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Tsu Harabax is Baba Yaga!

Goofyspook’s Wild Beyond the Witchlight supplement


for the Inn at the End of the Road

Baba Yaga’s Hut


By Hetman80
This is a homebrew that can be used in the Wild Beyond the Witchlight campaign and add some potential conflict,
intrigue and clues to an otherwise peaceful encounter in Prismeer’s splinter realm of Hither. It is a suggestion for
a bit of foreshadowing and clues to the relationship between Zybilna, the Hags and their mother: Baba Yaga.
The content of this supplement is made by several DM’s from the Witchlight Discord Community and gathered
and modified by GoofySpook.
Using this supplement does offer a relatively high risk of spoiling Zybilnas true identity, if your players are well
versed in Tasha or Baba Yaga lore. You can use this supplement as foreshadowing to a potential follow up
campaign after Wild Beyond the Witchlight: Dancing hut of Baba Yaga. Or you can simply use the inspiration to
add some flavour, mood and shenanigans to the Inn at the End of the Road (which from now on is just referred to
as the Inn). As always you can choose to use some, none or all of it at your table. You are the DM.
The supplement is made using Homebrewery. Head here to help keep the servers running.
Baba Yaga Lore 2 NPCs at the Inn 9
SideQuest NPCs 9
Baba Yaga is behind it all 2 Additional NPCs 10
The alias of Tsu Harabax 3 Sidequests in the basement 13
Working as the ferrywoman of Prismeer 4 Quest Hooks 13
Death Bargains with the ferrywoman 4 Clurichaun in the basement 13
Secret Workshop 5 Ghost of the Craftsman 16
The Inn 6 Sidequest overview 16
Arriving at the Inn at the End of Road 6 How to use this sidequest 16
Entering the Inn 6 Running the sidequest 16
Staying at the Inn 6 Whats on the menu 18
Clues to Tsu’s real identity 6 19
Minor clues 6 Leaving the Inn
Major clues 8 Grand Scale Finish 20
Consequences of discovery 8
References and Sources 22

Baba Yaga Lore Baba Yaga is behind it


Baba Yaga is a recurring figure in slavic folk tales, an all
ogre witch who lives in a magical hut on two chicken- Baba Yaga is really only interested in helping herself
legs and eats children. She appears in many modern and she set her adopted child, Natasha, on a path to
day fantasy tales including the Witcher (who did you unlock the secrets that Baba Yaga herself was too
think Voleth Meir aka “The Deathless Mother” was?) wise to go snooping into herself: The paths of the nine
and of course in the lore of Wizards of the Coast’s hells and the secrets of the abyss. When
Dungeons & Dragons. Tasha/Iggvilw against all odds actually managed to
Baba Yaga from Slavic folk tales often plays two learn these long forgotten secrets and became a
very important tale roles: That of the villain, who lover/paramour/partner of Graz’zt, Baba Yaga began
harms or seeks to harm the protagonist, and that of to feel an emotion she was not accustomed to: Fear?
the donor, who is helpful and gives the hero or Jealousy? Pride? Baba Yaga didn’t like it, so she let a
heroine a magic agent — sometimes within the same few rumours slip to Graz’zt and watched the
story (1). relationship shatter (for good this time) and the
“She [Baba Yaga] is never depicted as kind, loving, enemies close in around Tasha. Tasha did as she was
or welcoming – except when she thinks she is meeting taught and slid into hiding.
her evening meal – but always sparks change in the
life of the central character or characters and provides
the necessary elements for their transformation and
liberation.” (2)
As in any good story with a plot twist we shall also
let Baba Yaga play both the role of the villain and
donor, depending on how you see it and how you feel
about Zybilna and her actions.

Baba Yaga and child Servant


Forest Rogers
PART 1 | The Why
1
And where better to hide than right under the nose of The alias of Tsu
an enemy. She enlisted the Caller to kill most of the
allies of Isolde, an eladrin paladin who had killed Harabax
several of Tasha’s fiend allies unknowingly. Tasha This is Baba Yaga The Mother - as opposed to Baba
carved out a portion of the feywild for her new Yaga The Wicket and Baba Yaga the Hungry (22). No
domain: Prismeer. one knows if the three are one and the same or three
When Isolde was alone and desperate, Tasha different hags who share the same name. Baba Yaga
presented herself as Zybilna - an archfey, friend and the Mother is still wicket evil, but more reasonable
confidant - and manipulated Isolde into her role as and less ravenously hungry. In her guise as Tsu
protector of the Fey Carnival. The Fey Carnival was Harabax she has less mood swings and a more
the gateway to Zybilnas new domain. Isolde grew coherent and stable personality: A welcoming and
restless and traded carnivals with a pair of shadar-kai, warm hearted middle aged human woman, with only
Mr. Witch and Mr. Light. a slight talent for magic who runs an inn and loves
Zybilna then wiped Isolde’s memories of Zybilna gossip and secrets from every realm. “Tsu” struck a
and sent fiends to harass Isolde and keep her busy. bargain with Zybilna and was given the Inn to ferry
The amount of energy and emotions Tasha put into mortals through Prismeer - and dispose of the dead.
creating her new persona, Zybilna, and her new Corpses would put any potential mortals out of their
domain, Prismeer, was astounding. Tasha even bargaining mood, so Zybilna has Tsu traverse
carved out and locked away key parts and flaws of her Prismeer and pick them up and dispose of them - see
personality to transform into the Fairytale Godmother “Working as a ferrywoman”.
Archfey role better, these are now bound in the While Zybilna fends for her existence, Baba Yaga
Dretches at the nursery - or scattered around can reap some of the benefits of the quiet life, trade
Prismeer if you adhere to the Eleventh Hour trinkets and secrets for lodgings, meals, information
supplement. Baba Yaga felt that emotion again. and the like. She uses these for forging powerful
The domain of Prismeer was fresh and full of spells secretly in her secret workshop, entered
change. Ripe for infection. Baba Yaga slipped through a through the back of a wardrobe in Tsu’s
information of the whereabouts of Iggwilv the room. See “Secret workshop” for more detail.
Witchqueen to Valor’s Call, and the rumour that she The building that Tsu was given by Zybilna is not
was in collaboration with the League of Malevolence. the actual hut of Baba Yaga, but it has over time been
In turn she informed the League of Malevolence about shaped by the presence of its owner. Like so much
an opportunity to seize the Staff of Power from else in the Feywild it changes in response to emotions
Valor’s Call and gain a foothold in the Feywild. Baba and intent. After Zybilna was frozen in temporal stasis
Yaga, Mother of Witches, had some of her other the changes to the Inn have accelerated.
daughters, equally wicket but less ambitious, While in the common area of the Inn or sitting at
approach Zybilna, knowing they wouldn’t stand by to the bar counter, Tsu passes the time by eating and
be ruled for long and would soon instigate a reading Tarot cards. She’ll happily do a non-magical
revolution against Zybilna. reading for her guests.
Baba Yaga figures that when the dust clears she
will have a new domain for herself, and her biggest
rival to the title of Mother of Witches will be crushed.
Baba Yaga, disguised as Tsu Harabax, will encourage
the PCs to help free Zybilna and work against the
hags, if this will speed the process along. She needs
Zybilna freed from temporal stasis in order for
someone to kill her or Graz’zt to claim her. Baba Yaga
doesn’t want to kill her other children, but the
splintering of Prismeer and lack of progress of the
Hourglass Covens is not in Baba Yaga’s favour, and
frankly, she is growing tired of her children’s internal
bickering and also of being stuck in Hither. Helping
the PC’s free Zybilna from temporal stasis might
speed up the process of Baba Yaga claiming Prismeer
for herself.
And so Baba Yaga has put herself right in the
middle of it all, pulling the threats, in the guise of Tsu
Harabax the nice old Innkeeper at the End of the
Road. Because Baba Yaga knows that she herself will
be the one to be there… at the end.
Baba Yaga disguised as Tsu Harabax
next to her Mortar and Pestle
Aja Maikken cover

