Shopkeeper Story Easter Eggs (Spoilers)

[Soleil]

So as some players may have already realized, each of the Shopkeeper's stories actually appears somewhere in the game. I've composed a screenshot album of the real-life incarnations here.
https://imgur.com/a/OfLdRDc

Autumn Hills Story

Conversation
Ninja: Do you have any stories to share?
Shopkeeper: Of course, here's one for you. There once was a servant who didn't know how to read. The day came where his master asked him to read something for her, to which he replied, "I'm sorry my lady, I can't read". That reply immediately got him fired.
Ninja: ...
Shopkeeper: So he went out in the streets looking for a tea house to relax and accept the bad news. When he couldn't find any, he reckoned he probably wasn't the only one to wish there was a tea house in his small town, so he opened up his own. It really picked up, so he built many more, and became rich in the process. One day, his accountant asked him to review a piece of document, to which he replied he didn't know how to read. The accountant, who couldn't believe his ears, said: "If you became a millionaire without even knowing how to read, just imagine where you would be if you could read". Oh I know exactly where I would be, the rich man replied. "I would be a servant". The end.
Ninja: ...
Shopkeeper: What?
Ninja: I don't see how this applies to my adventure.
Shopkeeper: It doesn't, you asked for a story.
Ninja: More like the long version of "when life gives you lemons".
Shopkeeper: Alright, since you don't seem to appreciate me sharing some clever material for your next party, I suggest you move along.

Real-Life Incarnation
Ninja Village (8-bit). There is a tea house near the beginning of the area.

Fun Fact
This story is an homage to an existing short story called "The Verger" by Somerset Maugham. It's an enjoyable read, you can read it here.[www.teachingenglish.org.uk]

Forlorn Temple Story

Conversation
Ninja: Do you have any stories to share?
Shopkeeper: Of course, here's one for you. There once was a princess looking for a suitable husband. She sent an invitation to all neighboring princes, stating that the main trait she was looking for was sensitivity. Contenders came and went, attempting to pass her test. You will be my guest tonight, the princess would explain. "All I need you to do is sleep on that pile of mattresses." The next morning, she would ask them how their night was. I had the best sleep of my life, each would reply, confident they had proved they didn't fear the dark, or that they could be easy guests. They were all promptly dismissed. One day, an especially sensitive prince reported he couldn't sleep at all. I don't know what was up with that pile of mattresses, he went on, "It looked comfortable enough, but when I laid on it, it was like I had a fork stuck in my kidney." They got married the next day.
Ninja: Oh, everyone knows that story, there was a pea underneath the pile, so that someone who's extremely sensitive wouldn't be able to sleep.
Shopkeeper: Yes, but have you ever heard of what happened after?
Ninja: ???
Shopkeeper: For the first few weeks, everything was amazing. The prince would always complain! Just the guy she asked for. When the soup wasn't too hot, it's the cutlery that was too cold. When the music wasn't too loud, the paintings were uninspired. And when the clothes weren't itchy, the poems were predictable Until one day, just like that, it dawned on the princess that she was in a toxic relationship. Not only was her husband a drag, she had voluntarily picked him for exactly that reason. It dawned on her just like that, how this whole love story was nothing more than two people whose dysfunctions matched like puzzle pieces. Incredibly humble by regal standards, she realized that she was the only constant in all her problems, delved into personal growth, then got a divorce. She lived happily ever after. The end.

Real-Life Incarnation
Searing Crags (16-bit). In a room with a Power Seal, there is a mattress with a small green pea underneath it.

