The Forest
West of the village is the Forest, which the village guards won’t let you into for most of the opening. It’s too dangerous, they claim, and one of them is convinced it’s crawling with goblins. In reality its only residents are two elderly bandits, Hans and Sven, who control the explosives you need for the Old Mine and the bridge south into the Swamp.
The Forest Pass
Approach the outpost guards after visiting the inside of the town warehouse and they send you back unless a villager vouches for you, “for example, the Head of the Village”. That kicks off Into the Forest: Jully has you fix the village mailbox, the mailbox produces a temporary certificate, and in exchange Januarius gives you the Forest Pass. The full sequence is on Januarius. Present the pass (the guards keep it) and the forest opens.
The guards’ bonfire
Each night two village guards sit around a fire near the Hangman’s House, hungry and thirsty. In Yummies, bring them a Berry Pie and 2 Beer and they’ll teach you the Soldier’s food recipes, Soldier’s stew and Soldier’s ale, plus 2 Town Gratitude. It becomes available with Certificate, Please, well before the forest does.
Hans and Sven
The bandits camp in the forest alongside their dead leader Robert, now a skeleton propped up among them. Speaking to Hans earns the Friends in Low Places achievement. They pose no real threat; Sven vows to beat the soul out of you and then needs an hour’s lie-down. Two matters need settling:
| Matter | What they want | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| The mine | They concede it’s safe; the warning signs just never came down. The main tunnel is blocked, and they’ll release their explosives only once someone tells them where Robert hid their treasure. Larry can play Robert for an evening. | Meeting Hans is also what makes the cave at the Quarry workable in the first place |
| The swamp bridge | Nobody crosses without permission. After two silly questions comes the real one: “Bring us a Royal Pardon from the Royal Mailbox”. The village mailbox issues one once you commit a minor crime (“damage to Royal property”), pay a 5 silver fine, and refill its ink with 3 Ink. Give Hans the Royal Pardon along with the Fairy’s Swamp Map from your fairy summoning; they keep both | A Town Gratitude, a Story, and a wheel of Cheese that mysteriously appears on the bridge |
Pardoned, they’re free men. Their plan is to stay put, gather mushrooms, and perhaps open a shop, which never materialises.
Notes
- Both documents are needed for the swamp. The pardon on its own won’t do; the Fairy’s Swamp Map comes from summoning the fairy at home, and the bridge only opens when you hand over both together.
- The bonfire quest is unrelated to the pass. It’s a separate quest that becomes available much earlier.