PART 1 | The Why


2
Working as the ferrywoman of
Prismeer
Like the ferryman of greek mythology, Charon of
Kharo, the ferryman of Hades who carries souls of the
newly deceased across the river Acheron/Styx, Tsu
Harabax and the Inn at the End of the Road carries
mortals across the realm of Prismeer. These mortals
usually seek Zybilna, known to be a benevolent fairy
godmother-like archfey, because they have tried all
other options and now come to seek aid from the
archfey in a desperate attempt to overcome whatever
quarrels or ailments that bother them. But traversing
the feywild, even Prismeer, Zybilna’s domain of
delight, is difficult and dangerous for mortals at best.
In order to help her worshippers, Zybilna enrols Tsu
Harabax to ferry them around in the walking inn.
Baba Yaga collects the fresh dead mortals and fey
alike and has ample opportunity to sate her hunger for
flesh.
Death Bargains with the
ferrywoman
As an additional option to our feywild campaign, we
will let Tsu Harabax ferry the souls of those that die in
Prismeer. This can be instead of or in addition to the
“Death in Prismeer” table.
As a PC goes unconscious is a combat (they were or
were not meant to initiate), their body slumps over,
but their soul appears on the porch or in the bar of the
Inn at the End of the Road, where Tsu Harabax is
laying tarot cards, doing a reading on the PC. The still
conscious PCs continue the fight and may or may not
save the dying PC. On the turn of the unconscious
PCs you roleplay a bit of an interaction between Tsu
Harabax and the PC, where Tsu might explain her
role as a ferrywoman of the souls of those that die in
Prismeer. She offers the PC a choice: 1) accept Tsu’s
blessing to pass on to Zybilna and get returned to
their body with half health (and replenish up to half
their spell slots and class abilities and hit dice if they
have less than half) or 2) accept death.
Every turn the player rolls their death saving throw as
Tsu puts down a tarot card. If you have a set of tarot
cards that is awesome and makes for very dramatic
story-telling, but if you don’t you can let Tsu “draw”
these as inspiration, depending on how you tell your
story (use the Major Arcana wikipedia article for
inspiration on their meaning):
Initial proposal of the deal to help free Zybilna: The
Empress
Failing a death saving throw: The Hanged Man,
Death, Devil, The Fool, Judgement
Succeeding on a death saving throw: Moon, Tower,
Charriet, Strength
Accepting the deal: The World, Justice, Wheel of
Fortune

PART 2 | The How


3
Secret Workshop
The back wall of the wardrobe closet has a hidden
door that leads to Baba Yaga’s secret worskhop. The
door has an arcane lock that requires a mix of spit and
blood to open. Cut your hand and spit in it before
pressing your palm to the door to have it swing open
soundlessly or simply bite your tongue and spit on the
door. Should the players against all odds find the
entrance which is hidden with both mundane and
magical means (DC 18 Investigation AND a DC 19
Arcana check (DC 13 if aided by Detect Magic) to
notice the slight irregularities of the floorboards and
magical energies around the door) they will find a
horribly crowded laboratory and workshop with
voodoo dolls, a cage with dead rats and a cage with
live rats, a jar of eyeballs, and all manner of
ingredients and potions and a bubbling cauldron - this
is a perfect opportunity to run a Potion Puzzle (for
inspiration go here or here).
Nothing in the lab is labelled, but with proficiency in
alchemist’s supplies or herbalism tools they would be
able to identify ingredients worth a total of 83 gold
and (at the DM’s disgression) several useful and
dangerous potions: Potion of poison, vial of acid,
Potion of Greater Healing, Potion of Detect Thoughts,
Potion of Possibility.

The workshop also has a locked and trapped chest,


which contains letters in a variety of languages from
powerful entities asking where “The Witch Queen” (or
“Tasha” or “Iggwilv” depending on how much you
want to reveal about Zybilnas identity) is. One of the
letters is from Graz’zt, written in infernal, asking for
the whereabouts of Iggwilv, adressed to “Dearest
Mother”, which is a reference to Baba Yaga as the
Mother of Witches. Another letter is from Raezil
Uthemar, the high-elf, who reports to “Mother of
Witches” that he has lost track of Iggwilv and where
he should send his reports from the fey courts.
Some of the notes and letters that catch the PCs
attention are written by u/Mintaroni.