Catacombs Story

Conversation
Ninja: Do you have any stories to share?
Shopkeeper: Of course, here's one for you. There once was poor old lady who had nothing in life, save for a small shack and a pear tree. Her name was Madam Misery. Her whole family ate misery, and sometimes there wasn't even enough misery to go around. One day, she was visited by a starving beggar, who asked whether she had any food to spare. She didn't, but her heart was as big as her situation was unfortunate. So she served the beggar a few clumps out of the tasteless broth she had simmering, then invited him to help himself to a few pears. The beggar removed his cloak, revealing himself as a deity. He was disguised as a beggar to see whether there was any kindness left in the world. Touched by Madam Misery's generosity, he offered to grant her a wish.
Ninja: Let me guess, she didn't want anything and it's a moral about living frugally?
Shopkeeper: No no, this is good, let me continue. She mentioned a lot of people were stealing her fruits, which jeopardized her chance to eat every day. Her wish was simple: an enchantment on her pear tree, so that it would trap anyone who stole from it until she decided to free them. The divine visitor granted her wish and took his leave. Time went by and she scolded many thieves, but soon realized that most of them were starving children. She decided to take it upon herself to feed and educate them, and soon became the pillar of a thriving new generation. Ever happy and generous, Madam Misery got so old that her face looked like an elephant's knee. And then one day, Death came for her.
Ninja: ...
Shopkeeper: Death, following the protocol, inquired about her last request. I would like to eat one last pear from my tree, she said. "Would you be kind enough to grab one for me?" Death climbed into the tree to grab a pear, getting trapped in the process. The old lady decided to never let Death out of the trap, and since then there has been Misery in the world. The end.
Ninja: ...
Shopkeeper: Right?
Ninja: What's the moral? Being selfless justifies being selfish later?
Shopkeeper: ...
Ninja: Generosity begets misery?
Shopkeeper: I don't know, it's a fairytale for kids, I just thought the idea of death trapped in a pear tree was interesting.

Real-Life Incarnation
Quillshroom Marsh (16-bit). On the lower pathway to the Searing Crags world portal, Death is stuck to a pear tree next to a wooden dilapidated house, which is Madam Misery's house.

Bamboo Creek Story

Conversation
Ninja: Do you have any stories to share?
Shopkeeper: Of course I do, but now is not the time.
Ninja: Why not?
Shopkeeper: You're in Bamboo Creek! This is as sunny as it gets in this here cursed world.
Ninja: So?
Shopkeeper: So I suggest you take the opportunity to play outside.
Ninja: ...
Shopkeeper: Bye now.

Real-Life Incarnation
Nothing.

Howling Grotto Story

Conversation
Ninja: Do you have any stories to share?
Shopkeeper: Of course, here's one for you. There once was a king who had a pretty rough time managing his emotions. Experiencing nothing but extremes, he would always feel either too excited or too depressed, which caused him to never get anything done. Just as he was about to lose all hope of getting his life together and be a viable ruler for his people, he was visited by a traveling relic hunter. To rid the king of his woes, the relic hunter gave him a magic ring, promising it would make him sad when he is happy, and happy when he is sad. It worked like a literal charm, and the kingdom became very prosperous as a result. When the king passed away, the castle's wizard promptly grabbed the ring to finally try and understand the source of its power. As it turned out, the ring wasn't magic at all! But how could a non-magic ring make you sad when you are happy and happy when you are sad?
Ninja: ...
Shopkeeper: ...
Ninja: ...
Shopkeeper: Any guess?
Ninja: Not really.
Shopkeeper: It had a small inscription that read "This, too, shall pass".
Ninja: Woah... that's deep.
Shopkeeper: It's more than deep, I just gave you the cure for anxiety through a fairytale!
Ninja: Thanks shopkeeper!
Shopkeeper: Hey now, don't push it.

Real-Life Incarnation
Forlorn Temple (16-bit). In the upper-left section of the temple, a king's crown, king's robes, and a tiny silver ring are next to what could be presumed to be a grave.

Quillshroom Marsh Story

Conversation
Ninja: Do you have any stories to share?
Shopkeeper: Of course, here's one for you. There once was a Messenger who kept asking for stories.
Ninja: ...
Shopkeeper: Even though he was supposed to move on with his very important quest, he just couldn't get enough. The Shopkeeper, living in a void outside of time, was connected to all eras, and so at first was happy to share the myths and legends encountered over decades of traveling. Alas, the Messenger never seemed to appreciate the morals or takeaways, so the Shopkeeper decided to be done with the stories thing.
Ninja: ...
Shopkeeper: The end.
Ninja: ... No way! I liked your stories.
Shopkeeper: ...
Ninja: Come on!
Shopkeeper: Maybe later, we'll see.

Real-Life Incarnation
The Messenger.

