How to start and complete Behind Closed Doors quest in WoW The War Within

It's one long questline.

A woman with crystals over her body with her eyes closed in WoW The War Within
Screenshot by Dot Esports via Blizzard Entertainment

Behind Closed Doors is a World of Warcraft The War Within questline you must complete as it contributes to not only earning the Sojourner of Isle of Dorn achievement but unlocking the Earthen Allied Race. However, players are getting confused due to the breadth and mysterious nature of this questline.

Recommended Videos

Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about how to start and complete every quest in this questline, and how I solved the issue of the “Sedition” quest not appearing.

How to start the Behind Closed Doors questline in The War Within

Man with a beard holding his arms out in WoW The War Within
There are 16 quests in this questline. Screenshot by Dot Esports via Blizzard Entertainment

In WoW The War Within, you will begin the Behind Closed Doors questline by picking up the “How Scandalous!” quest from Aldra in the Stoneshaper’s Atrium of Dornogal. From here, you will complete 15 more quests, with the final one, “Bad Business,” taking you to the Ringing Deeps. When you finish this quest, you’ll have completed the Behind Closed Doors questline.

Although it may sound easy—and it’s true, some of these quests are—it’s a long and tedious questline. Here are all 16 quests in the Behind Closed Doors questline:

  1. How Scandalous!
  2. Seizing Evidence.
  3. Withheld Information.
  4. Something Hidden.
  5. Report to the Councilward.
  6. The Councilward’s Summons.
  7. Dornogal’s Benefactor.
  8. Security Through Trade.
  9. The Market Reeve of the Forgegrounds.
  10. Opals and Runes.
  11. The Machine Speakeasy.
  12. Sedition.
  13. Damage Mitigation.
  14. Dispelling Rumors.
  15. Forcing My Hand.
  16. Bad Business.

As one quest ends, another one will start, which you will accept either from the same NPC who completed the previous quest, another NPC in the room, or someone else in the area. I have a more detailed guide on how to start and complete each of these below.

These quests must be completed in order. However, many players have reported issues with the “Sedition” quest not showing up: Here’s what you need to do to fix it.

How to fix the “Sedition” quest from not showing

Player standing by a blank wall where the sedition quest should be started in wow the war within
If it’s not here, you haven’t progressed far enough in the War Within campaign. Screenshot by Dot Esports via Blizzard Entertainment

If you don’t see the “Sedition” quest in the questline, you may not have progressed far enough in The War Within campaign. You must complete The Ringing Deep’s zone story and start the “The Hallowed Path” quest, which you get from Anduin.

When I was completing this questline, I got stuck after completing the “The Machine Speakeasy” quest. The “Sedition” quest wasn’t appearing anywhere, so I tried leaving Dornogal, then the Isle of Dorn, and I even logged out and logged back in again, but to no avail. So, I figured it must have been locked behind the campaign, and I was right. If you haven’t completed the Ringing Deep’s storyline, you’ll need to do that before you can continue with the Behind Closed Doors questline.

Make sure you can see low-level quests! Screenshot by Dot Esports via Blizzard Entertainment.

But if you’ve breezed through all the zones, are at a high level, and have completed “The Hallowed Path” and still don’t see it, it might be because you have Low-Level Quests disabled. To enable Low-Level Quests, click the binoculars icon next to the zone name above the minimap and ensure that Low-Level Quests are checked.

How to complete the Behind the Closed Doors quest in The War Within

1) How Scandalous!

You can start the “How Scandalous!” quest by picking it up from Aldra in Dornogal, roughly at the coordinates 62 and 21.

Quest objectiveHow to complete
Investigate the disturbance near the Forgegrounds.– Navigate to the Forgegrounds and speak with Peacekeeper Kraged (coordinates 49 and 49).

2) Seizing Evidence

Players standing next to peacekeeper kraged accepting the seizing evidence quest in wow the war within
He will give you several quests in a row. Screenshot by Dot Esports via Blizzard Entertainment

You can start the “Seizing Evidence” quest by speaking with Peacekeeper Kraged in Dornogal, roughly at the coordinates 49 and 49.

Quest objectiveHow to complete
– Collect three seized shipments.– Interact with the three chests to Kraged’s right (coordinates 51 and 51).

3) Withheld Information

Player standing in front of the line workers in wow the war within quest withheld information
The other two are outside. Screenshot by Dot Esports via Blizzard Entertainment.

You will also start the “Withheld Information” quest by speaking with Peacekeeper Kraged in Dornogal, roughly at the coordinates 49 and 49.

Quest objectiveHow to complete
Interrogate five line workers to gather information on the shipments.– Interact with the three line works inside the building behind Peacekeeper Kraged (coordinates 49 and 48).
– The last two line workers are outside and to Kraged’s left (coordinates 48 and 49)

4) Something Hidden

Player standing next to false-bottom crates on a platform in the something hidden quest in wow the war within
The evidence appears once you’ve destroyed the crates. Screenshot by Dot Esports via Blizzard Entertainment.

