Thoughts About Yoba?

[Alysha]

So I was in Pierre's and I noticed that some NPCs were actually at the shrine of Yoba. I genuinely didn't know that anybody used the shrine, but now I can't stop thinking about Yoba. I was just curious to see if anybody had any theories about Yoba.

 

[goboking]

IIRC, there's a book in the library that talks about Yoba and the creation of the world.

Incidentally, I wish the temple to Yoba was its own building. I find it weird that Caroline and Abigail hide in their room while others use their house for religious purposes.

 

[Maher]

As you note, villagers worship Yoba on Sunday mornings at the shrine in the general store. There is the creation myth in the library. There is Krobus' observance of a day of silence for Yoba on Fridays. There is Pam's purchase of staff of Yoba in her quest for sobriety, and her very adamant reaction if the PC denies Yoba's existence. There does not seem to be any Yoba talk around the Feast of the Winter Star. So this is the extent I've found of in game evidence through 1.5.6.

The questions this leaves me with are: Is Krobus' practice general among the Shadow People, or is it another way he is distinct from the others? Do the Yoba worshipers among the villagers regard Sunday as a prescribed day of worship, and if so, from where is the custom derived? What, if any, relationship exists between Yoba and the Winter Star?

 

[FilthyGorilla]

I find it quite interesting though it’s shrouded in quite a bit of mystery and we never learn all that much about it. There is a book in the museum which tells of the creation of the world by yobas hands and we see krobus worshipping which may imply multiple species do (or that it’s a human custom he’s adopted)

 

[HaleyRocks]

Next to the dying Grandfather, the rune-like symbol on the wall, must be the sign of Yoba. Also, the strange sign Krobus sells, is identical to it.

I bet Mr.Qi knows more about Yoba but obviously, he never tells.

 

[NetworkerC]

As you note, villagers worship Yoba on Sunday mornings at the shrine in the general store. There is the creation myth in the library. There is Krobus' observance of a day of silence for Yoba on Fridays. There is Pam's purchase of staff of Yoba in her quest for sobriety, and her very adamant reaction if the PC denies Yoba's existence. There does not seem to be any Yoba talk around the Feast of the Winter Star. So this is the extent I've found of in game evidence through 1.5.6.

The questions this leaves me with are: Is Krobus' practice general among the Shadow People, or is it another way he is distinct from the others? Do the Yoba worshipers among the villagers regard Sunday as a prescribed day of worship, and if so, from where is the custom derived? What, if any, relationship exists between Yoba and the Winter Star?

Feast of the Winter Star is based around the meteor that Stardrops come from. Speak to Willy next time you’re at the Feast.

 

[MogBeoulve]

I find it quite interesting though it’s shrouded in quite a bit of mystery and we never learn all that much about it. There is a book in the museum which tells of the creation of the world by yoba's hands and we see krobus worshipping which may imply multiple species do (or that it’s a human custom he’s adopted)

If it's a human-only custom that Krobus adopted, I wonder if perhaps it is an older one that fell out of favor recently; perhaps it was something that the family who used to own the general store and Yoba shrine did before they sold to Pierre. We don't know how long Krobus has been in the sewers listening to the villagers.

If worship of Yoba crosses species barriers, that also has interesting implications. Perhaps humans worship on Sundays and shadow people observe a day of silence on Fridays. Wait, that also implies that the humans and shadow people share a seven-day week!

I'm not religious but it's so fun to think about in this context.

 

[Bawby]

Emily also asks for Yoba's blessings for the farmer while married.

I dug around and she says this on the 2nd day of Summer, which is a Tuesday.
I couldn't find or think of any reasoning behind this day of all days, though...

 

[Maher]

Krobus worshipping which may imply multiple species do (or that it’s a human custom he’s adopted)

Given that Krobus' devotion is silence on Fridays, and the Villagers' devotion is communal worship on Sunday, I would tend to see separate traditions at play.

