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Baba Yaga
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
“Baba Yaga: A Tangle of Mistruths” by Lou Anders .......................................................................... 2
“Misto Ellel: The Thundering Town” by Sarah Madsen ................................................................... 7
“Grandmother’s Daughters: Secrets of the Vila” by Kelly Pawlik ................................................. 14
“Niemheim: Notes on Gnomish Diabolism” by Wolfgang Baur ................................................... 21

CREDITS
Design: Lou Anders, Wolfgang Baur, Sarah Madsen, Kelly Pawlik
Development & Editing: Scott Gable
Art Direction & Graphic Design: Marc Radle
Cover Art: Justine Jones
Back Cover Art: Phil Stone
Interior Art: Pedro Potier, Phil Stone
Publisher: Wolfgang Baur

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(Elements that have previously been designated as Open Game Content are not included in this declaration.)
Open Game Content: The Open Content in this book includes the Baba Yaga’s cat, gnomish tinker scout, and knife familiar
monsters and the avert the eye, find diabolical familiar, gnomish tongue, and hat trick spells.

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 BABA YAGA: A TANGLE
OF MISTRUTHS
by Lou Anders

“How do I know that this story is true? Why, one who was there told it to me.”
—unknown

M uch has been said and yet still little is

truly known of the one they call Baba
Yaga. She is the most terrifying of beldams,
Where on Midgard. Merely locating the
Feywitch is no simple task. However, it is said
that the truly despairing can always find their
yet on occasion, she is also a dispenser of way to Grandmother. She enjoys striking
wisdom and a granter of favors. The Wild bargains, after all, and Bony Legs, as she is
Old Woman is known to enjoy dining on sometimes known, never gives up a chance to
young humanoids and has a special fondness add to her store of secrets, hidden knowledge
for nibbling on gnome. And she is not above being her favorite commodity. The rarer the
eating the tougher meat of, well, anyone else. secret one holds, the greater chance there is of
Yet despite her well-documented appetites, stumbling upon Grandmother or even being
there are those desperate enough to petition sought out by her. But should someone be
her for aid. Even so, the witch’s boons brave or foolish enough to look for her, then
frequently come at costs higher than that know that when she is not riding through
which drove these unfortunates to solicit her the woods on the back of an enormous sow
in the first place. or flying through the air in her iron mortar,
What follows are some of the many strange steering her way with a pestle and covering
and often contradictory bits of folklore—but her tracks with a broom, Baba Yaga can most
also some scholarly efforts—that are devoted often be found dwelling in the heart of the
to Grandmother. Good luck gleaning any Margreve Forest or upon a lonely stretch of
truths from them. They’re most likely fictions the Rothenian Plain.
and misunderstandings, or at best half-truths, Baba Yaga’s dwelling is not hard to miss.
but you never know what small portion of Leaving the hut aside for a moment, the
detail may save your life at some point. (You surrounding grounds are also distinctive.
can read more about Baba Yaga in Midgard They are usually marked by a wooden fence
Worldbook and Warlock Grimoire 2.) capped at intervals by humanoid skulls, each

2
lit from lanterns within so that the light dancing hut will turn away from intruders,
shines out of the eye sockets. As unnerving refusing them entry, unless they address it
as this might be, it is made doubly so by the properly. One wishing to enter the hut must
claims of those who have visited the hut say, “Turn your back to the forest, your front
and returned to tell the tale that there are to me.” If these words are spoken, and it
always just enough empty posts awaiting new must be stressed that they should be spoken
skulls to account precisely for the heads of politely, the hut will face the speaker and
those visiting. More so, the lanterns flicker, kneel, settling upon the ground. Access isn’t
winking on and off as if in response to the guaranteed by this though. There’s an even
presence of visitors. On occasion, the skulls chance the door will be locked, and the door’s
have even been known to speak. But as keyhole is a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth.
remarkable as the fencing is, what it contains But presuming the door is unlocked or the
is far stranger. lock is picked without the loss of too many
The “dancing hut” of Baba Yaga stands on fingers, intruders who enter generally find
two enormous chicken legs and often struts themselves in the kitchen. The keyword is
around the yard. Above the giant fowl parts, generally, for rooms do shift around in the
reports of the hut’s appearance are varied. At interdimensional space within the hut—
times, the hut presents as a simple peasant’s bigger on the inside than the outside—and
hut, constructed of wooden logs and with the total number of rooms in undocumented.
no windows and featuring only a single (For more specifics on Baba Yaga’s hut, see
door. At other times, it is a more elaborate Warlock Grimoire 2.)
cabin with a porch and several stories. Most Entertaining Guests. Should Grandmother
chilling are the tales that swear that the hut be at home, she is frequently reclined atop the
is made not of wood but of humanoid bones. freestanding stove for warmth. Sometimes she
The illusionist Xaldri Lamblewomple— appears larger than an average woman, up to
formerly of the Arcane Collegium until 15 feet tall when standing, and if encountered
his mysterious disappearance of a year in this form, her legs may stretch from one
ago—in his ambitious and ill‑considered side of the kitchen to the other. It should be
treatise on Grandmother’s domicile, points pointed out, lest one be taken by surprise at
out that the hut is reminiscent of a certain the sight and give offense, that her nickname
traditional Krakovan building that is Bony Legs is not a reference to having skinny
constructed on a stump and used to bury limbs. Rather, on occasion, one or both of
the dead. Its lack of windows and its single Grandmother’s legs appears skeletal, either
door are to discourage both the living from actual raw bone or skin stretched so tight as to
disturbing the dead and the dead from depict the bones clearly. Should the bony leg
disturbing the living. Lamblewomple argues (or legs) be on display, visitors are advised to
that Grandmother takes on the symbolic ignore it and never call attention to it under
role of a priestess who leads the cremation any circumstances whatsoever.
rites, suggesting there may be deep mythic Straight away, Baba Yaga will attempt to gain
significance in her proclivity to roast people the upper hand in any ensuing conversation.
in her ovens. Unfortunately, Lamblewomple She can unerringly smell what country a
is not available to expound further on visitor hails from, and she usually points
his theories since the wizard’s current this out at the start to unsettle them with her
whereabouts are unknown. knowledge. She frequently asks next, “Are you
But logs or bones, hut or resting place doing a deed or fleeing a deed? Are you here
for the dead, all accounts agree that the of your own will or by compulsion?” What

3
she makes of the answers to these questions is
inconsistent and unpredictable. One should
be cautioned that, while Baba Yaga enjoys
bantering with her guests, she will frequently
threaten to eat the overly curious. This may
have something to do with the rumor that
the Witch of the East ages an entire year
whenever someone asks her a question. If
that is so, then she is balancing her love of
secrets and enthusiasm for haggling with her
desire to not age overly. At any rate, she has a
ravenous appetite, and all conversations with
her are likely to include some mention of her
appetites and her estimations of how well or
poorly a visitor might taste.
Should Grandmother indeed decide to eat
someone, it can be hard to dissuade her.
However, Myrieem Yulan-Rhal, a Kariv
herbalist and fortune teller, maintains that the
Great Crone can be distracted if one can find
and blow her magical horn, the Tripple Horn
of Baba Yaga. This item is comprised of three
horns of different lengths and with differently known to be at odds with their mistress a
sized bell flares, bound together into one time or two. Baba Yaga also keeps and breeds
instrument. Yulan-Rhal instructs that one horses. The equines are the least potentially
must blow the first horn softly, the second one helpful of her servants, but they are worth
louder, and the third louder still. Sounding noting as it is said they are so fast as to be able
the horns in the correct order summons to cross the world in a day.
ravens that surround and harry Baba Yaga, Friends of Grandmother. Of course,
distracting her, and a firebird, which will emit Grandmother has allies too, though some are
a blinding ray of light to further facilitate the unwilling and others unwitting. First among
horn blower’s escape. None of this, it should these are her horsemen, known as Bright Day,
be noted, has been verified by anyone else. Red Sun, and Black Knight—or as Baba Yaga
And why would she keep such an item just refers to them, “My Bright Dawn, my Red
lying around? It would certainly need to be Sun, and my Dark Midnight”—and they are
useful to her otherwise. never seen together outside the confines of
Should the horn prove unavailable or her property. Indeed, through some strange
insufficient, would-be meals are occasionally cosmological conjuring on Grandmother’s
said to find aid from the many servants part, the horsemen are each connected to a
of Baba Yaga that dwell in and about the specific period of time, as measured by the
hut, including an awakened cat and several sun. Bright Day is bound to and governs
dining and cooking utensils, among others. dawn to mid-day, Red Sun from mid-day to
The utensils are believed to be polymorphed sundown, and Black Night from sundown
beings who have offended Baba Yaga in the until daybreak. As such, only one can exist
past. The witch’s own dentures, the famous on the material plane at a time. Whether
iron teeth of Baba Yaga, have even been the horsemen were at some point ordinary

