Crypt's Undead leveling guide, Part 20!
Western Plaguelands

Started at level 56
Finished at level 57

To get to Western Plaguelands, you simply have to run to the eastern end of Tirisfal Glades. You will see an encampment on the borders edge, and before you go starting any quests, be sure to see Argent Officer Garush. He will give you an Argent Dawn Commission which is a Trinket you will want to wear while fighting in either of the Plaguelands.

When you kill mobs wearing this trinket, they have a chance to drop scourgestones which you can hand in for Argent Dawn Faction. There are three types of scourgestones : Minion's Scourgestone's which drop off the lower level mobs (51-55 ish), Invader's Scourgestone's which drop off the mid level mobs (55-58 ish), and Corruptor's Scourgestone's which drop off level 59+ mobs.

Up until 'honored' you will gain Argent Dawn faction from simply killing the non elite mobs in the Plaguelands, Scholomance, and Stratholme, so a lot of people will advice to hold onto the scourgestones until honored before starting to hand them in. Thankfully they stack up to 100! (Elite mobs give you faction until you reach Revered status. Named Elite mobs always give you faction.)

Ok, so once you have your Argent Dawn Commission, throw it on and lets get to questing!

[53] Scarlet Diversions
Objectives : Destroy the command tent and place the Scourge banner at the Scarlet Crusade's base camp
Rewards : XP!

When you start in Western Plaguelands, you will do a bit of running back and forth between camps in the zone and the Bulwark, this is the first. Just between Felstone Field (first farm) and Dalson's Tears (second) you will find the Scarlet Crusade's base camp. Before you go running in though, ensure you have collected the 'Flame in a Bottle' from the crate at the quest givers feet!

When you are ready, make your way into the camp and start clearing. A little word of advice : clear all around the camp before heading in. The Invokers will be the hardest if you get multiple of as their nukes bring you and pet down extremely quickly, and of course Medics are a pain, they heal. the Hunter's are ok, but as they send the pet in and stand back, they can agro nearby mobs.

Once you are ready, and the camp is clear, go and right click on the tent there to burn it, and once you have done that you can right click the banner in your inventory to plant it. Head back and hand in. Once you have handed in, you will be sent to Shadow Priestess Vandis who is on the other side of the path.

[53] Target : Felstone Field
Objectives : Defeat the Cauldron Lord at Felstone Field and secure a sample of the poisons used inside the cauldron
Rewards : XP!

[52] Better Late Than Never
Objectives : The ramblings of the ghostly woman indicated that she needed a package delivered
Rewards : XP!

The first of the Cauldron quests is oddly enough, at the first field on your left as you pass through W.Plaguelands. You should have no troubles at all with this field as the mobs are low 50's and easily single pulled. If you fight close to the big cauldron in the middle, eventually Cauldron Lord Bilemaw will spawn, he is who you need to kill. When he's dead he will drop a key that will now allow you to open up the Cauldron and collect a sample. Complete the quest at the cauldron and be sure to right click again to get the quest that sends you back to Vandis.

Before you go running off though, head to the top back room of the farm house on the edge of the farm. You will need to clear your way up, and if you play with sound on, will probably hear a female voice calling out for help. Upstairs you will find a ghost of Janice Felstone who will mention something about a package she needs delivered.

The package she is talking about is inside the barn next to the house and after right clicking it, you will need to head to the Undercity. Once there, speak with a census officer located near guild and tabard registration, who will then direct you to Jeremiah Felstone just near there. Jeremiah gives you half of a good luck charm which you are to return to Janice so make your way back to Felstone Field, stopping past The Bulwark to hand in the cauldron quest and collect the next one.

[54] Two Halves Become One
Objectives : Locate the other half of the Good Luck Charm somewhere on the Felstone Farm
Rewards : +13 Shadow Resistance Necklace

On your way back into W.Plaguelands, stop off again at Felstone Field and return the half-charm to Janice. Now you need to find the other half of the charm, this drops from a Jabbering Ghoul who spawns outside in the field, not far from the Scarlet pack. If he's not up, hang around as the Scarlet mobs like to attack and kill him. When he spawns, kill and loot the other half of the charm, right click either part to make it complete and then give it to Janice.

[55] Target: Dalson's Tears
Objectives : Defeat the Cauldron Lord at Dalson's Tears and secure a sample of the poisons used inside the cauldron
Rewards : XP!

[55] Mrs. Dalson's Diary
Objectives : Locate the contents inside the Dalson Cabinet
Rewards : XP!

The second cauldron quest is just like the first, fight close to the cauldron until Cauldron Lord Malvinious spawns, loot the key and then see the cauldron to complete the quest and complete the second stage. Although the mobs at Dalson's Tears will also be green, don't become too lax as these can still kill you if you're not paying attention. Some of the mobs spawn worms when they die, that if you don't attend to quickly, will soon munch away your health. Other's lower your stamina while another lot again will give you a disease that can really hurt!