PART 2 | The How


4
The Inn Staying at the Inn
The Inn is the center of this entire supplement. It has During their stay they might see another guest refuse
options for some fun roleplaying opportunities, but to pay and get whisked out of the inn, hear muffled
can be a more significant encounter than simply a shouting from below the floorboards before the figure
place to get a long rest. is returned muddy and bruised but ready to pay. This
expulsion is a lair action that both Aleksandr and Tsu
Arriving at the Inn at the End can enact.
Everything comes at a price. Staying at the inn,
of Road meals, services, secrets and help. It all costs. During
At the Inn the players get a feel of some place buzzing their stay you can choose to set prices up front or let
with people, a little haven of merriment and the NPC’s say something vague about putting it on
(perceived) safety as a contrast to the endless, and their tab, settling the bill when you leave or “oh it’s
relatively unpopulated, fogbanks and swamp regions nothing you can’t afford I assure you. You will hardly
outside the walls of the Inn. feel your coin purse being lighter when you leave”.
To not spoil too much you can have the inn settle This of course is because Tsu would rather deal in
down before the PCs see it. If your PCs kill any NPCs secrets, memories, trinkets and information than gold.
in Hither (harengon brigands or snakes at Slanty The true fey never lies. That doesn’t mean they tell
Tower for example), you can choose to let them hear the truth, mind you. “Your pretty smile is payment
heavy footsteps in the distance after they leave the enough” is more likely to mean that the cost will be
place. Should they return to investigate then the your teeth rather than it being free of charge.
bodies/corpses are gone - picked up by the Inn. If you want to creep your players out while their
When you want to let the PCs encounter the inn, characters are sleeping at the inn you can run the
you can let the PCs hear heavy footsteps in the mud Mirror Mirror one-shot as a dream-scape while they
nearby again, just out of sight in the fog. It stops are sleeping or one of the sleep-encounters of
before it gets close enough for the PCs to see it. Then Campfire Stories for the Long Rest. Personally I’m
they hear squelching of mud and water before the going to save Mirror Mirror and use it as a random
creaking of a wooden door being opened and the encounter in Thither, where they are more likely to be
sound of merriment and clinking of glass and general able to handle it as written.
tavern ambience fill the area. By letting the Inn settle
down you avoid the PCs spotting the chicken-legs that Clues to Tsu’s real
carry the Inn around. identity
Entering the Inn There are several clues to Tsu Harabax’s real identity.
Entering the Inn the PCs are met with a comfortable These should be tailored to fit your group of players
and relaxed, but also merry, atmosphere. There is a and their knowledge of Baba Yaga lore, and your
wonderful smell of something roasting and something desire to have them figure it out or not.
sweet being backed wafting from the kitchen. Minor clues
Tsu is seated by the bar/counter eating the last bits These minor clues are meant to be relatively subtle.
of what looks like a roasted chicken while laying down Baba Yaga has made a persona and alias and is not
tarot cards. She greets them after wiping her mouth likely to give it away by hanging the most tell-tale
with a napkin. signs out in the open. She wants neither stray
If you haven’t already, you can run the fey prank of mortals, visiting fey or her daughters of the Hourglass
“Can I have your names please?” Should the PCs give Coven to see through her disguise. Though as with all
Tsu their names, she can in fact take the names from areas of the feywild they are influenced and changed
them. This can be a bargaining chip should the PCs by their inhabitants and their dominating emotions
decide to try and run from the bill later. “You really and intent. This changes the Inn over time which has
ought to pay what is owed. I have your names, begun to reflect its owner. In exchange Baba Yaga’s
remember?”, at which point the PCs will realise that current persona has begun to reflect the role she is
they in fact don’t know their own names - or any of currently fulfilling.
their companions’ for that matter.
Map
If you need a map of the Inn, these free ones on
Reddit may suffice: Here and Here.
But I wanted to do a shout out to Douglas Lamore’s
Patreon for this incredible map however, which I am
going to use myself.

PART 2 | The How


5
Vladimir the big black cat “I’ve always had a… healthy appetite. Is there
The PCs will likely notice a black cat, Vladimir, anything I can get you?”
wandering around the inn. It’s rather scrawny and Long nose
looks hungry. Drawing inspiration from the tale of Tsu will often sniff the air and comment on the smell
Vasilissa the Fair where the main character fed Baba wafting from the kitchen. This is a reference to Baba
Yaga’s starving cat and it helped her in return, the cat Yaga, who is known for having a very long nose. She
at the inn is also friendly, purrs when scratched, and might use this to locate those she is searching for, as
will help the PCs with one skill check if they feed it. her excellent sense of smell gives her true sight of 60
Mechanically this allows the PC to roll a check with feet but only if there isn’t anything blocking the way or
advantage if the cat is in a position to help or the direction of wind doesn’t allow it.
alternatively have Tsu roll her check with
disadvantage as the cat will distract her in order to Baba Yaga’s three horsemen
help the PCs who fed her. Baba Yaga is so powerful that even “the very times of
Mortar and Pestle dawn, noon, and night were all subservient to her
In the kitchen is all the usual inn kitchenware, but whims” (2). This is represented with the NPC’s Arina,
also a small wooden mortar with a wooden pestle. Aleksandr and Order Up.
When Arina is in the kitchen the pestle often moves
on its own accord, grinding that which is in the
mortar. This is the iconic vehicle that Baba Yaga uses
not only as a mortar and cauldron, but also as a
means of transportation and flying. She has reduced
its size and hidden it in the kitchen as a mundane
kitchen utensil. For further description of this item
see Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, page 121.
Sweeping broomstick
As all witches Baba Yaga has a broomstick. She
doesn’t use this for flying however, but for sweeping
away evidence of her deeds. The inn is constantly
being swept by a magical broomstick. It doesn’t speak,
but its non-verbal communication is not very polite
and it often expects the guests of the Inn to get up
from their tables so that it can sweep under the chairs
and tables they are sitting at. This sweeping nuisance
can magically remove any and all stains and evidence
of mishap - be it stains from the yummy feywild berry
pie or stains of blood from guests who don’t want to
settle their bill.
3 severed hands
On the wall behind the counter is a painting of 3
hands on top of each other as a “hands in the middle’’
sort of gesture. If asked, Tsu reveals that it was from
some previous guests. In reality Tsu took a hand from
each of three guests who refused to pay the bill and
put them in the picture.
“It represents collaboration”
The painting is magical and allows the owner to
cast mage hand 3 times by uttering the magical Vasilisa The Beautiful
phrase “Lend a hand, will you”. And The Red Horseman
Tsu is constantly eating Ivan Bilibin

Baba Yaga is infamous for eating children and single


handedly devouring a feast that would fill a dozen
grown men. Whenever the PCs see Tsu, she is eating
something or other. When they arrive at the Inn she is
sitting at the counter actually eating the last scraps of
a roasted chicken from a proper plate. At every other
time they see her she is eating something while
moving about; eating an apple; picking at a handful of
nuts or some other snack ect.

