Leader of the Deranged

Quest Giver: Sapper Steelring — Westguard Keep, Howling Fjord

Objective: Slay Squeeg Idolhunter in his cave in Whisper Gulch and report back to Sapper Steelring.

Quick Facts

• Level: 71
• Location: Cave in the northwest corner of Whisper Gulch, Howling Fjord
• Chain Position: 2 of 2 (Danger! Explosives! → Leader of the Deranged)
• Unlocks: My Daughter
• Pairs With: Send Them Packing if not yet completed

Walkthrough

Getting to the Cave

• The cave entrance is at [31, 35], along the north ridge of Whisper Gulch.
• Easiest route: Exit Westguard Keep and take an immediate left. Follow the path until you reach a bridge. Below the bridge on the right side, there’s a ledge you can drop down from that puts you right in front of the cave entrance. You’ll lose a small amount of fall damage.
• Alternate route: Enter the gulch at [33, 33] via the descending path, then head right to reach the cave.

Navigating Inside

• From the cave entrance, take right, then right, then right again to reach Squeeg at the back (around [32, 34]).
• If caves confuse you, stick to the right wall the entire way in.
• To get back out, reverse it: three lefts.
• The cave counts as outdoors. If you have Cold Weather Flying, you can fly straight to the back and skip most trash.

Fighting Squeeg

• Squeeg is level 71 and has a Throw Dynamite ability that deals AoE Fire damage. He’s accompanied by nearby Deranged Explorers.
• Straightforward fight. Pull carefully to avoid grabbing extras, as the Deranged Explorers can come in groups.
• Watch the respawn timer. Multiple players have reported Squeeg respawns very quickly (as fast as 2 minutes). Kill him, loot credit, and move on. Don’t linger fighting nearby mobs or he’ll be back on you.

Efficiency Tips

• If you still have Send Them Packing active, knock out any remaining mules on your way through the gulch.
• Pet classes: keep your pet on passive or follow through the cave. The narrow paths and elevation changes can cause pets to take strange routes and pull extra packs.
• The right-right-right path in, three-lefts-out approach is the fastest way through. Don’t explore side tunnels.

Lore Context

• Sapper Steelring’s dialogue reveals he’s conflicted about the kill order. He mutters that he “tried to talk some sense into the captain” and grumbles when you succeed. Squeeg was his Explorers’ League boss before the madness took hold. The quest frames this as a mercy killing of former allies, not a victory.
• Squeeg’s combat dialogue is loaded with references to Yogg-Saron: “Soon you will be in the embrace of That Which Must Not Be Named!” and “The truth shall set you free. Like us, you will be with IT forever!” He’s too far gone, convinced the saronite whispers are a revelation rather than corruption.

This ties directly into the broader Ulduar storyline. The saronite driving these dwarves mad is the same substance the Scourge uses to build its architecture in Icecrown, and the same Old God influence players confront when facing Yogg-Saron as Ulduar‘s final boss.

Explore Howling Fjord’s hidden easter eggs, lore mysteries, and connections across Warcraft history in Vikstone’s Howling Fjord Chronicles, along with the complete quest storyline.