You’re staring at a wall. It’s damp, dark, and honestly, a bit frustrating. If you’ve spent any time in Sea of Thieves, you know that Rare loves to hide their best lore behind riddles that make you want to scuttle your own ship. But the Tears of Turtle Cave isn’t just another random location. It’s a specific, high-stakes moment within the "The Legendary Storyteller" Tall Tale that has left more than a few pirates scratching their heads and checking their quest books for the tenth time.
It’s about Tasha. It’s about her childhood drawings. And it’s about figuring out exactly where a wooden plank fits into a rock formation that looks like, well, a turtle.
Most people get stuck here because they try to overthink it. They treat it like a modern waypoint-marker quest where a glowing line leads you to the treasure. Sea of Thieves doesn't do that. It expects you to look at a child’s doodle and translate that into 3D space while a skeleton probably tries to poke you in the ribs.
Finding the Lagoon: The First Real Hurdle
You can’t just sail to a place called "Tears of Turtle Cave" because it isn't marked on the map table like an island. That would be too easy. Instead, you're looking for Lagoon of Whispers. It’s a small, picturesque spot located at coordinate D-12.
When you arrive, the island feels tiny. You might think, "There’s no way a complex cave system is here." You’d be right. It’s not a system; it’s a specific interaction point. The "Tears" part of the name is the clue. You aren't looking for a literal weeping rock, although the game’s art style might make you think so. You are looking for the spot where the water meets the cave mouth in a way that matches Tasha’s drawing.
The drawing in your quest book shows a turtle. If you stand on the north side of the island and look toward the center, the rock formations actually do form the silhouette of a turtle’s back. It’s subtle. If the sun is at the wrong angle, you’ll miss it entirely. Honestly, I spent twenty minutes walking circles around the palms before I realized I was standing too close to see the "head."
The Secret of the Wooden Plank
This is where the Tears of Turtle Cave puzzle gets technical. You should have a wooden plank in your inventory—specifically the one with holes carved into it. This isn't just flavor text. It’s a literal viewfinder.
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You have to find the exact spot on the island that matches the drawing. Look for a small cave entrance or an overhang that looks like the "mouth" of the turtle. Once you’re there, you pull out the plank.
How the Viewfinder Actually Works
- Line up the notches. The holes in the plank are meant to align with specific landmarks on the island—usually a specific rock peak and a tree.
- Look through the "eye." One hole will be smaller than the others. That is your target.
- Identify the dig spot. When everything is lined up perfectly, the smallest hole will frame a patch of sand or rock.
It sounds simple. It isn't. The perspective shifts based on your character’s height and the direction you’re facing. If you’re off by two inches to the left, the hole points to the ocean. If you’re too far back, it points to a bush. You have to be precise. The "Tears" refer to the location just below the "eye" of the turtle rock. That’s where the treasure—usually a key or a quest item like the Chalice—is buried.
Why Tasha’s Drawings Trip Everyone Up
Rare designed "The Legendary Storyteller" to be nostalgic. Tasha is retelling stories from Briggsy, the infamous skeleton lord. Because these are memories of a child, the drawings are intentionally "bad." They lack scale. A rock that looks massive in the notebook might only be waist-high in the game.
The Tears of Turtle Cave specifically uses a "profile view" of the island. Most players look at the map from a bird's-eye view, which is why they fail. You have to think like a kid standing on the beach. What would they see? They’d see the "turtle" rising out of the water.
Interestingly, some players have reported that the dig spot for the Tears of Turtle Cave can feel "finicky." In Sea of Thieves, the "hitbox" for quest items can be small. Even if you’ve solved the riddle, you might need to swing your shovel four or five times in a tight circle to actually hit the chest. If you hear that "clunk" sound, you’ve got it. If you’re just hitting soft sand, adjust your position by a few paces toward the cave mouth and try again.
Common Mistakes at Lagoon of Whispers
Don't go to the wrong island. People often confuse Lagoon of Whispers with Lonely Isle or Sailor's Knot because they all have that "tropical paradise" vibe. Check your compass. D-12.
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Another huge mistake? Ignoring the tide. While the tide doesn't dramatically change the island's layout, the way the water "tears" or flows around the rocks at the cave entrance can change visibility. If it’s storming, forget about it. The waves will obscure the landmarks you need to line up your plank. Wait for clear skies. The lighting in this game is gorgeous, but it's also a gameplay mechanic. High noon provides the flattest lighting, which actually makes it harder to see the depth of the "turtle" rock. Morning or late afternoon shadows help the turtle’s features pop.
The Lore Behind the Tears
Why call it "Tears"? In the lore of Sea of Thieves, Briggsy wasn't always a villain. She was an explorer who saw things others couldn't. Tasha saw Briggsy as a hero. The "Tears" represent the sadness of a story ending—specifically the end of Briggsy’s humanity as she turned into a Skeleton Lord.
When you dig up the items at the Tears of Turtle Cave, you aren't just getting gold. You’re uncovering the pieces of a broken life. It’s a bit heavy for a game about funny hats and pet monkeys, but that’s what makes the Tall Tales special. They have actual emotional weight if you bother to read the dialogue.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
If you’re currently staring at your screen wondering where to dig, follow this exact sequence.
First, park your ship on the North/Northwest side of Lagoon of Whispers. Don't drop anchor right on the beach; give yourself some space to see the island’s silhouette.
Second, find the rock formation that looks like a turtle’s head emerging from the sand. It’s near the small cave-like opening.
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Third, stand back about ten paces from that "head." Pull up the wooden plank from your quest radial.
Fourth, align the large cutouts with the island’s natural peaks. Look through the smallest hole. It should point directly to the ground near the "eye" or the "neck" of the turtle.
Dig there.
If you don't find it immediately, walk in a small spiral outward from that spot. You'll hit it eventually. Once you have the Ancient Crown or the next quest piece, get back to your ship immediately. Lagoon of Whispers is a tiny island, and you are a sitting duck for passing Brigantines or the occasional wandering Megalodon if you stay parked there too long.
The Tears of Turtle Cave is a test of patience. It’s about slowing down and looking at the world through the eyes of a child—or at least a child who was friends with a cursed skeleton. Once you master the perspective trick, the rest of "The Legendary Storyteller" becomes much easier to manage. Just remember: the map is a lie, the drawing is the truth, and the turtle is watching you.