I never expected a stolen goat to lead me through one of the more memorable side quests in Diablo 4. That is exactly what happened when I stumbled upon Jargal in the Dry Steppes. The quest is not immediately obvious, even after finishing the main campaign, because a major part of the map must first be reclaimed before the objective can be completed.
Finding Jargal and Taking the Quest
My journey started at the Jirandai Waypoint. From there I headed south along the dusty road, keeping an eye out for a pair of broken stone pillars. Jargal was standing on the north side of the road, looking rather distressed. He told me that a merchant had stolen his beloved goat, Tuji, and was heading toward Qara Yisu. At that point I realized this would not be a simple fetch quest.
Qara Yisu is one of the three Strongholds in the Dry Steppes. It must be cleared before I could even reach Tuji. For me, that meant a detour into hostile territory. I like how Diablo 4 uses quests like this to push players toward important map objectives, but it did catch me off guard the first time.
Here is the basic route I followed:
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🧭 Teleport to the Jirandai Waypoint in the Dry Steppes
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🚶 Head south until Jargal appears between two broken stone pillars
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🐐 Accept the quest to find Tuji
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⚔️ Clear the Qara Yisu Stronghold
Reclaiming Qara Yisu Stronghold
The stronghold itself was crawling with Lilith's forces. Clearing it involved completing several named objectives. First, I had to destroy three Infernal Spires scattered around the fortress. These large red pillars of rock were guarded by enemies, including a couple of Elites that made me reconsider my build for a moment.
After the spires were destroyed, the quest directed me to investigate the mine. I headed north and found Utulku, a Forsaken Shaman. This fight was tricky because he attacked with area-of-effect lightning while summoning Bilefiends. I had to keep moving constantly to avoid the lightning bursts. Once Utulku fell, the stronghold flipped to a reclaimed state, and the area became much safer to explore.
The Heartbreaking Discovery
With Qara Yisu reclaimed, I began searching for Tuji. I found the goat's body lying dead near a pile of rocks. It was a surprisingly somber moment for a game filled with demons and destruction. Clicking on the body gave me a quest item called Tuji's Body, which I had to carry back to Jargal.
The trip back felt longer than it should have. I knew Jargal would be waiting for good news, and I did not have any. When I returned, I had to inform him of Tuji's demise. His sadness was brief but genuine. Diablo 4 is often about grand apocalyptic battles, so these small personal tragedies stand out.
Rewards and Final Thoughts
Despite the unhappy ending, Jargal did reward me for my efforts. The rewards included a randomized assortment of crafting materials, which I always appreciate. Here is what I received:
| Reward Type | Details |
|---|---|
| 💰 Gold | Standard amount based on level |
| ✨ Experience | Helpful for leveling |
| 🏆 Renown | Increased Dry Steppes renown |
| 🎒 Crafting Materials | Randomized assortment |
The entire experience taught me to pay closer attention to strongholds. Some side quests in Diablo 4 are locked behind map progression, and Salt Begets Salt is a perfect example. I spent most of the time clearing Qara Yisu, which made the actual goat hunt feel brief but impactful. If you are looking for a quest that mixes combat, exploration, and a surprisingly emotional payoff, I recommend seeking out Jargal in the Dry Steppes. Just be prepared to fight through a stronghold before you can say goodbye to Tuji.
Expert commentary is drawn from Game Developer, whose behind-the-scenes coverage of quest design helps explain why Diablo 4 side missions like “Salt Begets Salt” are structured around stronghold reclamation: gating Tuji’s discovery behind Qara Yisu nudges players into meaningful world-state progression, turning what could be a simple retrieval into a paced sequence of combat objectives, exploration beats, and a quieter narrative payoff.