View source for Dragonwilds:Withering Heights

{{Infobox Quest
| name = Withering Heights
| image = Withering Heights.png
| release = 15 December 2025
| update = Eye_on_Ashenfall_-_0.10
}}
'''Withering Heights''' is the sixth primary [[Dragonwilds:Quests|quest]] and the second in the main storyline of ''[[RuneScape: Dragonwilds]]''. This quest continues [[Dragonwilds:Player|the Player's]] adventure into [[Dragonwilds:Ashenfall]], after their victory over the poisonous earth dragon [[Dragonwilds:Velgar]], and deeper into the continent's mysterious depths.

Players will need to complete [[Dragonwilds:Dragon Slayer]] and have partially started [[Dragonwilds:Withering Heights]] to access [[Dragonwilds:Fellhollow]].{{CiteDiscord|author=Mod Doom|url=https://discord.com/channels/1249729853096198236/1379445055869419611/1448324563862818856|date=10 December 2025|quote=You'll need to complete "Dragon Slayer" to reach the new area!|image=Mod Doom Answer - Dragon Slayer required to access Fellhollow.png|ctximage=|ctxquote=That and I believe you have to have beat the first boss to progress to the new zone anyway.}}
==Quest overview==
{{Quest details
|desc = Put an end to the horror of Fellhollow by defeating Imaru, the soul-devourer.
|start = Speak to the [[Dragonwilds:Wise Old Man]] near Ashien's Watch.
|req = [[Dragonwilds:Dragon Slayer]]
|item_req = None
|rec = 
* Good [[Dragonwilds:armour]] and [[Dragonwilds:weapon]]s
* [[Dragonwilds:Food]]
|enemies =
* Multiple [[Dragonwilds:Rotsworn Zombie]]s
* Multiple [[Dragonwilds:Zombie]]s
* Multiple [[Dragonwilds:Skeleton]]s
* Multiple [[Dragonwilds:Green dragon]]s
* [[Dragonwilds:Imaru]], the Soul-Eater
|qtype = primary
}}

==Walkthrough==

===Part I: The omnious side...===
To begin this quest, speak with the [[Dragonwilds:Wise Old Man]] near [[Dragonwilds:Ashien's Watch]]. He will explain that he had been studying a mysterious door with some sort of strange necromantic runes on it, and tells you the password to get past the door.

Use '''Option 1''' after speaking to the Wise Old Man, to open the door, and you will arrive at the [[Dragonwilds:Forgotten Temple]]. As there is already a lodestone here, you will not need to spend your own materials to make a lodestone. Step up the steps and head into the Temple to speak to [[Dragonwilds:Death (Grim Reaper)|Death]], who will inform you about [[Dragonwilds:Imaru]] and the overall situation in [[Dragonwilds:Fellhollow]]. You will then follow out the right side (your right) towards a place where you can speak to [[Dragonwilds:Postie Pete]] about entering Fellhollow, but before you do, Death will say one more thing. This will, inevitably, introduce you to his store, where you can buy (using [[Dragonwilds:Soul Fragment|Soul Fragments]]) exclusive rare items that cannot be acquired through [[Dragonwilds:Vestige]]s and normal gameplay.

'''Note:''' ''There will be a small intro cutscene that plays when you first enter Fellhollow.''

===Part II: Fraying the soul to rift...===
Next, speak to Postie Pete. He will then explain that, in order to get into Fellhollow, you must cross a river of [[Dragonwilds:Wither Water]]. As you cross through the water, you will build up [[Dragonwilds:Wither]] and feel your soul rift. Just before crossing fully, you will enter the [[Dragonwilds:Soul Rift]] state and be able to use the nearby [[Dragonwilds:Spectral Door]]. Enter this door, and you will arrive in one of the regions that make up Fellhollow: [[Dragonwilds:Bleakfields Valley]]. As soon as you arrive, you must quickly find a [[Dragonwilds:Purifying Pool|fountain]] (marked on your compass with visible blue beacons) to purify your soul, for [[Dragonwilds:Imaru]] will have sensed your arrival into her domain. The longer you are in this state, the more danger you are in, as the tormented souls (human, wolves, etc) will start to appear at growing power levels.

''For this instance of arrival, quickly follow the path, and you will reach one such fountain. You will have to hit the spectral tangles until they disappear to be able to purify your soul.''

Once you arrive in this place, seek out [[Dragonwilds:Cathan]]. He will be nearby on a cliff, floating next to three stone tablets with strange markings.

'''Note:''' After arriving in Fellhollow for the first time (aka accessing the Temple and soul-rifting through the Spectral Door), you will be granted permanent access to Fellhollow in ''all'' worlds.

===Part III: Disrupting the seal===
Speak to Cathan to uncover what else to do next, which is to gather curse fragments. There are only three you need to collect:
* [[Dragonwilds:Curse Fragment (Grief)]]
* [[Dragonwilds:Curse Fragment (Rage)]]
* [[Dragonwilds:Curse Fragment (Despair)]]

Once you have acquired all three curse fragments, you will then be able to gain access to [[Dragonwilds:Imaru's Tower]] in the center of [[Dragonwilds:Hope's Fall]].
====[[Dragonwilds:Curse Fragment (Grief)]] - [[Dragonwilds:Emberwood]]==== 
To get this fragment, you will need to interact with four pillars that are nearby to dispel a divine barrier. You will need to find the corresponding [[Dragonwilds:Shrine]]s (which can be activated in any order) to dispel it.

