Crimson Desert: How to Dispatch the Howling Hill Expansion Mission (Bustling Hill Quest)

by Lilly Daniels · March 22, 2026

Table of Contents

TL;DR

Bustling Hill is Mission 45 in Crimson Desert — Chapter 3: Howling Hill, Sub-Chapter: Pioneering
Prerequisite: complete “A Gentle Touch” and read the Dragon Head Totem letter at Howling Hill
The dispatch menu is map-based — there is no NPC to talk to, which is why most players get stuck
You must zoom into Howling Hill on the map first before the Inspect option appears
Assign Luke and Ronald to the Howling Hill Camp Expansion — it takes 17–18 in-game hours
Speed it up: rest at the bed inside the main tent to skip 12 hours at a time
Completing this unlocks the full passive dispatch system, more Freeswords, and camp upgrades like the Ranch and Farm

Why Players Get Stuck Here

The Bustling Hill quest is Mission 45 in Crimson Desert — an early Chapter 3 mission — but it trips up a lot of players. The objective marker just points to Howling Hill with no extra hints. Most players expect to talk to an NPC. There is no NPC. The dispatch system lives entirely inside your map menu, not in the world itself.

Once you know that, it makes complete sense. Until you know that, you’ll be running around camp pressing every button.

This guide gives you the exact steps, button inputs, and context you need to get through it fast.

Prerequisites: What You Need Before Starting Bustling Hill

Quest chain leading to this mission:

Complete Mission 44: A Gentle Touch
Return to Howling Hill and read the letter from the Dragon Head Totem (the large carved statue near the camp entrance)
The Bustling Hill quest activates automatically

By this point in the story, you will have already met Luke and Ronald — your first two Greymane Freeswords. You’ll need both of them. They are the only two comrades available at this stage, and the expansion mission requires exactly two members.

Make sure you have unlocked your camp before attempting this. The dispatch system won’t appear otherwise.

How to Dispatch the Howling Hill Expansion Mission — Step by Step

how to dispatch the howling hill expansion mission in crimson desert

Step 1: Make Sure You Are Inside the Howling Hill Camp

Before opening the map, you need to be physically inside the Howling Hill camp. The easiest way to confirm this: look at the top-right corner of your screen. If you can see the camp’s resource list (Food, Timber, etc.), you are in the right place.

If you haven’t been here recently, fast travel to Howling Hill or ride your horse there. Need a hand getting around? Check our fast travel guide and horse guide.

Step 2: Open Your Map

PS5 / Xbox: Press the touchpad (PS5) or View button (Xbox) to open the map.

PC: Press M to open the map.

Once the map is open, make sure the tab at the top is set to “All” — not just Factions or Quests. This ensures the Howling Hill camp icon is visible.

Step 3: Zoom In on Howling Hill

This is the step most guides skip — and it’s the most important one.

You must zoom in on the Howling Hill camp icon until a bullet point label appears next to it on the map. The Inspect prompt will not show until you’ve zoomed in far enough. If the icon is too small or the area is not in focus, the button prompt won’t appear at the bottom of your screen.

Slowly scroll in on the Howling Hill area until the camp name and label appear clearly.

dispatch the howling hill expansion mission in crimson desert

Step 4: Inspect the Camp

Hover your cursor over the Howling Hill icon on the map.

PS5: Press Triangle
Xbox: Press Y
PC: Press F or double-click the icon

This opens a tilt-shifted overhead view of the camp along with a management menu. You’ll see several tabs across the top.

Important: The button prompt appears at the bottom of the screen — look for the “Inspect” label. Don’t press any other button before you see it.

Step 5: Navigate to the Mission List Tab

Inside the camp management screen, you’ll see several tabs. Use:

PS5: R1
Xbox: RB
PC: Tab or the directional arrows

Navigate right until you reach the “Mission List” tab.

Step 6: Select the Howling Hill Camp Expansion Mission

In the Mission List, you’ll see the Howling Hill Camp Expansion listed as an available mission. Select it with:

PS5: X
Xbox: A
PC: Enter

The screen will show you the mission details — what it requires, how long it takes, and what rewards you’ll get when it’s done.

Step 7: Assign Luke and Ronald

After selecting the mission, you’ll be prompted to assign Freeswords. Your only two options at this point are Luke and Ronald — and that’s fine, because the mission requires exactly two members.

Select both of them, then press:

PS5: Square
Xbox: X
PC: Confirm / Enter

Press the Dispatch button to send them out. A timer will start — this is usually 17 to 18 in-game hours (sources vary slightly). The icon next to Howling Hill on your map will turn yellow, confirming that the expansion is in progress.

How to Wait Out the Timer

You don’t need to stand around doing nothing. Two good options:

Option 1 — Rest at the Camp Bed: Go into the main tent at Howling Hill. Walk up to the bed and hold the interact button. You can rest for 12 hours at a time to skip ahead. Do it twice and the mission will nearly be done.

Option 2 — Do Side Quests: Use the time productively. Check out available side quests in Hernand, collect resources, or explore nearby areas. The timer runs in the background regardless of what you’re doing.

Need ideas? You could try fishing, cooking healing food, or working on unlocking the Ranch and Farm while you wait.

What Happens After the Mission Completes

Once the timer runs out, check your objectives. The Bustling Hill quest completes automatically — you do not need to talk to anyone.

The camp physically expands. You’ll have more room, more beds, and more slots for future activities.

More importantly, this unlocks the full dispatch system. As you continue the main story and recruit more Freeswords, you can send them out on missions to:

Passively gather materials like timber and food
Build out the surrounding area around Howling Hill
Reduce enemy presence in nearby zones
Unlock camp upgrades like the Ranch and Farm and the Mineral Shop

Talk to Ross (the camp NPC) after completion to access more dispatch missions across different regions. The system grows quickly from here.

Common Questions

The Inspect prompt isn’t appearing on my map. What am I doing wrong?

You need to zoom in further. The Inspect / Triangle / Y prompt only appears once you’ve zoomed in enough for the camp label to be clearly visible. Keep scrolling in until you see it.

I’m inside the camp but I can’t see the resource list in the top-right corner.

This usually means you’ve drifted slightly outside the camp boundary. Walk toward the center of the camp (the main tent) and check again.

Luke and Ronald are greyed out in the assignment screen.

This can happen if they’re already assigned to another mission or if you’ve accidentally started a different dispatch task. Open the Mission List and check what else is active.

The mission timer says 17 hours but another guide says 18 hours. Which is it?

Both are close. The difference is minor and may vary slightly depending on in-game time of day when you dispatch. Either way, two sessions of rest at the bed in the main tent will cover it.

Other Camp and Progression Guides

Getting the hang of camp management opens up a lot of the game. Here are some related guides to help:

For a full breakdown of what the game offers, read our Crimson Desert Review.

Where to Get Crimson Desert

Crimson Desert is available now on all major platforms:

Crimson Desert: How to Dispatch the Howling Hill Expansion Mission (Bustling Hill Quest)

TL;DR

Why Players Get Stuck Here

Prerequisites: What You Need Before Starting Bustling Hill

How to Dispatch the Howling Hill Expansion Mission — Step by Step