Once you are done at the cauldron, you want to fight inside the barn to locate a diary lying on the barn floor. Getting in here can be a little trickier than the last camp as the Scarlet like to wander directly in front of the entrance. I actually came in from behind the barn and hugged the wall to the entrance. Once inside, right click the book to get the "completed" message. Note : No quest enters your log for this series, no idea why.

Once you have seen the diary, head outside to behind the barn and farmhouse till you see a Wandering Skeleton. Again he may not be up straight away so hang around and kill to you see him. If you have seen the diary, when you kill him he will drop a Dalson Outhouse Key, you use this key on the outhouse there. When you use the key, Farmer Dalson will spawn and attack you, kill him.

Farmer Dalson will also drop a key, a Dalson Cabinet Key. The Cabinet you are looking for is in the top back room of the farmhouse there, and when you open the cabinet you will get the XP (only xp for this quest it seems) as well as a couple of green items. Once done, head back to the Bulwark to hand in the Cauldron quest.

[55] Target: Writhing Haunt
Objectives : Defeat the Cauldron Lord at the Writhing Haunt and secure a sample of the poisons used inside the cauldron
Rewards : XP!

[55] The Wildlife Suffers Too
Objectives : Kill 8 Diseased Wolves
Rewards : XP!

The third in the Cauldron series sends you to the Writhing Haunt, which is basically on the opposite side of the main path to Dalson's Tears. The mobs here start raising in level a bit, and the 'freezing ghouls' can cause a bit of trouble if you have multiple mobs on you as they will do just what their name says... freeze you. Once you see Cauldron Lord Razarch, kill, loot and speak to the Cauldon.

Now, just to be tricky, this farm has two houses. If you stand in between the two houses facing the cauldron, you want the house that will be on your left. Inside will be Mulgris Deepriver, a Tauren face down on the floor. She will ask you to kill the diseased wolves which can be found all over. You will find some just north of the Writhing Haunt, but if you are having trouble, head to the cliff area just above Dalson's Tears. I have marked the spots I found the most wolves with "W" on the map.

[56] The Wildlife Suffers Too (Part 2)
Objectives : Kill 8 Diseased Grizzlies
Rewards : XP!

After you have killed the wolves, you need to head back to Mulgris to hand in, and this time she will ask you kill the Grizzlies. These are much easier to find, located just behind the Writhing Haunt up to the path and just on the other side. I have marked them out as "G" on the map.

After you have killed the bears and handed in to Mulgris again, the next step sends you to Thunder Bluff. A simple hand in, you need to head to the Elder Rise. The result is a 36 Armor, +6 Agility, +6 Intellect, +6 Spirit, +7 Stamina Cloak.

[58] Target: Gahrron's Withering
Objectives : Defeat the Cauldron Lord at Gahrron's Withering and secure a sample of the poisons used inside the cauldron
Rewards : XP!

The fourth and final cauldron you have to complete, these mobs are a step higher again, but overall I had little trouble, just take your time.

When you have completed all four cauldron quests, and handed in the final one to Shadow Priestess Vandis, head over to High Executor Derrington. He has a simple two click quest that will not only net you around 9300xp for doing nothing, but you get to choose between a +11 Stamina Sword, or a +11 Intellect Sword. No matter which sword you choose, you will receive a +12 Stamina, +5 Spirit neck item. Not bad for walking about 5 feet!

Also, after completing all four cauldron quests, you can do further xp / faction quests at each farm. If you see Apothecary Dithers at the Bulwark, she will give you a Vitreous Focuser, this will allow you to collect Osseous Agitators, Somatic Intensifiers, and Ectoplasmic Resonators. These items, along with Runecloth and an Arcane Quickener which Apothecary Dithers also sells, will allow you to use the cauldrons for a little extra XP as well as faction.
  • Felstone Field
    - 1 x Arcane Quickener
    - 4 x Pieces of Runecloth
    - 6 x Osseous Agitators

    Dalson's Tears
    - 1 x Arcane Quickener
    - 4 x Pieces of Runecloth
    - 5 x Somatic Intensifiers

    Writhing Haunt
    - 1 x Arcane Quickener
    - 4 x Pieces of Runecloth
    - 5 x Somatic Intensifiers

    Gahrron's Withering
    - 1 x Arcane Quickener
    - 4 x Pieces of Runecloth
    - 4 x Ectoplasmic Resonators


Just like the scourgestones, these drop off varying level mobs. The Osseous Agitators' drop from your lower level mobs, the Ectoplasmic Resonators from the higher, and the Somatic Intensifiers from everything in between. These stack up to 20 and I usually don't worry about handing them in till either the end of a run or when I am running out of inventory room. The Arcane Quickener's don't stack, so you can't carry too many of these on you at one time.

Each hand in at the cauldron's will net you around 500 or so xp each time, as well as varying amounts of Argent Dawn faction, the higher cauldron's obviously giving more.

