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For centuries, witches have been feared throughout the world.
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Feared enough to have been persecuted and burned.
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But few witches inspire more respect than she.
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Her name is Baba Yaga and few dare speak her name.
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And her house moves on bird-like legs.
Once worshipped by the folk of Polanie, Lechici, and Ledzianie,
Baba Yaga was a prominent figure in the ancient Slavic tradition.
She was known as a deity of the forest, guarding and protecting it.
She was neither good, nor evil, and served as a symbol of balance.
Helping those worthy and in need.
Helping those worthy and in need.
But times change.
The old ways were abandoned
and those who were once worshipped
now became feared as monsters.
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But they did not stop being what they were.
Even after being pursued and persecuted.
Even after being pursued and persecuted.
And some learned to survive.
And one of the most powerful of these ancient witches was Baba Yaga.
And she remained as a guardian of the forest.
And she was wisest among all Slavic witches.
And she was wisest among all Slavic witches.
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Baba Yaga is very ancient and holds the knowledge of millennia.
Her magic is incredibly strong but doesn't rely on it.
She is entirely neutral, and only help those who stand for balance.
To those with ulterior motives, she is a menace and doom.
She is entirely neutral, and only help those who stand for balance.
To those with ulterior motives, she is a menace and doom.
She likes to play games and cast illusions to discover a person's worthiness.
Although not evil, she has been known to eat both children and adults alike.
She also collects valuable objects and items from magical creatures.
She also collects valuable objects and items from magical creatures.
One night.
Each year.
A Sabbath would be held on Łysa Góra.
And at the centre of the Sabbath is the mother witch.
Baba Yaga.
She rides in on her mortal with a pestle in one hand and a broom in the other.
She's the matriarch.
With two other witches at her side:
Baba Roga of Serbia.
Baba Pethra of Czechia.
And Jezibaba is their mother.
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- A Meeting in the Woods -
"For days I ventured. Farther than I had ever been.
Until my mind could no longer keep my legs walking.
Until my mind could no longer keep my legs walking.
Surrounded by stranger woods, I was alone.
Lost in a world I had never seen. Trying to forget.
That's when she appeared. A strange figure.
Like a corpse become one with the forest.
She told me her name was Grandmother Terrible.
Baba Yaga.
She knew who I was, and what I was.
What I am.
She knew I was created by the forest. It had told her.
For she was its guardian. Its warden.
And she told me that I was home."
-Jorah retelling his first encounter with Baba Yaga.
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- Water and Woods -
Baba Yaga immediately took on a maternal role in
caring for Jorah as she knew he was of the forest.
caring for Jorah as she knew he was of the forest.
Jorah spent a whole year at Baba's side long ago, before the age of the Vikings.
And since then, Jorah visits Baba for two days during
the Sabbath every one-hundred years.
Baba Yaga sees Jorah not only as a ward or friend but as her legitimate son. Though this is impossible as Jorah was made before Baba was born.
the Sabbath every one-hundred years.
Baba Yaga sees Jorah not only as a ward or friend but as her legitimate son. Though this is impossible as Jorah was made before Baba was born.
But there's a bond that connects them spiritually
in a way that makes them more family than blood ever could.
in a way that makes them more family than blood ever could.
Baba Yaga taught Jorah to write and to travel through the forest
without the use of legs.
She has taught him different songs to sing to achieve other things
than just hypnotising humans.
She's also tried to teach him that to be truly good, one must do bad things
but Jorah has not yet accepted that to be true.
without the use of legs.
She has taught him different songs to sing to achieve other things
than just hypnotising humans.
She's also tried to teach him that to be truly good, one must do bad things
but Jorah has not yet accepted that to be true.
Jorah also keeps Baba Yaga updated on the faerie situation in Scandinavia
so that she can help him realise what needs to be done.
Although neither Baba Yaga nor Jorah are technically allowed to leave their domains, she does not punish Jorah for it.
Although Jorah introduced himself as Bragi,
Baba Yaga insists on calling him Lahun, which is Russian for 'Lagoon'.
It is likely that Jorah is the only one outside of the coven who have seen Baba Yaga's true form.
As she always hides in the skin of an elderly hag to the eyes of mortals.
so that she can help him realise what needs to be done.
Although neither Baba Yaga nor Jorah are technically allowed to leave their domains, she does not punish Jorah for it.
Although Jorah introduced himself as Bragi,
Baba Yaga insists on calling him Lahun, which is Russian for 'Lagoon'.
It is likely that Jorah is the only one outside of the coven who have seen Baba Yaga's true form.
As she always hides in the skin of an elderly hag to the eyes of mortals.
