diff --git a/test/api/v3/integration/quests/POST-groups_groupId_quests_accept.test.js b/test/api/v3/integration/quests/POST-groups_groupId_quests_accept.test.js
index ed57d4250a..ea5f32d23f 100644
--- a/test/api/v3/integration/quests/POST-groups_groupId_quests_accept.test.js
+++ b/test/api/v3/integration/quests/POST-groups_groupId_quests_accept.test.js
@@ -148,5 +148,16 @@ describe('POST /groups/:groupId/quests/accept', () => {
       expect(rejectingMember.party.quest.key).to.not.exist;
       expect(rejectingMember.party.quest.completed).to.not.exist;
     });
+
+    it('begins the quest if accepting the last pending invite and verifies chat', async () => {
+      await leader.post(`/groups/${questingGroup._id}/quests/invite/${PET_QUEST}`);
+      await partyMembers[0].post(`/groups/${questingGroup._id}/quests/accept`);
+      // quest will start after everyone has accepted
+      await partyMembers[1].post(`/groups/${questingGroup._id}/quests/accept`);
+
+      await questingGroup.sync();
+      expect(questingGroup.chat[0].text).to.exist;
+      expect(questingGroup.chat[0]._meta).to.exist;
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/api/v3/integration/quests/POST-groups_groupId_quests_force-start.test.js b/test/api/v3/integration/quests/POST-groups_groupId_quests_force-start.test.js
index bf295ee892..d07ba9e31a 100644
--- a/test/api/v3/integration/quests/POST-groups_groupId_quests_force-start.test.js
+++ b/test/api/v3/integration/quests/POST-groups_groupId_quests_force-start.test.js
@@ -231,5 +231,18 @@ describe('POST /groups/:groupId/quests/force-start', () => {
       expect(questingGroup.quest.members[partyMembers[0]._id]).to.exist;
       expect(questingGroup.quest.members[leader._id]).to.exist;
     });
+
+    it('allows group leader to force start quest and verifies chat', async () => {
+      let questLeader = partyMembers[0];
+      await questLeader.update({[`items.quests.${PET_QUEST}`]: 1});
+      await questLeader.post(`/groups/${questingGroup._id}/quests/invite/${PET_QUEST}`);
+
+      await leader.post(`/groups/${questingGroup._id}/quests/force-start`);
+
+      await questingGroup.sync();
+
+      expect(questingGroup.chat[0].text).to.exist;
+      expect(questingGroup.chat[0]._meta).to.exist;
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/api/v3/integration/quests/POST-groups_groupId_quests_invite.test.js b/test/api/v3/integration/quests/POST-groups_groupId_quests_invite.test.js
index 6ae491fc8a..b2e0b832aa 100644
--- a/test/api/v3/integration/quests/POST-groups_groupId_quests_invite.test.js
+++ b/test/api/v3/integration/quests/POST-groups_groupId_quests_invite.test.js
@@ -188,5 +188,21 @@ describe('POST /groups/:groupId/quests/invite/:questKey', () => {
 
       expect(group.quest.active).to.eql(true);
     });
+
+    it('starts quest automatically if user is in a solo party and verifies chat', async () => {
+      let leaderDetails = { balance: 10 };
+      leaderDetails[`items.quests.${PET_QUEST}`] = 1;
+      let { group, groupLeader } = await createAndPopulateGroup({
+        groupDetails: { type: 'party', privacy: 'private' },
+        leaderDetails,
+      });
+
+      await groupLeader.post(`/groups/${group._id}/quests/invite/${PET_QUEST}`);
+
+      await group.sync();
+
+      expect(group.chat[0].text).to.exist;
+      expect(group.chat[0]._meta).to.exist;
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/api/v3/integration/quests/POST-groups_groupid_quests_reject.test.js b/test/api/v3/integration/quests/POST-groups_groupid_quests_reject.test.js
index 8bdb3b7ba7..d3b0806089 100644
--- a/test/api/v3/integration/quests/POST-groups_groupid_quests_reject.test.js
+++ b/test/api/v3/integration/quests/POST-groups_groupid_quests_reject.test.js
@@ -180,5 +180,15 @@ describe('POST /groups/:groupId/quests/reject', () => {
       expect(rejectingMember.party.quest.key).to.not.exist;
       expect(rejectingMember.party.quest.completed).to.not.exist;
     });
+
+    it('starts the quest when the last user reject and verifies chat', async () => {
+      await leader.post(`/groups/${questingGroup._id}/quests/invite/${PET_QUEST}`);
+      await partyMembers[0].post(`/groups/${questingGroup._id}/quests/accept`);
+      await partyMembers[1].post(`/groups/${questingGroup._id}/quests/reject`);
+      await questingGroup.sync();
+
+      expect(questingGroup.chat[0].text).to.exist;
+      expect(questingGroup.chat[0]._meta).to.exist;
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/api/v3/unit/models/group.test.js b/test/api/v3/unit/models/group.test.js
index 38695730db..e439b36e9d 100644
--- a/test/api/v3/unit/models/group.test.js
+++ b/test/api/v3/unit/models/group.test.js
@@ -365,6 +365,7 @@ describe('Group Model', () => {
           party.quest.active = false;
 
