Alright, I got the key from Conrad, time to unlock Golden Hills!
It takes three tried and the key breaks in the end but...
I'm in!
First we go say hello to Jasper and his floating pitchfork. Love that pitchfork
He says he's also confused why the gate was still closed. It supposed to only close for the winter, to keep the winter spirits from escaping. (I didn't think those were gonna be important since nobody has said anything since, but everyone keeps mentioning them here. Maybe they're for a future storyline? If the main story ever finds itself back to winter anyway. I think technically, in game, all the quests have taken place over one single summer.)
Anyways he tells me to go ask Mayor Klaus, so off I go to Cape West.
Hello sir why are you not unlocking gates and why do you have santa's name?
He says the key was stolen. He keeps it in a lockbox but the box is gone and there's some weird footprints leading away from where it was. So of course I follow the footprints.
Clearly made by someone with only a left leg. Interesting.
They lead me through the maze to this
The lockbox! But when I bring it back to the mayor, we find that it's empty. So I go back and run further up the beach in search of more clues and...
What's this?
Good old Bob and Rob, a couple of smugglers.
I tell them I just want the key to the city and I know they have it because the footprints are very clearly Bob's, given that he has a peg leg.
They admit they did take the key, saying that they earn so much more smuggling in the winter because with the gate locked, they become the only way for people to get things from Silverglade.
They make a deal with me that they'll give me the key if I promise not to tell anyone where their secret cave is, and I agree.
I take the key back to the Mayor and when he asks where I got it I told him I promised I wouldn't tell. He says he understands and tells me to enjoy his village.
And that's all for today. Looks like Alex wants me for something tomorrow. We'll see!