 

[PoppyForPenny]

The secret note to get the lucky charm is a map that starts at the middle of the plaza, the same place weddings are held. I thought the design in the pavement was called The Eye Of Yoba, but I can't find anything that says that now.

 

[Bawby]

For that matter, why does the Yoba Shirt come from a Solar Essence? It kinda makes sense, being warm and bright, plus it comes from slaying mainly undead enemies. So, doing good!
But why Void Essences from Shadows and Serpents? Are we doing bad? I guess Solar and Void Essences aren't necessarily opposite, but they certainly appear so...
That was a bit off topic, but it got me thinking about hidden lore that was likely never intended. Fun though!

 

[stardew_luv]

I’ve always thought it was the God or higher power of Stardew. It has many likeness to the Christian faith. Not saying that’s what CA intended, just saying the days of devotion and all. Sundays and Fridays are days of devotion in many denominations Christianity. But the vagueness also allows for it to include persons of all faiths. But it is the faith (whichever one you believe) of Stardew land. If you do not have faith than you would not believe in Yoba in Stardew. You’d just not attend services like most don’t in Stardew. Or have belief but not attend like a few do.

 

[stardew_luv]

For that matter, why does the Yoba Shirt come from a Solar Essence? It kinda makes sense, being warm and bright, plus it comes from slaying mainly undead enemies. So, doing good!
But why Void Essences from Shadows and Serpents? Are we doing bad? I guess Solar and Void Essences aren't necessarily opposite, but they certainly appear so...
That was a bit off topic, but it got me thinking about hidden lore that was likely never intended. Fun though!

Many believe in various faiths that the sun is a symbol of their God or higher power. Resurrection is light, a symbol in Christianity. The sun god is also symbolic in other cultures as a good god and then a Jewish and Muslim faiths also use various stages of the sun in their schedule of prayer time, or which direction to face their synagogue or mosque.

 

[FilthyGorilla]

If it's a human-only custom that Krobus adopted, I wonder if perhaps it is an older one that fell out of favor recently; perhaps it was something that the family who used to own the general store and Yoba shrine did before they sold to Pierre. We don't know how long Krobus has been in the sewers listening to the villagers.

If worship of Yoba crosses species barriers, that also has interesting implications. Perhaps humans worship on Sundays and shadow people observe a day of silence on Fridays. Wait, that also implies that the humans and shadow people share a seven-day week!

I'm not religious but it's so fun to think about in this context.

Me too, I think it’s quite cool to ponder the ways that the species may have interacted with one another. We know that they all know about eachother (humans know to some extent, even if only experts) and it’s funny to think about krobus just listening into the villagers

 

[FilthyGorilla]

Given that Krobus' devotion is silence on Fridays, and the Villagers' devotion is communal worship on Sunday, I would tend to see separate traditions at play.

That’s a good point, it could have even been a mutual custom that was abandoned by one party or the other. You see it often in history irl where a single religion diverges because of it adopting or disregarding some rules overtime and eventually becoming entirely different.

 

[Prrsha]

Yoba (and his servant Yosa) is from CA’s web comic Wumbus World. It was written before Stardew… he also had a few fun prototype games there (one that seems a lot like Journey of the Prairie King). Many of the odd hidden statues in Stardew are in reference to the comic. While the page no longer functions, internet wayback machine still has it archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20200419182949/http://wumbusworld.com/index.php?strip=1

Also in the 5th page of the comic it describes Yoba requiring 600 cubits of Hummus a day in order to spare the world.

I have no idea how to acquire 600 cubits of hummus (it’s only available in one area of the game) but it would be quite a challenge to dump that much at Pierre’s shrine everyday (maybe once he opens his shop on Wednesday?) I know there is one old secret to this game that has not been discovered yet. :3

WumbusWorld

An intergalactic comic strip about gluten and the absurdity of modern life.

web.archive.org

 

[Maher]

Okay. Can we start calling Golden Walnuts "Yomba Coins" now?

And who's going to break it to CA that cubits are a linear measure, not a measure of volume? Unless he means cubic cubits?