "Pushing the Limits" book. This is huge for mid-game play. Reading it gives your engines a permanent 7.5% speed boost. In a game where outrunning the "Night Things" is the difference between keeping your cargo and losing your mind, that 7.5% feels like a godsend.
Common Misconceptions and Failures
A lot of players think they can "pre-hoard" the fish. You can, but remember that fish rot. Unless you have the refrigerated compartment or you're moving at breakneck speeds, that Tarpon is going to turn into "Rot" before you hit the third stage of the quest.
Also, let's talk about the "failed" state. If you find a pile of bones, the game doesn't give you a "Game Over." You just lose the reward. The story continues. The world stays gray. It’s a very intentional design choice by Black Salt Games to emphasize the uncaring nature of the ocean. You aren't a hero; you're a delivery driver in a nightmare.
Navigational Strategy for Success
If you want to actually save the figure in purple, don't talk to them the moment you see them. That’s the pro tip. The timer only starts once you engage in that first conversation.
Instead, scout the locations. Make sure you have the Abyssal fishing crane installed. Make sure you have a couple of crab pots sitting in your cargo hold. Once you’re geared up, then pull up to E10.
- Preparation: Have a Shallow/Coastal rod and an Abyssal rod.
- The Trigger: Talk to the figure and get the Tarpon request.
- The Devil's Spine Run: Catch the Tarpon and drop the crab pots immediately nearby.
- The Pivot: While the pots are soaking, race to the Stellar Basin for the Barreleye.
- The Return: Loop back, grab the Horseshoe Crab from your pots, and deliver everything in one go.
This circuit is the most efficient way to ensure you don't end up staring at a purple corpse. It’s also just good practice for the other hooded figures—Red, Blue, and Gold—who all operate on similar "starvation" mechanics.
The Lore Implication
Why are they there? The game is subtle about it, but the hooded figures are clearly linked to the deeper, more ancient cults that worship the things beneath the waves. The colors—Purple, Gold, Red—often correspond to different tiers of "The Deep." The figure in purple seems particularly obsessed with the transition between the shallow and the deep, hence the requirement for the Barreleye, a fish that lives where the light dies.
It’s easy to dismiss them as just "fetch quests," but they add a layer of ecological storytelling. They are consumers. They don't produce; they just demand. In a way, they're mirrors of the player character, who spends the whole game taking from the sea without ever really giving anything back.
Final Technical Check
If you’re hunting for the figure in purple in 2026, ensure your game is updated to the latest patch. Some early versions had a bug where the timer would tick down even if you were in the ship upgrade menu, which was essentially a death sentence for the NPC. Modern versions have smoothed this out, but the window of time is still incredibly tight—roughly 3 to 4 in-game days.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your map for coordinate E10. If you haven't been there, don't go until you have the Abyssal Fishing capability.
- Equip at least three Crab Pots to your inventory to avoid multiple trips to the Shipwright.
- Clear out your cargo hold. You’ll need the space for the Barreleye, which takes up a decent L-shaped block of slots.
- Once you complete the quest, immediately open your inventory and select the Pushing the Limits book to start the passive reading process while you sail.