The Fae Fable known colloquially as "Baba Yaga, The Mother of Witches", was written by Abraham Zachariah and later donated to the Unknown after he met with Orion the Rift-Maester.
Baba Yaga, The Mother of Witches
Baba Yaga, the legendary Archfey and sorceress of the Court of Wither, is both feared and revered throughout the Faewyld and beyond. Her name is whispered in tales across countless planes, and her magical prowess rivals that of the gods themselves. Known as the Mother of Witches, Baba Yaga embodies the chaotic and untamed power of the Faewyld, with her influence extending even to the Prime Plane and The Shadowfell.
Her appearance is as unpredictable as her nature. Often depicted as an ancient, skeletal figure with a hooked nose, iron teeth, and clawed fingers, she is equally known to appear as a plump and motherly woman or even as a tall, statuesque figure of divine beauty. These changes seem to reflect her whim or the emotions of those who behold her.
Her hut, perched on massive chicken legs, is an infamous sight across the planes, appearing where it is least expected. Many have ventured inside seeking her aid, only to find themselves trapped by the intricate bargains and deadly traps that define her nature. Baba Yaga offers secrets—but always at a price.
Her curses are infamous, woven with layers of magic that tie to her domain and the afflicted deepest fears. They are as varied as the stars, but they share commonalities as listed below.
Tokens of the Curse -- Her curses often tie to physical objects or symbolic representations:
- A mirror might reflect the victim’s anguish, a piece of jewelry might tighten like a shackle, or a simple doll might embody a life bound to servitude. Destroying the token is often critical to breaking the curse.
The Ritual of Severance -- A curse-breaking ritual requires:
- An object of personal significance to the victim, willingly sacrificed.
- A Fae contract, written in the ancient language of the Archfey, signed with blood and magic.
- An act of selfless love or sacrifice.
Even with the ritual performed, the victim must confront the emotional or spiritual flaw Baba Yaga exploited. A curse broken prematurely or half-heartedly might reform, or worse, grow stronger
Curse of The Crone
In the tangled histories of the Faewyld, few tales rival the bitter enmity between King Cernunnos, ruler of the Court of Verdance, and Baba Yaga, the Mother of Witches. Their feud, like the Faewyld itself, is shrouded in layers of truth, myth, and ever-shifting emotions, but one fact remains unchallenged: it was Cernunnos who cursed Baba Yaga and cast her into eternal exile from the court.
Maledict of The Mother
Once a rising star among the Archfey, Baba Yaga was not always the twisted figure that roams the planes today. She was a prodigious sorceress, a member of the Court of Verdance known for her unyielding ambition and unparalleled mastery of fae magic. Her beauty was said to rival the dawn's first light, and her wit could outshine the cleverest of the fae. Yet, it was her hunger for power—insatiable and all-consuming—that sowed the seeds of her downfall.
Baba Yaga sought to ascend beyond her station in the Court of Verdance, desiring to wield authority equal to that of Cernunnos himself. Her magic grew darker as she delved into forbidden spells, crafting charms and curses so potent that they disrupted the delicate harmony of the Faewyld. She lured fae creatures, mortals, and even lesser Archfey into her web, offering them tantalizing power in exchange for their loyalty or their very essence.
Her machinations culminated in her betrayal of Queen Visunna, Cernunnos' queen and consort. Envious of the deep, abiding love shared between Cernunnos and Visunna—a love Baba Yaga had never known and could never understand—she sought to unravel it. Through guile and dark enchantments, she sought to ensnare Cernunnos himself, weaving a spell of seduction designed to make him forsake Titania and the bonds of the Court of Verdance.
But Cernunnos, wise and resolute, saw through her schemes. When her treachery was revealed, the Court of Verdance turned on her in fury. In his judgment, Cernunnos declared that Baba Yaga had violated the sacred tenets of their realm: balance, harmony, and truth.
The King's Curse
Cernunnos’ words at her sentencing are said to echo still within the mists of the Faewyld:
"You have sought to sow ruin in the Court of Verdance, to corrupt love and twist power for your gain. Thus, I strip you of all beauty, for your heart has none. I curse you to wander the planes, never to know true appreciation or love, for such gifts you have scorned in others. Instead, you shall know only the bitter taste of fleeting loyalty and false adoration. May your every bond crumble as you have sought to do to mine."
And with those words, Cernunnos invoked his curse, a spell so profound it bound itself to the very essence of Baba Yaga’s being. Her radiant beauty melted away, replaced by a grotesque visage of iron teeth, clawed fingers, and a skeletal frame. Her charm turned sour, leaving her a figure of fear rather than reverence. Love, in all its forms, became a torment to her, slipping through her fingers like mist whenever it seemed within reach.
Wrath of The Witch
The curse struck at the core of Baba Yaga’s existence. Cast from the Court of Verdance, she retreated to the Court of Wither, where chaos and fury welcomed her with open arms. There, her bitterness festered, and her hatred for love and harmony grew into a consuming force.
It is said that Baba Yaga now takes a twisted pleasure in tormenting those who find the love and acceptance she is forever denied. Her curses often exploit bonds of affection, turning allies against each other, shattering families, or corrupting lovers into monstrous forms. She revels in the destruction of such bonds, seeing in each act of cruelty a reflection of her own misery.
"If I cannot know love," she is said to whisper to her victims, "neither shall you."
Despite her exile, whispers suggest that Baba Yaga’s fury is not wholly unchecked. Deep in the wilds of the Faewyld, where the Verdance and Wither courts occasionally clash, her influence lingers. Some believe she seeks a means to break Cernunnos’ curse, to reclaim her beauty and her place among the Archfey. Others claim she has no such desire, that her rage is too great, and her hatred too entrenched to allow for anything but the destruction of those who cast her out.
A Warning to Seekers
Those who encounter Baba Yaga must tread with caution. Her beauty, though long gone, is matched by her cunning, and her bitterness has made her the most dangerous of the Archfey. Yet, hidden in her bitterness lies the secret of her power—her curse.