One of Red Dead Redemption 2's most elusive mysteries - that of the mystery of the Braithwaite gold - has finally been uncovered. Previously thought to be just a rumor that partially contributes to the Van der Linde Gang's downfall halfway through the game, the existence of the gold was recently confirmed thanks to the curiosity and clever thinking of one player. It further reinforces the fact that no dialogue in the game's world is said without reason, and if something sounds interesting, that's probably because it'll lead to one of RDR2's many weird secrets.
[Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Red Dead Redemption 2.]
Red Dead Redemption 2, the sequel to Rockstar Games' Western hit Red Dead Redemption, released in 2018. Set in 1899, the story follows Arthur Morgan as he and the rest of the Van der Linde Gang go on the run after a botched heist against the sinister robber baron, Leviticus Cornall, brings them unwanted attention from federal agents. The gang eventually relocates to a camp near the rancher town of Valentine, but after they're discovered yet again, they head further south to the state of Lemoyne.
After their escape, the gang finds itself in the middle of a generations-old family feud between the Grays and the Braithwaites, two clans in RDR2's town of Rhodes. It's then brought to the gang's attention that the feud is rumored to be centered around a stash of gold that both families feel they're entitled to. The Grays think the Braithwaites have it, and the Braithwaites, naturally, think the opposite. While some people in the state of Lemoyne believe it, others think it's nothing more than a rumor, which Hosea eventually comes to the conclusion of after the Braithwaites abduct Jack Marston. The truth, as told by Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption YouTuber Strange Man, is actually somewhere in the middle.
Red Dead Redemption 2 - What Happened To The Braithwaite Gold
As told in the video by Strange Man, in a swampland south of Caliga Hall, a man at a campsite tells the player of his search for the secret gold in Red Dead Redemption 2's Lemoyne area. It led him to Braithwaite Manor, where one of the maids took him to a tree with the message "Where the death adder spits" carved into it. The man realized it to be a reference to Copperhead Landing, a small piece of land that juts out into the Lannahechee River. At this location, however, the man said he looked everywhere and found nothing but the pair of boots on his feet.
The reason the unnamed man was unsuccessful, according to Strange Man, is because he misinterpreted the message. Because of the word "spits," it's actually referring to another location. Copperhead Landing has its name because it's shaped like the head of a snake. When looking at the mouth of this snake, another location further south appears to be where the snake would "spit." At another swampland, not unlike the swamp where one RDR2 ghost is located, a letter can be found in a box at the foot of a tree. The letter, written by Lucille Braithwaite and addressed to Douglas Gray in 1806, talks about the frustration Lucille feels because their families oppose their relationship. Lucille was exiled to Connecticut, but not before leaving Douglas with the stash of gold. She instructed him to donate it to an abolitionist movement, and even said the families were so focused on their petty feud that they'd just blame one another for the missing gold. This was, of course, a spot-on prediction, as the families are still feuding decades later.
There are hundreds of NPCs to interact with in Rockstar's fictionalized version of the Old West, so it's easy to miss a small but significant conversation like that. It's another one of countless Easter eggs and mysteries in Red Dead Redemption 2, and a testament to the strength of its open world that more are being discovered close to four years since its release. It may not result in a significant cash payout, but as far as closure goes, it's nice to see this particular mystery finally resolved.
Source: YouTube/Strange Man