Searing Crags Story

Conversation
Ninja: Do you have any stories to share?
Shopkeeper: Of course, here's one for you. It's a story I once told the guy who hooked me up with music for my shop. There once was a village struggling to figure out who the werewolf was. People kept dying every full moon, and very gorily at that. One day, a brave young couple decided to venture into the woods. He would be the hunter, and she, the bait. As one would expect from such a clichéd setting, they got separated and our hunter faced off alone against the beast near a cliff. After fifteen minutes of a literal uphill battle, the hunter managed to chop off the werewolf's paw with his axe, just as it was attempting to choke him. The hunter then ran for his life, severed paw still clutched to his throat. By the time he got home, the sun was up, and he found his fiancée bleeding, also badly wounded. The paw on his throat had reverted to its human form, and that moment he noticed it was wearing a ring he had purchased a few days ago. The end.
Ninja: ...woah, that was spooky.
Shopkeeper: I'm still looking for a title. Any suggestions?
Ninja: What about "The werewolf bride"?
Shopkeeper: Wow, great idea!
Ninja: Really?
Shopkeeper: No, not really. You put the reveal in the title.
Ninja: ...

Real-Life Incarnation
Quillshroom Marsh (16-bit). On the pathway to the Magic Seashell pedestal, there is a hunter's axe and a severed hand with an engagement ring, near a crate.

Fun Fact
This story was truly told by the Shopkeeper to the music creator, Rainbowdragoneyes, on Twitter, many months before the game was released.
https://twitter.com/rnbwdragoneyes/status/950921463539863552

Glacial Peak Story

Conversation
Ninja: Do you have any stories to share?
Shopkeeper: Of course, here's one for you. There once was a village settled in a land of ice and snow. Food was scarce, but not as much as heat. Their elders spoke of a lush grove, safe, abundant, and with comfortable weather to boot. The only problem was, that grove lay on the other side of a permanent hailstorm which would take weeks to cross. One day, a brave couple left their young boy behind to attempt what the village called "The Trek". They would scout all the way to the grove and confirm its existence, then come back to the village and lead everyone to a better life. Like all who attempted The Trek before them, they sadly and predictably never came back. Over the following decades, that boy grew up with only one goal in mind: to take on The Trek himself, and find his parents alive at the grove, or dead in the ice. Figuring they may have simply been ill prepared, he trained every day until he was five years older than his parents were when they left for The Trek, then set off for his own attempt. The hailstorm's first bite wasn't as bad as he thought it would be, but the ice-cold soil slowly worked its way into his bones. After days of walking through the storm without realizing it was all just a metaphor playing out in his troubled young adult mind, he stumbled upon a no pun intended chilling sight. His parents, frozen solid in a block of ice. The shock was too strong. He remained there, cursing, pondering, and cursing again, until the cold took him to become a part of the ice block. The end.
Ninja: What?
Shopkeeper: What do you mean what?
Ninja: No moral, or at least a proper ending?
Shopkeeper: Sometimes, stories can be harsh. It might just be the very message they mean to convey about life. You need to think about what transpired and find your own takeaways. There are no wrong answers, as long as they ring true to you.
Ninja: Maybe, but this one really felt like a pointless story.
Shopkeeper: And it just might be the case that for you it was.
Ninja: ...
Shopkeeper: Or, you could consider the implications of our adventurer being five years older than his parents when he found them. Can you imagine, gazing upon those who were your protectors and mentors, realizing they are actually younger than you? Your bearers of truth, the wise ones, those you aspired to be like? A harsh reality indeed: you thought they knew it all, had it all figured out, that they were centered and filled with purpose. Yet there you stand, beholding the one pillar you ever took for granted and used for stability, physically crystalized, yet mentally shattered before your very eyes. Had they really found inner peace already when you knew them, meaning you're the one who missed the mark, or were they simply excellent actors?
Ninja: ...
Shopkeeper: Food for thought, huh?
Ninja: Yes, that's enough.
Shopkeeper: Remember, this is all subjective. I shared but one angle.

Real-Life Incarnation
Glacial Peak (16-bit). In an area with a Big Time Shard, you can see a couple holding hands in an ice block.

