Chromatic Scales come from processing the quest fish
To get Chromatic Scales in the documented DREADMOOR demo, obtain the Wind-up Tin blueprint from the merchants, craft the lure and catch three Softgrazers. Process those fish in the settlement's grinder or thresher, then return to John the Fifth. Keeping the catch intact in the hold is not the same as completing this processing step.
The route is stated in the demo dialogue reproduced in Mr. Feudal's and FazyGaming's player-experience recordings. The official DREADMOOR demo page places fish processing and vessel upgrades within the settlement progression.
Get the Wind-up Tin blueprint after boat repairs
This task follows John's still repair, opening the dry dock and cleaning and repairing the boat. When you return to John, he explains that the merchants need fish and you need Chromatic Scales.
Speak to the merchants about the next step. They identify peaceful fish as the source, provide the Wind-up Tin blueprint and ask you to catch three Softgrazers. Their dialogue also supplies a piece of meat to help with lure crafting.
Use the workbench to make the lure. In the recorded demo, the recipe uses Metal Plates and meat. Read your build's recipe display for the required amounts rather than copying quantities from an earlier playtest, where the bait recipe differs.
Catch Softgrazers rather than guessing at mutation drops
Sail to a spot that identifies Softgrazers and select Wind-up Tin. Cast into the fish activity, hook a bite, tire the fish and reel during the safe opportunity. Keep watching tension: a harder struggle is not a reason to hold the reel continuously.
Store the requested three fish for the processing objective. The quest provides a specific species and method; it does not require searching for a random mutated fish or assuming every peaceful species drops the same item.
The older CrypticFox playtest requests a different Softgrazer count and uses a different sequence. Keep that historical route separate from the three-fish public-demo task described here.
Process the catch and return to the engineer
Bring the Softgrazers back to the grinder or thresher and process them as instructed. The merchants explicitly explain that this is how you obtain the scales.
Once you have them, talk to John about upgrading the boat. The documented conversation rewards Scraps of Knowledge and directs you to study the hull-protection and upgraded-engine blueprints. Research is followed by crafting at the lathe and physical installation in the dry dock; obtaining scales alone does not automatically reinforce the boat.
Before processing other quest catches, check the current objective. The later Carburetor chain needs Harpooners sold intact, so the Softgrazer processing rule is not a blanket instruction for every fish you catch.
FAQ
Which fish should I process for Chromatic Scales?
The documented demo quest specifies three Softgrazers.
What lure is used for this task?
The merchants provide the Wind-up Tin blueprint. Craft the lure at the workbench before visiting the Softgrazer spot.
Do I need a mutated Softgrazer?
The recorded quest does not state that requirement. Follow its specified Softgrazer-and-processing route instead of assuming an unconfirmed mutation condition.