The Uninvited Sorrows side quest in Death Howl challenges Ro to cleanse the Moors of Withered Memories by eliminating every overworld spirit encounter without resting at a Sacred Grove. Undertaking this trial grants Ro a temporary healing card, unlocks the Crystallized Ox Heart totem upon completion, and awards the Uninvited Sorrows achievement.
Quest Overview and Prerequisites
The quest takes place in the Moors of Withered Memories, located within the southern Realm of Hostile Plains. You can enter this realm from the southern Sacred Grove in the Forest of Howling Shadows.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Region | Moors of Withered Memories (Realm of Hostile Plains) |
| Quest Giver | Thorned creature (located northeast of the central Sacred Grove) |
| Primary Objective | Clear all overworld spirit encounters without healing at a Sacred Grove |
| Excluded Battles | Secret western cave encounter and the Eggle secret mini-boss |
| Quest Card Provided | Ox Heart (0 cost, restores 5 HP once per battle, region-exclusive) |
| Rewards | Crystallized Ox Heart Totem, "Uninvited Sorrows" Achievement |
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Follow these steps to locate the quest giver, prepare your deck, and safely clear the required spirit encounters across the Moors.
- Locate the thorned creature. From the central Sacred Grove in the Moors of Withered Memories, travel northeast into a narrow dead end. Speak with the barbed creature tucked among the thorns to receive the quest dialogue and the Ox Heart card.
- Manage your health before beginning. Rest at a Sacred Grove to replenish full health before starting your run. Once the quest begins, resting at any Sacred Grove will revive the spirits and fail the objective. Activating a Sacred Grove to map the area is safe, provided you do not use it to heal or rest.
- Clear the 10 overworld encounters. Traverse the region to clear each red encounter icon on your map. Community reports note that one encounter near the top left of the zone may occasionally fail to display a red map marker, so inspect the terrain carefully.
- Skip optional encounters. You do not need to fight the Infected Molar and Elder Crawling Terror inside the western cave, nor do you need to solve the giant egg puzzle to fight Eggle in the southeast. Only surface encounters count toward quest progression.
- Return to the thorned creature. Once all overworld battle markers have turned gray, return to the northeast dead end. Speak to the creature to complete the quest, unlock the Uninvited Sorrows achievement, and claim the Crystallized Ox Heart totem. Completing the dialogue releases the spirits, respawning the standard enemies across the map.
Deck Strategy and the Ox Heart Card
The Moors of Withered Memories feature punishing enemies, including spirits that deal burst damage or explode on death. Sustaining your health across consecutive battles without resting requires deliberate card play.
The Ox Heart card automatically joins your deck for the duration of the quest without counting against standard deck capacity limits. It costs 0 mana and restores 5 HP once per encounter, but it can only be activated while inside the Moors of Withered Memories. When an encounter is under control and only one non-threatening spirit remains, stall for an extra turn if necessary to draw and play Ox Heart, ensuring Ro ends the fight at the highest possible health pool.
Cards from the Realm of Hostile Plains center on high mobility, repositioning, and backstabbing. In community discussions on the Steam forums, players report consistent success using backstab-heavy lists featuring cards like:
- Charge and Hunter's Leap for positioning
- Backstab and Deadly Strike for bonus damage from behind
- Swift Strike, Friction, and Momentum for efficient low-cost damage
- Legendary Realmless exhaust cards, such as A Burst of Ice, A Leap of Wrath, and A Stream of Thoughts, if already unlocked
Quest Rewards: Crystallized Ox Heart Totem
Finishing the quest permanently grants the Crystallized Ox Heart totem to your collection.
Sources document slight differences in the totem's passive healing values depending on the game version: the IGN database lists the effect as restoring up to 2 lost health at the end of battle, whereas walkthrough data and community playthrough logs cite up to 3 lost health restored at combat end. Both versions agree that the totem activates automatically after an encounter concludes, offsetting attrition damage sustained during Ro's exploration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cave encounters count toward Uninvited Sorrows?
No. Community tests and walkthrough guides confirm that the monsters inside the western cave (Infected Molar and Elder Crawling Terror) are not required. Only the overworld map battles must be cleared.
Is defeating the secret boss Eggle required?
No. Cracking the giant egg puzzle in the southeast and fighting Eggle is a separate secret encounter that awards Teardrops and the Brooder achievement. It is not part of the Uninvited Sorrows checklist.
Can I interact with Sacred Groves during the quest?
You can interact with a Sacred Grove to activate it for map vision. However, you must not rest at the altar to heal, as resting resets world state and revives defeated spirits.
Why is fast travel disabled while holding Ox Heart?
Holding the active Ox Heart quest card restricts standard fast travel to keep Ro inside the quest zone. If you need to leave the area or fast travel normally, players on the Steam forums note that you can unequip the quest card from your active deck.