Tower of Time Story

Conversation
Ninja: Do you have any stories to share?
Shopkeeper: Of course, here's one for you. There once was a land filled with bogs. And these bogs, they were filled with evil monsters. Sleeping underwater during the day, they were kept at bay by the Moon during nighttime. Well, when she was kind enough to be around. After all, the Moon was free to travel through space, and often felt like shining her light on other realms. One day the Moon got bored, and decided to visit the bog land in human form. Wearing a cloak so that her light wouldn't shine through, she hoped to catch a glance of the evil creatures. Getting more than people wandering haphazardly in cursed lands usually bargain for, she encountered a man fleeing from a small pack of monsters. Confident in her power, she removed her cloak, creating a glittering aura of protection to help the man escape. Escape he did, but as he looked back, he could see that his savior had put her cloak back on a little too soon. She was captured by the creatures, who then buried her under a rock so that her light would never shine again. They would rule the night. But our survivor was quick to gather a group of peasants, who went to remove the big rock and set the Moon free. A strong bond was formed on that day, and she decided to become their guardian. To this day the Moon is there to guide human travelers through the night. The end.
Ninja: Oh I liked that one, I guess it speaks to the power of cooperation?
Shopkeeper: Maybe. To be honest I only wanted to use the word "haphazardly" in a story.

Real-Life Incarnation
The Corrupted Future (16-bit). Near the end of the level, there is a rock with a crescent moon symbol on it.

Cloud Ruins Story

Conversation
Ninja: Do you have any stories to share?
Shopkeeper: Of course, here's one for you. There was once a starving little boy who never missed a chance to help his fellow villagers. One day, after helping an old man carry a heavy bundle of wheat, he was offered a loaf of bread. Eat your fill, my boy, it is well deserved, he began, "but if you feel like helping even more, there are two gnomes hiding in the forest who are even hungrier than you are." Now that boy was an empathetic one. His mind was made up instantly. After a short hike, he found the gnomes and split the bread between the two of them, without even saving a bite for himself. Thank you, kind little boy, the gnomes beamed "it seems you have lifted our curse." Indeed, to punish them for their greed, a spirit had put them under a rather annoying spell. They were exiled to the forest, carrying a magic little mill capable of producing anything its bearer desired. But the little mill's magic would only be activated once the gnomes were fed by a stranger acting out of selfless generosity. To starve while carrying a relic promising abundance, a cruel fate indeed. Now you can imagine the little boy's surprise when he was given the magic item. Name something you want while turning the crank to the right, and the little mill will produce an endless stream of it, the gnomes explained. Turn it to the left, and it will stop. After creating a huge pile of food for the two gnomes, the young boy went back to his village to help the populace with his newfound powers. But as he grew in popularity, his older sister grew in jealousy. One night she couldn't take it anymore, and stole the little mill from her brother's bedside table, along with two leftover pies from that afternoon's feast. Adding insult to injury, she left on the family's fishing boat to reach new lands, hoping to have her turn in the role of the popular purveyor. Once out at sea, she decided to try one of the pies, which to her taste were lacking a little something.
It was time to try that little mill's magic, she reckoned. "Give me salt!" she said, turning the crank to the right. And salt she got. Heaps and heaps of it. Now, older sister had never bothered paying attention to how the mill could be stopped. STOP! LITTLE MILL, STOP! she shouted, first annoyed, then worried, and finally panicked. Salt soon overflowed the boat itself, sinking it under the weight. It is said that the sunken little mill is still operational to this day, and is the reason why seawater is salty. The end.
Ninja: That was interesting, but it feels more like a kid's story explaining things about the world we know the actual reason for.
Shopkeeper: Tough crowd, huh? Why don't you tell me a story and I'll judge it?
Ninja: ...
Shopkeeper: So, you're looking for additional takeaways? How about this: seeing how big sister's anger led to her demise, irritated people were henceforth referred to as "salty".
Ninja: ...
Shopkeeper: Oh I got another one: seeing how big sister's shortcomings as a little mill operator led to her demise, unqualified people were henceforth referred to as not being "worth their salt". Hey this is fun. You should go, I'll keep on coming up with morals to do with salt.

Real-Life Incarnation
Sunken Shrine (16-bit). In the room with the Music Note, a little mill with a rotating crank is emitting salt particles in the ocean background.

