Why These Quests Feel Broken
Many Of Ash and Steel players report being stuck on the Forest Scoundrel and Tools of the Trade quests. The quest log mentions a “creep near the Greyshaftian Hound” and a man in a tavern, but after searching every tavern and sweeping the area around Grayshaft, the required quest NPCs never appear.
This creates a common frustration:
- Time spent circling the Greyshaftian Hound looking for the Forest Scoundrel
- Repeated tavern visits trying to find the Tools of the Trade NPC
- No quest markers, no dialogue options, and no clear explanation
Read more: Forest Scoundrel & Tools of the Trade Quest – NPC Not Spawning (Of Ash and Steel)
Quick Answer – Can These Quests Be Completed?
Current behavior suggests that both “Forest Scoundrel” and “Tools of the Trade” are bugged or incomplete in the present version of Of Ash and Steel.
- The Forest Scoundrel NPC does not spawn near the Greyshaftian Hound
- The Tools of the Trade tavern NPC never appears in any tavern
- There is no confirmed method to complete either quest
- These are optional side quests and do not block main story or faction progression
Quest Overview – What Each Quest Is Supposed to Do
Both quests appear to be designed as side quests that introduce shady characters and minor story threads:
- Forest Scoundrel: track down a suspicious “creep” near a landmark called the Greyshaftian Hound
- Tools of the Trade: locate a specific tavern NPC linked to trade, crafting, or smuggling
However, due to missing or broken NPC spawns, neither quest progresses past the initial objective.
Forest Scoundrel Quest – Objective, Location, and Current Status
What the Quest Says
The Forest Scoundrel quest instructs the player to:
- Find a “creep near the Greyshaftian Hound.”
This strongly implies:
- The Greyshaftian Hound is a named location (likely in or around Grayshaft)
- The quest NPC should spawn near that building or sign
- Speaking to or confronting this NPC should advance the quest
What Actually Happens
In practice, players report:
- No Forest Scoundrel NPC near the Greyshaftian Hound
- No quest marker or interactive character in the expected area
- No change when visiting at different times of day
- No change after advancing main or faction quests
How to Handle It
At present, Forest Scoundrel behaves like an unfinished or bugged quest:
- The quest can remain in the quest log
- It can safely be ignored without impacting progression
- There is no reliable way to complete it until a patch addresses the missing NPC
Tools of the Trade Quest – Objective, Tavern NPC, and Current Status
What the Quest Says
The Tools of the Trade quest directs the player to:
- Find “the man” in a tavern
This suggests:
- A unique quest NPC should spawn inside one of the game’s taverns
- Interacting with this NPC should trigger further quest steps
What Actually Happens
Reported behavior is consistent:
- The Tools of the Trade NPC never appears in any tavern
- No new dialogue options are available with existing tavern NPCs
- Checking taverns across different regions and chapters yields no progress
- Time-of-day changes and reloads do not fix the issue
How to Handle It
As with Forest Scoundrel, Tools of the Trade currently appears bugged:
- It can remain in the active quest list without consequences
- The quest can be safely ignored while continuing main and side content
- Completion is not currently reliable or reproducible
Practical Tips – Minimizing Wasted Time on Bugged Quests
While there is no confirmed fix yet, players can use the following quick, actionable steps to manage these quests efficiently:
- Confirm the Bug Once, Then Move On
- Visit the expected area (Greyshaftian Hound) and a few key taverns.
- If no new NPCs or dialogue appear, treat both quests as bugged.
- Avoid Excessive Backtracking
- Do not repeatedly sweep the same streets and taverns hoping for a spawn.
- Focus on other side quests, faction missions, and main story content.
- Keep Multiple Save Slots
- Maintain a few rotating saves in case a future patch retroactively fixes quest flags.
- Check Patch Notes and Community Updates
- After each game update, briefly revisit the quest areas to see if NPCs have been enabled.