PART 2 | The How


6
Major clues Consequences of discovery
These clues are more obvious and only to be used if Should the PCs connect the dots and discover Tsu
you either want the players to make the connection, or Harabax’s true identity it will cast some light on what
if your players have no knowledge of Baba Yaga and is currently going on in Prismeer. If they are foolish
her lore. enough to talk loudly about this discovery by
mentioning Baba Yaga’s name Catkin, the Black Cat,
Iron teeth is likely to try to warn the characters before they go
Baba Yaga having iron teeth is, as most of the other confronting Baba Yaga. Baba Yaga is currently laying
clues, debatable. It’s quite odd and is likely to incur low and waiting for Zybilna, the Hags, League of
some questions from the PCs, and players who know Malevolence and Valor’s Call to finish each other off
of the Annis Hag might have some suspicion. I’d leave and then swoop in on her mortar and claim Prismeer
this one out until Tsu is waving the PCs goodbye. DC for herself. In the meantime she is gathering magical
12 perception check lets the characters notice that supplies for her spellcrafting and doesn’t want her
her teeth aren’t white, but metallic black like iron identity revealed.
burned over a candle flame. And slightly more pointed Baba Yaga has by now been influenced quite heavily
than normal. by the Feywild and is inclined to strike a deal - or else
Skull fence posts simply strike them down. Baba Yaga makes two kinds
Baba Yaga has a hut fenced in by skull lanterns. It of deals.
goes against the mood of the Inn and is very obvious {{descriptive
to players who know Baba Yaga lore and to the Hags A deal with Baba Yaga
and Zybilna. Instead you might have the chandelier be Their silence or Baba Yaga eats their life energy
an elaborate piece of decorative metal work, with a Should they break the promise and reveal Tsu
central post that hangs from the ceiling and 8 arms Harabax’s true identity to anyone that doesn’t know,
jutting out from the centre, each with a metal sphere their nights will be haunted by nightmares that put the
at the end with two holes through which the light Mystery Mine to shame and the PC responsible will
escapes and casts a warm glow. be unable to benefit from a long rest again, until they
take actions to ensure the secrecy of Baba Yaga’s
A hut on Chicken Legs
identity - with whatever means necessary. For a non-
If you want to make the connection between Tsu and violent solution you may present the PCs with a one-
Baba Yaga more obvious, you can have the legs of the time-use item that casts Amnesia or similar memory
Inn be chicken legs. For dramatic effect you should altering magic.
only reveal this to your players after they have had a
long rest in the Inn and traded with Tsu or if they are Their memories of the clues for being allowed to leave
transported to the underside of the Inn and crushed. If you as a DM don’t want to deal with exhaustion
That should give them a commodity of respect for the or finding a smooth way to give your characters a
nice old lady who let them stay at her Inn. “Wand of Amnesia” later on, you can have Aleksandr
wipe the memories of the clues from the characters
Name her Barbara Jaegger minds as they leave the Inn.
This might be too on the nose.