[56] A Matter of Time
Objectives : Kill 15 Temporal Parasites
Rewards : +15 Intellect, +4 Stamina, +4 Strength, +3 Spirit Cloth Shoulders

To get this quest, you need to venture into the Ruins of Andorhal and find Chromie the Gnome. If you have a look at the map below, where the #6 is, there is a small path that leads into the main part of the zone. If you approach the ruins near there, it's the quickest route. Chromie is located at the top of the "inn" like building just below the #6 but you will have to fight your way in. If you were to come from the west path, you want the first full building on your left.

Once you have found Chromie, collect this quest from her and the head back out of the ruins, around to the east side. You want to head roughly to where #7 is marked on the map, along the edge of Andorhal Ruins, not far from the Writhing Haunt. You are looking for tall wooden structures that will have a blue glow to them.

Fight your way close to the towers and then use the Temporal Displacer to uncover the Temporal Parasites. Most times you will get two parasites come through, occasionally you will get three. Also, sometimes when you get two and kill them, a third one will spawn on it's own. You can only use the Temporal Displacer once at each silo, once the blue glow disappears, you need to move onto another glowy one. Once done, head back to Chromie.

[56] Counting Out Time
Objectives : Locate 5 Andorhal Watches
Rewards : Attuned Dampener - Inflict 525 to 675 arcane damage on the attuned target, and lower the damage it deals by 25%.

The second quest from Chromie sends you in and around the Ruins of Andorhal to find some Watches. You can get all 5 without having to wander very far from the building she is in, just keep your eyes open for wandering elites. The watches are inside "Small Lockbox's" and there is usually one in the corner of every ruins, just have to check all corners.

Note that the reward is a one use item, but the quest is repeatable (no xp second time around) if you want more. After you have collected your 5, head back to Chromie and hand in.

[56] Unfinished Business
Objectives : Kill 2 Scarlet Medics, 2 Hunters, 2 Magi and 2 Knights
Rewards : XP!

Kirsta Deepshadow gives this quest, and unless you have been to her before, she can be quite tricky to locate. The easiest way to get to her is to head up behind the Dalson's Tears farm, where you should eventually enter Northridge Lumber Camp. If you run up the west cliff wall of the camp, you will find the safest route with only a few spiders and wolves.

While running up this side, keep one eye on the mini map as you should be able to see the "path" leading down to Kirsta there before you actually come upon it. You are looking for a dip in the cliffs that leads down to a cart, Kirsta will be kneeling behind it. Alternatively, you can run up the path leading to Hearthglen till you get to the tower and then go cliff jumping...

Once you find her, she will give you this first step. The Medics and Hunter's are best found at the Scarlet Crusade's base camp, the first camp you killed at. The Magi are best found along the path to Hearthglen along with some Knights, but if you have trouble getting those, look around the Lumber Mill. Once done, return to Kirsta.

[57] Unfinished Business
Objectives : Kill Huntsman Radley and Cavalier Durgen
Rewards : XP!

The next step requires you to take out two important members of the Crusade. They are both found along the path to Hearthglen so you need to make your way out and around. You can bypass the group of mobs at the very base of the camp, because even if you get agro, by the time you get near the first named, they drop off.

About half way up the path you want to keep your eye open for a bit that leads up into the mountains, it will be on your right. Up that little path there, you will kill a couple of mobs before finding Huntsman Radley and her pet pooch at the end. Most likely you will have one add in the mix, but if you fear the pet and Seduce the add, you can take them out no worries.

Further up the road you will come upon a tower, and that is where Cavalier Durgen will be hanging out. Clear the mobs at the bottom and then just wait, eventually durgen will not only wander down to the bottom of the tower, he will wander right out front. Pull him back and kill him, but beware he does hit hard and fast, sometimes a bit of a shock to those not prepared.

[58+] Unfinished Business (Elite)
Objectives : Enter Hearthglen and find a high vantage point from which you can see the town and gauge the Scarlet Crusade's forces
Rewards : XP!

Now, although this is an elite quest, and you are about to run into an area full of elite mobs, you can do this! When you come to the end of the path, you will find Hearthglen. There will be a mob at either side of the main entrance, along with a third one just inside. I have drawn up a map (a very bad one lol) to help explain where you need to go a little better, but you basically want the tower that's just near the front.

If you use your eye to learn the way, you enter the main gates, follow it around to your left and you are already beside the tower you need. You can also go around to the right, but there is a stable with additional mobs on that side. There will also be mobs inside the tower, but if you summon your Voidwalker before entering, you can utilize the sacrifice shield to run up the tower.

If you have a Nifty Stopwatch (Badlands quest), this will come in handy too. You only need to make it to the top of the tower to complete the quest, so once you're up there you can jump off and make your way back out the main gates to safety. I think all in all I lost about 30% of my hitpoints, and that was from the jump more than the mobs. For 6200xp at level 57, it was worth it.


Hearthglen Route



==> Continue onto Part 21!