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.
I went around a bit more to explore the room, cracking more rocks to prise the precious metals within. Then, as I cracked another, a surprise awaited; A deep shaft that has been finally unearthed for so long lurched deeper into the next floor.
Perhaps this is the start of me meeting some of the more… unfamiliar inhabitants of this land. Taking my courage with me, I reached onto the ladder and climbed down into the next cave. More, and more boulders to crack, each taking a trio of strikes to shatter but then I looked around the corner and sure enough, Marlon was right. A gelatinous bubble of gooey Slime lurched and squelched in place; Two black eyes loomed left and right for a potential prey and it so happens to clock the capriciously anxious farmer glancing around the corner and boy did it move. Sliding across the rocky ground, it worked its way towards me, hoping to lash me with its gunk but I was ready. I held my sword out in readiness and swung at the fiend with all my strength.
Squelch, Squirm, Plop, Flop
Wet sounds emitted from the enemy as it lurched and hopped to hopefully touch me but I wasn't holding back and it wasn't long until it exploded in a loud PLOP!
I gacked as the creature combusted from the amount of hits it took. The battle was over and I could sheath the sword back and continue on with my expedition. More and more Ore lined my pockets as I grabbed them all but then, I started to feel weary… I wouldn't be able to fight and mine with my fleeting strength so I used the rest of my energy to clamber back out of the mines and into the cave.
Gasping with ever breath, I reached into my pockets and found the mound of rich ore that I have procured from my recent trip. It was a good haul and maybe something that the local Blacksmith could look into. Working my way down into town, I crossed the bridge and opened the door into the black and grey housing. A great furnace roared warmly as the apron wearing man slouched over an anvil, metals clanging as his hammer struck molten metal into shape but peered over as the door creaked open.
"Oh… hey Robbie… you're the new farmer who moved in? Sorry if I didn't catch ya… I was busy working away on me metal.
Here, what's that you got? Can I have a look?" The bloke said as I handed over the Iron for inspection.
"Fine quality ore… s'pose you got them from the Mines in the mountain… they did say that the rockslide had finally been cleared but since ya came back with this, you were probably the port of call.
Tell ya what. If you got yerself a furnace, some coal and this ore, ya can melt it into bars. Really pure stuff can be used into casting tools into better versions of themselves. If ya can provide me the materials, the funds, and the donor item ya want upgraded, I'll improve them.
Make yer watering can bigger, chop down hardier trees with the axe or get to them rarer ores further down the shaft.
I got some spare blueprints out in the back… feel free to use them to make yer furnaces so ya don't have to come and use mine. Spares us the footwork ya see. One moment pal." The man said as he went into the backroom and returned with a pamphlet of blue tinted papers.
"These will do ya well. The name's Clint if you wanna call me that. Lemme know if ya got some of them Geodes too; Those little stone easter eggs contain all kinds of nifty crystals and stuff that the local archaeologist might wanna look at. Ya got one too amongst the ore… lemme crack that open for ya; First one's on the house, any more then it's a fee." The man explained as I handed the conspicuously grey egg into his hand. With a good mighty thwack, the stone capsule broke open and unveiled a rather peculiar object. Something, I hadn't seen the likes before.
"Looks like ya got something for the researcher. He's down south of here. Big green house with a clock. He'll take any piece o' history." Clint said.
"Well thanks for helping me with all this. I'll go see him now." I answered simply and left the man to his work. Navigating down south, I came across the pristine emerald green building and prised open the door.
"Welcome to the Pelican Town Library… oh? You're the farmer, everyone's been blathering on about. My name's Gunther, humble Archaeologist, Geologist, Historian, Librarian, Artefact Connoisseur, ample Wine Tester…
Yadda, yadda… you get the memo. Now… how may I help you, young man?"
I walked up to the desk and handed the mysterious item on the desk.
"Clint told me to show you this." I asked as he grabbed the artefact and held it to a magnifying glass.
"Fascinating… truly remarkable… where in the devil did you get this, boy?"
"Uhhh, I found it in the Mines." I answered.
"Ohhhh those dusty old shafts… Ha, I never quite seen the sight of those before but… however.. you see…
There was a previous Curator here before… spiffing chap, I must say but the blighter swiped the whole collection. Likely to sell them off to the highest bidder. So, I came here to see an empty museum.
The whole point behind this establishment is to provide an insight ot the valley's history and the connections to the magical properties that makes our lives flourish with love. With nothing on display, none of the people here would understand the very ground they stand on… until you came along.