Once all of the altars are activated, the barrier will dispelled, allowing you to enter Emberwood Village and obtain the [[Dragonwilds:Curse Fragment (Grief)]].

'''Note:''' ''If you start a fresh world, regardless of how far you have done the quest or fully completed it, you will need to re-activate all of the statues to dispel the barrier.''
=====[[Dragonwilds:Shrine to Guthix]]=====
* Guthix Altar: Defeat a [[Dragonwilds:Green dragon]] (can be safespotted with [[Dragonwilds:Ranged]] attacks, must be at least 150m away to avoid the dragon from attacking) and interact with it. It will be within a druid circle to the west. 
'''Note:''' The Guthix Altar will not allow interaction until the green dragon has been defeated.
=====[[Dragonwilds:Shrine to Saradomin]]=====
* Saradomin Altar: A bit North-east, you will find it atop a lone rock within a small lake. You will need to repair this altar first by finding the [[Dragonwilds:Saradomin Symbol]] down below and interact with it again.
=====[[Dragonwilds:Shrine to Armadyl]]=====
* Armadyl Altar: A bit east of where you defeated the [[Dragonwilds:Green Dragon|Green dragon]], on a small island in the river, there are three ghosts who have committed a grave injustice. You must find the perpetrator and solve the crime in order to activate this altar.
** Choose the following options:
** '''3''' - There was a mass murder.
** '''2''' - Because they thought it was funny.
** '''3''' - The Snickering Ghost
** '''3''' - They found it too funny. Matching the motive.
=====[[Dragonwilds:Shrine to Zamorak]]=====
* Zamorak Altar: You will need to enter a nearby temple through the roof and jump into the temple to interact with the altar. There is a lever nearby to open the gate to the temple so you can leave freely.

====[[Dragonwilds:Curse Fragment (Rage)]] - [[Dragonwilds:Lake of Lost Souls]]==== 
To obtain this fragment, you must venture into the [[Dragonwilds:Vekchenven Kara]] vault that is underneath a waterfall. You will need to defeat a [[Dragonwilds:Zogre]] at the end of the dungeon in order to access this shard. Once you defeat the Zogre, you will then be free to obtain the [[Dragonwilds:Curse Fragment (Rage)]].

====[[Dragonwilds:Curse Fragment (Despair)]] - [[Dragonwilds:Silverthorn Keep]]==== 
To obtain this fragment, you will need to venture into the keep itself. There will be many [[Dragonwilds:Rotsworn Zombie]]s, [[Dragonwilds:Skeletal Archer]]s, [[Dragonwilds:Rotsworn Warrior]]s, [[Dragonwilds:Rotsworn Marauder]]s, and [[Dragonwilds:Zombie|Zombies]] in the way as you head up towards the fragment, but there will be a [[Dragonwilds:Green dragon]] in front of it. Interact with the curse seal, and you will obtain the [[Dragonwilds:Curse Fragment (Despair)]].

===Part IV: Imaru's end...===
'''''Item(s) required:''' Curse Fragment (Rage), Curse Fragment (Grief), Curse Fragment (Despair).''

'''''Item(s) recommended:''' Food, power level 5 gear, and potions.''

Go into the tower within [[Dragonwilds:Hope's Fall]] and interact with the seal on Imaru's lair. You will then be prompted to enter her lair by dispelling the curse, and by choosing '''Option 1''', you will be able to enter her lair. Upon entering her lair, there will be four [[Dragonwilds:Purifying Pool|Purifying Pools]], spots of wither rot, and an atmosphere of death and decay. Imaru will come out of the nearby river in front of you, and you'll be able to fight her. Be warned, as this boss will phase in and out of the Soul Rift state and attempt to heal herself by devouring souls.

Once she is defeated, you will gain [[Dragonwilds:Imaru's head]]. Make sure to have one free inventory space to complete the quest. Now you will head back to Death, who will exclaim that Imaru is dead and that you've done well to deal with a potential problem that he didn't want to deal with. Hand him Imaru's head and you will complete the quest.

'''Congratulations! Quest Complete!'''

==Rewards==
* [[Dragonwilds:Withering Heights Reward Pack]]
** [[Dragonwilds:Tome of the Undying]]
** [[Dragonwilds:Undead Draconic Visage]]
** [[Dragonwilds:Dragoncurse Shield]]
* Access to a new type of Masterwork recipe: the [[Dragonwilds:Dragoncurse Shield]].

==Transcript==
{{Hastranscript|quest}}

==Required to complete==
''This quest is required to complete the following quest(s):''
* [[Dragonwilds:Black Knight's Fortress]]

==Update history==
{{UH|
{{UL
|type = update
|date = [[Dragonwilds:15 December]] [[Dragonwilds:2025]]
|ver = Eye_on_Ashenfall_-_0.10
|update = Released to the game.
}}
}}

==Trivia==
* Upon release, there was a visual bug in the quest menu where, if you spoke to the Wise Old Man near Velgar's Rise, you would be prompted to speak to him again near Ashien's Watch.
* When players play through the Armadyl statue section of the quest, the ghosts will mention a story that refers to the infamous {{RSL|Falador Massacre}} that occurred in 2006.{{CiteVideo|author=rsdragonwilds|title=Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Falador Massacre 🪦 Mod Raven revisits one of RuneScape's most iconic moments...|url=https://www.tiktok.com/@rsdragonwilds/video/7648319477850869025|site=tiktok.com|name=TikTok}}
* This is the ''second'' quest in the Early Access purchase, also known as Kuldra's Saga.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Withering Heights}}
{{Quests}}