PART 2 | The How


7
NPCs at the Inn growing in one of the windows and was so slanted it
Inspired by amazing homebrewers and DM’s of the could topple over any second A Familiar’s Quandary.
Witchlight Discord and SubReddit, the Inn has Vasilisa doesn’t know who Tsu Harabax really is,
several guests and employees when your adventurers and firmly believes her to be a kind but firm middle
enter it, many of which can be found here by aged woman with no magical talent to speak of.
u/ZemblanityFalls: To anyone versed in real world Baba Yaga lore,
And stat blocks by u/Phaerlax here and here. separating corn is one of the chores Vasilisa the Fair
was tasked with in order to get fire from Baba Yaga
Arina, the chef and not get eaten. If your players would know this you
Female white Dragonborn, works as the chef in the can choose to name the maid differently and switch
kitchen. She has white scales and eyes the colour of up the tasks.
the sky just before the sun peeks over the horizon. SideQuest NPCs
She might sing the “Good Morning” from Singing in
the Rain musical if you are so inclined. Arina knows You have an opportunity to use the Inn as a quest hub
Tsu Harabax’s true identity, but will never reveal it as or place a lot of different NPCs that offer help or
she is loyal to Baba Yaga. quests for your PCs.
This NPC is named after the person who collected
and edited the fairytale of Baba Yaga and her black Ellywick Tumblestrum
cat. Arina represents the first horseman, who in turn You might use this statblock created by u/Phaerlax.
represents dawn, from the tale of Vasilissa the Fair. Ellywick could be playing a lovely tune quietly by
the hearth or a wild enticing “clap and sing along”
Order Up, the waiter tune while jumping from table to table, much to the
A recreation of @Moth’s original idea Kenku (Non- amusement of the Satyrs and most other current
Binary) is the server with red and orange feathers. patrons (and owner) of the Inn - Ellywick is the most
Neurotic and afraid of being fired but also puts in very amazing bard in the multiverse after all.
little effort in their job. They respond only in sounds When Ernest’s body is at the Inn, Ellywick would be
they have heard before or echoes what the players say singing a banana tribute song which has the monkey-
to acknowledge that they have heard their order. man grinning and enjoying the song:
Order Up knows Tsu Harabax’s true identity, but is
also loyal to Baba Yaga. Order Up represents the
second horseman, who in turn represents noon or the
sun, from the tale of Vasilissa the Fair.
Aleksandr the bouncer
Every respectable establishment has a bouncer. At the
Inn at the end of the road this is Aleksandr. Aleksandr
is an unarmed tabaxi fighter with no apparent
weapons. His fur is midnight black and his eyes shine
like the moon on a cloudless night. Should push come If you are running the Ellywick Unstuck this would be
to shove Aleksandr does the pushing. Right out of the where Ellywick really meets the characters for the
nearest door or window in fact. He and Tsu have the first time and she happily exclaims “Hello, my name is
ability to use Ethereal Joust as a lair action, which will Ellywick Tumblestrum and this is the… first… time
plunge the target straight through the floorboards and we’re meeting?”
out of the Inn to be crushed by the Inn as it settles If you have already introduced Ellywick to the
down on them. Aleksandr knows Tsu Harabax’s true characters as a means of getting to Prismeer, she
identity, but won’t reveal it. could be happy to see them being on the right path.
Aleksandr is named after a collector of the slavic If you are running Virtual Table Top, you can use
folk tales regarding Baba Yaga. Aleksandr represents this Spotify Playlist for songs and ambience all
the third horseman, who in turn represents night - or originally written by Ellywick Tumblestrum, the
death - from the tale of Vasilissa the Fair. greatest bard in the multiverse.
Vasilisa the Maid
Vasilisa is a half-orc adult male that does possible and
impossible tasks for Tsu around the inn. He wears a
white apron and a typical old timey white classic
french maids uniform with apron and hat. Besides
changing sheets and dusting off the PCs will see
Vasilisa separating grains of rotten corn from sound
corn and the like. Vasilisa quite likes his job here,
never knowing what tomorrow might bring. He used
to work in a demented wizards tower who cared more
about his familiars than his tower which had a tree
PART 3 | The Who
8
Sobella of Danzeluce the party if they join her in a performance or teach her
Originally by u/ZemblanityFalls here with a statblock a new song.
by u/Phaerlax. Felsa the gnome trader
Sobella could have recovered her sanity and calmed Made by u/VeiraVX.
down slightly if the PCs have helped remove her Felsa sells rings and is sitting by a table with a jewlery
curse, though she could be distraught after having kit making things with a modest sign on the table
realised that her love for Octavian was true all along. saying “Falsa’s Fine Rings and Things”. Currently on
She is waiting for her one true love to come and find display are a collection of various ornamental rings,
her. She currently stays in the room in the tower - she all non-magical. Felsa will create an ornamental ring
is a princess after all. for anyone who asks in exchange for a trinket or coin.
Additional NPCs These rings can be viewed as trinkets as well.
To bring the Inn come to life you may roll on the Lornling patrol
Random Inn Guest Table or simply pick those you like You can find a statblock for the Lornlings here by
d11 NPC d11 NPC u/Phaerlax.
1 Penelope the Chicken 7 Satyrs playing cards
A single lornling enters through the front door at the
2 Alinora the Bard 8 Two elfs
next stop. If the party hasn’t outright killed the
3 Felsa the gnome trader 9 Harengons
lornling thief at the carnival this is the same lornling.
4 Lornling Patrol 10 Ernest’s body
It creeps around the inn, has a short chat with
5 Lizard and Owl on Date 11 Toasted-Cheese and
Toasted Cheese, then exits on the next stop. Bavlorna
6 Molliver and Elkhorn Snark
sends her lornlings spying in all regions of Hither but
Penelope the Chicken doesn’t leave her cottage herself - she’s too lazy.
Made by u/VeiraVX When the lornling enters the Inn the mood changes
dramatically. Most people are quiet and avoid eye
This chicken has glowing red eyes and is wearing a contact with the lornling. Tsu is courteous and
witch’s hat. It’s sitting by the bar. She knows several hospitable as per the rules of hospitality but doesn’t
things and loves gossip: like the scrutiny.
The characters may try to actually hide or blend in
She saw a balloon go down by the Slanty Tower, with the crowd to avoid being seen by the lornling,
and she can point the PCs in the general direction succeeding on a DC 14 Dexterity (Stealth) Check or
She knows that Prismeer has been split into four DC 12 Charisma (Deception or Performance) check.
fragments, one for each of the members of the Should the lornling spot them, it will croak and run
Hourglass Coven and the Palace at the center and for the door and try to get back to Bavlorna to inform
binding point. her that someone who was snooping around the
She has heard a rumour: “She who controls Carnival has entered Hither.
Prismeer, controls the mist”. She believes it means Lizard and owlin on a date
that the Coven can control who can travel the mist Invention of @Moth.
between realms. They will need help from
someone who has permission if they want to cross. Zibek is a male lizardfolk. Osragel is a female owlin.
She can offer to Remove Curse to someone They are on a date and would prefer to be left alone.
suffering from nightmares from the Mystery Mine, They are frustrated by the boisterous statyrs ruining
but for a price - something specific or even for a their romantic date.
favour in the future (possible future quest hook).
Alinora the Bard
Made by u/VeiraVX.
Alinora is currently strumming a lute by the fireplace
and has a large burlap sack next to her, presumably
for tips. She can tell the PCs:
The rules of conduct and will go into detail about
reciprocity
She can explain how much the fey love weird
random trinkets and stories and emotions, as these
are all not generated in the feywild.
Alinora has got a lot of trinkets as tips for
performing in the Inn. She will offer to give some to

PART 3 | The Who


9
Molliver and Elkhorn
Molliver and Elkhorn were supposed to meet with
their leader, Stronghard, but he never showed up.
They might reveal that they came here searching for a
group of evil-doers known as the League of
Malevolence, who is rumoured to have come to
Prismeer. It’s been a while now, and Molliver
suspects that something has befallen their comrads
and so Molliver and Elkhorn will split up and go
search for them. If the PCs interact, they can learn all
this. If they don’t, they’ll simply see Molliver and
Elkhorn bang their cups together, down their drinks,
do a predator-high-five and walk out the door of the
Inn.
Two elfs
These two elfs, Avroniel and Thailia, sit at a table with
a map between them. The map is an elegant sketch of
Hither with the Palace of Hearts Desire in the
northern end. They are trying to get to the Palace and
see Zybilna for a favour. Their daughter went missing
when the Carnival was visiting their realm last, and
now they are going to ask Zybilna for help finding her.
If not Zybilna, then the hags. They are hopeful and
optimistic.
Satyrs playing cards
Made by @Moth from the Witchlight Discord
community.
At a table two (or 3) satyrs are playing dice, Wild Jack
or Shape of Moon. Their names are Dawn Chorus (or
if you want a more greek-sounding name: Fyfan) and
Raucous Winds aka Roxie (or Kofia). If you want a
third one to use the number 3 more often, you can
include Vansel, who the party might meet later as
well. Roxie has a very high pitched shrill laugh after
having lost a low stakes round, but has two locks of
red in her otherwise blond hair. Dawn Chorus has two
streaks of grey in his otherwise red hair, after having
lost two rounds, but his laugh is very deep and rich
(out of proportion to his voice when not laughing).
Vansel continually tries to bet his clothes and turn the
card game into a “strip poker” sort of situation, but
the others keep shutting him down.

