Baba Yaga

Baba Yaga, the Mistress of the Fey Realm, is a figure of immense power and terrifying mystery. One of the few old gods to survive the Age of Chaos, she was once the goddess of magic and chaos, embodying the wild, untamed forces of the arcane and the unpredictable. Her survival was secured through her alliance with Tiamat, the Queen of Dragons, during that chaotic era. While Tiamat was defeated, Baba Yaga endured, retreating to the Fey Realm to evade the rising power of the new gods.

Baba Yaga is described as an ancient crone with a crooked figure, but her true form is mutable, shifting between the guise of a withered hag, a beautiful and haunting maiden, and a towering, monstrous figure of pure chaos. Her ever-changing appearance reflects her mastery of magic and her connection to the unpredictable nature of the Feywild. Her voice is said to echo with both ancient wisdom and unsettling laughter, captivating those who hear it while chilling them to their core.

Her infamous battle with Sage, the god of fate and arcana, is one of the most pivotal moments in Zathrien's history. When Sage, confident in his ability to foresee her defeat, faced Baba Yaga, he underestimated her chaotic nature. Baba Yaga, defying the very threads of destiny that Sage sought to control, unraveled his visions and altered the future itself. Their clash tore the land asunder, giving birth to the Tenezai Wastes and the Eastlow Mire, where their residual magic still lingers, warping the environment and imbuing it with wild arcane energy.

After her narrow escape, Baba Yaga retreated to the Fey Realm, a domain she rules with absolute authority. The Feywild under her reign is a place of beautiful terror, where the rules of reality bend to her whims. She is revered and feared by fey creatures, witches, and those who dwell in the liminal spaces between worlds. Her worshippers are drawn to her by promises of forbidden knowledge, raw power, and the allure of freedom from the constraints of fate.

In the material plane, Baba Yaga is a figure of fear and taboo. The continent of Zathrien strictly forbids her worship, seeing her as a dangerous remnant of the chaotic past. Yet, secret cults devoted to her thrive in the shadows, practicing forbidden rituals and seeking her favor. These cults often include witches, warlocks, and desperate souls willing to risk everything for her unpredictable blessings.

Baba Yaga’s influence extends beyond her worshippers. Her legend serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of unchecked magic and chaos. She represents the fearsome truth that not all power can be controlled, and not all fates are written. Those who cross her path or invoke her name tread a razor-thin line between power and destruction.

Her symbol is often a crescent moon with jagged, chaotic tendrils extending outward, symbolizing her control over both the arcane and the wild forces of chaos. It is whispered that to carry her symbol invites her gaze, a blessing to some and a curse to others.