- Report the Issue Once
- If the game offers bug reporting channels (forums, Discord, Steam discussions), submit a concise report specifying:
- Quest name
- Platform
- Chapter / region
- Behavior: NPC not spawning / no quest progression
- If the game offers bug reporting channels (forums, Discord, Steam discussions), submit a concise report specifying:
Comparison Table – Forest Scoundrel vs Tools of the Trade
| Aspect | Forest Scoundrel | Tools of the Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Game | Of Ash and Steel | Of Ash and Steel |
| Quest Type | Optional side quest | Optional side quest |
| Stated Objective | “Find the creep near the Greyshaftian Hound” | “Find the man in a tavern” |
| Expected Location | Area around the Greyshaftian Hound (likely Grayshaft) | One of the game’s taverns |
| Key NPC | Unnamed “creep” | Unnamed tavern contact |
| Current Behavior | NPC does not spawn | NPC does not spawn |
| Known Workaround | None | None |
| Impact on Main Story | No impact; main story fully playable | No impact; main story fully playable |
| Recommended Player Action | Leave quest in log; continue other content | Leave quest in log; continue other content |
| Future Fix Likely? | Yes, via patch or hotfix | Yes, via patch or hotfix |
Summary
The Forest Scoundrel and Tools of the Trade quests in Of Ash and Steel are widely reported as uncompletable due to missing NPC spawns and inactive quest triggers. While they appear in the quest log and reference locations such as the Greyshaftian Hound and various taverns, the key NPCs do not currently appear in-game.
These quests:
- Are optional side quests
- Do not block main story or faction progression
- Have no confirmed fix or workaround in the current version
Until a patch addresses these issues, the most efficient approach is to acknowledge the bug, avoid over-investing time in them, and focus on other quests and activities in Of Ash and Steel.
FAQ – Common Questions About Forest Scoundrel & Tools of the Trade
FAQ 1: Where is the Greyshaftian Hound in Of Ash and Steel?
The Greyshaftian Hound appears to be a named landmark connected to the Forest Scoundrel quest. Based on quest structure and naming conventions in Of Ash and Steel, it is likely intended to be a building, tavern, or signpost within Grayshaft or one of its nearby districts.
However, in the current version of the game:
- No interactable location marked Greyshaftian Hound triggers the quest.
- No Forest Scoundrel NPC spawns near any such building.
- Visiting possible locations at different times of day does not activate the quest.
For now, the Greyshaftian Hound functions as a non-functional quest reference rather than an active objective location.
FAQ 2: Is the “Forest Scoundrel” quest bugged?
Yes. Current testing from multiple players indicates that the Forest Scoundrel quest is bugged or incomplete.
This conclusion is based on:
- The quest NPC never appearing.
- No dialogue or scripted encounter triggering.
- No valid marker or map icon activating near the Greyshaftian Hound.
- No workaround producing a successful progression step.
The quest remains in the log but cannot currently be completed. This does not affect the main storyline or faction progression.
FAQ 3: Why doesn’t the “Tools of the Trade” NPC appear in any tavern?
The Tools of the Trade quest directs the player to locate a specific man in a tavern, but the associated NPC fails to materialize in all known tavern locations.
This behavior is consistent with:
- A missing NPC spawn condition.
- An unlinked quest trigger.
- A placeholder or incomplete quest state.
Players have checked taverns across every region, across multiple in-game days, and after completing main story chapters.
In all cases, the quest NPC does not appear, confirming that the quest is currently non-functional.
FAQ 4: Do these quest bugs affect the main story or faction paths?
No. Both Forest Scoundrel and Tools of the Trade are optional side quests, not core narrative arcs or faction-locking objectives.
You can safely ignore them without losing:
- Main quest progress
- Order vs. Free Hunters faction advancement
- Future region access
- NPC reputation or alignment systems
- Unique story endings
The quests remain in the log but do not block any major gameplay systems. They are simply unavailable until patched.
FAQ 5: Will a future patch fix these quests, and should players prepare in any way?
A future patch is the most likely method for restoring quest functionality. The issues are consistent with early-version RPG bugs where quest scripts, spawn triggers, or NPC references are incomplete.
Players who want to be ready for a future fix can:
- Keep a separate save file near where each quest is first accepted.
- Check patch notes for wording such as “fixed missing NPCs” or “resolved side quest progression issues.”
- Briefly revisit the Greyshaftian Hound area and major taverns after each update to check for newly active spawns.
When the developers address quest progression issues, these quests should become fully completable without requiring a restart.