PART 3 | The Who


10
Harengons Toasted-Cheese and Snark
Invention of @Moth from the Witchlight Discord Original description by u/ZemblanityFalls and
community, rewritten by GoofySpooks. statblock by u/Phaerlax.
If the party has left some of the brigands beaten but Bavlornas beast hunters, somewhat loyal to Bavlorna
alive, you can have these be deserters of Agdons and will go a long way to please her. They catch
brigands. If not, then they are simply 3 harengons. beasts for her Taxidermy hobby and are the ones
Three harengons are eating at the Inn at the End of providing the crate of taxidermy “supplies” in the
the Road. Donal (maybe a former brigand sniper from cottage in Downfall where Illiq the Baron of
Brigand encounter) and Miss Labot (perhaps a former Muckstump is planning his coup.
druid from the band of brigands) are dating and Agnes If nothing in your campaign says otherwise, then
(Donal’s mom) took them to eat at the Inn. Agnes Toasted-Cheese doesn’t currently know about the PCs
greatly disapproves of Agdon and his ways. Donal and or their plan to confront Bavlorna.
Miss Labot have had a change of heart after his run-in
with the PCs. He used to think Agdon Longscarf was Young dryad in a pot
the perfect example of cool harengon, but after being Invention of TheBaziel.
confronted with the fact that giving up one’s most In the corner is a small tree in a pot. The tree is
precious memory is terrible they both decided to find swaying slowly. The tree is home to a young dryad
another way of making a living. Donal recently asked teenager who was saved from the clearcutting of parts
Miss Labot out. Agnes is there acting as a chaperone of Thither back when the mists was first starting to
for the two young rabbits - which is custom as part of roll in. Tsu saved the young dryad and she in return
the population control in their culture. helped Tsu navigate though the mists from Thither to
They are currently discussing starting a carrot Hither. She doesn’t know the way back though. She is
plantation with Donal’ keen eye for detail and Labot’s a surly teenager and is essentially stuck at the Inn,
magical ways of manipulating mud. They just need to much to her disliking. She wants nothing more than
find somewhere that isn’t flooded regularly and some to be repotted into a bigger pot and eventually rejoin
carrots to get started. the other trees of Thither again.
Ernest’s body with a monkeys mind
Idea originally by TheBaziel. If you’ve run the Within Brigands Tollway supplement
by Dan Kahn, you can have Demelyn chatting to the
Earnest from the Carnival swapped minds with a young dryad.
baboon after having too much brambleberry wine and
being on the receiving end of a prank by a leprechaun.
The prank turned a little sour when the monkey ran
off with his body. As with so many other lost things,
the body ended up in Prismeer and now resides in the
chandelier of the Inn.
A middle-aged Monkey-Man wearing no clothes
whatsoever with long dreadlocks swings from a
chandelier eating a banana. It enjoys Calliope music
but broke the record players that sit on a shelf in the
corner. This can be repaired by a PC with proficiency
in an appropriate artisans tool, i.e. tinkers tools,
blacksmithing, woodworkers, thieves tools and the
like. The DC is 14 and allows the playing of calliope
music from the record player much to the enjoyment
of the monkey-man, who will in turn grant the players
responsible advantage on a skill check while at the
inn, if it makes sense for the monkey-man to assist in
any way.
The monkey-man hates the sight of Clurichauns,
and will scream and start throwing things wildly if it
sees one. Tsu knows this and will warn the PCs if they
accept to rid the basement of the Clurichaun.

PART 3 | The Who


11
Sidequests in the Mimic.
Sidequest overview
basement The PCs are asked to rid the wine cellar of someone
who is drinking away their sorrows or find her
solution at the buttom of a bottle. This someone is an
emotional teenage girl, recently left by her girlfriend,
Sobella of Danzeluce, because Sobella is cursed to
fall in love with the first creature she sees. The
hartbroken teenage girl invites the PCs to a Never
Have I Ever drinking game, and potentially fights
them if they seem to be winning.
A clurichaun is a leprechaun-like fey who has lost all
thought of revelry and exists only to drink and banter.
It might share the wine happily unless they feel their
share is threatened - for further details see the
included statblock. Irish folk-lore says that
clurichauns are only male, but for this encounter, this
particular stowaway is an emotional teenage girl
named Aileen. She has a (or more than 1 depending
on your PCs levels) mimic called Chester with her
that is both her friend and her luggage. She is
distraught about a recent breakup with her girlfriend
(Sobella) who found a new love immediately after
Aileen went to the bathroom at the Inn.
Running the sidequest
Tsu has had a stowaway in her wine cellar for quite
some time now: A girl who seems to think she can
drown her sorrows. She’s been down there for days
and is going to deplete the store of wine if someone
doesn’t do something about it. Besides, Tsu suspects
that the girl is running up quite a tab. Tsu will ask the
Vasilisa the Beautiful with Baba Yaga’s Torch PCs if they would be so kind as to preferably collect
Artist unknown
her debt or just remove her from the premises.
Quest Hooks Should the PCs agree to help they are led to the
There are several ways to hook your PCs to do these stairs and sent on their way into the basement.
sidequests, and these 3 seems the easiest: The girl in the cellar
Bouncer for the night Moving down the stairs the cellar seems much larger
Tsu asks the PCs to act as bouncers for the “night”, as than it ought to be. The party immediately hears
the usual bouncer has an erand to run tonight, and the someone talking to herself and sobbing from around a
Inn needs a replacement while he is gone. corner. If the party announces their arrival Aileen will
shout to the PCs to go away and leave her alone and
Pay the bill that they just don’t get it. It requires a persuasion or
Another hook is simply that Tsu wants something in deception check of 13 for Aileen to allow the PCs to
return for her letting the party stay, or as a reduction approach, which is made with advantage if the party
to the charges of meals, drinks and rooms. uses arguments around the topic of not having to
drink alone.
The price of information Approaching the party will see a girl sitting alone at
Tsu asking them to do one or all of these quests could a low table drinking a rainbow-glittering liquid from a
be part of a bargain for a particularly interesting piece glass that she keeps refilling from a jug. In the room
of information that the party needs (the hags’ around her are one or more mimics hidden as barrels
weaknesses or how to get to downfall, or how to move and other seemingly innocent objects. The mimics do
through the mist to the other splinter realms). not attack unless threatened or unless the churichaun,
Aileen, tells them to.
Clurichaun in the basement Should the PCs strike up conversation or fail their
initial check, Aileen will agree to consider moving out
Originally by @Chatty and TheBaziel from the of the cellar if the PCs can beat her in a “Never have I
Witchlight Discord. ever” drinking game.
Creature statblock for Aileen can be found further
down in this supplement and for the elsewhere for the
Aileen’s Never Have I Ever
This game is an excellent opportunity for your PCs to
learn more about eachothers backgrounds and life
before they (re)united at the Witchlight Carnival.
Aileen is fairly insightful and can, when she gets her At that point the PCs may notice that one of the
head in the game, start saying very personal “Never barrels in the dimly lit far corner is open and that
have I ever”-questions about the PCs background. what at first glance seemed to be planks or a
broomstick leaning against the wall is in fact a pair of
legs sticking out of a barrel (which is actually a
mimic).

