Starborn Valley

Starborn Valley
Starborn Valley.png
First appearance	Paper Mario (2000)
Ruler	Merle
Inhabitants	Star Kids, Ninjis, Toads (notably Frost T.)

Starborn Valley is the place where Star Kids, like Twink, are born in Paper Mario. Merlon's son, Merle lives here and, with help from a group of Ninji, raise the Star Kids before they leave for Star Haven. While Mario and his partners visit this place, they learn from Merle that the last of the Star Spirits is being held in the Crystal Palace. To get to Starborn Valley, Mario needs to trek across Shiver Snowfield. Frost T. as well as other Toads also lives here.

Before Mario reaches Starborn Valley, Monstar appears and fights him, but turns out to be the Star Kids in disguise, who were trying to protect the valley and did not realize who Mario was. Merle later apologies for the trouble they caused.

Characters found

Character	Description	Quotes	Goombario's Tattle
Star Kid	A Star Kid near the entrance of Starborn Valley.	"I wanna go to Star Haven. When I get to go there, I wanna deliver lots of people's wishes, and I wanna become a great Star Spirit someday. When I do, I'll grant your wishes, Mario! Of course I will! I promise!" "What's Star Haven like? You're gonna go there before we even get to, aren't you? I bet it's super cool..."	"He's a Star Kid who isn't allowed to go up to the sky. It doesn't seem to have affected his spirits, though. It's no use worrying about these little guys now, Mario. We'll help 'em soon!"
Star Kid	A Star Kid on the stairs of Starborn Valley.	"I wonder how Twink is doing? He was the last one to rise up to the sky. He went just before Bowser took the Star Rod. He was such a great kid. He looked after everybody. Do you think I'll ever get to see Twink again?" "Yes! Yes! Stellar! I can rise up to the sky pretty soon now, right? I can't wait! I'm gonna rise up the second the Star Rod is back. And the first thing I'm gonna do is visit Twink."	"It's one of the Star Kids. Hey, maybe if we make friends with the Star Kids now, they'll grant us tons of wishes later!"
Star Kid	A Star Kid near Merle's house who likes playing hide-and-seek.	"You found me! Hee hee hee hee... What, did you see me glittering? Hey, do you think I can rise into the sky soon?" "You found me! Hee hee hee hee... What, did you see me glittering? When I grow up, I'm gonna be a really great star that people can see from really far away, and I'll be really cool."	"This Star Kid thinks he's made himself invisible. He wants to go up to the sky. OK, but, it's hard to imagine this little prankster granting anyone's wishes..."
Star Kid	A Star Kid inside the house in the east of Starborn Valley.	"Tell me a story! Tell me the story about the time you saved a Star Spirit!" "Mario, when you see the Star Spirits and they ask about us, tell them that we'll be good so they'll let us rise up as soon as possible, OK?"	"It's a Star Kid--just a baby. Star Kids are so full of life, aren't they? I always wanted a younger brother, you know. It would be fun to get into hijinks with a little bro."
Star Kid	A Star Kid inside the house in the east of Starborn Valley.	"I wonder what Twink is doing. Do you think Twink's doing fun stuff up there?" "I've still got some more time 'til I rise up to the sky. Once we all rise up, lots more little stars will come here. I'll be an older star then."	"It's a Star Kid. She's so cute! She reminds me of Goombaria."
Star Kid	A Star Kid inside the house in the east of Starborn Valley.	"Somebody read me a story. It was all about how Stars in Star Haven grant people's wishes." "When I go up to the sky, I wanna grant all the wishes of everyone in this valley. They take good care of us and always stand up for us."	"It's a Star kid. He wants a younger brother. Hey, so do I! I hope he becomes a great star one day."
Ninji	A Ninji near the entrance of Starborn Valley.	"I've never been so busy. These Star Kids are as hyper as the day is long." "I watch the sky at night... The stars are so beautiful. Soon, they'll be as bright as they used to be, back when the Star Rod was in Star Haven. I just know it."	"He's one of the Ninjis. Because the Ninjis are so small, it must be hard for 'em to keep the Star Kids in line."
Ninji	A Ninji on the stairs of Starborn Valley.	"One of the Star Kids is hiding somewhere! Hmmmph! Could you tell me if you find him? I suppose it's natural for youngsters to be full of energy, but they're trying my patience! I don't have time for this..." "The Star Spirits are all back in Star Haven? That's great! I couldn't be happier! Now, though, you still have to get that Star Rod back. These poor Star Kids... Until the Star Rod's back, they can't rise up to the sky."	"He's one of the Ninjis. The Ninjis are excellent baby-sitters for the Star Kids. Of course, they have to run around constantly, but hey. They're working really hard."