4
humanoids who came under the witch’s sway, Price of a Deal. But should someone
or whether they are actual personifications succeed in reaching Baba Yaga, in escaping
of the day, is unclear. (See also Baba Yaga’s both her stewpot and her minions, and in
horsemen in Tome of Beasts.) bargaining with the Queen of Hags, what
The lich-like being known as Koschei does Baba Yaga want? What price does she
the Deathless is another of Grandmother’s set upon her knowledge or her gifts? If the
favored servants. Once king of a petitioner knows something Grandmother
long‑forgotten land, Koschei feared death doesn’t, that will most assuredly be the cost
so much that he turned to bizarre rituals to for her aid. Otherwise, she is liable to ask
sustain himself. Extracting his soul, he placed for something seemingly innocuous, like a
it in a pin which was placed inside an egg, fingernail clipping or the memory of a lost
itself inside a duck swallowed by a rabbit in love, but these things invariably serve to aid
the belly of a goat. Or some tales say that her in her twisting schemes. She might ask
rabbit is sealed instead within an iron chest that someone deliver an apple to a young
buried on Buyan, the mythical isle of the girl living alone in the forest or take a golden
dead. Either way, so long as his soul resides brooch to the River King or present a silver
in its home away from home, Koschei cannot mirror to King Lucan of the Blood Kingdom.
ever truly die. Grandmother loves to set tasks that seem
Koschei also rides an incredibly swift horse, innocent enough but prove nigh impossible.
and it is believed only Baba Yaga’s steeds are She might ask for someone to clean her
fast enough to catch him, but surely that is kitchen, only to have it grow to enormous
insufficient to explain her power over him. size or for its oven to belch out an avalanche
The nature of Grandmother’s hold over of soot. She might request that her herd
the immortal king isn’t clear. It’s possible be corralled, only for the equines to gallop
she gifted him his horse. It’s also possible halfway across the world. On more than one
she possesses his soul’s receptable—or at occasion, Baba Yaga has insisted someone
least knows where it is and how to claim his marry one of her daughters and then
hidden soul. It is just as likely that she has instructed her servants to murder the spouse-
merely allowed Koschei to think she knows. to-be the night before the wedding. (See also
Whatever the case, Koschei serves Baba “Misto Ellel: The Thundering Town” and
Yaga on occasion, though he is never overly “Niemheim: Notes on Gnomish Diabolism”
enamored with being her servant. later in this issue of Warlock for more on
The most numerous of Baba Yaga’s servants those who have dealt with Baba Yaga and that
are the hundreds of vila (see also Tome remain in her constant orbit.)
of Beasts and “Grandmother’s Daughters: There are also rare reports that a mystic
Secrets of the Vila” later in this issue of named Jezibaba, sometimes called Granny
Warlock) that tend to congregate in the Witch, is connected to Baba Yaga, perhaps
Margreve but can be found most anywhere. even by ties of blood, but this remains all
Baba Yaga refers to these fierce forest folklore, of course. Jezibaba lives in a hut
protectors as her daughters, though this is similar to Baba Yaga’s, but it is never made
unlikely. Regardless, she treats them with a of bones, and it is typically found on the
tenderness no other creature receives. For shores of a tranquil lake. Far gentler than
their part, the vila are generally willing to do Grandmother, Jezibaba is generally helpful
her bidding, though at times individual vila to those who treat her with kindness and
have aided mortals in their attempts to escape respect. The greatest of all herbalists, Jezibaba
Grandmother’s appetites. is often sought by those struggling with

5
fertility and healing. She has been known to formed rings true. After all, while she may
take on apprentices, teaching them about have sisters and daughters aplenty, it is hard
the magical properties of plants. Jezibaba is to conceive of Grandmother ever having had
usually accompanied by her children, the a mother herself—or indeed being anything
Jezinky, all of whom are djinn. other than the terrible crone she is now.
The Nature of Grandmother. As much But take all matters pertaining to the Hag
as is known about the Feywitch, so little is of Hags with more than a pinch of salt, and
understood about what exactly Baba Yaga think on it again on the morrow, for as Baba
is. Some believe Grandmother is a forgotten Yaga herself is fond of saying, “There is more
goddess of the Underworld. Others that wisdom in the morning than in the evening.”
she is a being from another world entirely, The night walks the same road as dream. And
who only came to Midgard after millennia if you have a dream of Baba Yaga, it is sure to
spent in other lands. Stranger yet is the be nightmare.
assertion that Baba Yaga is not one but three
separate beings, all named Baba Yaga. This At Grandmother’s House
supposition is supported by accounts of You are very likely to find something strange
Baba Yaga appearing in multiple locations at Grandmother’s house.
at the same time and by the rare visitor that
believes they have encountered her and BABA YAGA’S CAT
her two “sisters.” Whether these are actual Tiny Beast, Chaotic Neutral
sisters, doppelgangers, or the same person Armor Class 12
transposed in time is not clear. A horrible Hit Points 10 (4d4)
possibility must be entertained that the three Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft.
Grandmothers might even be a dark mask of
the Norns—or the Norns might be a more STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
benevolent mask of Grandmother. 3 (−4) 15 (+2) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 12 (+1)
A seldom-told tale from the gnomes of
Niemheim offers one possible glimpse at Skills Perception +4, Stealth +4
Grandmother’s origin. The story details how Senses passive Perception 14
a powerful arch-devil sought to distill the Languages Common, Sylvan; telepathy
essence of evil by cooking the twelve most (see below)
wicked women in Midgard in a caldron. Challenge 0 (10 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
As the horrible concoction boiled, the
Feline Telepathy. Within the confines of
devil absentmindedly spat in the mixture.
Baba Yaga’s property, the cat can magically
Unfortunately, in so doing, he inadvertently
command any beast within 60 feet of it, using
added a bit of his own soul. This empowered its limited telepathy.
the foul soup, and out hopped Grandmother. Keen Smell. The cat has advantage on Wisdom
She slew and ate the devil immediately, and (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
then the witch stole a mortar and pestle from
Actions
the devil’s kitchen and flew away. While this
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +0 to hit, reach 5
tale is considered apocryphal by most, the
ft., one target. Hit: 1 slashing damage.
idea of Baba Yaga entering the world fully

6
 MISTO ELLEL:
THE THUNDERING TOWN
by Sarah Madsen

T he gulyay-gorod, or “wandering towns,” swath of trampled grasses, leaving a trail easy

of the Rothenian Plain are a strange sight enough to follow for those bold enough to
to behold. Whole settlements, safe behind travel in the town’s wake. When at rest, the
sturdy walls, move across the landscape, millipedes settle into the earth beneath the
drawn by horses or oxen or even stranger city’s foundation, allowing the town to settle
creatures. The arrival of such a wandering nearly to ground level.
town can evoke wonder and fear in equal The town itself is made of the repurposed
measure, as one never knows what the wagons favored by the Kariv, plus whatever
gulyay‑gorod may bring. Misto Ellel is one of additional materials the inhabitants have
the most well-known of the wandering towns been able to scavenge, steal, or barter for
and is inhabited primarily by bandits, hunters, along the way. Most of the homes and
and mystics. The arrival of Misto Ellel brings structures on the edge of the town are one
the opportunity for trade and the risk of raids story tall, all the better to hide behind the
by the followers of the Horned Huntsman. protective wall that rings the entire town,
The Thundering Town. Nearly a mile but the buildings gradually increase in height
wide, from a distance, Misto Ellel looks like toward the center of the town. In the middle
a broad, squat hillside, floating across the stands a four-story building comprised of
horizon to an accompaniment of what some several interlocking wagons, painted with
describe as the rumble of thunder, the roar bright colors and topped with a pointed
of a massive waterfall, or the drumming cupola. This is the home of Tsura the Bold,
of a rainstorm. At first, it is difficult to see the matriarch of Misto Ellel.
what propels the town across the plains, for
there are no horses or other beasts of burden Wild and the Fallen
harnessed to the moving structures. Up close, Misto Ellel is home to many, but the
however, it becomes obvious: the city rides population is made up primarily of outcasts
on the backs of hundreds of giant millipedes, from the Rothenian Kariv and centaur
their thousands of feet beating out a roar like communities. Centaurs that don’t fit in well
a tempest on the hard earth. The marks of the with their clans for whatever reason live
city’s passing are obvious in the mile-wide on the outermost ring of Misto Ellel where

