Ruins Keys and Bronze Gate

The Ruins Keys and Bronze Gate form one of the major progression puzzles in the Moonlit Forest of Starsand Island. A massive locked gate in Mural Valley blocks access to the deeper sections of the forest, and opening it requires two halves of a key: the Ruins Key (Right) and the Ruins Key (Left). One key comes from Zephyria as part of the Intermediate Explorer Trial, while the other is hidden inside a treasure chest in the Azure Bay area. This guide covers exactly where to find both keys, how to open the gate, and what awaits you on the other side.

Where to Find the Bronze Gate

The Bronze Gate is located in the Mural Valley section of the Moonlit Forest. To reach it from the Mural Valley campsite, head up the stairs. At the top, you enter an open area with the massive bronze door blocking the path forward. The gate has two keyhole slots, one on each side, corresponding to the Left and Right Ruins Keys.

You cannot reach the Bronze Gate without first progressing through the earlier zones of the Moonlit Forest: Evernight Forest, the Gate of Life (requiring 3 Gravecrystals), Dreamfall Garden (defeating the Crystalith boss), Crystalith Hideout, and Azure Bay. The Bronze Gate sits at the transition point between the mid-game and late-game portions of the forest.

Ruins Key (Right): From Zephyria

The Right Ruins Key is given to you by Zephyria, the Explorer Profession mentor, as part of the Intermediate Explorer certification quest. The steps to obtain it are:

1. Complete the Apprentice Explorer requirements (defeat the Runebird, return the Runebird Fragment to Zephyria)

2. Speak to Zephyria at the Exploration Club to start the Intermediate Explorer Trial

3. Accept the quest. Zephyria hands you the Ruins Key (Right) during the dialogue

4. The quest then asks you to find the Left Key, open the Bronze Gate, and explore what lies beyond

The Exploration Club is located northwest of your farm. Zephyria is there during her regular schedule. Make sure you have completed all Apprentice-tier objectives before speaking to her, or the Intermediate quest will not be available.

Ruins Key (Left): Hidden in the Moonlit Forest

The Left Ruins Key is found in a treasure chest in the Azure Bay or Mural Valley area of the Moonlit Forest. The chest is not along the main path, so you need to take a detour to find it.

Step-by-Step Directions

1. From the Mural Valley campsite, head toward the stairs leading up to the Bronze Gate

2. Before climbing the stairs, look for a broken stone bridge that extends toward a wooden platform

3. Step onto the wooden platform. It functions as an elevator that descends to the river at the base of the cliff (the ride takes about 5 seconds)

4. At the bottom, near the waterfall area, look for a round wooden treasure chest sitting on a ledge

5. Open the chest to collect the Ruins Key (Left) along with some bonus materials

No enemies or puzzles guard the chest itself, though you may encounter Luminfrog enemies in the Azure Bay area while making your way there. The chest is easy to overlook because the elevator platform does not have any obvious signposting. If you reach the Bronze Gate without the Left Key, turn around and look for the wooden platform near the broken bridge.

Opening the Bronze Gate

Once both the Left and Right Ruins Keys are in your inventory, return to the Bronze Gate in Mural Valley. Interact with the gate to insert both keys. No crafting or combining step is required; simply possessing both halves allows you to unlock the door. The gate opens permanently and does not close again.

What Lies Beyond: The Glintortle Boss

Behind the Bronze Gate is the arena for the Glintortle, the second major boss of the Moonlit Forest. The Glintortle is a giant armored turtle with water-based attacks. It is significantly tougher than the Crystalith and requires a bow with arrows (not just a slingshot) to defeat efficiently.

Glintortle Attack Patterns

Weak Point and Strategy

The Glintortle's weak point is the glowing crystal on top of its shell. The crystal turns bright blue during certain animations, signaling that it is vulnerable. Bomb Arrows deal the most damage when the crystal is exposed. Regular arrows work too but are much slower.

Rewards

After defeating the Glintortle, a log chest appears with several valuable rewards:

Post-Glintortle Progression

Defeating the Glintortle opens the path to the Harvest Yard. However, the route forward is blocked by brambles that can only be cleared with Fire Arrows. You will need to obtain Fire Arrows through the Explorer Profession questline before you can proceed. The Harvest Yard requires both Fire Arrows (to burn blocking brambles) and Water Arrows (to grow vine bridges from stumps) for full navigation.

Beyond the Harvest Yard lie Grain Haven, Darkwater Shore, and eventually the Moonlight Meadow, where the final boss (the Ruin Guard) awaits. Defeating the Ruin Guard during the Expert Explorer Trial is the final step toward claiming the Luna Deer mount.

Important Warning: Quest Order

Multiple players have reported a soft lock issue related to quest sequencing. If you find and use both keys before receiving the "Find Left Ruins Key" quest objective from Zephyria's Intermediate Explorer Trial, the quest may become impossible to complete because the objective expects you to pick up the key after accepting it. To avoid this problem:

Following this order ensures all quest objectives register properly and you can advance to the next Explorer tier without issues.

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