The “Something Hidden” quest can also be started by speaking with Peacekeeper Kraged in Dornogal, roughly at the coordinates 49 and 49.

Quest objectiveHow to complete
Smash three False-Bottomed Crates and gather evidence.– Smash the three crates on the cart (coordinates 51 and 51). Small monsters will spawn from each destroyed chest that you’ll also need to kill.
– Interact with the four pieces of evidence you find.

5) Report to the Councilward

A wolf standing next to Merrix's desk in his studyin the report to the councilward quest wow the war within
Click on the desk to complete the quest. Screenshot by Dot Esports via Blizzard Entertainment.

The “Report to the Councilward” quest can be started by speaking with Peacekeeper Kraged in Dornogal, roughly at the coordinates 49 and 49.

Quest objectiveHow to complete
Take Steelvein’s receipts to Merrix in the Councilward’s Rise. – Head to the Councilward’s Rise.
– Approach Merrix’s desk and interact with it via the bubble with three dots above a book (coordinates 55 and 6).

6) The Councilward’s Summons

You can begin “The Councilward’s Summons” quest by speaking with Saradi, the Councilward’s Clerk in Dornogal, roughly at the coordinates 45 and 47. She’s right next to the Dornogal Flight path.

Quest objectiveHow to complete
Meet Merrix back at the Councilward’s Rise in Dornogal.– Return to the Councilward’s Rise.
– Speak with Merrix (coordinates 55 and 6). He’s by the forge.
– Choose the quest dialogue option, which talks about giving Merrix the receipts.

7) Dornogal’s Benefactor

You can start the “Dornogal’s Benefactor” quest by speaking with Merrix in Dornogal, roughly at the coordinates 55 and 6.

Quest objectiveHow to complete
Distribute the smuggled goods around Dornogal.– Deliver the spa supplies to Aufta (coordinates 32 and 24).
– Deliver the country supplies to Gostrof, the supply runner, in the Forgegrounds (coordinates 58 and 62).
– Deliver the care package to Trader Harthan in the Forgegrounds (coordinates 52 and 52).
– Speak to Trader Harthan once again.
– Meet with Merrix in the Keeper’s Terrace (coordinates 49 and 26).

8) Security Through Trade

Merrix the quest giver for Security Through Trade, standing on a platform in WoW The War Within
He can be easy to miss. Screenshot by Dot Esports via Blizzard Entertainment.

You can begin the “Security Through Trade” quest by speaking with Merrix in Dornogal, roughly at the coordinates 49 and 26.

Quest objectiveHow to complete
Convince Bevrusi to give you access to the Cinderbrew speakeasy.– Speak with Bevrusi, the Gundargaz Trader (coordinates 55 and 50).
– Choose the quest dialogue option: I’m told you could get me into the private Machine Speaker speakeasy.
– Speaker to her again and choose the quest option: Security Through Trade to complete

9) The Market Reeve of the Forgegrounds

You can start the quest, “The Market Reeve of the Forgegrounds,” by speaking with Bevrusi, the Gundargaz trader, in Dornogal, roughly at the coordinates 55 and 50.

Quest objectiveHow to complete
Acquire a Vial of Liquid Opal from Vokgret. – Speak with Vokgret (coordinates 45 and 48). She’s sitting at a table near the Dornogal Flight path.
– Get her a pint of Cinderbrew from inside the Inn’s tavern (coordinates 43 and 44). They’ll be marked on your mini-map with yellow dots. It doesn’t matter which one you get, as long as you get one.
– Return to Vokgret and speak with her. Choose the quest dialogue option to give her the pint.
– Then choose the dialogue option requesting help for liquid opal.
– Speak with Loldren, a Market Auditor (coordinates 48 and 73).
– Choose the quest dialogue option.
– Interact with the scroll on his desk.
– Fill in the missing information on the Auditor’s Manifest. It doesn’t have to be correct. I chose the first option for all the missing information and it was fine.
– Speak with Nernabel, the Gemwright (coordinates 49 and 73).
– Acquire a Sizzling Magma Core from the Forgegrounds (coordinates 51 and 64). You’ll need to kill the Enraged Magma Fury to get it.
– Return to Nernabel to get her signature.
– Return to Vokgret to get the Vial of Liquid Opal.

10) Opals and Runes

The trade window open with a player trading the vial of liquid opal for the speakeasy rune in wow the war within
It’s time to buy the Speakeasy Passrune. Screenshot by Dot Esports via Blizzard Entertainment.

The “Opals and Runes” quest can be started by speaking with Vokgret in Dornogal, roughly at the coordinates 45 and 48.