7
they can easily throw open the wide gates in
the city’s walls and surge onto the plains to
ride and pillage. Kariv who were exiled by
their families or find themselves shunned
by the greater Kariv community often find
their way to Misto Ellel, where Tsura the
Bold welcomes all, regardless of reputation.
Many members of the fallen families, such
as the Heph, the Galati, and the Kalder, can
be found within the walls of Misto Ellel,
and any animosity between them is held in
tight check, lest they find themselves facing
Tsura’s harsh judgement.

TSURA THE BOLD

Tsura the Bold, matriarch of Misto
Ellel, is a Kariv, though which family she
originally hailed from remains a mystery
to most. Given her hold over Misto Ellel
and her rumored ties with Baba Yaga,
many believe her to be of the Kalder,
though the Kalder in Misto Ellel deny
any family ties with the wandering
town’s leader, and she steadfastly
refutes any relation to any one family,
insisting she’s a leader for all.
A wide-shouldered but slender woman of Grandmother would never let such a wild
some forty-odd years, Tsura wears layered and baseless assertion stand, yet others assert
skirts and is never seen without a saber that if Tsura had indeed outwitted the witch,
on one hip and a curved, jeweled dagger talking loudly of such an accomplishment
on the other. She laughs easily but angers would be the quickest way to earn
quickly, and she has little patience for those Grandmother’s ire. But despite arguments
who would cause trouble in her town. over the origins of her power, the fact
Violence, theft, and raiding are acceptable remains that Tsura the Bold rules Misto Ellel,
outside the walls of Misto Ellel, but within, and none have yet seen fit to challenge her.
confrontations that escalate past a scuffle are Deals with Baba Yaga. Tsura the Bold’s
quickly brought to heel. She does not expect claim about Baba Yaga can be considered
everyone to get along all the time, but she true, when viewed in a certain light. From
treats Misto Ellel like the family she no longer other angles, the deal she brokered with
has, and she despises infighting. Grandmother would be considered foolish
Tsura rose to power quickly after arriving and will prove to be her inevitable downfall.
in Misto Ellel about five years ago. Many The truth is that Tsura’s power does spring
attribute her accension to her claims to have from Baba Yaga’s magics. The Kariv bartered
outwitted Baba Yaga herself. Some say the with the witch, promising to give whatever
fact that she still remains in power is the offerings were necessary in exchange for
greatest support of her claim, for surely rulership over Misto Ellel. Baba Yaga

8
demanded nothing in return except that for the magical protection and maintenance
Tsura place a powerful relic, known as the of the town, including summoning the
Eye of Baba Yaga, at the highest point of the giant millipedes (or really whatever form
city where she could see in every direction at of transport is most called for) that carry it
all times. The eye now resides in the cupola across the plain.
of Tsura’s home, affixed with chains and The runemasters have perfected their own
overlooking the town and the plains beyond. form of magical automatic writing in which
Only Baba Yaga knows exactly how far—and they create single-use rune scripts that allow
how much—she can see from such a vantage anyone to benefit from rune magic, similar
and what exactly the eye is capable of. to using a potion. Their services aren’t cheap,
yet their skills and wares are high in demand
KARIV to those with means.
Many Kariv make their homes within the
ZAGHARI AND THE WILD CENTAURS
walls of Misto Ellel, making up the majority
of the population, followed close behind by The wild centaurs of Misto Ellel are, almost
the centaurs. Kariv that live in the wandering to a one, worshipers of the Hunter. They have
town may have left their own family, or they been forced from the more civilized centaur
may belong to one of the more unscrupulous clans or left due to irreconcilable differences.
Kariv families, such as the Kalder, that find Some young centaurs stumbled upon Misto
suspicion even amongst their own. The Kariv Ellel when they embarked on their bandit
of Misto Ellel are not required to give up their years and may leave to return to their home
family ties, nor their loyalty to their blood clans when their time is up. The centaurs
or oaths, but must agree to hold Tsura’s primarily live along the edge of town, chafing
authority over all others. at being within the walls, and many prefer
Tsura welcomes all types to Misto Ellel, to ride ahead or alongside the when it’s in
but the Kariv in the town are certain that, motion. Special ramps with wheels have
if things should come to it, Tsura would been rigged to many of the gates and can
support them over the rest. Many of the be lowered when the city is on the move,
non-Kariv share the same belief, and it is not allowing the centaurs easy access in and out
unusual to find a Kariv taking advantage of a of the city. They hunt and raid throughout
non-Kariv, both under the assumption that is the day and night, whenever the mood takes
how the arrangement should work. Whenever them, and often returned bathed in blood.
Tsura discovers such an arrangement, she is There is no official leader of the wild
quick to disabuse all parties of the notion that centaurs within Misto Ellel—Tsura claims
the Kariv have higher standing than others leadership overall, regardless of race or
within her town. ancestry—but if there was one, Zaghari would
quickly claim that title. Zaghari is a roan-
WOTAN’S UNKINDNESS colored centaur with deep russet skin and
Though wielding no official power in Misto black braids in his hair and tail. Zaghari is
Ellel, a cloister of runemasters—composed of level-headed and patient, and he is renowned
spellcasters from a variety of disciplines and for his prowess in both battle and the hunt.
backgrounds (including a few ravenfolk) but When the centaurs have a dispute that they
all with an expertise in runes—commands don’t dare bring to Tsura’s attention, they go
everyone’s respect, and Tsura regularly seeks to Zaghari for advice and mediation. Several
their counsel, especially regarding magical of the younger or more rash centaurs have
matters. The runemasters are responsible claimed Zaghari could and should unseat

9
Tsura as ruler of Misto Ellel, but Zaghari is biding his time, but Tsura seems confident in
quick to hush any such talk. It is unknown her position and has yet to oust the centaur.
whether he truly has no desire to rule the Centaur Lodges. The Centaurs of Misto
wandering town or if he’s simply quietly Ellel gather regularly in longhouses known

THE EYE OF BABA YAGA

Suspended from the underside of the cupola allows her to observe the countryside of the
in the center of Misto Ellel is an eye the size of Rothenian Plain and the peoples within it.
a human fist. Pupils stare out from four sides, The Eye of Baba Yaga has darkvision with
blending together like an hourglass where they a radius of a mile. If it is destroyed (AC 10, 10
meet, the irises around each a different color— hp), Baba Yaga knows who destroyed it and
brown, blue, green, and gold. Secured to the can pinpoint the location of the creature on
cupola by four hooks on chains, the eye allows any plane of existence at any time. Baba Yaga
Baba Yaga to see everything within Misto Ellel, may cast bestow curse (9th-level spell slot)
even within homes and behind walls, and out through the eye once a day with the following
into the surrounding area within a 1-mile radius. modification: instead of a range of touch, the
It is through the eye that Baba Yaga monitors target must be within the walls of Misto Ellel.
Tsura, and the wandering nature of Misto Ellel

