Keelhaul Key

Keelhaul Key is the main area in which Chapter 5 of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door takes place. Similar to Lavalava Island from Paper Mario, Keelhaul is a southern island disconnected from all kind of society of the outside world. During the events of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Mario learns that the next location of a Crystal Star is in the southern island of Keelhaul Key. Mario will soon find himself captain of a whole crew, which consists of Flavio, Pa-Patch, Four-Eyes (Lord Crump in disguise), two Toads and some Bob-ombs. While on the trip to Keelhaul Key, the ship, the S.S. Flavion, is attacked by Embers and finally sinks.

Luckily for Mario, the ocean washes the whole crew up to Keelhaul Key itself. With no way back to Rogueport, Mario will now have to face the dangers of the jungle in order to save his lost crew mates and find a way into Pirate's Grotto, in which the Sapphire Star lies. With the help of Flavio's Skull Gem, Mario makes it inside. At the end of Chapter 5, Mario faces off against Lord Crump in his ship at the shore of Keelhaul Key. After completing the Chapter, the player may return to the southern island on Cortez's Ship, Black Skull, whenever they want. Cortez's Ship will be in Rogueport at all times. There is also a pipe in Rogueport Sewers which Mario can take to Keelhaul Key.

Keelhaul Key is the only place in which Mario can find Keel Mangos, used for a variety of recipes. Additionally, in Keelhaul Key, Mario's last party member, Admiral Bobbery, joins him. Mario can also find several badges and items on the island. After the island goes back to normal activity, Pa-Patch, the two Toads who run the shop and inn, and a few of the Bob-ombs will stay on Keelhaul Key and run a settlement. Don Pianta's daughter, Francesca, and his son-in-law, Frankie, also decide to stay in Keelhaul Key. Creatures in Keelhaul Key include Embers, Flower Fuzzies, Green Fuzzies and Putrid Piranhas.

Characters

 * Whacka
 * Toad and Bob-omb sailors.
 * Shipwrecked Toads
 * Pa-Patch
 * Flavio
 * Four-Eyes (Lord Crump in disguise)
 * Thriff T.
 * An orange Toad girl who runs the inn.
 * Admiral Bobbery
 * Francesca
 * Frankie
 * Dupree (after Chapter 8)
 * Traveling Sisters 3 (after Chapter 8)

Enemies
For enemy formations in Keelhaul Key, see here.
 * Putrid Piranha
 * Green Fuzzy
 * Flower Fuzzy
 * Lord Crump (Post-Chapter 5 Boss)

Items found
Additional items are on sale at the Keelhaul Galleria, an item shop located in the shantytown.

Area Tattles

 * "This is Keelhaul Key. The sun's brutal, as you'd expect on a southern isle. Blue skies... White clouds... I've always wanted to take an island vacation. Don't you just wanna yell, "Hey, stupid ocean! Look at me! I'm on vacation!""
 * "This is a shantytown built by Pa-Patch and some of the other sailors who came with us. Blue ocean, sandy beaches... A shop, an inn... You could live pretty comfily here. You'd always have to worry about harmful UV rays, though, y'know?"
 * "This is a totally thick jungle. The flora in this area is unique to tropical regions."
 * "We're in the jungle on Keelhaul Key. It's complex... Switchback paths and stuff... I think there's an invisible block here somewhere, so why don't you look for it?"
 * "Wow, nice rope bridge, huh? I don't think I'll be looking down while we cross, though. Being able to see the water through the slats makes my belly go bleeeeeeeeah! Whoa. Hang on. I'm a little woozy. I might faint..."
 * "Here are the red 'stache and blue 'stache brothers. Hey, kinda like you and Luigi! The smaller one's like you, and the taller one's like Luigi. Are they...looking at us?"

In-game map description

 * A tropical island in the southern seas said to be deserted and cursed. The far side of it is covered in a jungle filled with many brightly colored creatures.

Trivia

 * The adventure Mario has on Keelhaul Key is very similar to the one he has on Lavalava Island in the first Paper Mario. Both are for the fifth collectible (Star Spirits and Crystal Stars, respectively), and both are underground on a tropical isle. In both, Mario goes with a famous explorer on a treasure hunt, and Lava Bubbles, Buzzies, Fuzzies, and Putrid Piranhas are also present in both. Both places can be later accessed by pipe in the sewers. The player also gains the ability to swim on both, by using Sushie on Lavalava Isle, and Boat Mode in the Pirate's Grotto. Both end successfully, as Kolorado gets his Volcano Vase treasure and Flavio remarks in his diary that he got whatever the player used to convince him to sail them to Keelhaul Key (romance, thrills, or emotion).
 * Keelhaul Key is mentioned in Animal Crossing: New Horizons by Captain Gullivarrr, in dialogue added to the July 3, 2020 update. If the player finds Gullivarrr, he may say, "Folks be fearin' me buccaneerin' from Crocodile Isle to Keelhaul Key..."