Stardew Valley - The Flying Farmer

Summer, Friday 20th - Enter the Skull Caverns

I woke up, with my mind still thinking about yesterday but I perhaps should just forget about it and move on. Maybe exploring the new caves would be a start?

After finishing the morning chores, and visited the Travelling Cart. This woman had her uses when she'd have things on sale that were needed for the Bundles. Now I know what she meant that "things came in Bundles." Some of them included produce, I never had before. I took them and headed into the Community Center to place them in their respect slots on the tablets before jumping on the Bus for Calico Desert.

In the dry region, I headed north, as per Sandy's directions and sheltered inside this cool dark cavern. This looked a lot different than the Mines in the mountains. The yellowish walls surrounded the room but, most notably, was this large wooden door with a skull adorned on it. There was even an inscription written in the woodwork.

"Be fair warning. The caves beyond this door house extremely dangerous monsters. Monsters that are not for the faint hearted. Venture in if you dare."

I gulped and inserted the old key into the keyhole, remarkably the lock opened but then I felt this deep cold run through my veins, as if it were some final warning from the caves.

Gathering the courage, I opened the door and inside was a ladder leading down into the caves. Swiftly, I clambered down and was now deep in the Skull Caverns. One thing that was different about these dungeons was the lack of an elevator. So arguably, I'd have to do this in one go.

The first room was nothing at all impressive but I did notice that some of the creatures around here are a lot different; The slimes are of a purple colouration, rather than the various green, blue and red.

As I stepped forward, I heard this sharp hiss and saw this great green and yellow flying reptile speeding towards me. I held up my blade and took a swing at it when it got close. Though, when it did get a hit in, it stung and I mean a lot. It was really painful when the creature bit. No wonder the inscription warned of these dangerous creatures. I focused on keeping the damn thing away and, after a good few swings, the draconic menace was quelled and dropped a Bomb. Something that I might use to destroy the dense cluster of rocks that populated much of the cavern floor. I set it down and watched as it turned the stones into pummeled gravel and some left behind a mysterious hole. I peered into it and noticed more floors below. It must be some kind of shortcut so in I went, not realising that I'd hurt myself on the way down.

Though I was now a few floors deeper than usual, this new room was different; Now composing of sandstone, bricks and torches. The populace was now shifting humanoids bandaged up like mummies. When I walked around to break stones, these monsters would quietly creep up to me but I was having none of it and swung my blade into it. Once it was defeated, I could move on with mining... until it got back up again!

I kept knocking them out but they just won't stay dead! I quickly mined through more rocks until the ladder to the next level was exposed and ventured into a normal cavern with a new enemy. A huge blob of slime squelched and pulsed nearby. It must be a mother and if I defeat it, it's children will attack in retaliation and, given I didn't have food on me, this would be problematic so I decided to try and avoid these lethal creatures, dispel the flying serpents and gather as many of the ore-bearing rocks as I can.

Though, amongst the usual clusters of these stones, there was one that looked different. It was dark greyish with this blue ore poking out of it. I gave it a good few whacks, of my pickaxe, until it came out. Upon closer inspection, it was something I never seen before. There was also something amongst the stones, a shiny rainbow rock, a good sized one too.

By the time I progressed through the skull caverns, I'd be too weary to carry on so I headed back up and noticed the mysterious stone had started to hum and, when I moved out into the desert, which night fell mind you, and the vibrations grew stronger, intensifying as I approach this trio of strange towers; It must be resonating with them somehow.

Though the vibrations were at its strongest when I stand at a certain point within these spires. Maybe if I set it down, would it work? So I did, setting the rock on this marked circle etched in the sandstone and stepped back. Suddenly, forks of lightning struck the coils, giving me one heck of a jump as the jumped between the three before striking the shimmering rock in the middle, causing a huge updraft of sand to obscure anything near. I shielded my eyes until the dust finally settled and I gasped in quiet awe.

Sitting in place of the rainbow rock was a sword. Upon closer inspection, it was casted in a purple metal and felt an alien resonation with it. I brought my findings to Marlon; Who looked rather surprised to see it.

"T-The Galaxy Sword!? How on earth did you get that?!" He spoke in a rather shocked way.

"I found this shimmering stone and it transformed into the sword." I explained simply, seemingly confused with it but then the old man in the corner, rocking by the fire spoke.

"The Galaxy Sword is an ancient weapon spoke in prophesies. It is said that those who wield it are those chosen by Yoba to protect the world from evil. If one were to place a Prismatic Shard within three spikes to the sky, the blade would come to their aid...

You have been bestowed a special purpose in this world, young man, take the sword proudly and may it protect you... you'll need it if you're to ever survive the dangers of them Skull Caverns... not a lot of people ever come out of there alive."

"Uh, thanks Gil. Gil's been around the valley for years. You could learn a thing or two from him." Marlon answered.

"Don't mention it son... mind you, this valley ain't safe until ya trim down the monsters' numbers. While they do play a part in the ecosystem, there's far too many of em for aspiring adventurers to head into the mines. If ya can vanquish enough of the blighters, then I might reward ya with somethin'. For something worth yer while." The old man spoke further before sticking his pipe into his mouth.

"He tracks the monsters, you see. Well, I best let you go off and explore and make use of your new weapon. I'll be selling some new equipment in stock... it'd be wise to pack some snacks if yer ever go down into the Skull Caverns again. The monsters are extremely dangerous and you'd wanna be well prepared." Marlon explained.

"Oh, thanks you two... also, what's with some of the monsters. I tried killing them but they end up getting back up again." I asked the Guildmaster.

"Oh, ya mean the mummies? They're magically cursed undead. They'll rebuild themselves once you take them down. The only way to destroy them for good is with a good ol fashioned boom. A bomb's enough to disintegrate the magicked bandages. They'll be gone for good. Even a good explosive shot from yer slingshot is enough to beat em. I'll give ya the recipes to make yer own explosives so you can be prepared to face them again." He answered, handing a few pamphlets to me.

"Good luck, son."

I left the guild behind and headed back to the house to sleep off the night. Hopefully, I should be ready to take on the skull caverns next time.