Bustling Hill
Chapter 3 main quest – unlocking the Dispatch System
Bustling Hill is the 45th main mission in Crimson Desert, set in Chapter 3 – Howling Hill (sub-chapter: Pioneering). It serves as the game's tutorial for the Dispatch System — the mechanic that lets you send recruited Freeswords on passive resource-gathering missions while you explore the world. Kliff receives a letter at the Dragon Head statue in camp, learns the camp needs expansion, and must navigate the map screen to dispatch two Freeswords on the Howling Hill Camp Expansion mission. The mission takes 18 in-game hours to complete, during which you can freely explore, do side quests, or rest to advance time. Completing it progresses the story toward "Greymanes Reunited" and permanently unlocks the Dispatch System for ongoing passive resource income.
Location
Howling Hill Camp, Hernand region. Kliff's main base of operations during the Howling Hill chapter. The quest triggers when Kliff retrieves a letter from the Dragon Head statue inside the camp.
Prerequisites
Complete the preceding main quest "A Gentle Touch." No special skills or items are required — this is a camp management tutorial mission.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Retrieve the Letter from the Dragon Head Statue
After finishing "A Gentle Touch," return to Howling Hill Camp. Approach the Dragon Head statue inside the camp and interact with it to pick up a letter. Reading it reveals that the camp needs a major expansion to house more comrades and expand Kliff's forces.
Open the Map and Navigate to Howling Hill
Open the map screen and make sure the "All" tab is highlighted at the top. Move the cursor over Howling Hill on the map and adjust the zoom level until a bullet point (camp marker) appears over it. Then press Triangle (PlayStation) / Y (Xbox) to open the camp information panel.
Access the Mission List Tab
In the camp information panel, navigate to the "Mission List" tab — it is the third option in the top-right area of the panel. Use R1/RB to tab across to it. This screen shows all available dispatch missions for your camp.
Select the Howling Hill Camp Expansion Mission
Find and select the "Howling Hill Camp Expansion" mission from the Mission List. Check the mission requirements: it costs 100 Camp Food and 250 Camp Funds, and has an estimated completion time of 18 in-game hours.
Dispatch Luke and Ronald
Select the two Freeswords assigned to this mission — Luke and Ronald — from your roster. Press X/Square (or the confirm button on PC) to assign each one, then confirm the dispatch. They will leave camp and begin gathering resources for the expansion.
Wait 18 In-Game Hours for the Mission to Complete
Once dispatched, the mission takes 18 in-game hours. You have several options: (1) Freely explore the Hernand region and complete side quests while the time passes naturally. (2) Rest at a bed inside the Howling Hill tent or at any campfire to skip 12 hours at a time. (3) Look for nearby Abyss Artifact locations to collect while waiting. When complete, you will receive a notification that the comrades have returned.
Receive Completion Notification and Continue the Story
Once the 18 hours are up, Kliff receives a message that the Freeswords have returned and the Howling Hill Camp Expansion is complete. This unlocks the Dispatch System for ongoing use throughout the rest of the game. The story then advances to the next main quest, "Greymanes Reunited."
Rewards
Dispatch System Unlocked
Permanently unlocks the camp Dispatch System, allowing you to send Freeswords on passive resource-gathering missions throughout the rest of the game. Dispatched Freeswords will continuously gather Camp Food, Camp Funds, and other materials even while you are off exploring.
Howling Hill Camp Expanded
The camp physically grows to accommodate more personnel, unlocking more features as you progress through the Greymane Faction Quests and recruit additional comrades.
Story Progression to "Greymanes Reunited"
Completing Bustling Hill advances the main story to the next Chapter 3 quest, "Greymanes Reunited," opening up new narrative content and world areas.
Tips
- The tutorial tooltip explains the Dispatch System, but the menu navigation can be confusing — the Mission List is specifically the third tab in the camp panel, accessed via R1/RB after pressing Triangle/Y over Howling Hill on the map.
- The mission marker on your minimap only marks Howling Hill with no further direction, so you must navigate into the camp menu manually rather than following a standard quest marker.
- While waiting the 18 in-game hours, use the time productively: explore the Hernand region, collect Abyss Artifacts from nearby puzzles, or stock up on crafting materials.
- Resting at the bed in the Howling Hill tent or at any campfire advances time by 12 hours per rest, which is the fastest way to complete the waiting period.
- The Dispatch System you unlock here is one of the best passive income mechanics in the game — after this quest, always keep your Freeswords dispatched on missions to continuously build up Camp Food and Funds.
- Howling Hill camp will continue to grow and unlock more features as you recruit more Freeswords through the Greymane Faction Quests later in the story.
About Bustling Hill
Bustling Hill (Quest #45) is the tutorial for Crimson Desert's Dispatch System — a passive camp mechanic that lets you send recruited Freeswords on resource-gathering missions. The mission takes place at Howling Hill Camp in Hernand and requires navigating the map screen to find the Mission List tab, then dispatching Luke and Ronald. The 18-hour wait can be skipped by resting at any bed or campfire. After completion, keep Freeswords dispatched at all times to build a steady supply of Camp Food and Camp Funds for the rest of the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is the Mission List menu for dispatching Freeswords?
- Open the map, hover over Howling Hill until a bullet point marker appears, then press Triangle (PS) / Y (Xbox). In the camp panel that opens, press R1/RB to navigate to the "Mission List" tab — it is the third tab from the left. Select the Howling Hill Camp Expansion mission and assign Luke and Ronald.
- How do I skip the 18-hour wait time?
- Rest at a bed inside the Howling Hill camp tent, or rest at any campfire in the world. Each rest skips 12 in-game hours. Rest twice (or rest once and then the remaining time will pass naturally through exploration) to complete the waiting period.
- Is Bustling Hill required for the main story?
- Yes, Bustling Hill is the 45th main quest and is required to progress Chapter 3. It cannot be skipped. Completing it advances the story to "Greymanes Reunited" and permanently unlocks the Dispatch System.
- What are Luke and Ronald, and why must I pick them?
- Luke and Ronald are Freeswords (mercenary companions) who have already been recruited by this point in the story. The Bustling Hill quest specifically calls for them by name as part of the tutorial — later dispatch missions let you freely choose which Freeswords to send.