Mythical war between the Mushroom Kingdom and Tzar Gorokh.
Koshmar the night hag collects fifteen-year-old Baboushka from the Winter Witches, in order for Baboushka to join her coven.
The Goblin, Speck, founded the Speculative Library after fleeing to the Forest of Frost when her parents were killed in the Rynock Goblin Clearances.
The Zima Family rides, furious with the encroaching Orthobog religion. They hunt the Spirits of the Old Beliefs, freezing their hearts and making them more agressive towards non-spirit creatures.
Baboushka escapes from Nightcrystal Coven, and is cursed to be a crone by her Night Hag mother Koshmar. This causes the Snow Queen to go after Vasilly's family, and raises the attentions of the magical creatures of the Old Beliefs (including the Baba Yaga and the Zorya).