Aileen will try to stealthily (though rolling her Stealth


or Sleight of Hand check with disadvantage because
she is drunk vs players perception) signal to the
mimics to move into position and attack the players. If
the players notice, they get a chance to persuade her
for a less violent cause of action with a DC 13
persuasion check. This check is rolled with advantage
if their argument involves alcohol or seeing the world
or any other good argument that relates to their
previous conversation or Aileens statements from the
drinking game. The persuasion check is rolled with
Aileen’s statements will run along the lines of what is disadvantage if it involves arguments of finding a new
on her mind at the moment, despite her drinking to love using the phrase “plenty of fish in the sea”. If the
most of these statements: Her recent “break up” with players don’t notice the signal, the mimics will attack
Sobella. Aileen seems to grow more sullen if she is and get a surprise round. Aileen doesn’t fight to the
the only one that drinks, and brighten considerably if death, but will surrender when the fight seems lost, at
one or more of the players drink with her, both which point she submits to the PCs terms of leaving
because she is winning the game, but also because the cellar and gives the PCs the “Jug of Perpetual Fey
she doesn’t feel so alone in her sorrow. Wine” in recompense/reciprocity for the damage she
has dealt the party.
Treasure
Aileen was not actually drinking any of Tsu’s wine and
doesn’t actually owe her anything, as she was drinking
from her own “Jug of Perpetual Fey Wine” which she
gives up if the party lets her leave.
Jug of Perpetual Fey Wine
Wondrous item, uncommon

This seemingly wooden jug is enchanted with an


unlimited fey magic source of fey wine. When poured
into another container a glittery sweet-smelling liquid
flows as if poured from a bottle. It produces up to 1
gallon of Fey Wine. Once emptied, the jug refills in 1
hour.
Any wine poured from this flask that isn’t consumed
within 8 hours turns into a foul smelling sludge.

If Aileen seems to be loosing the contest (or when the


game seems to bore your players) she will say
Ghost of the
Craftsman
Originally by @Chatty and TheBaziel from the
Witchlight Discord.
You can use this Ghost statblock for the ghost of the
craftsman.
Sidequest overview
The PCs find the ghost of a dead dwarf in the
basement. The dwarf was killed by one of Zybilna’s
allies, as this dwarf was responsible for crafting
Snicker-Snack, the sword that was crafted to kill the
Jabberwock, which is Zybilna’s pet and guardian. The
ghost of the craftsman can provide the PCs with
information, including a part of Snicker-Snack which
is burried with the remains of the dwarf.
How to use this sidequest
This could be in stead of or as an additional side
quest to “Clurichaun in the basement”, as Tsu
nonchalantly asks the party to bring the letter to
Dwordrartin who she suspects is down there as well.
If you run both basement sidequests, the PCs can
notice an area with recent and soddy stone masonry
at the end of the room where Aileen is drinking
herself into oblivion.
Running the sidequest
This cellar side-quest begins with the PCs being
asked to go down to the cellar and check up on
Dwordrartin, a duergar dwarf craftsman who went in
search of a bottle of Amontillado, very expensive fey
wine, with a couple of his friends the other day. A
letter was left for Dwordrartin some time ago. Tsu
says that she has forgotten that he had gone to the
cellar and also who he was with. In reality Tsu
remembers well that it was one Zybilna’s fiend allies
(perhaps the quasit) who was disguised as a fairy, but
doesn’t want to reveal that. This all happened before
Zybilna was frozen in time, but time is strange in the
feywild and in the Inn.
Tsu is quite certain that Dwordrartin is still in the The PCs enter the wine cellar. There is nothing
cellar, as he hasn’t settled his tab yet. Come to think unusual down there, but also no sign of the dwarf. The
of it, Tsu remembers the other person leaving, but not stone work on one of the walls seems recent and
Dwordrartin. She suspects that he drank the entire soddy. The PCs may notice this immediately with a
bottle himself and is sleeping it off, she would like the high perception check, or any check you deem
PCs to wake him up from his slumber and help him to appropriate to locate changes in the stone or masonry
the room he rented so he can sleep it off there instead. (stone cunning, tool proficiencies) or a
Tsu would appreciate it and take it as payment for druid/cleric/paladin may sense an aura of death
their meals - not their drinks or their rooms however eminating from this section of the walls, as
(she’s got to make a living). Dwordrartin is buried inside .
Unresolved Conflicts The sword took 3 duergar dwarfs 8 weeks to make
As the PCs move to investigate further a ghost of the and was the finest he and his clansmen had ever
craftsman (using the Ghost statblock) floats through crafted.
the wall and attacks, thinking the PCs are responsible The blade was made so sharp and long that it
for his death. It will focus on possessing a PC in order could cut the head off of a dragon in a single
to deal the most harm and avenge itself, shouting excellent strike
profanities at the PCs. A part of the sword is buried with him.

