The Forest

The Forest lies west of the village. For most of the opening the village guards keep you out of it: too dangerous, they say, and one of them is sure it is full of goblins. In fact the only people living there are two old bandits, Hans and Sven, who sit on the explosives you need for the Old Mine and on the bridge south to the Swamp.

The Forest Pass

Walk up to the guards at the outpost after you have been inside the town warehouse, and they turn you back unless someone from the village vouches for you, “for example, the Head of the Village”. That starts Into the Forest: Jully sends you to repair the village mailbox, the mailbox issues a temporary certificate, and in return Januarius hands over the Forest Pass. See Januarius for the steps. Show the pass to the guards, who keep it, and the forest is open.

The guards’ bonfire

Two of the village guards spend their nights by a fire near the Hangman’s House, and would love something to eat and drink. Bring them a Berry Pie and 2 Beer in Yummies: they teach you the Soldier’s food recipes, Soldier’s stew and Soldier’s ale, and you get 2 Town Gratitude. It opens with Certificate, Please, long before the forest.

Hans and Sven

The bandits’ camp is in the forest, with their dead leader Robert, a skeleton, propped up in it. Talk to Hans and you get the achievement Friends in Low Places. They are no real danger: Sven threatens to beat the soul out of you and has to lie down for an hour. They want two things settled:

• The mine. They admit it is safe; the warning signs were never taken down. The main tunnel is blocked, they have explosives, and they will not hand them over until someone tells them where Robert hid their treasure. Larry can be Robert for an evening. Meeting Hans is also what makes the cave at the Quarry workable at all.
• The bridge to the swamp. No crossing without their permission. After two silly questions the third is “Bring us a Royal Pardon from the Royal Mailbox”. The mailbox in the village grants one, but first you have to commit a minor crime (“damage to Royal property”), pay the 5 silver fine, and refill its ink with 3 Ink. Hand Hans the Royal Pardon together with the Fairy’s Swamp Map from the fairy you summoned; they keep both. You get a Town Gratitude, a Story and a wheel of Cheese that turned up on the bridge out of nowhere.

With the pardon they are free men. They mean to stay in the forest, pick mushrooms, and maybe open a shop, though no shop ever appears.