Ninji	A Ninji near Merle's house.	"I've got my hands full with these Star Kids. They're all so active!" "Why, they say you saved all of the Star Spirits! That's awfully good of you! Now what you need to do is get back that Star Rod. Star Kids are counting on you!"	"He's one of the Ninjis. The Ninjis are taking care of the Star Kids. Merle is in charge. He seems really busy, though."
Ninji	A Ninji taking care of three Star Kids inside the house in the east of Starborn Valley.	"I'm cooking for the Star Kids. They're behaving pretty well. That's a relief. It's probably because they believe you'll get the Star Rod back. I certainly hope you do." "All of the Star Spirits have finally returned! What a joyous day! Things are really looking up! We're all cheering for you!"	"He's one of the Ninjis. The Ninjis take care of the Star Kids. I hear that they're great cooks."
Frost T.	A green Toad near the entrance of Starborn Valley.	"Along with the Ninjis, we're taking care of the Star Kids under the instruction of the mystic, Merle. It's very rewarding to think that one of these kids might grow up to be a Star Spirit! Oh, can you imagine it? What a happy day that'd be... But unless things get better around here, it'll just be a fantasy that never comes true." "The Star Spirits are all back in Star Haven! Hooray! That means the day when these little Star Kids might rise up is coming soon. Oh, I've dreamed about that day for so long! Until it comes, I'll keep taking care of them."	"This Toad is taking care of the Star Kids. Some people say that taking care of kids is like fighting a war every day. I think these Star Kids are OK, though. I'm sure they're grateful for their baby-sitter's hard work."
Red Toad	A red Toad near the Toad House in Starborn Valley.	"Please get the Star Rod back from Bowser, Mario! The Mushroom Kingdom deserves to be at peace. Good luck..." "I can hardly believe it! You've saved all the Star Spirits! So I guess now you're going straight to Bowser's Castle? All right! I hope the princess and everybody else is still doing OK... You'd better save them as quickly as possible! You're the only one who can do it, you know."	"This Toad is taking care of the Star Kids. He's dressed for the weather. I don't know why he needs to dress in such warm clothes. His head looks like it'd keep him warm all by itself."
Toad House runner	A red Toad running the Toad House in Starborn Valley.	"The slogan of Toad House is... 'Refresh your Body and Soul!' Would you like to take a nap?" "...Huh? But...you look healthy. You want to stay over anyway?" "Pleasant dreams!" "Did you sleep well? I wish you luck!" "Please come again!"	"He's a Toad. He was sent here from Princess Peach's Castle. He runs the local Toad House. He doesn't have to take care of any Star Kids. He has his own job."
Blue Toad	A blue Toad near the house in the east of Starborn Valley.	"Along with the Ninjis, we're taking care of the Star Kids under the instruction of the mystic, Merle. It's very rewarding to think that one of these kids might grow up to be a Star Spirit! Oh, can you imagine it? What a happy day that'd be... But unless things get better around here, it'll just be a fantasy that never comes true." "The Star Spirits are all back in Star Haven! Hooray! That means the day when these little Star Kids might rise up is coming soon. Oh, I've dreamed about that day for so long! Until it comes, I'll keep taking care of them."	"This Toad is taking care of the Star Kids. It must be tough running after such rascals in deep snow. I mean, Star Kids can fly! It's gotta be tough for a Toad to keep track of 'em while walking on the ground."
Merle	A Shaman who resides in the valley. He gives Mario the Scarf and other hints.	See List of Paper Mario quotes § Merle	"He's Merle, the person who controls this valley. He's the one who called you. He's the son of Merlon. That means... Merle must be the father of the fortune-tellers Merluvlee and Merlow."

Items found

Item	Icon	Location
Scarf		Given by Merle after talking to him.
Letter		Given by Frost T. after giving him Dane T.'s letter.

Area Tattle

• "This is Starborn Valley. Merle makes his home here, along with Ninjis and Toads. They look after Star Kids until they go up to the sky. It must be a hard work."

In-game map description

• Star Kids are born in this sparkling valley. Frost T. and Ninjis take care of the newly born Star Kids. Merle's house and a Toad House are here, too.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Chinese	诞星谷[?] Dànxīng Gǔ	Valley where stars are born
German	Sternental[?]	Star Valley
Spanish	Valle de Estrellas[?]	Valley of Stars