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So my friend is doing a Northern game. Pretty damn viking, with the killing of dragons and such, the Pathfinder world is pretty detailed and it definitely impresses me. The Lands of the Linnorm Kings is a cool country.
So I figured, knowing nothing about the in-game setting, history or flavor that I'd play my male witch. And not just any witch, but the winter witch, an archetype made sick because you're descended from Baba Yaga.
But I failed to realize my entire race is actually the antagonists of the region.
More or less, the country of Irrisen are the lands just east of the Lands of the Linnorm Kings and actually used to be part of the country. Around 1000+ years ago, Baba Yaga straight up came in with armies of ice trolls and frost giants and cold fey and conquered all this land from the vikings and that land became Irrisen.
So the rulers of Irrisen are all the daughter and grand daughters of Baba Yaga herself. This is the part that made me go "Ho, damn":
Every century, she returns from her endless wanderings amongst the planes to place a new daughter in charge of Irrisen; the old daughter leaves with Baba Yaga to view the infinite wonders of the multi-verse by her side. Baba Yaga also takes all of her daughter's children (Baba Yaga's grandchildren) with her; this means that every hundred years. there is a complete change of leadership and aristocracy of Irrisen. The grand children of the queen (the great grand children of Baba Yaga) are left behind and are one of the lasting legacies of any previous queen of Irrisen.
Holy whatin hey say what.
So I devised a character that is Irrisen royalty, with the understanding that the traditional power structure is matriarchal. I decided there were several contradictory prophesies about a male winter witch. One that will ultimately rule and slay Baba Yaga, which might cause Irrisen to collapse or conquer the Lands of the Linnorm Lings for good, bringing Irrisen into its golden age.
Thus, as the prince grew, his considerable natural gifts became evident and people became to whisper, "Is it him?" And then, they began to act. There are secret Orders that believe the prince is the messiah. Others believe he will bring the end of everything.
And as one hundred years passed since Baba Yaga returned to this plane, she came again for the Queen, as she always had, taking the Queen's children with her as well. But something singular occurred. Something that had never once happened before.
The prince was left behind.
This emboldened the paranoid powers that be and in terror at the unknown and untread, assassins were sent to take his life and cover up what had occurred before the truth got out. One of the messiah cults, however, anticipated this attempt on the prince's life and protected him, slaying the assassins. The prince was smuggled into the night and out of the country. They send him to the Land of the Linnorm Kings, the place of his people's hated enemies and thus the perfect place to hide.
Just before the assassin's returned, killing the prince's protectors, sending the prince into the cold night alone, they told him that his sister, Anelisha, had been placed on the throne by his mother.
Baba Yaga chose a daughter and left a son. Irrisen is...unsettled.
Now he uses his talents as a witch to shifts his face and form to stay hidden, particularly from the Blackravens, the elite military order whose sole purpose is to hold the witches and horrors of Irrisen back. No one can know who he is, lest he be murdered by his innumerable enemies.
There is much for the prince to uncover. Is there truth to these prophesies? Has his sister sent the assassins for his life or the cults to protect him? Is Baba Yaga manipulating these events or are they even beyond her control?
Why does still he remain?
There are answers to be found. And he will find them.
Nulatek Yaga: The Winter Witch Prince
What do you think, guys?!
Yaga is only supposed to have daughters. If she had a son instead, it might bring the Kwisatz Haderach too quickly. We all know how that turns out. In Irrisen, the ice must flow.
Totally! One of the things I was going for exactly. :p
I don't see anything about Baba Yaga having *only* daughters. Just that the children get taken. And I see no requirement that I *need* my witch to be female. A male witch sounds awesome. And I haven't played a witch yet, so that's like the whole point.