Quest objectiveHow to complete
Trade the Vial of Liquid Opal for the Speakeasy Passrune from Bevrusi. – Speak to Bevrusi again (coordinates 55 and 50).
– Choose the quest dialogue option.
– Right-click on the Speakeasy Passrune from her inventory and trade the Vial of Liquid Opal for it.
– Meet with Merrix in the Stoneshaper’s Atrium (coordinates 60 and 33).

11) The Machine Speakeasy

Player standing in front of the tunnel entrance to the speakeasy in wow the war within
Head in here to get to the tunnels. Screenshot by Dot Esports via Blizzard Entertainment.

You can begin the “Machine Speakeasy” quest by speaking with Merrix in Dornogal, roughly at the coordinates 60 and 33.

Quest objectiveHow to complete
Enter the speakeasy in the tunnels below and confront Obstorn.– Turn to the rockface next to you and enter through the doorway that’s between two hammer crest signs with purple stones.
– Speak to the Speakeasy Runeguard and choose the quest dialogue option.
– The door behind him will open.
– Head down the stairs and confront Obstorn, which leads to a fight.
– Once he’s defeated, speak to Merrix.

12) Sedition

Player standing in front of the sedition quest in wow the war within
When you have the Hallowed Path quest, the Sedition quest will appear. Screenshot by Dot Esports via Blizzard Entertainment.

You will begin the “Sedition” quest by reading the flyer on the wall in Dornogal, roughly at the coordinates 45 and 47. This is close to the Dornogal Flight path.

Quest objectiveHow to complete
Speak to Merrix at the Councilward’s Rise in Dornogal.– Head to the Councilward’s Rise and speak with Merrix (coordinates 55 and 5).

13) Damage Mitigation

Player standing in front of a seditious poster in wow the war within
The posters sparkle. Screenshot by Dot Esports via Blizzard Entertainment.

You can start the “Damage Mitigation” quest by speaking with Merrix in Dornogal, roughly at the coordinates 55 and 5. You can also accept the next quest, Dispelling Rumors, at the same time, and it will save time doing it this way because they’re both in the same area.

Quest objectiveHow to complete
Tear down eight Seditious posters in Dornogal.– In the quest area, find the spots marked in yellow where a Seditious Poster can be found.
– Interact with them to tear them down.

14) Dispelling Rumors

Player standing next to two Murmuring Peacekeepers in WoW The War Within
Quell the chaos. Screenshot by Dot Esports via Blizzard Entertainment.

You can start the “Dispelling Rumors” quest by speaking with Merrix in Dornogal, roughly at the coordinates 55 and 5.

Quest objectiveHow to complete
Disperse six Murmuring Peacekeepers in Dornogal.– In the quest area, locate the Murmuring Peacekeepers; they’ll show as yellow dots on your mini-map.
– Interact with them to disperse them. Some will fight you, while others will walk away peacefully.

15) Forcing My Hand

A glowing ball on top of a bookcase in wow the war within
It can be hard to spot if you’re short. Screenshot by Dot Esports via Blizzard Entertainment.

To start the “Forcing My Hand” quest, speak with Merrix in Dornogal, roughly at the coordinates 55 and 5.

Quest objectiveHow to complete
Help Merrix Disguise himself as Steelvein.– Give the cloak by the forge to Merrix.
– Open the chest by the bookcase and give the gloves to Merrix.
– Get the weapon from Saradi and give it to Merrix.
– Give the Titan Device, found on top of the bookshelf by the stairs, to Merrix.

16) Bad Business

Player standing next to Overseer Ardgrin in WoW The War Within
The Overseer is to the left. Screenshot by Dot Esports via Blizzard Entertainment.

You can start the “Bad Business” quest by speaking with Merrix, who is now Steelvein, in Dornogal, roughly at the coordinates 55 and 5.

Quest objectiveHow to complete
Meet Steelvein in the Ringing Deeps near the Hallowfall Gate and confront Overseer Ardgrin.– Head to the Ringing Deeps.
– Find Overseer Ardgrin in his room near the gate to Hallowfall (coordinates 42 and 24) and confront him
– Defeat Overseer Ardgrin.
– Speak to Steelvein.

Once you’ve finished the quest, “Bad Business,” you’ll have completed the Behind Closed Doors quest objective for the Sojourner of Isle of Dorn achievement and have completed the Merrix and Steelvein questline objective for the Allied Races: Earthen achievement.

This is how you unlock the Earthen race in WoW The War Within. Good luck!

Author
Image of Hayley Andrews
Hayley Andrews
Hayley Andrews is a staff writer for Dot Esports with a dual degree in business and human resource management. After discovering her passion for creative writing and gaming, she now writes about MOBAs, MMOs, and cozy games.