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Freedom to Ruul

Escort Ruul, then speak with Yama Snowhoof in Splintertree Post.
  •  
Escort Ruul from the Thistlefurs.

Description

Eh? Who are you?

<name>? You're no furbolg. They are cursed! They thought I was a bear and captured me, and now they starve me! My strength is failing...

Help me escape, then speak with my sister Yama at the Splintertree Post to the east.

<name>! I must escape!

Reward

Also, you get: 17

Progress

Have you seen my brother Ruul? He walked into the forest days ago and has not returned...

Completion

You found my brother! He was captured by the Thistlefurs? That is terrible news to hear, for although many Furbolgs are noble creatures, the Thistlefurs are corrupt.

Thank you for rescuing my brother, <name>. I do not want to think of how they treated poor Ruul. He will likely sleep long after this ordeal...

Gains

Upon completion of quests, get:
  • 240 experience (14 40 at max. level)
  • 350 Reputation with Thunder Bluff

Related

Rating: +10 [-] [+]
By mootwo on 01/09/2006 (Patch 1.12.0)
This is not an easy escort quest to solo at the stated level due to the fast Thistlefur respawn rate. It is suggested to get a group together to do this quest. If everyone is level appropriate you should pre-clear to the cave entrance just prior to starting the quest.

The two other quests in this area are:
Between a Rock and a Thistlefur - https://vanillawowdb.com/?quest=216 https://vanillawowdb.com/?quest=216
Troll Charm - https://vanillawowdb.com/?quest=6462 https://vanillawowdb.com/?quest=6462
(These two should be done prior to ""Freedom to Ruul"" to speed your questing.)
Rating: +4 [-] [+]
By Minoton on 03/19/2007 (Patch 2.0.10)
I agree with both mootwo and Ormriss: pre-clearing is very wise. In addition, two quest-related spawns of three mobs each will attack, one inside the caves as you exit the smaller passage into the main hallway, and another as you leave the caves. Ruul will take the path to the left as you descend the hill outside the cave entrance. Taking out mobs that seem likely to intersect his path seems wise, as there are a couple of camps where, if you are unlucky, five or six mobs will draw aggro.

By the time I had escorted Ruul outside, the mobs there had already begun to respawn.
Rating: +4 [-] [+]
By HighFive on 01/04/2007 (Patch 2.0.1)
There are two scripted ambushes, consisting of a Shaman, Pathfinder and Avenger(or Ursa, or Den Watcher). One is inside the cave when you reach the fork, the other one - outside, near the place where Dal Bloodclaw roams.

I soloed it as a level 26 frost specced mage.
Rating: +38 [-] [+]
By hhallahh on 08/21/2007 (Patch 2.1.3)
I'm a Druid, I love Druids, but this quest made me want to go to Moonglade and give everyone there a great big nutpunch.

As the previous comments have stated, if you intend to do this quest solo, it's all but necessary to clear the path between Ruul and the hub that splits into upper and lower paths before his room. This includes the far side of the hub (near the entrance), as those mobs are liable to add during the fight if there's an unlucky runner or Ruul gets positioned badly. Remember to get the caster furblog who paths alongside the upper ramp, as he can easily add during the scripted fights if not dealt with.

The first pack, which appears going down the upper path of the hub and will normally intercept Ruul in the hub, consists of an Avenger, Pathfinder, and Shaman. This pack is the most tricky of the entire quest. A few things to keep in mind:

- Ruul can take a single furblog at a time without taking too much damage, but the furblog will eventually flee and may draw adds. So don't take your eyes off Ruul just because the given fight won't kill him.

- This pack cannot be avoided by trying to stall Ruul and having them despawn before they enter combat. This pack will not despawn within a reasonable timeframe, but will rather travel to the far end of the room and simply sit there, likely on top of other mobs if the room wasn't fully cleared. This will pretty much guarantee a failed quest, and there's really no profit in trying to do so.

- Let Ruul aggro the pack. No matter what. He has terrible, terrible AI and will simply walk past you if you engage the pack first, leaving you to fend with 3 mobs while he goes and fights (and possibly dies) to whatever lies ahead. If you can take these mobs out all at once, I guess that's okay, but it's not easy.

- Whatever your strategy is, take the Avenger down in these packs first. Yes, the Shaman will probably get a heal off, but this is a small price to pay in order to avoid enraging him by killing another mob. He easily does half the DPS of the entire group.

Hopefully these tips help you get past the first pack. After that, things are relatively easy, but still not a cakewalk. Ruul will path through the furblog camp and draw adds... often several at once, which can be quite dangerous. It's advisable to clear ahead of him if you aren't near the end where the second pack of furblogs spawns. If not, remember... whatever you aggro, Ruul is liable to ignore and just keep going past. Don't get in a fight with a mob on the side while Ruul aggros 3.

At the end (past one of the gates, I forget exactly where), you have to deal with another 3-pack. Thankfully, the risk of adds is much lower this time, making the fight more managable. Beat them and you're pretty much in the clear.

Good luck.
Show comment   Rating: -4 [-] [+]
By hhallahh on 08/21/2007 (Patch 2.1.3)
Show comment   Rating: -4 [-] [+]
By CptCondra on 11/13/2007 (Patch 2.3.0)
Rating: +36 [-] [+]
By h0race on 11/15/2007 (Patch 2.3.0)
The best tactic I've found for this quest is to just point at Ruul in his cage, laugh and keep on walking. He is so not worth the trouble.
Rating: +6 [-] [+]
By emero510 on 11/22/2007 (Patch 2.3.0)
After patch 2.3, Thislefur Hold in Ashenvale was significantly nerfed. This is easily soloable now. There are way fewer mobs in the hold, slower respawn rate, and Ruul has a significantly higher hp and armor. And if they don't mind not being able to loot, healing classes can just sit back and let him do most the work of single mobs while healing him. They'll have to get their hands dirty on the groups though, Ruul sucks as an AOE tank. Did it with a 25 Paladin and neither Ruul or I even got close to 50%.

