Quest progression

Quest progression: from Temple Woods to Umbral Sands

Find the next story quest, its starting point and the preparation that connects each region.

Reviewed September 12, 2026 · Early Access

Story spoilers: Names later regions and story bosses. Use the individual gathering guides if you want to avoid story progression spoilers.

The short answer

Begin with the Temple Woods tutorial, then follow Dragon Slayer into Ghornfell. The later story runs through Withering Heights in Fellhollow, Black Knight’s Fortress in Dowdun Reach and Icthlarin’s Little Helper in Umbral Sands.

Before you start

  • Check your current objective in the game’s quest interface
  • Finish the previous story hand-in before looking for the next chapter
  • Use this as a progression overview; optional tasks are not all mandatory gates

Learn the systems before following Cathan

The tutorial can be skipped. Following it is our recommendation for a new player, rather than a claim that every listed lesson must be completed to enter every region.

QuestWhere to lookPurpose
First StepsWise Old Man in the starting templeIntroduction
Getting StartedDoric outside the templeBasic survival and crafting
RatcatcherVannaka near the windmillCombat practice
Rune MysteriesZanik on the onward pathIntroduction to runes
Sources for this section

Game8: Walkthrough and progression · April 28, 2025 · MetaForge: Quest starts · updated for Umbral Sands

Dragon Slayer: camp, metal tools, then Velgar

Meet the Wise Old Man in Bramblemead Village. The quest leads through the goblin keep and a Whispering Swamp vault before sending you after Cathan in Ghornfell.

Use the journey to progress from thread and leather to a Bone Pickaxe, bronze and then iron tools. Those gathering upgrades support the Challenge Horn material hunt; they are more useful than rushing straight to the tower.

Sources for this section

MetaForge: Dragon Slayer objective sequence · Game8: Walkthrough and progression · April 28, 2025 · RuneScape Dragonwilds community guide: Dragon Slayer route · September 4, 2026

Withering Heights: enter Fellhollow and break the curse

After Dragon Slayer, speak to the Wise Old Man near Ashien’s Watch. The Forgotten Temple introduces Death and Postie Pete, followed by the Soul Rift and purification route into Fellhollow.

Cathan’s clues lead to three Curse Fragments. They open the route to Imaru, whose head must be returned to Death to finish the chapter.

Sources for this section

MetaForge: Withering Heights objective sequence · MetaForge: Withering Heights route · updated August 5, 2026

Black Knight’s Fortress: repair the Dreaming Stone

Continue the story with Death and the route through Silverthorn Keep into Dowdun Reach. Cathan waits at the lower part of the keep; beyond the door, follow the route past the Lodestone and Wise Old Man to Doric and the Dreaming Stone.

The main objective is to recover 13 shards and repair the stone before facing the Gatekeeper. Bring a spade and plan for Mithril Pickaxe requirements. This page establishes the next objective, not a verified route to all 13 shard placements.

Sources for this section

MetaForge: Quest starts · updated for Umbral Sands · MetaForge: Black Knight Fortress and Dreaming Stone · April 26, 2026

Icthlarin’s Little Helper: the desert chapter

The desert entrance is in the Bastion’s boss room after the fortress chapter. In Umbral Sands, progress the Moon Garou camp reputation objectives to obtain three Mirror Lenses, then tackle the Fight Cave and Fuzan sequence.

Prepare for Scorch and long trips before crossing into the desert. The source guide covers the later sequence; a complete Kingy walkthrough of camp reputation and every Fight Cave round is still to come.

Sources for this section

MetaForge: Icthlarin’s Little Helper · June 30, 2026 · Jagex: Umbral Sands: coming June 23 · June 11, 2026

If the next chapter has not appeared

Check the last hand-in, the NPC’s remaining conversation and the currently tracked objective. Carry the requested quest item when returning to the quest giver. Reaching a boss arena is not the same as completing its quest.

The September 15 conclusion to Kuldra’s Saga is announced content. Do not look for a released Scorned Wilderness walkthrough in this Early Access edition.

Sources for this section

MetaForge: Dragon Slayer objective sequence · MetaForge: Withering Heights objective sequence · Jagex: Kuldra’s Saga: update from Mod Dutch · July 31, 2026

Your checklist

0 of 5 ready · Stored only while this page is open.

Researched 2026-09-12. Kingy has not play-tested this guide in an installed build. Recipe records are community references; 1.0 balance changes are not yet verified. Sources and coverage.

Independent fan guide. Game artwork © Jagex. Sources, version notes & coverage