Stardew Valley - The Flying Farmer

Spring, Friday 5th - Hidden Secrets of the Valley

This day was an eventful one but it also was the first of many hidden secrets, and dangers, of the Valley. Proof that half of living here isn't just digging up crops, hanging out with townsfolk, fishing or stopping by Robin's for her signature homemade apple pie...

The other half is digging out... not crops but fragments of history and boy was I introduced to such an adventure.

It starts off as another day, as the end of the week draws near, and it was when I noticed that I had something in the mail. It's not uncommon to have people send you letters and this here is no different. I prised open my mailbox and pulled out a familiarly pale blue envelope.

It was from Joja and half of me wants me to tear it up, believing it to be junk mail, but rather curiously I wanted to open it. To my bitter surprise, wasn't vouchers, nor leaflets to their many poor-quality services and goods. It was actually a formal letter from JojaMart's Store Manager, Morris.

"To our valued JojaMart customers:
Our team members have removed the landslide caused by our drilling operation near the mountain lake. I'd like to remind you that our drilling operation is entirely legal (pursuant to init. L61091, JojaCo Amendment). Responsible stewardship of the local environment is our top priority!

We apologize for any inconvenience this accident may have caused.
As always, we value your continued support and patronage!

-Morris,
Joja Customer Satisfaction Representative

I made a quiet grumble but, since they've cleared the rockfall, I can finally check out the rest of the mountain. As I made my way up the range, I happened to catch the glimpse of a grey-haired man emerging from a shack, across the lake, and headed into the wooden-braced entrance; Which must be some sort of cave.

Curiously, I stepped across the rickety old bridge and followed him in. The cave was cool and dark but the strange man was standing over some hole, with a ladder propped against its side. He looks up to notice me enter.

"Oh, greetings. I supposed we never had a chance to meet." He spoke in a gruff voice.

"I believe so... do you live around here?" I asked.

"Well, technically yes... the name's Marlon and you must've seen the letter, they sent ya. Here... come over here and look down this hole." He introduced himself.

Diligently, I walked up and peered into the inky blackness that lurked beneath out feet.

"Long ago, these mines were abandoned... by an ancient civilisation decades ago. There is still some pretty good ore down there so there's no doubt that you'll find some useful metal... but, for being kept away for all these years... ore won't be the only thing you might encounter.

Actually... how'd you fancy goin' down there and prove to me that you can brave those mines? In return, I'll entitle you membership into my adventurer's guild. We've been keeping the valley safe for decades and we depend on new budding adventurers to carry on our ancient tradition.

Take this... she's been passed down through our warriors for eons and I think the time is now for you to carry on our legacy.

Then, in my hands, was a battered old sword. It seemed to have gone beyond its hay-day but something tells me that to insult the state of the weapon might offend the elder whom stands before me.

"May she serve you well and remember... we're watching ya.

Catch you around..." The man gruffed and left me to see to the shaft.

I had no clue on what's down there but something tells me that I could find something decent from within these Mines. I gulped quietly and shifted to face the ladder, placing one boot onto its worn rugged rungs and took my first dive into the Mines.

Around me was near total darkness but lively torches flickered much of it from the walls. Mounds of sturdy rock lay dormant for centuries, ready to be cracked to reveal their contents within. With my study old hand-me-down pickaxe, I slammed its dull tip on their surface. It took a bit of effort but finally, the boulder finally parts to unveil the shimmer of my first ore. Picking the orange-tanned metal, was a good hearty Iron... alongside some chalky black coal to fuel it with.