Underworld Story

Conversation
Ninja: Do you have any stories to share?
Shopkeeper: Of course, here's one for you. There once was a guy visited by a succubus.
Far from being that kind of demon, she offered him a unique chance to visit Hell as a tourist. Very adventurous by nature, he jumped right into the portal. They arrived in a room where giant cauldrons boiled over bonfires. They contained people, where little demons with pikes were sitting on the rim to push anyone who tried to escape back inside. Who's in that cauldron?, the man asked his succubus tour guide. This one? That's where liars and cheaters end up, she explained. And this one over there, she continued, "that's for people who hunt for sport." Aghast, the man noticed another cauldron, much bigger than the other ones, and devoid of any demons sitting on its rim. Indeed, that one cauldron seemed to self-regulate, people were pulling back in anyone who tried to escape! And who's this cauldron for?, he asked, curious as to who could be so stubborn in their ideology they would rather hurt themselves than rethink their worldview. Oh, that cauldron, the succubus mused, "that's for people who think the order doesn't apply anymore when another line opens up at the market." The end.
Ninja: ... Ok now you're just using the platform to vent!
Shopkeeper: What is wrong with you, are you that guy?
Ninja: Which guy?
Shopkeeper: The guy who's fifth in line but rushes to be first when a new line opens up.
Ninja: ...
Shopkeeper: Oh right, different timeline. Never mind.

Real-Life Incarnation
Underworld (16-bit). In the room before you fight Barma'thazël, there are statues on each side of the room, depicting tiny demons with pikes sitting on the rims of cauldrons.

Music Box Story

Conversation
Ninja: Do you have any stories to share?
Shopkeeper: One last for the road, huh? Why of course, here's one for you. There once was a little boy stuck in a well. It wasn't really clear why he was in there. People assumed he fell while playing, or that someone had pushed him. In truth, he had jumped in there himself.

Real-Life Incarnation
Forlorn Temple. In the first screen, there is a well. Unlike the other easter eggs, you can see this well in both 8-bit and 16-bit.

Note
I didn't post the entire Music Box story conversation, because I feel it's meant to be read within the game itself.

[ayetoday]

great topic.

[Soleil]

Thanks!

[Sid Icarus]

I've been looking for a hero to transcribe the three big semi-secret philosophical speeches.

[Soleil]

That's a slightly different subject than this one, you should probably create a separate thread for it.

[Sid Icarus]

True, I'll do that.

[Soleil]

Found the "magic" ring story, added the location for it to the list.

[Soleil]

Added the Underworld story location.

I had seen these background statues a long time ago but I assumed maybe they could be found in other rooms. But it seems that this is the only room with these specific statues, so it's most likely the easter egg.

There are still 2 missing stories.

[A Caustic Mirage]

Soleil, this is magnificent. Thank you.

[Soleil]

Thanks, Detective Frank Pembleton!

Okay, so it's getting down to the wire. Really struggling to figure out the last 2 story easter egg locations (assuming that they actually have locations). I MIGHT have found one? But it might be just me making a huge leap in logic.

Is this a guy with like a sword sticking out of his abdomen? The sprite's kinda tiny, so it's difficult to tell.
https://i.imgur.com/59Xqnrd.png

If that's what it is, it could be a reference to the Forlorn Temple's story.
"One day, an especially sensitive prince reported he couldn't sleep at all. 'I don't know what was up with that pile of mattresses", he went on 'It looked comfortable enough, but when I laid on it, it was like I had a fork stuck in my kidney.'"

The problem is it looks more like a knight rather than a prince. Also he looks like he's kind of dead, which isn't exactly what happens in the story. But I don't think I've ever seen a pile of mattresses anywhere in the game...

[Soleil]

Ah never mind, it's not an easter egg, there's an identical sword-in-abdomen statue in the first room of the Temple of Time and a few other rooms too.

[Soleil]

Earlier, I made 2 false assumptions:
- Each area only has up to 1 story.
- The Music Box story didn't have a related easter egg.

However, I found/remembered the well in the first screen of Forlorn Temple. I'm pretty sure this is the only well in the game. So this would mean that it is possible for 1 area to have more than one easter egg. Also that the Music Box story does have a link. I assumed there was no link since the story was a reference to real life, but there is an actual well in the game, so yeah.

However, if there are any other wells in the game, then I'll have to reconsider these lines of logic.

[Soleil]

I found the werewolf story easter egg!

Only 1 missing easter egg!

[Stingy McDuck]

I thought the boy in the well was an analogy for the game's development process.

[Soleil]

I thought so too, 'til I found a literal actual well in the game! Also probably the only well!

[Sneakenheimer]

damn... didn't realise that! :) thx