Before the patch, I couldn't do it with a 28 Druid to save my life.
Rating: +4 [-] [+]
By Procris on 12/27/2007 (Patch 2.3.0)
I tried soloing this as a 26 shadow priest as the quest does not suggest you need any help or group and it was also green to me. The thing with this quest is, for the most part its not hard at all, the mobs are very easy to kill if you only have to fight 2 at a time, the problem comes when they ""spawn"" to attack you. As far as i can tell they spawn 2 at a time and at the end they spawn 3 at time. Now the problem arises when your already fighting the furblogs that patrol the area, so i was overwhelmed by 4 of them, they also flee before they are about to die so you will need to kill them quick.

It depends on class i think, i can easily see a paladin or mage soloing this without any trouble at all.
Rating: +2 [-] [+]
By Aerandul on 02/29/2008 (Patch 2.3.3)
As a 23 shaman, I was overwhelmed by the firsst and second packs. I managed to clear the first pack after clearing every mob nearby, and strategic totem planting, and so on, however I was unprepared for the second pack, and they, and 3 adss, stomped me. I'll be waiting another few levels before seeking vengeance...
Rating: +4 [-] [+]
By studdie on 01/18/2008 (Patch 2.3.2)
If you're a warlock, i suggest knowing the spot where the 3 adds spawn, and voidwalker sacrifice / resummon right before they spawn. Of course to know the spot, you'd have to have tried this quest. This tactic worked for me because I failed the first time. A hard solo quest for this level.
Rating: +4 [-] [+]
By Smorfty on 02/15/2008 (Patch 2.3.3)
He has about 2 min respawn time if you fail the quest.
Show comment   Rating: -4 [-] [+]
By Pexx on 03/24/2008 (Patch 2.3.3)
Rating: +4 [-] [+]
By B00gy on 04/26/2008 (Patch 2.4.1)
Easy soloed by 25 warlock. But just be prepared for 3x Thistlefurs that suddently spawn up.. :)
Rating: +2 [-] [+]
By lavendersunshine on 08/24/2008 (Patch 2.4.3)
do this with a friend/group.

His sister is at the inn in Splintertree Post. I got 2400 XP at level 26.
Show comment   Rating: -4 [-] [+]
By Keinonen on 09/28/2008 (Patch 2.4.3)
Show comment   Rating: -4 [-] [+]
By hummmer on 11/26/2008 (Patch 3.0.3)
Rating: 0 [-] [+]
By Enhiure on 12/13/2008 (Patch 3.0.3)
It counts for the achievement Loremaster of Kalimdor
Rating: +2 [-] [+]
By Jinva on 09/02/2009 (Patch 3.1.3)
I was quite lucky with this, but just by having an extra hand by a level 26 Paladin to help with the bashing, but even got a low level priest (14) in the fray to heal (she loved the loot too, lol). Wasn't too hard keeping her out of harms way as Ruul, the pali and I just aggroed everything to us and away from her.

Yes, get a healer as well as at least one more brawler for this quest; alone is almost impossible unless you're way above the Thistlefurs' level, like 30 and beyond.

P.S. Lol --&gt; ""..but this quest made me want to go to Moonglade and give everyone there a great big nutpunch."" (I know how you felt! &gt;_&lt;)
Show comment   Rating: -6 [-] [+]
By Jinva on 09/02/2009 (Patch 3.1.3)
Rating: +2 [-] [+]
By Qariz on 03/05/2009 (Patch 3.0.9)
Uhm.. always when i'm on this quest and i'm outside the cave headin south for me, it ALWAYS spawns/allready is a furlborg down the slope.. when i get closer, not aggro range tho it dissapears and later it attack's me from underground.. once i did this ruul stopped to attack and didnt get any further so could'nt complete the q.. now it happens the same but he dosent stop to kill it tho
Rating: +4 [-] [+]
By Gnostik on 10/10/2009 (Patch 3.1.3)
So I was soloing this on my Priest (level 24) and got surprised by the first ambush. Due to not having enough mana, I died.

Well at this point I decided to take a short break from the game; I refilled my beverage, used the bathroom, did some light exercising, and what not. But I didn't log out of the game.

So after some 10-15 minutes of being AFK, I run back to my corpse, and what do I find? The bear is still fighting. I hadn't failed the quest. I resurrected, healed the bear to full (he was almost dead) to survive the pull, and proceeded to complete the quest. I couldn't believe it.

This bear is one tough beast. If you die, make haste back to your body and the bear may carry you through.
Show comment   Rating: -2 [-] [+]
By feliciagj on 01/22/2010 (Patch 3.1.3)
Rating: +4 [-] [+]
By Henderman on 05/29/2010 (Patch 3.1.3)
This quest starts at 41, 35 inside of the Thistlefur cave.
He's in a cage past the bridge.
Rating: +8 [-] [+]
By Keru on 12/05/2010 (Patch 3.1.3)
They are cursed! They thought I was a bear and captured meSo...change out of bear form? I think he just wants the attention &gt;_&gt;
Rating: +18 [-] [+]
By portakal on 06/06/2010 (Patch 3.1.3)
to think that Ruul can simply go cat and stealth once you leave the cage... seriously, l2p n00b!
Show comment   Rating: -10 [-] [+]
By dcb2124 on 04/07/2010 (Patch 3.1.3)

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