Yoba
| Yoba | |
|---|---|
| Type | Villager |
Yoba is the ancient guardian deity worshipped by many people in Stardew Valley. Yoba never appears in person, but the name comes up again and again in villagers' dialogue, in heart events and in the scenery. The main place of worship is the altar room behind Pierre's General Store, where some townsfolk gather on Sunday mornings. The sign of Yoba, called the Sign Of The Vessel in game, decorates graves, homes and even a dwarvish forge. Several items carry the name too, most usefully the Ring of Yoba, a combat ring that can make the farmer briefly immune to harm. Knowing who believes and who scoffs explains a few tense moments, including one heart event where the wrong answer costs a huge amount of friendship.
Lore
A lost book in the Museum library, "Highlights from The Book of Yoba", tells the faith's creation story. In it, Yoba begins as a voice in an endless golden light. Yoba swirls the light into a vortex until a seed springs from its centre, then smooths the light into soil and plants the seed. A vine grows skyward and bears fruit, and when Yoba peels the fruit, the world is found inside. The story fits a farming valley well, since the whole world begins as a crop.
The symbol of Yoba is the Anglo-Saxon rune "ear", which can mean "earth" or "grave". That double meaning matches where the symbol appears most: on gravestones and in places of comfort. The rune hangs on Grandpa's wall in the opening scene. It also hangs in a room at Harvey's Clinic to comfort believers, and above Mayor Lewis' bed.
The dwarves may share the faith. The sign of Yoba appears on the plaque above the Dwarvish Forge in the Volcano on Ginger Island. Krobus, a shadow person, also says he stays silent on Fridays as a sign of devotion to Yoba.
Relationships
The altar room belongs to Pierre's family, but they do not follow the faith. Caroline explains that the previous owners built it, and the family lets other townsfolk use it if they wish. George visits the Statue of Yoba every Sunday morning and admits he has never been religious, but he is old now. Jodi also prays there on Sundays. While her husband is away, she asks Yoba for his safe return. Once Kent is home, he joins her at the altar.
Pam is a quiet believer. In her nine-heart event the farmer finds her praying before a Sign of the Vessel statue in her new house. She confesses that the house has not helped her stop drinking. Answering "Sorry Pam, but Yoba isn't real..." angers her and costs a large amount of friendship. Later the statue stands near her bed, and a tool can knock it loose for the farmer to keep.
Emily also turns to Yoba. As the farmer's spouse, she may bless the day in Yoba's name. If she sees a movie she dislikes, she holds up the sign of Yoba and asks for protection from its dark energy.
Others are not believers. Shane calls himself an atheist in his six-heart event, and as a husband he notes bitterly that his name means "Gift from Yoba". Many villagers still use the name in everyday speech. Robin thanks Yoba after a fire scare, and Demetrius cries "Sweet Yoba" when Maru's robot speaks. In George and Evelyn's bedroom, a letter from their late daughter Clara tells them not to be upset, because she is with Yoba now.
Notes
The Ring of Yoba is the most useful item tied to the deity. Crafting it takes 5 Gold Bars, 5 Iron Bars and a Diamond, and The Mines supply all three. After the wearer takes a hit, it has a chance to grant a short spell of invulnerability. That makes it a handy safety net on dangerous mine floors.
Tailoring Cloth with Solar Essence makes the Yoba Shirt. Krobus sells the Sign of the Vessel decoration in The Sewers, and the Grave Stone decoration shows the same symbol. The sign also turns up in Abigail's fourteen-heart event, where she marks a monster's grave in The Backwoods with it.
The arcade game Journey of the Prairie King uses the symbol as well. Its tombstone power-up shows the sign upside down and strikes the farmer with lightning, turning them into an invulnerable zombie for a short time.
All Villagers
Every entry in this group, with its key details.
| Name | Image | Birthday | Lives In |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abigail | 
|
13 Fall | Pelican Town |
| Alex | 
|
Summer 13 | Pelican Town |
| Birdie | 
|
- | Ginger Island |
| Bouncer | 
|
- | The Desert |
| Caroline | 
|
Winter 7 | Pelican Town |
| Children | - | - | - |
| Clara Mullner | - | - | - |
| Clint | 
|
Winter 26 | Pelican Town |
| Demetrius | 
|
Summer 19 | The Mountain |
| Dwarf | 
|
Summer 22 | The Mines |
| Elliott | 
|
Fall 5 | The Beach |
| Emily | 
|
Spring 27 | Pelican Town |
| Evelyn | 
|
Winter 20 | Pelican Town |
| Fizz | 
|
- | Ginger Island |
| George | 
|
Fall 24 | Pelican Town |
| Gil | 
|
- | The Mountain |
| Governor | 
|
- | - |
| Grandpa | 
|
- | - |
| Gunther | 
|
- | Pelican Town |
| Gus | 
|
Summer 8 | Pelican Town |
| Haley | 
|
Spring 14 | Pelican Town |
| Harvey | 
|
Winter 14 | Pelican Town |
| Henchman | 
|
- | Witch's Swamp |
| Jas | 
|
Summer 4 | Cindersap Forest |
| Jodi | 
|
Fall 11 | Pelican Town |
| Junimos | 
|
- | Community Center |
| Kent | 
|
Spring 4 | Pelican Town |
| Krobus | 
|
Winter 1 | The Sewers |
| Leah | 
|
Winter 23 | Cindersap Forest |
| Leo | 
|
Summer 26 | Ginger Island |
| Lewis | 
|
Spring 7 | Pelican Town |
| Linus | 
|
Winter 3 | The Mountain |
| Marlon | 
|
- | The Mountain |
| Marnie | 
|
Fall 18 | Cindersap Forest |
| Maru | 
|
Summer 10 | The Mountain |
| Morris | 
|
- | Pelican Town |
| Mr. Qi | 
|
- | The Calico Desert |
| Old Mariner | 
|
- | The Beach |
| Pam | 
|
Spring 18 | Pelican Town |
| Penny | 
|
Fall 2 | Pelican Town |
| Pierre | 
|
Spring 26 | Pelican Town |
| Professor Snail | 
|
- | Ginger Island |
| Robin | 
|
Fall 21 | The Mountain |
| Sam | 
|
Summer 17 | Pelican Town |
| Sandy | 
|
Fall 15 | The Desert |
| Sebastian | 
|
Winter 10 | The Mountain |
| Shane | 
|
Spring 20 | Cindersap Forest |
| The Merpeople | - | - | - |
| Vincent | 
|
Spring 10 | Pelican Town |
| Willy | 
|
Summer 24 | The Beach |
| Wizard | 
|
Winter 17 | Cindersap Forest |
| Yoba | - | - | - |