If you find any more of these examples… be sure to pop in here and donate 'em. I'd love to have a mass of collected troves and trinkets that tell the story of how this wonderous Valley came to be. I'll be sure to give you some wonderous gifts from the vault, if you get me a particularly wonderous item.
Oh, and see if you can find the missing books from the Library. The ol beggar has likely planted the tomes in the area to avoid being accounted for theft. Something that I wanna see in the papers but do send them to me so they can be returned to their rightful place, ready for some literature-inclined visitor to delve into its pages.
I hope this begins the path of a very educational expedition, my leather clad friend. I look forward to seeing more samples from you. Cheerio!" The man spoke… somewhat in an endearing accent and thus left him to his work.
So remarkable… I can't believe it's been here all this time…
An exhausted sigh came from me as I lurched down the doorway when I heard the pressing of feet. I looked up to see in abject surprise that Abigail was before me.
"Hey handsome, had a long day, I take it?" She asked and held out a hand.
I took it gingerly and stood up, adjusting my boots as I did.
"Yeah, I went into the Mines today and got some pretty decent stuff to help my tools." I explained.
She coo'd with a smile and swayed gingerly on her hips.
"So, I heard. Those mines were pretty dangerous back in the day… I wonder if it all calmed down by now ever since the rockfall came. I'd go down by myself but my deadbeat Dad can't let me leave the house or enter the mines.
"Oh you'll die down there… and I won't be able to get you out." He moans… all he does is make me tense." She groaned.
"Well, maybe one day we go down together… I got a sword now so I hope to put my newfound skills to use." I explained with a nervous smile.
"Oh, you can? That's great but maybe one time when we get a bit closer… I heard that there's Amythests down there. It makes me sleep better with one under my pillow… and it matches me hair so be sure to get me one whenever you can.
Or Quartz… they're strangely tasty to me… can't explain it but I just cannot resist biting into one… the crisp, light texture of the crys- Sorry, I got carried away but I gotta go… I need to go finish my homework so maybe we'll meet up someday.
Cya Robbie." She hummed and hurried inside.
I was left alone for the day so I went to the river and casted out my rod. Staring into the glassy reflection, I could see another me staring back. Then thoughts of home began to seep into my mind and began to miss my family… especially my Pa. I really hoped he could come and see what've I made but to see his life snatched before my eyes really made me heart hurt. A saddened frown went across my face as the bobble floated merrily across the becalmed surface.
Then, a soft spoken voice came in next to me as the long haired man dressed in a red coat looked at me with a concerned gaze.
"You ok, Robbie? You look a little down…" Elliot asked.
I sighed out a response.
"It's just… I miss my family… my home… all of it taken in a single crash. To imagine being up in the sky, with the birds… I really hoped to make my family proud but, for my Pa to perish made me really think about my future. What if I never really hope to fly?
I'd let the whole family down and then, what else can I do?" I explained in a lowly tone.
The figure leaned over the bridge, hands clenched together as he stared in the same direction.
"Sometimes, it's best to not keep a hold on grief for too long. Eventually, it'll begin to eat away inside you… I know you miss your father but what point is there to live your life in his stead. He would've been filled with joy, seeing you venture out and explore your horizons. Do you honestly feel better being here than staying in some crooked old flat in the city?" He asked me.
I thought on the wisdom and stayed silent for a bit longer before saying my piece.
"I think so… he gave me a key and it opened a drawer to my leather hat and a letter. A letter telling me to look to the Valley for a new walk of life. It seems that my Gran papa had expected this to happen so he took it to me as his best interest in ensuring the McSopwiths can continue on regardless.
I don't know what I'd end up if I stayed in that dreary office at Joja Corp but to finally come here and see that I have what it takes to be a farmer… I'd be damned sure that I won't let my Pa and my Gran Papa down." I spoke up and looked to Elliot with renewed vigor.
"You really helped a downed farmer today… thanks for reminding me."
A happy heh came from the man as he looked towards me with a grin.
"You definitely will give that man a means to rest peacefully. I hope you'd support our delightful community well with the harvests, you bring to the town. Maybe I'll try some Parsnip soup with your produce.
Until we meet again, Robbie." Elliot spoke and we parted ways.
With dusk falling again, I lurched back into my farmhouse and laid my weary head. Renewed confidence egging me on to push me through every working day…