           await party.startQuest(questLeader);
+          Group.prototype.sendChat.reset();
           await party.save();
 
           await Group.processQuestProgress(participatingMember, progress);
@@ -383,6 +384,7 @@ describe('Group Model', () => {
           party.quest.active = false;
 
           await party.startQuest(questLeader);
+          Group.prototype.sendChat.reset();
           await party.save();
 
           await Group.processQuestProgress(participatingMember, progress);
diff --git a/website/server/controllers/api-v3/quests.js b/website/server/controllers/api-v3/quests.js
index edb3bf2f74..1d17e114a4 100644
--- a/website/server/controllers/api-v3/quests.js
+++ b/website/server/controllers/api-v3/quests.js
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ api.inviteToQuest = {
     let validationErrors = req.validationErrors();
     if (validationErrors) throw validationErrors;
 
-    let group = await Group.getGroup({user, groupId: req.params.groupId, fields: 'type quest'});
+    let group = await Group.getGroup({user, groupId: req.params.groupId, fields: 'type quest chat'});
 
     if (!group) throw new NotFound(res.t('groupNotFound'));
     if (group.type !== 'party') throw new NotAuthorized(res.t('guildQuestsNotSupported'));
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ api.acceptQuest = {
     user.party.quest.RSVPNeeded = false;
     await user.save();
 
-    let group = await Group.getGroup({user, groupId: req.params.groupId, fields: 'type quest'});
+    let group = await Group.getGroup({user, groupId: req.params.groupId, fields: 'type quest chat'});
 
     if (!group) throw new NotFound(res.t('groupNotFound'));
     if (group.type !== 'party') throw new NotAuthorized(res.t('guildQuestsNotSupported'));
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ api.rejectQuest = {
     user.markModified('party.quest');
     await user.save();
 
-    let group = await Group.getGroup({user, groupId: req.params.groupId, fields: 'type quest'});
+    let group = await Group.getGroup({user, groupId: req.params.groupId, fields: 'type quest chat'});
     if (!group) throw new NotFound(res.t('groupNotFound'));
     if (group.type !== 'party') throw new NotAuthorized(res.t('guildQuestsNotSupported'));
     if (!group.quest.key) throw new NotFound(res.t('questInvitationDoesNotExist'));
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ api.forceStart = {
     let validationErrors = req.validationErrors();
     if (validationErrors) throw validationErrors;
 
-    let group = await Group.getGroup({user, groupId: req.params.groupId, fields: 'type quest leader'});
+    let group = await Group.getGroup({user, groupId: req.params.groupId, fields: 'type quest leader chat'});
 
     if (!group) throw new NotFound(res.t('groupNotFound'));
     if (group.type !== 'party') throw new NotAuthorized(res.t('guildQuestsNotSupported'));
diff --git a/website/server/models/group.js b/website/server/models/group.js
index 7f345b6da9..ae8a3f594f 100644
--- a/website/server/models/group.js
+++ b/website/server/models/group.js
@@ -389,8 +389,11 @@ export function chatDefaults (msg, user) {
   return message;
 }
 
-schema.methods.sendChat = function sendChat (message, user) {
+schema.methods.sendChat = function sendChat (message, user, metaData) {
   let newMessage = chatDefaults(message, user);
+  if (metaData) {
+    newMessage._meta = metaData;
+  }
 
   this.chat.unshift(newMessage);
 
@@ -546,6 +549,9 @@ schema.methods.startQuest = async function startQuest (user) {
         });
     });
   });
+  this.sendChat(`Your quest, ${quest.text('en')}, has started.`, null, {
+    participatingMembers: this.getParticipatingQuestMembers().join(', '),
+  });
 };
 
 schema.methods.sendGroupChatReceivedWebhooks = function sendGroupChatReceivedWebhooks (chat) {