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Stardew Valley is a game that's absolutely full of lore... if you know where to look. Much of it is cleverly hidden in friendship cutscenes, random dialogues, lost books, and more.

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We know about the human war going on between the Ferngill Republic and the Gotoro Empire, but did you know there was a much more magical war going on in Stardew Valley? We're here to give you all the details.

Who Fought In The War And Why?

Stardew Valley (Dwarf, left) (Krobus, right)

The Elemental Wars were a conflict between two races that are not widely known by humans: the Dwarves and the Shadow People. What we know about the Elemental Wars comes from tidbits of lore pulled from across Stardew Valley.

The story begins with the Shadow People. Krobus says his species had to cross into the physical plane after a "great catastrophe" occurred. However, it's unclear what that catastrophe was or where the Shadow People were living before the physical plane. Regardless, when they arrived on the physical plane, the Shadow People lived underground due to their sensitivity to sunlight.

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It's unclear when the Dwarves hit the scene. All we know is that Krobus says that they drove the Shadow People from their "ancestral homeland."

  • As a result, some fans speculate that the Dwarves were the ones to cause the "catastrophe" that forced the Shadow People into the physical plane, and that the Dwarves pursued behind.
  • Alternatively, one lost book that can be returned to the library, written by M. Jasper, suggests that the Dwarves might be an alien race that crash-landed on Earth. If true, the Dwarves might have burrowed into the ground looking for a new home and encountered the Shadow People at that time.

How Long Was The War And Who Won?

Stardew Valley - Krobus on the farm

This war lasted for around 1,000 years. It's difficult to pinpoint exactly when it ended; the Wizard notes that "the Elemental Wars have long been finished," but it also seems to have ended within Krobus' and the Dwarf's lifetime (though we also do not know exactly how long Shadow People and Dwarves live). Regardless of the actual number of years that have passed, there is clearly still fierce resentment harbored on both sides.

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At the time of this writing, we have no clues about whether the Shadow People or the Dwarves won the war, or if there may have been a mutual peace brokered.

The Survivors: Krobus And The Dwarf

Stardew Valley - Krobus, the Dwarf, the player, and the Wizard

As the new farmer in Stardew Valley, you'll be able to meet Krobus, a Shadow Person, and a Dwarf simply known as 'Dwarf.' They both run shops, but Krobus' is in the sewers and the Dwarf's is next to the elevator in the mines.

Technically, you can meet other Dwarves and Shadow People. Another Dwarf appears in the volcano mines on Ginger Island, and Shadow People can appear as enemies in Stardew Valley's mines. However, they have no significant dialogue.

Krobus and the Dwarf both prefer to be underground, and they're in different parts of the Valley, so they don't come into contact much. Unfortunately, when they do, it's a bit explosive. Once you have at least 50 friendship points with the Dwarf and have bought the Stardrop from Krobus, you can enter the sewers to find them fighting. Luckily, the Wizard arrives to help you split them up. He casts a magical "Seal of Promise" once the pair agree to make peace, and they all part ways.

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