10
as centaur lodges. These buildings are often HUNTING AND RAIDING
used for rituals to the Horned Huntsman, Misto Ellel is, at heart, a city of hunters,
for cleaning, skinning, and tanning, or bandits, and raiders. The wild centaurs and
just for social gatherings around barrels of other worshipers of the Horned Huntsman
mead or ale. A few serve a second, more within Misto Ellel carry out routine raids in
ceremonial purpose, and these are known as his name, rarely leaving behind survivors.
Blood Lodges to the followers of the Horned Tsura does her best to balance the bloodlust
Huntsman, and those in the know find it no of the followers of the Master of the Hunt
surprise that Zaghari leads here as herl of the and the needs of the rest of the town, and
Misto Ellel Lodges. she restricts the bloodiest hunts to when the
moon is full. She attempts to channel their
Misto Ellel’s Economy need for carnage to the slaughter of beasts
Misto Ellel’s economy subsists on three and monsters, providing meat and protection
primary pillars: trade, hunting, and bandit to Misto Ellel as well as sating the urges of her
raids. Within the city, coin of all sorts passes most ferocious citizens. So far, the strategy
hands, and barter is a common occurrence. seems to be working, though some of the
younger, more hot-headed and impulsive
TRADE
followers chafe at her restrictions.
Those who are brave enough to venture Other, more circumspect hunters also serve
into the wandering town will find goods Misto Ellel, orbiting the wandering town
from across the Rothenian Plain, and many in small hunting parties of two to ten. Any
merchants whisper of the wonderful items outsider who stumbles upon such a party
that can be found within. Trading in Misto and proves their worth as a hunter may find
Ellel carries its risks though as a merchant is themselves in the party’s good graces and
just as likely to find themselves robbed of all may even find a willing escort to the town.
of their goods and coin before they even make Raids on merchant caravans and local
it through the city gates. Many merchants settlements are common when Misto Ellel is
hire protection before venturing out to the nearby, and many villages will fortify their
town, or they offer bribes to the centaur security and double or triple the number of
scouts, or what passes as a city guard, to guards at the sound of rolling thunder on a
ensure safe passage. A handful of traders have clear day. Occasionally, these raiding parties
arrangements with Tsura herself, and the can be bought off with bribes of gold or goods,
raiders and bandits of Misto Ellel know better but the spoils of a raid are always brought
than to even look at them askance. back and shared with the town—and Tsura.
However, with great risk comes great
reward. Misto Ellel’s wandering nature allows Locations of Interest
the townsfolk to trade with—and steal from— The wandering town is filled with miscreants,
people of all types. Often, rare items end up criminals, and outcasts of all sorts and their
within the shops and homes here, and the families—grandparents, parents, spouses,
owner has little idea of what they truly have siblings, children, grandchildren. Not
hanging on their wall or in their display case. everyone in town has a sordid past, but it’s
wise to tread lightly when inquiring into
someone’s history, for many are loathe to
discuss their mistakes. Just as many, however,
are proud of their actions and see themselves

11
as an underdog, a freedom fighter, or a a wagon—and in fact its construction is
revolutionary, unwilling to bend their will to simply a wagon with the wheels removed,
those that would oppress them. the bottom flush against the ground. Inside,
the walls have been covered with rough-cut
AXIS
shelving made from scavenged planks, and
The Axis is the local name for the four-story the shelves are cluttered with trinkets, junk,
structure at the heart of Misto Ellel that and sundry items.
functions as both the town hall and the home The eponymous Caslav is a kobold of
of Tsura the Bold. The structure is made up particularly diminutive size, and he stocks
of several repurposed wagons and brightly his shop with whatever items he can barter
colored canvas awnings, and it’s topped with for when a trading caravan passes by or a
an open cupola that helps keep the entire raiding party returns to town—or the items
structure ventilated. It is the largest structure he can scavenge from the remnants when
in town, and one could easily see miles in the more influential merchants have had
every direction from its roof—a favorite perch their pick. The items on Caslav’s shelves are
for the ravens that always follow the town. typically worthless garbage, but every now
and then, the kobold gets lucky and scoops
CASLAV’S CABINET OF CURIOSITIES
up a valuable (or magical) item that had
Caslav’s Cabinet of Curiosities is a tiny shop been overlooked.
near the edge of town, wedged between a A selection of items for sale in Caslav’s
centaur lodge and a slaughterhouse. Caslav’s Cabinet of Curiosities can be found below.
Cabinet of Curiosities is no bigger than

CASLAV’S CABINET OF CURIOSITIES INVENTORY

d12 ITEM PRICE

1 A set of three six-sided sandstone dice with the pips filed off. 4 cp
2 A dented silver fork missing two tines. 4 sp
3 A scarred purple leather pouch. 1 sp
4 A dusty arrangement of silk roses in a silver metal basin. 8 gp
5 A length of fishing twine dotted with semiprecious pebbles. 3 sp
6 A simple brass hooded lantern that, when lit, projects a racy image of 20 gp
two figures embracing.
7 A black and red brocade jacket sized to fit an ogre. 5 gp
8 Three white alabaster chess pieces—the queen, a pawn, and a rook— 8 sp
and one black pawn.
9 A pale-blue rhomboid crystal. It is an Ioun stone of strength mistaken 1 gp (or 5,000 gp if
for a mundane gemstone. he’s told of its magic)
10 A pair of pink silk shoes with holes worn in the soles. 5 sp
11 A wooden puzzle box shaped like a fox. Caslav has never been able 5 gp
to open it. It rattles as if there’s something inside. If opened with a
successful DC 18 Intelligence check, two human baby teeth (incisors)
can be found within.
12 A leather dog collar with a tag that reads “Jeannie-Bell.” 1 gp

12
WAGON WHEEL all bolted to the wood floor, and niches are
The Wagon Wheel is a cramped tavern with carved into the tabletops to help steady plates,
food, drink, and one tiny room for rent bowls, and cups in the event of rough terrain
above the kitchen (Misto Ellel doesn’t get while the town is on the move. Upstairs
visitors often enough to warrant much in the are the living quarters for the Kariv owner,
way of lodgings). The exterior of the tavern Adrina “Drina” Amel, and her wife, Volca.
is adorned with wagon wheels, and several The roof of the tavern is covered in coops
hang from the low ceiling inside and serve as where Drina and Volca breed raille, a tiny
chandeliers, covered in candles and decades’ flightless bird that serves as the centerpiece
worth of wax. The tables and benches are for much of the tavern’s cuisine.

13
 GRANDMOTHER’S DAUGHTERS:
SECRETS OF THE VILA
by Kelly Pawlik

T he brave and foolhardy souls who

attempt to catalog the life and deeds
of Baba Yaga have often wondered at the
such access to his vast body of knowledge.
She anticipated his reaction and the trickery
he would use to strip her of what she had
relationship between her and her so-called gained, and she prepared herself for his
daughters, the beguiling vila. As with many wrath. The wily witch gathered favors,
of the confusing and conflicting stories about performing deeds for whomever might agree
Grandmother, there are numerous tales to her terms, be they a desperate pauper, a
explaining the origin of her relationship with petty tyrant, or an exalted demigod.
the vila, but the following tale is one of the Some unfathomable span of time later,
more common ones. while he performed an accounting of his
holdings, Mammon realized just how much
he had profited from Baba Yaga—and
The Fiend, the Fairy, conversely, how much she had gained from
and the Beldam him. He realized she had lived well beyond
When she was younger, Baba Yaga had what he considered acceptable for a mere
many dealings with that diabolical glutton mortal. The fiend knew in his empty black
Mammon. His coffers swelled with the chamber of a heart that the crone had used
treasures she paid him to gain access to knowledge forbidden to mortals, knowledge
the knowledge of the Eleven Hells and the learned from his own scriptoriums and
hierarchies of arch-devils and demon lords. libraries, to achieve her unbelievable age. She
Mammon knew what the crone was gaining knew that his desire for wealth would blind
could be dangerous to other mortals, but him to the truth of her treachery. Worse still,
what damage could a simple witch, even a she had built a loyal following of devotees,
powerful and long-lived one such as her, do making her not unlike a deity in her own
to one as mighty as him? Satisfied with the right, and she passed some of the knowledge
growing pile of coins, gemstones, and trinkets she had stolen from him to her adherents to
in his treasury, he allowed the deal to stand as cement their loyalty to her. The hells shook as
centuries drifted by. Mammon raged in his realization. But after
Grandmother knew Mammon would a while, the fiend’s temper cooled. He could
eventually discover his folly in allowing her repair this and show the overblown magician

