In Death Howl, In Search of Beauty is a side quest located in the Dead Roots zone of the Realm of Gloomy Waters. To complete it, you must locate the Cave Painter in a northern cavern, add the Red Rock card to your deck, and deliver the killing blow to five distinct enemy types. Completing the quest rewards you with the Red Rock Totem and unlocks the "In Search of Beauty" Steam achievement.
Where to Find the Cave Painter in Dead Roots
Dead Roots is the entry zone for the Realm of Gloomy Waters, accessible after progressing past the Realm of Piercing Winds through The Hidden Vale.
To start the quest:
- Unlock the first Sacred Grove in Dead Roots by heading west from the zone entrance.
- From this Sacred Grove, travel directly north along the path.
- Defeat the Elder Spirit encounter blocking the route.
- Continue north past the encounter toward the northern circular border of the map. After an optional interaction with the snowy mountain scenery in the distance, look immediately to your right to find a cave entrance.
- Enter the cave and speak to the Cave Painter at the back of the cavern.
Talking to the Cave Painter triggers the dialogue where the spirit expresses a desire to see the outside world. Accepting the request adds the Red Rock quest card directly into your active deck and initiates the In Search of Beauty quest line.
Red Rock Quest Card Mechanics and Rules
The Red Rock acts as an attack card while the quest is active. Understanding its exact stats and rules prevents common progression issues:
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Card Type | Quest Attack Card |
| Base Damage | 4 Damage |
| Status Effect | Applies 1 Weak to the target |
| Quest Condition | Studies the enemy when Red Rock deals the killing blow |
| Completion Requirement | Defeat 5 unique enemy types using Red Rock |
The Unique Enemy Rule
A frequent point of confusion among players is getting stuck at partial completion (such as 3/5 progress). The quest counter does not advance by defeating generic encounters repeatedly. You must deliver the finishing blow to five completely different spirit types. For example, defeating multiple Gloomcroaks will only count once toward the five required kills.
You can open your in-game quest tab at any time to verify which specific enemy types have already been studied.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Follow these steps to clear the quest objectives efficiently:
- Obtain the Red Rock Card: Enter the northern Dead Roots cave, talk to the Cave Painter, and receive the card into your combat rotation.
- Weaken Targets Before Striking: Because the Red Rock card deals 4 damage, reduce an enemy's health pool below 5 Hitpoints using your standard attacks, spells, or passive damage before playing Red Rock. If an ally effect, burn, or passive ailment kills the target instead of the Red Rock card itself, the kill will not register.
- Target Five Distinct Species: Hunt down battles across the region featuring different enemy models. Track your progress in the quest tab until the counter reaches 5/5.
- Return on Foot: Once the fifth unique enemy is studied, the quest updates with a dialogue request from the painter to return home ("Bring me back to my cave so I can record what I saw"). Fast travel is disabled while carrying the painter back, requiring you to navigate the map and clear any blocking combat encounters manually.
- Conclude the Quest: Re-enter the northern cave and speak to the Cave Painter.
Quest Completion Rewards
Returning the painter to the cave concludes the side quest and provides two primary rewards:
- Red Rock Totem: A shamanic totem equipped through your Totem menu. In-game sources document its perk as an on-kill mana restoration effect (Kill: Fill Mana). Equipping it in a totem slot allows Ro to regain energy whenever she eliminates an enemy unit in tactical grid combat.
- Steam Achievement: Unlocks the hidden achievement In Search of Beauty, marked by the developer description: "You helped the cave painter."
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my quest counter stuck and not registering kills?
The quest requires kills on five different types of spirits. Killing multiple enemies of the same species does not grant additional credit. Check your quest tab to see which enemies are already recorded, then seek out encounters with unlisted spirit types.
Can I fast travel back to the cave once the five kills are done?
No. While carrying the painter, fast travel nodes cannot be used. You must walk back to the northern cave on foot and fight through any spirits obstructing the path.
Does the Red Rock card stay in your deck after the quest?
Once you return to the Cave Painter and turn in the quest, the Red Rock quest card is removed from your deck, and you are awarded the permanent Red Rock Totem.
