Yaga (Ya-gah)

It’s been said that time and death are both eternal forces of nature. But, they’re not alone, because there is also the unpredictable, and murderous, yaga.

Yaga are ancient, mystical creatures found across the Voidrealms. They live in remote corners of every world, from Vulpi Hassani to Sow Terra, and even Earth. No one knows their true origins. Rumors suggest they are from the deepest parts of the Shroomwild. But ancient myths disagree. They say the yaga were the First Children of the Empyreans that were created even before the gods.

A Distinctive Appearance

These creatures are described as withered, ancient women with long, flowing hair and pale skin, retractable claws, and teeth like a shark. Reddish-purple eyes glimmer with a shine of dark humor at any visitors, hinting at long-lost knowledge and deadly power. Yaga have long been associated with the untamed natural world, such as primeval forests, seas, or other wild places. In some Voidrealm cultures, the yaga are associated with fate, death, and the afterlife. They reflect this kinship in their appearance.

A yaga resembles the wild, natural spaces they call home. Forest yagas have pale green skin and auburn brown hair the color of fall leaves. Swamp yaga tend toward a more earthy appearance with coal dark hair and grave white skin. Meanwhile, the deadly sea yaga’s hair is sea-foam white, while their skin is a pale blue-green. Their looks vary as much as the environments they live in.

Cunning and Unpredictable

The yaga are known for their cunning nature and ability to use magic. What type of magic they command depends on the primal forces bound to them. Some charm and control animals, while others summon nightmares. Certain yaga are infamous for their raw brute strength and shapeshifting. Others traffic in deadly illusions that can scar a victim’s mind. A rare few can even see a person’s fate. A maorga will often use this as currency in their deadly bargains with others.

Stories describe the yaga as delighting in the torment of locals and adventurers. But in reality, while the yaga are malicious, they aren’t good or evil. They are as neutral and dangerous as nature itself. One moment they may be calm, the next they will have extracted the heart of an adventurer for dinner.

But, the yaga do make bargains if there is something they need for themselves. These bargains are always dire but seem simple. A yaga offers a relic, spell or bit of knowledge to a person. In exchange, the person or adventurer will perform a task, hunt, or other service. However, the buyer should beware.

A Yaga by JJ Kirby

Type

Monstrous humanoid / "First Ones"

Environment

Wild natural places such as untouched forests, seas, mountains, etc.

Average Height

5 - 6 feet (1.52 - 1.83 m)

Average Weight

130 - 140 lbs (58.97 - 63.50 kg)

Geographic Distribution

Any Voidrealm world such as:

Netherwarren

Earth

Sow Terra

The service the yaga wants may seem simple, but it rarely turns out that way. Yaga deals are tricky and deceptive. Complicated games, where a simple service may become a dire sacrifice to benefit the yaga and her desires. It could be to murder a local landholder to gain more land. Kidnap a local misbehaving child so she can raise it as her own. The relic she wants? That could already be owned by another of her ‘Gray Sisterhood’, who will fight to the death to keep it.

Fighting a yaga is no simple task. They are eternal creatures, living for countless centuries, but they’re not immortal. Yaga can be killed. But an adventurer will have to survive an onslaught of primal magic from the yaga to land the killing blow.

Ancient Secrets

But the terrifying stories of yaga and their murderous exploits hide a dark secret. The yaga are also fierce protectors of the land they inhabit. These mystical creatures are deadly guardians, seeking to keep swamps, forests, and other wild places safe.

Many adventures fall prey to yaga magic and wind up serving them for years, or become the chief ingredient in a stew pot. But a clever few have learned that respecting the wild places earns an uneasy trust with a local yaga. They are a reliable ally so long as you don’t turn your back too long on the yaga.