Dwordrartin’s death suggests that Zybilna was


attempting to prevent anyone from making a weapon
that would make dealing with her monstrous
insurance policy easy. She had someone brick
Dwordrartin in, and has likely also dealt with the
other duergar who forged the blade and crafted the
hilt and scabbard.
The tip of the blade can be found with Will of the
Feywild (or at Cloistered Cove), the scabbard can be
found in in Motherhorn under the stage as one of the
props and at the handle is found in Palace of Hearts
Desires, on the pedistal where Snicker-Snack is
places in the adventure module.
If you want combat, you can go a few rounds before Treasure
giving the PCs an option to negotiate with the ghost. If In the wall behind the soddy and recent stonework the
the PCs argue that they aren’t responsible for his PCs will find Dwordrartin’s remains and the main
death they may try to calm the ghost down with a DC piece of a sword blade, but with the handle and tip
15 persuasion check. This check is made with missing. The PCs can put a handle onto this piece of
advantage if the PCs argue that they will find his body the sword’s blade which lets them use it as a +1 long-
and give it a proper burial. or shortsword. Dwordratin is able to assist in this
On a success the ghost of Dwordrartin will leave the endeavour if he is allowed to use of the PCs bodies by
possessed PC and seize hostile actions for now, if the possessing one of them while having access to a forge
PCs promise to remove his remains and put him to and anvil and blacksmithing tools. This could be
rest under the ground - though not someplace wet and found in Downfall.
swampy, but some place up high where his spirit will As the sword isn’t complete, it also isn’t sentient
be able to feel the fresh air (perhaps the Floating Isles yet, but does emit a faint magical aura of
of Thither that he has heard so much about). Should undetermined origin if inspected with Detect Magic.
the PCs fail, the ghost will scream that Zybilna will
pay for his death and fight till he is exorcised.
The information that the ghost of Dwordrartin knows
is not supposed to be kept from the players if they roll
poorly, and so he will reveal this as part of a
conversation if the party persuades him to stop
attacking them, or he will shout it as part of his angry
combat banter:
He was invited to a tasting of Amontillado as a
cover for meeting with a contact who had ordered
a magical sword.
He met with a fairy-looking fellow but doesn’t
remember anything other than that.
Dwordrartin doesn’t know who ordered the sword.
The order was received by letter, which was
delivered by a mechanical bird (Skabatha’s
clockwork sparrows)
Whats on the menu
Every table at the Inn has one seat open, no matter
how many PCs/NPCs are seated there. As the last
seat is taken, another one magically appears.
Order Up, the red and orange plumed kenku, comes
by when signaled to do so by a guest by the table.
They are quite nervous that they might loose their job,
but still puts very little effort in doing their job. Theres
very delicious treats to be had at the Inn, all cooked up
by Arina the female white dragonborn who can be
heard singing in the kitchen.
@Poofimatree from the Witchlight Discord
community made this menu with wonderful and
delicious treats and their effects.

Specials
Made by @Poofimatree

PART 4 | The What


17
Leaving the Inn
The players run up a tab by staying at the inn, eating
and drinking and being told secrets.
The PCs should settle the bill before they leave.
Should they refuse or try to avoid paying it the
employees and other guests will raise their voices in
protest. Should the party continue to refuse they have
then broken the rule of hospitality and are whisked
(either by Tsu or Aleksandr using a Lair Action or
their Ethereal Joust) to the underside of the Inn which
immediately settles down on top of them, crushing
and drowning them momentarily - not intending to kill
them.

Vasilissa the Beautiful at the Hut of Baba Yaga


Ivan Bilibin
Should they fall unconscious Tsu or Alexandr is likely
to be slightly annoyed, open a trap door in the inn,
stabilise the character and pull them back into the inn.
Tsu accepts trinkets and gold, but prefers
memories, magical items and secrets. She’ll reduce
the price for characters devoted to freeing Zybilna and
bringing down the hags, but not those that claim to
want to kill any of the hags. She is their mother after
all.
After the matter of payment is settled Tsu waves
goodbye and closes the door. The Inn lifts off and its
bird-like legs (or out right chicken-legs) stretch and
the Inn turns away from the PCs and walks through
the swamp into the fog. For an extra bit of creepiness
you can choose to reveal a wicker-basket hanging on
the backside of the Inn. There are flies buzzing
around this basket and a foul stench that pierces the
otherwise also smelly bog. The basket contains the
corpses of the NPCs your PCs might have killed in
Hither.

PART 5 | The Next


18
Grand Scale Finishing Touch
f you want to have a Baba Yaga conclusion to the campaign, there is the option of pitting Zybilna and all of

I
her allies against Baba Yaga and all of hers in a grand and massive scale battle on the fields of Prismeer.
After the issues with the League of Malevolence and Valor’s Call have been resolved, Elena the Fair
(another of Natasha’s adopted sisters from Baba Yaga’s hut) appears, warning Zybilna and the PCs that
Baba Yaga is coming, and that she is bringing an army.
To not clutter this supplement the writing for that showdown can be found elsewhere. Likely on my Reddit

Credit: Artist unknown. Image found here.

PART 5 | The Next


19
PART 6 | The Big Bad
20
References and Sources
Real World Baba Yaga Mentioning
1. Vice.com - The allure of Baba Yaga
2. WorldHistory.org - Baba Yaga
3. TheRussianStore.com - Tale of Baba Yaga
4. Wikipedia.org - Baba Yaga
5. TVTropes.org - Baba Yaga
6. NewWorldEncyclopedia.org - Baba Yaga
7. Baba Yaga: The Ambiguous Mother and Witch of
the Russian Folktale by Andreas Johns
8. Baba Yaga: The Wild Witch of the East in Russian
Fairy Tales By Sibelan Forrester
9. Russian Fairy Tales: Baba Yaga’s Domain by
Helen Pilinovsky - A very enlightening and
extensive article.
Maps
10. The Grand Inn Tavern
11. Inn at the end of the road
12. Douglas Lamore’s stacked map of the Inn at the
End of the Road (Personal favorite)
Stories and tales
13. GrayHawk Wiki on Elena the Fair
14. GrayHawk stories on Elena the Fair and Natasha
the Dark
15. GrayHawk Stories on The Sultans Son and the
Witches sister
16. GrayHawk Stories on Iggwilvs Wedding
Other Free Homebrew materials
17. Ellywick Unstuck
18. NPCs For Hither by ZemblanityFalls Baba Yaga’s Hut
19. Hither Creature Statblocks by Phaerlax Kami Spirit

20. Witch’s Brew: Potion Puzzle


21. DND Logic Puzzles
22. A Familiar’s Quandary
23. A hero’s death
Payed supplements mentioned
23. Dancing Hut of Baba Yaga
24. Mirror Mirror
25. Campfire Stories for the Long Rest
26. Eleventh Hour
Honorable Mentions
27. Witchlight Discord Community

PART 7 | The Where to find more


21

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