Ykka Rogga Castrima Character Analysis in The Fifth Season

Ykka is the leader of the underground comm of Castrima, an untrained orogene who has given herself the use-name “Rogga.” An intimidating woman with Sanzed features and fierce eyes, Essun immediately notes that Ykka is wearing dark eyeliner even in the middle of a Fifth Season, as she is the first to confront Essun, Hoa, and Tonkee when they reach the comm. Ykka is able to use her orogeny in a mysterious way that draws both fellow orogenes and stone eaters to her, which is why so many of both have been converging at Castrima. Ykka has the difficult job of both leading a comm during a Season and adapting to Castrima’s unique environment, but she is clearly a strong woman and though Essun doesn’t yet trust her, she does respect her.

Ykka Rogga Castrima Character Timeline in The Fifth Season

The timeline below shows where the character Ykka Rogga Castrima appears in The Fifth Season. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Hierarchy, Oppression, and Prejudice Theme Icon

The intimidating woman introduces herself as Ykka Rogga Castrima, and Essun and Tonkee are both surprised to hear “rogga” used as a... (full context)

History, Storytelling, and Knowledge Theme Icon

...human teeth they are faceted like crystals. The woman’s teeth look similar but are transparent. Ykka suddenly steps forward and addresses the stone eater woman, telling her to stop. Essun then... (full context)

Disaster, Violence, and Survival Theme Icon

Essun thinks of the real reason she is here and asks Ykka if a man and a nine-year-old girl who resembles Essun have passed through here. Ykka... (full context)

...body. This seems to dispel her rising panic, though, and Essun looks up to see Ykka standing in front of her—she is the one who just did something to stop Essun... (full context)

Ykka now turns to Tonkee and Hoa and again invites them to come into Castrima, but... (full context)

Ykka then turns to Hoa and tells him that there are other stone eaters here as... (full context)

Ykka now leads Essun and the others into the house where the three women first emerged... (full context)

Ykka leads them on, into a tunnel that appears to be an old mine shaft. After... (full context)

Tonkee, who has still been asking questions and looking around in wonder, now asks Ykka how she’s been getting all the orogenes to gather here. Ykka says that it’s something... (full context)

Ykka admits that they have only built the latest additions, and they still don’t know how... (full context)

When they first discovered this place, Ykka explains, it was full of ancient skeletons. Because of this, no one was willing to... (full context)

...“Essun,” which itself is a lie, she thinks. Tonkee and Hoa introduce themselves as well. Ykka then welcomes them to Castrima and says that their comm is just trying to survive... (full context)

...to look more kindly on Essun after her encounter with Lerna, and Essun wonders if Ykka tries to hide her orogeny from the public, or if they know she’s a rogga... (full context)

...of failure and aimlessness, even harder now than when she lost control in front of Ykka. Again, she chastises herself for daring to think that she mattered, but she also remembers... (full context)