14
what the cost was for attempting to deceive “I want a creature like a horse but a bit
the lord of the Hells. smaller. It must have four legs and brown fur
Mammon disguised himself as a simple dappled with white,” Grandmother said.
peddler laden with goods both mundane and The peddler opened his bag and dug around
magical. He set up a blanket at a marketplace while murmuring. A moment later he pulled
located at a crossroads on the plains at the foot out a fawn and presented it.
of Demon Mountain, a mortal location close “Here you are. Exactly as you wished,” he
to the devil’s husk of a heart. He cried out said. His eyes burned like embers.
about his incredible wares to all who passed, “That is just a deer,” Baba Yaga dismissed
and he cajoled them to spread the word. and turned to go. “Obviously you were just
Baba Yaga heard the tale of the peddler on telling me a story.”
the plains, about his stock of bottled worlds, “No, no!” The peddler exclaimed. “I have
genie-filled lamps, and elixirs of eternal what you want. Describe something else.”
youth, and she knew the time had come to “How about a creature slightly larger than a
put her preparations to action. She went to mastiff but with shaggy gray fur,” she inquired.
the market, taking a brief detour to call in a “Easily done.” He dug in his pack and pulled
favor in the shadowed city of Corremel, where out a wolf cub and presented it to her.
the fairy courts held sway. When she saw the “That is a wolf. They are common in the
peddler, she knew at once that she had been forests not so far from here.
right. Mammon himself stood before her, “Of course, they are. I see you are too canny
nearly quaking with bitter mirth at the lesson for these simple creatures. Try something
he was going to teach her. more interesting,” the fiend commanded.
Grandmother perused the peddler’s With a nonplussed look she tried again.
stock, asking questions about this bottle of “How about a feline as big as a mountain lion
iridescent pink liquid or that jar holding but with a feminine intelligence?”
the eye of a dead god. The devil’s patience
thinned as she slowly looked over every single
item he had brought with him. She made a
sour face and turned to go.
“Where are you going?” the peddler asked.
“I don’t see anything here I don’t already
have,” she explained. “I am looking for
something no one has ever seen before.”
The peddler frowned. “I assure you that
I have what you need. Describe what you
want, and I will find it,” he said, indicating to
his bulging pack.
Baba Yaga pursed her lips, doubtful of his
proclamation. She thought for a moment.
“If you can do as you claim, I will give you
everything I have in exchange.”
Mammon’s eyes shone with
greed. He licked his lips and
then repeated, “Describe
what you want.”

15
 The peddler’s brows waggled as he drew “Call them what you will,” the peddler spat
forth a wampus cat, cursing from its human back. “It is time for you to pay me now.”
head. “I think it’s time for you to pay up “Pay for what, peddler?” Grandmother
now,” he stated. asked him. “You claimed to have what I
“That is a wampus cat. I have seen them needed, but you did not. The Queen of Night
detailed on a scroll I saw on Totivillus’s table,” and Magic made these vila.”
she stated, waving her hand in boredom. Mammon gaped. The crone had tricked
The peddler clenched his fists. “How about him again. “There will be a reckoning for this,
something even more fascinating and new?” witch.” He disappeared in a burst of flame
he asked, drawing a deerlike creature with and the stench of brimstone.
the trunk, arms, and head of a human from “Perhaps,” replied Baba Yaga, “but now I
the sack. have granddaughters. Let us see what they
Baba Yaga shook her head as a little girl can learn.” And she took those first three vila
shouted, “That’s an alseid. My mama says and taught them all she knew.
they roam the Margreve Forest.”
“Fine,” shouted Mammon. “Is there no Vila Boons
one that create something new for this Whether they gained the ability from their
impossible‑to‑please woman?” association with Baba Yaga or from some
“It is not so difficult,” said Sarastra, the other divine being or phenomenon, vila can
Queen of Night and Magic, stepping from the grant favors to mortals. Most often, these are
growing crowd. “Though possibly that is not given as payment for a service a mortal has
true for one with only the creativity granted
to them by the hells,” she finished.
Mammon ground his teeth but
smiled as he said, “Milady, please
demonstrate your skill.”
“Can you make me a creature with
antlers like a deer, hair as green as
the grass in spring, skin like the
wood of the beech tree, and eyes
as grey as the ocean in autumn?”
Baba Yaga asked the fey lady.
Sarastra threw three seeds on
the ground, and each swiftly grew
into a beautiful woman with features as
Grandmother described.
“They are new and never seen before by the
eyes of mortal or immortal,” Sarastra said,
gesturing at them. “And they are yours if
you wish them.” She then faded away
to her home in the Shadow Realm.
Mammon’s eyes crinkled as he
grinned. “Have you seen these
before?” he asked.
“No. I think I will call them vila.”
Baba Yaga replied.

16
VILA REQUESTS Typical of all fey, the service required from
d20 FAVOR REQUESTED a mortal to obtain a vila’s boon often seems
1 Make a promise to nurse an injured animal
nonsensical or pointless to the petitioner, and
back to health. the wording of the request itself can obfuscate
the creature’s true desire. Nonetheless, a vila
2 Forswear the eating of venison for one year.
adheres to the letter of any verbal agreement
3 Lead a small herd of sheep to a nearby
she makes with a mortal, and she always
wolf pack.
delivers the favor agreed upon if such an
4 Spend a month planting trees.
agreement was reached before the boon is
5 Agree to be a vila’s protector for one month. granted. The table on the next page lists a
6 Plant a vegetable garden. number of potential favors a vila might ask
7 Drive all the loggers out of the vila’s forest. for in exchange for a boon.
8 Promise to plant a pine tree on four different
The vila boons listed herein consist of the
mountaintops. boon’s name, a description of the benefit
gained by the recipient, and the drawback
9 Only wear clothing made of woven grasses.
of the boon to be borne by the recipient.
10 Do not wield or wear iron for a fortnight.
The drawback associated with each boon is
11 Carry a message from the vila to one of the a suggestion. If the drawback isn’t fitting for
lords of the shadow fey.
your campaign or the character that received
12 Spend one hour dancing around a fire each the boon, you should feel free to assess a
night for one month. different, more fitting one.
13 Do not curse or swear for one year.
DANCING HUT
14 Wear only sandals on your feet for one month.
15 Free all the livestock owned by a grumpy A vila allows you to borrow her dancing,
old farmer. chicken-legged hut. The hut can comfortably
16 Do not use fire for any purpose, mundane or hold six Medium or smaller creatures and has
magical, for one week. a movement rate of 50 feet. As an action, the
17 Deliver the honey from a sacred beehive to occupants of the hut can speak the name of
an ill-tempered bear. the vila who loaned them the hut to instantly
transport themselves up to 500 miles to a
18 Sit unmoving on an uncomfortable stump
for one day. location one of them has visited before while
the hut remains in the place. Speaking the
19 Agree to carry a horse’s burden for one day.
vila’s name again returns all the occupants to
20 Remain silent for a week.
the interior of the hut. Once the hut has been
used in this fashion, it can’t be used again
performed for a vila, but a few magnanimous until dawn the next day.
individuals occasionally grant a boon freely Duration. One week or until you break your
or on a whim. Some others use their boons in promise.
a more punitive fashion, where they act more Drawback. Creatures that finish a long
as a curse to the recipient than as a benefit. rest in the hut have disadvantage on the first
Vila boons always have a drawback. It isn’t attack roll, saving throw, or ability check they
known whether they are able to grant favors make on the following day.
that are open and free of complication or fey
trickery, but the fact is that they never do.
There is always a cost, and that cost must
always be borne by the recipient of the boon.

17
GRANDMOTHER’S HONEY THUNDER TONGUE
You are given a small pot filled with fragrant For the duration, your voice is amplified to
honey. As an action, you can rub a handful a volume that can be heard clearly for 1,000
of the honey on yourself to gain resistance feet, regardless of other noise in the area, such
to fire and lightning damage for 1 minute. as hurricane winds, a collapsing tower, or a
Once you have used the honey, you can’t do roaring dragon. If you cast a spell with verbal
so again until dawn the next day. At the end components, your allies are heartened by the
of the duration, the pot crumbles, and any sound of your voice and have advantage on
honey remaining crystalizes. saving throws until the beginning of your
Duration. One month or until you break next turn.
your promise. Duration. One week or until you break your
Drawback. Bees, stinging insects, and promise.
stirges are attracted to you. Giant wasps and Drawback. Every creature within 500 feet of
similar creatures have advantage on attack you that can hear, hears every word you speak,
rolls against you. regardless of how quiet you think you are.

