Baba Yaga, the Mother Of All Hags
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Baba Yaga, the hag who eats heroes and places their skulls on pikes, has a long history of being one of the most evil and dangerous old women in folklore. She is closely associated with devils, and her dancing hut symbolizes death. The only way a hero can outsmart her is with the help of peculiar artifacts— such as the comb of the forests or the handkerchief of the lake— or with assistance from the Beast Court.

And yet, Baba Yaga (or Little Grandmother, as she sometimes prefers to be called) is not always the clear villain in these tales. She does eat people, and there is no doubt she is evil. But sometimes she offers a hero assistance or employment, or she raises a foundling as her own, bestowing gifts upon the child as she sees fit.

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