Baba Yaga

The Baba Yaga is a shamanic goddess, prayed to by the Hunters.

In the tales told by the tribe that David Kessel lived in for seven years, she is depicted as an ageless hag of incredible wisdom. In some, she has antlers, each as long as her arms and branching out like a small tree.

Her hut stands elevated on four crow's feet, one at each corner of the hut. While it is impossible to consciously find her home, many lost wanderers would find themselves staring directly at the back of the hut. When they would call out for anyone who might live inside the strange construction, the hut would suddenly appear to be turning - slowly yet steadily - until the door would face them, swinging wide open and inviting them in. Inside, the Baba Yaga would wait for them, always preparing a nourishing dish which would bring back their vigor. After feeding them and having them warm up next to the fireplace, ever asking questions about the world outside, the Baba Yaga would ask for some help in or around the hut. If the wanderer would accept, he would often be burdened with the most difficult and heavy tasks, but a great gratification would await them for their humble service as well as a way home. Declining to help, however, would lead to a curse with severe ramifications. Most of the 'victims' would at first laugh at the curses of the crazy old hag, but would never be able to exit the forest alive, often turning in circles until they died a death of frost or starvation - only for a random person to find them few days after their deaths, always only few metres away from the brink of the forest or a path which would lead to salvation.

A few of the tales would also speak of a strange man living with the Baba Yaga, but the nature of this man as well as their relation were never unfolded.