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Stardew Valley is known as an idyllic cosy game that allows players to do whatever makes them happy, but when Farmers commit a heinous act, they won't be safe from the consequences of their actions. One of the most common goals of a Stardew Valley playthrough is to find a spouse, have some children, and settle down to enjoy a peaceful existence. Some users grow tired of this and opt to "dismiss" their kids by offering a Prismatic Shard to the Dark Shrine of Selfishness; Their children will be turned into doves, setting in motion some spooky events.
Posting to Reddit, user marjack68 shared their horror at turning on their TV and discovering a new channel simply titled "???"
Opening it resulted in an image of the Ancient Doll on the screen with the text box stating that they'd seemingly unleashed something that has longed to be free. Marjack68's confusion is quickly solved when the community correctly deduced that they'd dismissed their children, resulting in some kind of entity haunting the Farmer; It goes so far as to attack players if they return to the Witch's Hut that contains the Shrine of Selfishness.
Dismissing Children Is Grim Business
Stardew Valley Doesn't Want Players To Forget That
Despite being such a welcoming experience, not even Stardew Valley can justify players "killing" their children with the Shrine of Selfishness. If marjack68 continues to venture back to the Witch's Hut, they'll always encounter the Ancient Doll that swoops around and attacks them. The curse is neverending, but the Ancient Doll can be defeated in combat which frees up the Shrine to be used for more sacrifices.
The Ancient Doll curse isn't the only creepy consequence of dismissing children in Stardew Valley. Those who have committed the dark act can hear a secret message if they own a telephone: After using the Shrine of Selfishness, the Farmer will receive a call that sounds like "roiling, abrasive static" that also features an ethereal voice that spells out "Y-O-U H-A-V-E F-O-R-S-A-K-E-N U-S." Beyond being generally eerie, there are no mechanical ramifications attached to this particular event.
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Screen Rant's Take: Stardew Valley Is At Its Best When It's Spooky
It Works Better Than One Might Expect
As much as I enjoy Stardew Valley as a relaxing experience, I love discovering some of the game's creepier parts. Personally, my favorite mystery in the game is the odd howling that can be heard whenever it rains. I've put plenty of hours into Stardew Valley and I still don't have an explanation as to what makes the sound, and frankly, I don't want to know.
Source: marjack68/Reddit