Where to Find the Forest Outpost Courtyard Key in Phantom Blade Zero (Crimson Forest)

The Forest Outpost Courtyard Key is a Story Item in Crimson Forest. Without it, a double gate on the road below the Forest Outpost stays shut. Reaching it takes no climbing or jumping. You only need to find the right staircase in the village.

Quick answer: Find the key on the floor inside the house above the wooden stairs, beside a log house in Forest Outpost village. It unlocks the double gate along the lower road beneath the Outpost.

Where the Forest Outpost Courtyard Key is

Head up to the Forest Outpost village from the low road. Stone steps lead from the low road to the village path, which has stone walls on both sides. Expect bandits along this path. Allied soldiers in straw hats, carrying spears, may already be fighting them when you arrive.

Walk along the village path until you reach a log house with red lanterns over its doors. Next to it, a wide flight of wooden stairs climbs up along the side of the house.

Wooden stairs climbing beside a log house with red lanterns on the Forest Outpost village path in Phantom Blade Zero

Go up the wooden stairs. They run between the log house on one side and a stone wall on the other.

Soul climbing the wooden stairs between the log house and a stone wall in the Forest Outpost in Phantom Blade Zero

At the stairway’s end, you’ll reach a plank landing bordered by stone walls and large clay jars. A dark doorway is immediately beside it. Go inside.

Soul on the plank landing at the top of the stairs beside the dark doorway of the key house in Phantom Blade Zero

Survey the dim room: jars and crates sit around a table, while a pot hangs above a fire pit. By the wall, find an orange glow on the floor surrounded by a few bowls. Approach until the “E” prompt appears, then press E.

E prompt over the orange-lit spot with bowls where the Forest Outpost Courtyard Key lies in Phantom Blade Zero

Check the item card that opens. It lists the Story Item “FOREST OUTPOST COURTYARD KEY” with this description:

“Smoke once curled from the chimneys of this Outpost, children’s laughter mingled with the sound of hoofbeats, and the innkeeper would wait by the door to welcome travelers from near and far. Back then, this key hung at her waist.”

Forest Outpost Courtyard Key story item card in Phantom Blade Zero

Retrace your entry route: pass through the doorway, then descend the wooden stairs until you reach the village path.

Using the key on the low road gate

Take the stone steps back down to the low road. Follow it to a large wooden double gate set into a stone wall.

Interact with the gate. If you don’t have the key yet, the game shows “Key item missing” along with “FOREST OUTPOST COURTYARD KEY * 1”. If you do have it, Soul pushes the doors open.

Soul at the wooden double gate on the low road that the Forest Outpost Courtyard Key opens in Phantom Blade Zero

Continue along the road past the gate toward a large, tiled-roof house. A post glowing red stands in front of it.

Road past the opened Forest Outpost gate leading to a large tiled-roof house and a red-glowing bell in Phantom Blade Zero

Go up to the red-lit wooden cross and press E to ring it. This is the Red Serpent House bell.

Soul at the red-lit wooden cross of the Red Serpent House bell past the Forest Outpost gate in Phantom Blade Zero

The map confirms the bell rang successfully: a “Red Serpent House” marker appears, and Crimson Forest Map Completion increases from 11% to 12%. The bell menu now offers these options:

Traverse
Upgrade Equipment
Store
Train Abilities
Save
Leave

If you drop from the low road into the pit filled with bodies, wall-running will get you back out. The corpse pit walkthrough covers the steps.

The Red Serpent House is one of several bells in Crimson Forest. The others are listed in the full Phantom Blade Zero bell locations.

Where the Forest Outpost Courtyard Key is

Using the key on the low road gate

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