HUMMINGBIRD HEART
Wayward Daughters
For the duration, when you use your action to of Baba Yaga
Dash, your movement is equal to three times
Not all vila venerate, or even respect Baba
your speed, after applying any modifiers,
Yaga. Some of them have gone so far as to
and you have advantage on Dexterity saving
band together with mortals to counter her
throws until the start of your next turn.
machinations and wrest some of the old
Duration. One day or until you break your
witch’s power away from her. These groups
promise.
focus their activities on divining where
Drawback. If you don’t move on one of
objects Grandmother will be drawn to are
your turns, your movement is reduced to 20
located and taking possession of them. Often,
feet until the turn after you move again.
this means moving the item in question to the
NATURE GUT Shadow Realm or the Summer Lands, where
the vila feel the native populations of fey can
For the duration, you can subsist on grass,
keep them safer than mortals can.
leaves, bark, and moss and are immune
These groups don’t officially have a name,
to the dangerous or debilitating effects of
though some of the members ironically
plant‑based foodstuffs, such as alcohol. As a
refer to themselves as wayward daughters,
bonus action, you can recover hit points as
for they don’t feel like they are anyone’s
though you had expended a Hit Die. Once
daughters. Each cell of wayward daughters
you have recovered hit points, you must
is self-contained, rarely numbering more
finish a long rest before you can do so again.
than a dozen members, though groups of
Duration. One week or until you break your
them do occasionally intermingle with other
promise.
groups, especially to pull off more dangerous
Drawback. Herbivores and omnivores, such
undertakings. Groups seek outside assistance
as bears, focus their attention and attacks on
from time to time as well, hiring specialists
you over other targets.
as the need arises. As often as not, these
specialists are paid in vila boons and magical
items rather than coin.

18
 The largest numbers of wayward daughters
can be found in places Baba Yaga is known
to frequent, such as the Rothenian Plain
or the Margreve Forest. The Blood
Kingdoms can also boast many cells
as can the Grand Duchy of Dornig.
Most other regions host one or two
small cells that often require assistance
in pulling off their operations.

JOINING THE
WAYWARD DAUGHTERS
Wayward daughters are very selective
about whom they allow into their
tight‑knit cells. A prospective mortal
member might assist a cell with a
dozen or more missions over a
handful of years before they are
offered full-time membership
by the vila in charge. An ideal
candidate for membership has
few familial bonds or intimate
friendships when they join,
though they will likely build strong
bonds with those of their cell.
Prospective members can
expect to have their loyalty and
wits tested at random intervals by the
existing members of the group. As Baba Yaga
is known to be a powerful witch, tests are WHAT IS EXPECTED OF A MEMBER
aimed at ensuring a potential recruit can see
Wayward daughters must be subtle, swift,
through illusions, overcome enchantments,
and sometimes ruthless. Operations requiring
resist being transformed against their will,
theft, destruction of personal property, and
and endure any physical tortures they are
assassination are carried out with enough
subjected to. Wayward daughters that
frequency that individuals who are overly
come from the mortal world need to be
concerned with matters of right and wrong
well rounded with strong physical skills, a
or who have a very black and white view of
reasonable body of knowledge, and the ability
morality have a hard time coping. The general
to interact with others without drawing
methodology of a wayward daughter cell is to
attention to themselves. Despite their
discover something, be it an object, person,
name, there is no bias with regard to gender
or situation, that Grandmother Baba Yaga
amongst the wayward daughters, and any
might take an interest in and remove it from
mortal that meets their exacting requirements
her sphere of influence, no matter how that
can find admittance eventually.
needs to be done.

19
 After an operation, the cell leader expects • Members have advantage on saving
that members will remain silent about it. The throws to avoid being put to sleep or
details are to remain secret and unspoken, magically knocked unconscious.
except possibly to one another. Wayward
daughters that can’t maintain discretion are WAYWARD DAUGHTER
dealt with harshly. It isn’t unheard of for a ADVENTURE HOOKS
member who has run afoul of their own cell Baba Yaga has agents and interests all over
to have their memory permanently erased or Midgard, so the wayward daughters can
to simply to be executed. be found anywhere, working to curtail her
ALLIES AND ENEMIES power and influence. Consider the following
hooks to involve them in your campaign:
Not surprisingly, the biggest enemy of the
• A beautiful, antlered woman approaches
wayward daughters is Baba Yaga herself.
the party’s leader and inquires if their
The canny old witch has more power and
services are available. She needs to
influence at her disposal than any cell of
recover the staff a cagey wizard stole
daughters can muster. Baba Yaga’s agents are
from her—and if the wizard ends up
also a danger to the groups. Her adherents
dead in the process, so much the better.
will stop at nothing to gain Grandmother’s
• The party, while seeking a relic in a
favor, and delivering a single member, let
tomb, encounters a group of wayward
alone an entire cell, to her is a sure way to
daughters seeking the same artifact. The
win ancient and forbidden knowledge.
daughters are willing to use whatever
Despite the fear that the wayward daughters
means are necessary to fulfill their
have about Baba Yaga’s attention, no known
objective.
cells of them have ever been the subject of
her aggression. It isn’t known if the crone • One of Grandmother’s agents hires the
is aware of these so-called daughters of hers party to investigate a series of thefts in
that work against her interests, but some town. A cell of wayward daughters has
of the vila leaders wonder if they aren’t just been stealing magical trinkets to keep
working toward Baba Yaga’s inscrutable Baba Yaga from gaining control of
goals somehow. them. Both groups are actually seeking
an artifact they suspect to be in the town
BENEFITS OF BEING and the agent that hires the party is
A WAYWARD DAUGHTER hoping they’ll stumble into it first.
Given the difficulty of gaining membership,
the benefits of joining a cell of wayward
daughters are significant for mortals:
• If they are within 60 feet of another
wayward daughter, a member can add
their proficiency bonus to initiative
checks.
• Members have advantage on Dexterity
(Stealth) checks while on a mission for
their cell.
• Members are immune to the Dance of
the Luckless and Fascinate abilities of
all vila.

20
 NIEMHEIM: NOTES
ON GNOMISH DIABOLISM
by Wolfgang Baur

T he gnomes of Niemheim are not the

only gnomes of Midgard, but they are
by far the best known. Mostly, this is because
To recover them, Baba Yaga sent her ala
hags and strigoi, her vila, her psoglav, and
her ravens to capture and question and
they are particularly dangerous and entirely destroy gnomes to punish them for Steingau’s
willing to kidnap, murder, and steal as needed betrayal. The prince took the book and black
to protect their strange woodland realm. gem to the Eleven Hells where Baba Yaga
These evil gnomes are justly infamous couldn’t find him—and Niemheim suffered
for their troubles with Baba Yaga and their until King Redbeard made his pact with
tightly entwined relationship with the hells. Parzelon (see Creature Codex).
And they are closely allied with the one they
call the Master of Knives—better known IN SERVICE TO THE LORD OF SECRETS
elsewhere as the arch-devil Parzelon, the Because Parzelon is the Lord of Secrets, he
Lord of Secrets. prizes secret knowledge highly and always
seeks to acquire more, stealing them so
Recent Gnomish History that they are no one’s but his. Thus, when
While most know the story that a gnomish Steingau raised such ire from Baba Yaga
prince named Vander Steingau broke a sworn and made off with prized treasures, well, the
blood oath to Baba Yaga 200 years ago, rather possibility of protecting a few gnomes and
fewer know that Prince Steingau did so in gaining priceless information from Baba Yaga
order to steal magical power from Baba Yaga was rather irresistible.
to fuel his own ambitions. He stole two items: As a result, Parzelon has expanded his cult
one being the Ebony Star, a magical gemstone widely among the Niemheim gnomes, though
said to contain the soul of Baba Yaga’s his name is not known to those who do not
grandchild, and the other being a book of traffic in diabolism. The Lord of Secrets
her secrets, sometimes called Grandmother’s granted the gnomes spells to summon allies
Grimoire or the Oxtail Libram, after the oxtail and to hide gnomish travel and activities from
that the tanner left on the book’s leather others. At the same time, Parzelon is cautious
cover. Neither item is well known outside of of devoting too much attention to Niemheim:
gnomish arcanist circles. he has rivals in Chernobog and Mammon,
and each seeks the gnomes’ devotion for

