The Mermaid Mask Wiki

Last updated: July 2026

Cargo Hold Pinboard

Solve the Cargo Hold crew pinboard in The Mermaid Mask: current room placement, Mortuga exclusion rule, and portrait layout guide.

The Cargo Hold pinboard puzzle asks players to place crew portrait pins according to each suspect's current location on the Mortuga map—not where they were during the murder window Mariana Moon describes in dialogue. KosGuides and 9Puz launch-week guides agree on the core logic: complete the living roster first (including Airlock Grotto), then assign pins by present room. Magnus Mortuga is deceased and must stay off the active board entirely.

Activation Requirements

  • Finish Mariana Moon's first full Cargo Hold interview.
  • Meet every living crew member through Bunk Room, Dream Chamber, Engine Room, and Airlock Grotto routes.
  • Return to the right-side pinboard only when Sally comments that the roster feels complete.

The Mermaid Mask — Gameplay Showcase (SFB Games)

Placement Rules

  1. Grimoire & Sally: Place with Mariana Moon in Cargo Hold during your investigation pass.
  2. Living crew: Match each portrait to the room shown on the fast-travel map at puzzle time.
  3. Mortuga exclusion: Do not assign Magnus to any square—he no longer occupies a current ship position.
  4. Verify visually: Use in-game map labels if a guide screenshot disagrees; presentation patches could rename rooms post-launch.

Completing the pinboard unlocks mid-deck suspicion escalation and contextualizes mushroom puzzle box access after Sinthia report. Cross-reference Suspicion Tracker once pins settle—sudden Motive spikes often follow correct roster layout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Mortuga not fit anywhere?
The puzzle tracks living crew positions now—not historical murder-scene placement.
Can I solve before meeting Tadpole?
No—incomplete rosters leave ambiguous pins and block valid completion.
Is this the compass pinboard?
No—that is a separate Captain's Cabin puzzle using magnetic needles—see [[/puzzles/compass-pinboard/|compass pinboard]].

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