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Does anybody know more about the longevity of the jadwiga? Are Baba Yaga's daughters basically immortal? Or do they just age very slowly? And what about subsequent generations? Do they retain this immortality/longevity? Or are they more like humans? Another question I have is that when Baba Yaga picks up a daughter after 100 years of rule, sometimes reference is made to children and grandchildren leaving with her. What happens to those children and grandchildren?
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The Jadwiga are norms. Elvanna has an artifact on her head that prevents her from aging. She has had several children over the years, so her daughter who's in charge may very well be one of her younger children - the older of which killed each other off in the cutthroat nature of Irrisen politics.
As Tangent mentioned, Elvanna's immortal through an artifact.
Though I am running it as Elvanna's children are aging at a notably slowed rate - her oldest children physically in their 40s or so, (compared to their ages of 80 or higher)
Her childrens' children are aging normally, though.
Thanks for all the reactions. I like your idea, Zhangar and perhaps will use it.
Age Resistance spells - there are three versions - from Ultimate Magic (although posters above have explained about the artefact worn by each queen of Irrisen). Good illusion spells will cover any cosmetic issues.
IIRC, the children and grand-children get carted off to get soul-sucked too.
I dont think they do tho, otherwise it wouldnt have a generational heirarchy
The queen's children yes, her grandchildren no.
So the queen has an artefact, the others might use age resistance and the souls of the queen and her children are taken by Baba Yaga. That answers all my questions, thanks!
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The Jadwiga are norms. Elvanna has an artifact on her head that prevents her from aging. She has had several children over the years, so her daughter who's in charge may very well be one of her younger children - the older of which killed each other off in the cutthroat nature of Irrisen politics.
Note that Cassisoche has the title "First Daughter of Elvanna", similar to how Elvanna has the title "Fourteenth Daughter of Baba Yaga". This leads me to believe that Cassisoche is Elvanna's first child, not just her current eldest. Given that queens are implied to already have children capable of ruling the duchies (Jadwiga having had more than four) before becoming queen, this would make Cassisoche more than 100 years old, closer to 115-120.
While the Icecrown of Irrisen artifact states that the queen always appears to be the same age as when she first put on the crown and doesn't suffer ageing penalties, it says nothing about increasing the wearer's life-span. Given that Elvanna's pictures have her look to be in her thirties, at 130+, she's well over the maximum human age of 110, just like every other queen must have been. Cassisoche is also over this range as well at 115+.
Elvanna's 22nd daughter, Lachka, rules a town that was build 75 years ago specifically for her, in order to keep her out of Elvanna's sight. It implies that this is because of her brutal stupidity, so Lachka is likely at least 90 years old, where this would become apparent. The book makes a point of stating that she suffers from suffering age-related maladies, but this may be due to the fact that no-one likes her enough to use magic to help her out, and she's unable to do so herself (being only a witch 1/aristocrat 6).
This leads me to believe that Baba Yaga's daughters and grand-daughters have a longer life span than a standard human. What's the point of Baba Yaga collecting her grandchildren if the majority of them have already died of old age? However, Elvanna is still listed as venerable, so maybe they are closer to the half-elf ageing progression? That would put Lachka and Cassisoche in the old category.
If you want to follow Zhangar's speculation about Baba Yaga's maiden-mother-crone cycle, then Elvanna could be closer to 170-180 years old, with her children following suit. There is an upper bound, however. Elvanna's great-granddaughters are the youngest of the Jadwiga Elvanna mentioned, and Nazhena herself looks to be in her twenties.
Regardless, I'd believe that Elvanna and her children are the only ones that benefit from an increased life span, along with whatever else you'd want to give the Jadwiga, given that they are the ones that are taken by Baba Yaga when she comes to collect.
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My personal theory is that Baba Yaga's daughters are created from Baba Yaga's magic - she doesn't sleep with a man to beget a child, but instead uses her mythic ability to craft a child. This is the true reason she devours the essence of her daughters and grandkids - she is restoring the power she used in creating the new Queen of Irrisen.
Case in point: there is no new Queen waiting to take over Irrisen. There is no hint of a queen. No dead child or the like. Why? Because Baba Yaga hadn't yet made her new Child. And this is why Baba Yaga isn't torn up by Elvanna's death - having NOT created a new heir, she hasn't used that power and doesn't need to replenish it. She devours Elvanna's children because she DID lose some power by being imprisoned. But even if Elvanna was taken alive, she's not going to kill her. She's going to do to her what she did to the other daughter who rebelled. Exile... to see what she does next.
In the meantime I have read the Irrisen book (Land of eternal winter). It says princess Cassisoche has ruled for about 100 years as well. Which means that Elvanna's children can prolong their lives as well.
She can do way better than illusions. Note the duration on the spell I linked =P