21
themselves. And while the gnomes are fearful, was the gnomes’ first protector—before the
they are also clever, and their king seeks to bargain with Parzelon was struck.
end their reliance on infernal aid. Now, there is a high priest of Chernobog
In practical terms, Parzelon sends various in the city of Königsheim, with his hellspur
fiends to Niemheim (spree demons, see cavaliers to carry out his orders, and his
Creature Codex, bearded devils, and others) priesthood is in every village, ready to blind
to protect the gnomes, and in return, the the eyes of Baba Yaga’s servants—or indeed
gnomes provide a steady supply of sacrifices the eyes of the undead of Morgau or the
and learn all the secrets they can with spies, centaurs of the Rothenian Plain. Unlike
arcane scrying, and outright theft from Parzelon, the priests of Chernobog require
humans, undead, and Baba Yaga’s allies—all far less blood and sacrifice, only fervent
while keeping his own name hidden insofar prayers and the annual soul of a young gnome
as possible. Most gnomes, even members of or human brought to the Black Spire of
the Eleven Knives and affiliated tinkers and Chernobog in Königsheim at midwinter.
scouts, simply refer to him as Our Patron,
the Master of Knives, King of the Eleven GNOMISH TINKER SCOUTS
Havens, and similar circumlocutions. Their The gnomes of Niemheim send out scouts,
gratitude is quite real though, and stories tell posed as bards, tinkers, pilgrims, cloth and
of the “lost generation” of gnomish children, leather merchants, and other generally
thousands and thousands of them, taken into beneficial persons, visiting Morgau, Zobeck,
Grandmother’s stewpots and never seen again. Vidim, Perunalia, and the Magdar Kingdom
with goods to trade. What they are really
CULT OF CHERNOBOG
seeking are sacrifices for Parzelon though,
AND THE DARK FIVE
and most have a small wagon used to carry off
The older faith among the gnomes included abducted victims to the nearest forest grove for
worship of Yarila and Porevit as well as dispatch from this mortal world (see sidebar).
Hecate and Rava—with some attention paid
to Lada as gnomish goddess of healing, light,
and luck. All of that worship though (except
for Lada) is long gone, referred to as
the Ancient Five but rarely. Lada alone
retains some minor attention in temples
otherwise given over to Chernobog, the
Goat of the Woods, Mammon, Marena,
and Parzelon: the Five Dark Protectors.
The faith of Chernobog, the god
of night and murder, was always
part of the darkness under the
deep shade of the Wormwood
Forest, but in times past, it was
rooted out and extinguished by
brave gnomish heroes. At best, it was
a cult for bandits and necromancers.
For 200 years though, it has served as
a cloak of darkness over the gnomes
of Niemheim, for Chernobog

22
GNOMISH TINKER SCOUT
Small Humanoid (Gnome), Any Evil
Armor Class 13 (leather)
Hit Points 32 (5d6 + 15)
Speed 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

8 (−1) 14 (+2) 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 17 (+3)

Skills Deception +5, Perception +3, Persuasion Languages one language that its master
+5, Stealth +4 knows; telepathy (with master only)
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13 Challenge 1/4 (50 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
Languages Abyssal, Common, Gnomish
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2 Antimagic Susceptibility. The knife familiar is
incapacitated while in the area of an antimagic
Knife Familiar. The tinker scout has a knife field. If targeted by dispel magic, the knife
familiar (see below). familiar must succeed on a Constitution saving
throw against the caster’s spell save DC or fall
Actions unconscious for 1 minute.
Ritual Knife. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, False Appearance. While the knife familiar
reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) slashing remains motionless and isn’t flying, it is
damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage. indistinguishable from a normal knife.
Spellcasting. The tinker scout casts one of Telepathy. A knife familiar can speak
the following spells, using Charisma as the telepathically to its master and tell them
spellcasting ability (spell save DC 13): everything it has seen or done within roughly a
At will: avert the eye*, horn of Parzelon*, one-week period. Its memory is fleeting, and it
spider climb can’t remember events more than a week ago.
3/day each: bless, hat trick* Actions
1/day: haste
Diabolical Knife. Melee Weapon Attack: +6
(*) see below
to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4 + 4)
slashing damage.
KNIFE FAMILIAR
Tiny Construct, Unaligned
Armor Class 18 (natural)
NINE SWORDS OF NIEMHEIM
Hit Points 14 (4d6)
The nine cities and towns of Niemheim are said
Speed 0 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover) to be linked to nine swords of the gnomish
princes of old, blades forged by the finest
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA gnomish bladesmiths, long before the pact of
8 (−1) 18 (+ 4) 10 (+ 0) 1 (−5) 5 (−3) 1 (−5) Redbeard and Parzelon and the corruption of
the gnomes. Some say the blades were gifts
Saving Throws Dex +6 of the elves, later corrupted by Parzelon, the
Damage Immunities poison, psychic Hunter, the Black Goat of the Woods, and other
dark gods. A few believe that recovering these
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed,
swords might grant the gnomes the favor of
deafened, frightened, paralyzed, petrified,
Mavros, the war god, and allow them to defend
poisoned
themselves, rather than relying on the hells
Senses blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this
for their protection. Certainly, King Redbeard
radius), passive Perception 7
thinks so and has sought to recover them.

23
Cult of Eleven Knives enchants them with blood magic to make
blood feeder weapons (see below), which cause
The Eleven Knives is a cult of gnomes devoted
wounds to continue bleeding—most of which
to maintaining, strengthening, and expanding
are in the hands of the Eleven Knives.
the deal made with Parzelon. Their public face
Spells such as blood armor, blood tide, and
is the charming blade and bon vivant Corvin
bloody smite (see Deep Magic for these spells)
Hallowell (LE gnomish knife cultist, see
are common tools among members of the
Creature Codex), their director and demon
knife cult.
summoner is the slovenly but talented young
Magda Venyn (LE gnome mage), and their BLOOD FEEDER WEAPON
ally and liaison to the hells is one Frexxis
Weapon (Any Piercing or Slashing), Very Rare
(bearded devil). Between the three of them,
the cult is quiet and effective. Damage from this weapon causes wounds
Working with dozens or hundreds of that continue to bleed. When a creature takes
gnomish tinker scouts, the members of damage from this magic weapon, it takes
the cult find victims and sacrifice them to additional damage at the start of its next turn,
Parzelon with remarkable and bloodthirsty equal to half the original damage inflicted. If
efficiency. Bearded devils, spree demons (see the creature receives any amount of healing
Creature Codex), and the occasional pair of or makes a DC 15 Wisdom (Medicine) check
twin gnomish assassins all keep the Eleven before its next turn, it does not take this
Knives on a bloody road. In exchange, the additional damage.
devils keep working to protect every gnomish In addition, if you score a critical hit with
village and town from all enemies. this weapon, you heal a number of hit points
equal to the damage dealt.
BLOOD MAGIC & BLOOD FEEDERS
The Eleven Knives counts among its members Gnomish Spellwork
one of the greatest blood mages in Midgard— These following spells are best known among
the mother of blades herself, the Hand of the gnomes of Niemheim. A few have made
Marena and the scourge of the faithless, their way into other hands or are known
Churaya Heart’s Desire (LE gnome blood among tieflings and diabolists with ties to
mage, see Creature Codex). She is said to Chernobog, Parzelon, or the Eleven Hells.
forge many of the cult’s best blades, and she

PROPER SACRIFICES
The sacrifices sought by the spawn of Parzelon the general population of Niemheim, who lead
and their master in exchange for protection their lives in willful ignorance.
from Baba Yaga are steep but far less so than Each such sacrifice is made under the dark
the decimation wrought by Baba Yaga when forest branches (ideally in the Wormwood itself
her cauldron was filled hourly with gnomish but any grove will do) with a quick cut, leaving
flesh, especially that of young gnomes. The the victim’s blood to seep out into the earth or
sacrifices to Parzelon seem like a bargain in onto a large stone, sometimes with a candle.
comparison: each month, 12 black goats, a Having the blessing of a gnomish scout or priest
handful of humans, and whatever vila, vampires, always helps, as does the assistance of an infernal
and darakhul the Eleven Knives and their familiar (see find diabolical familiar spell below)
tinker scouts can capture, trick, and bind as an or an actual devil or spawn of Parzelon (see
offering. The offerings are kept out of sight of Parzelon in Creature Codex).

