This walkthrough covers one of the most deceptively valuable early quests in The Forge. The Bard’s Lost Guitar quest is short, easy to miss, and strangely vague, yet it quietly unlocks access to one of the strongest mining tools available early on. If you want a smooth start and a long-term advantage, this is a quest you should not skip.
Why This Quest Matters
At first glance, the Bard’s Lost Guitar quest looks like filler content. There is no combat challenge, no map marker, and barely any dialogue. You are simply asked to find a missing guitar. What makes this quest special is the reward structure. Instead of immediate power, you receive an Unknown Key that quietly opens a path to the Arcane Pickaxe, a legendary-tier mining tool that can define your progression.
The entire quest can be completed in just a couple of minutes, but the benefits can carry you through dozens of hours of gameplay.
Where to Find the Bard
The Bard is located in Stonewake’s Cross, the game’s starting area. From the spawn point, head east toward The Cave entrance. As you move forward, you will pass Maria and the Potions Stall on your right. Continue walking a short distance and you will see a small campfire near the path.
The Bard is sitting on the ground beside the fire. Interact with him to start the quest. He will ask you to recover his lost guitar but gives no hints about where it is located.
Tip
Accept the quest immediately. The guitar sits in a location you might stumble across naturally while mining, so having the quest active means you won't waste time backtracking later.
Entering The Cave
To find the guitar, head southeast from the Bard’s campfire and enter The Cave.
Once inside, walk down the main slope until you reach the bottom. This area is important because the hidden entrance is very close to the cave opening.
At the bottom of the slope, turn left immediately. You should see two NPCs standing near the wall, Nord and Umut the Brave.
Finding the Hidden Guitar Chamber
The guitar is located behind a hidden wall that blends into the cave environment.
Look closely at the cave wall near Nord and Umut. You will notice a patch of greenery positioned between a small pebble and a wooden post. This greenery hides a secret passage.
Walk directly into this corner of the wall. You will pass through it and drop into a concealed chamber below.
Inside the hidden area, you will find:
A skeleton NPC
The lost guitar resting on rocks to the right side
Interact with the guitar to pick it up and add it to your inventory.
Leaving the Hidden Area
Some players struggle when exiting the hidden chamber, especially with heavier classes like Golem.
If you have trouble climbing back up, try jumping while holding forward to maintain momentum. The ladder collision can feel awkward, but persistence usually solves it.
Do not panic if it takes a few attempts. There is no penalty for falling back down.
Turning In the Guitar and Claiming the Unknown Key
Return to the Bard at his campfire in Stonewake’s Cross and hand over the guitar. He will thank you and reward you with experience, gold, a Guitar Finder badge, and the Unknown Key.
The Bard does not explain what the key does. This is intentional.
At this point, the quest is technically complete, but the real reward has just been unlocked.
Unknown Key in inventory
The Bard’s Lost Guitar quest is easy to miss, but it offers strong long term value for players who complete it early. The entire quest can be finished in just a few minutes, yet it rewards an Unknown Key that unlocks important content later in the game. Because the hidden entrance is located close to the cave entrance and blends into the environment, many players walk past it without noticing. Finishing the quest as soon as possible helps avoid unnecessary backtracking and saves time during progression. For new players, this quest is one of the simplest ways to gain a meaningful advantage with very little effort.
For more The Forge, check out our recommended weapon builds and take a closer look at the best armor recipes to strengthen your setup.