24
AVERT THE EYE FIND DIABOLICAL FAMILIAR
Illusion Cantrip | Bard, Druid, Sorcerer, 2nd-Level Conjuration (Ritual) | Wizard
Warlock, Wizard Casting Time: 1 hour
Casting Time: 1 action Range: 10 feet
Range: Self Components: V, S, M (100 gp worth of
Components: V, S, M (a glass eye or marble) charcoal, rich incense, and a written
Duration: Concentration, up to 3 rounds contract that must be consumed by fire in
By wrapping your hand around a small an iron brazier)
eyelike object, you become invisible until Duration: Instantaneous
the spell ends. Anything you are wearing or This spell is identical to the find familiar
carrying is invisible as long as it is on your spell, but it is used only by diabolists to
person. The spell ends if you attack or cast summon fiendish, corrupted, or undead
another spell. familiars. Instead of the usual spirits, you
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell gain the services of one of the following:
using a spell slot of 1st level or higher, you can d20 RESULT CR
extend the duration by 1 round for each slot
1–6 Lemure 0
level (2 rounds at 1st and 3 rounds at 2nd).
7 Stirge 1/8
CLOAK OF CHERNOBOG 8 Dretch 1/4
3rd-Level Evocation | Cleric, Sorcerer, 9 Ghoul Bat (TOB2) 1/4
Warlock, Wizard 10 Kalke (TOB) 1/4
Casting Time: 1 action 11 Corrupted Pixie (TOB2) 1/2
Range: 120 feet 12 Fire Imp (CC) 1/2
Components: V, M (a hat of black bear fur,
13 Skin Bat (TOB) 1/2
worn during casting)
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour 14 Gumienniki (CC) 1
15 Imp 1
Magical darkness spreads from a point you
choose within range to fill a 60-foot-radius 16 Quasit 1
sphere for the duration. The darkness spreads 17 Ink Devil (TOB) 2
around corners. A creature with darkvision 18 Kuunganisha (CC) 2
can’t see through this darkness, and 19 Wind Demon (CC) 2
nonmagical light can’t illuminate it. However,
20 Bearded Devil 3
gnomes can see in this darkness normally.
This spell is typically cast on the cloak of a
(CC) see Creature Codex, (TOB) see Tome of
priest of Chernobog leading an expedition.
Beasts, (TOB2) see Tome of Beasts 2
If the point you choose is on an object you
Appearing in an unoccupied space within
are holding or one that isn’t being worn or
range, the familiar has its typical statistics.
carried, the darkness emanates from the
Your familiar acts independently of you,
object and moves with it.
and it chooses whether or not to obey your
If any of this spell’s area overlaps an area of
commands—a spiteful familiar may work
light created by a spell of 3rd level or lower,
against you.
the spell that created the light is dispelled.

25
GNOMISH TONGUE HORN OF PARZELON
1st-Level Transmutation | Bard, Cleric, 1st-Level Evocation | Bard, Cleric, Sorcerer,
Druid, Sorcerer Warlock, Wizard
Casting Time: 1 action Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch Range: Self (10-foot radius)
Components: V, S, M (a bit of fox fur) Components: V, S, M (a hunting horn worth
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour 200 gp, not consumed in the casting)
You have advantage on Deception and Duration: Instantaneous
Persuasion checks and on saving throws You blow a hunting horn, creating a burst
against spells that do psychic damage or of noise that can be heard at a distance up
affect the mind, provided they have a verbal to 3 miles away in open air or up to 900 feet
component. in caverns or tunnels. Each creature in a
10-foot-radius sphere centered on you must
HAT TRICK make a Constitution saving throw, taking
1st-Level Transmutation | Wizard 1d8 thunder damage on a failed save or half
Casting Time: 1 action as much damage on a successful one.
Range: Touch Gnomes and evil-aligned creatures hearing
Components: V, S, M (a hat and a small the horn know that they are called by the
silver triangle with hinges worth 50 gp) arch-devil or his servants. They know the
Duration: 1 hour location and direction of the horn’s casting
and move toward it with preternatural speed.
You touch a hat and create an invisible
One or more creatures arrive at the caster’s
entrance within it that opens to an
location within 2d6 rounds. The exact nature
extradimensional space that lasts until the
of the creature depends on the area where the
spell ends. The extradimensional space can be
spell was cast.
reached by reaching into the hat. The space
can hold one Medium or smaller creature At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell
and its carried goods, or up to 100 pounds using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the
of unliving material. The hat always weighs damage increases by 1d8 for each slot level
about 1 pound, regardless of its contents. above 1st, and the distance increases by 1
The hat cannot be pulled into itself. Attacks mile, or 300 feet underground, per level.
and spells can’t cross through the entrance
into or out of the extradimensional space, but LION OF PARZELON
a creature inside can see out of it through a 5th-Level Conjuration | Cleric, Wizard
small slit as wide as the hat. Anything inside Casting Time: 1 minute
the extradimensional space drops out when Range: 90 feet
the spell ends or when the hat is destroyed. Components: V, S, M (blood and a knife)
Gnomish casters often crawl into their own Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour
hat to avoid detection or to be carried safely You call forth a spree demon (as per
from town to town. Creature Codex). Choose a space within
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell range, and the demon appears in an
using a spell slot greater than 1st, you extend unoccupied space within 10 feet of it. The
the duration by 1 hour for each additional demon disappears when it drops to 0 hit
level, and the extradimensional space can points or when the spell ends. The demon
hold one additional creature, or an additional is friendly to you and your companions for
100 pounds. the duration. Roll initiative for the demon,

26
which has its own turns. It obeys any verbal
commands that you issue to it (no action
required by you).
If you don’t issue any commands to the
demon, it attacks the nearest living creatures,
including members of your party. If your
concentration is broken, the demon
doesn’t disappear. Instead, you lose
control of the demon, it becomes
hostile toward you personally, and
it might attack. An uncontrolled
demon can’t be dismissed by you,
and it disappears 1 hour after you
summoned it. The GM has the
spree demon’s statistics.

SUMMON SPAWN OF CHERNOBOG

4th-Level Conjuration | Cleric, Wizard
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: 90 feet
Components: V, S, M (charcoal and a
knife)
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour WORD OF PARZELON

You call forth a spawn of Chernobog 2nd-Level Divination (Ritual) | Cleric

(see Creature Codex). Choose a space Casting Time: 1 minute
within range, and the spawn appears in an Range: Self
unoccupied space within 10 feet of it. The Components: V, S, M (blood from a bird)
spawn disappears when it drops to 0 hit Duration: Instantaneous
points or when the spell ends. The spawn By splattering blood on a stone or in dust,
is friendly to you and your companions for you may receive a single-word answer from
the duration. Roll initiative for the spawn, the arch-devil Parzelon about a specific
which has its own turns. It obeys any verbal person, place, or object within 5 miles or
commands that you issue to it (no action about a specific action you plan to take within
required by you). the next 30 minutes. Roll on the following
If you don’t issue any commands to the table, using your spellcasting modifier:
spawn, it attacks the nearest living creatures
if in darkness or twilight or disappears 1 d20 RESULT
round later if in sunlight or bright light. If 1 No response
your concentration is broken, the spawn 2−6 Garbled word in a language not known
doesn’t disappear. Instead, you lose control to the caster
of the spawn, it becomes hostile toward 7−10 Answer is vague and potentially misleading
you personally, and it might attack. An
11−16 Answer is accurate, punny, or clever but
uncontrolled spawn of Chernobog can’t be
not helpful
dismissed by you, and it disappears 1 hour
17−19 Answer is accurate and clear
after you summoned it. The GM has the
spawn of Chernobog’s statistics. 20+ A precise and helpful answer

27
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5. Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You Warlock 34: Baba Yaga. ©2022 Open Design LLC.
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