Tuesday 10 April 2012

I is for Iggwilv

I

Iggwilv has never yet appeared in any game I've either played in or run, but she's a character I've always wanted to get into a campaign.  Possibly because she's bound up with so many bits of myth, partly because she just looks so much fun.  Evil, to be sure, but intelligent and never completely out of the game.

Iggwilv - by James Ryman.  An iconic image.  I've never been entirely convinced by the green lipstick, but this isn't someone you're likely to argue with.

Baba Yaga - possibly mid adoption process
Iggwilv is a lady with a mighty arcane pedigree.  Showing magical talent from an early age, she attracted the attention of Baba Yaga, no less.  The Witch's Witch.  Baba Yaga of the chicken-legged hut.  Baba Yaga of a thousand creepy tales and permanent frightener of Russian children.  Also, as it turns out, nurturer of  daughters. 

Iggwilv's cosy childhood home

Later in her career, Iggwilv developed an interest in demons and the Abyss and typically did the thing thoroughly.  Attempting to capture the Demon Lord Graz'zt, the pair fell conveniently in love.  It is not to be expected that two such beings would settle to a life of quiet domesticity, and so it has proved.  Variously betraying and double crossing each other, they have parted, but seem to retain some fondness and respect for each other.

Iggwilv and Graz'zt by Wayne Reynolds

Iggwilv can now be found behind many Abyssal plots.  It is unknown how many of them involve her ex love or her adopted mother, but some connection seems likely.

In my head, I see her living in comfortable luxury, writing new appendices of her mighty work, the Demonomicon.  Always to hand will be her notepad, her chessboard and her faithful messenger ravens as she berates publishers, hunts for fresh worlds to conquer and looks for opportunity.

One day we'll meet in a game somewhere.

16 comments:

  1. From what I am reading I really like her. I saved the pic as a background for my desktop because I am thinking she can inspire some stories and then some.

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  2. Wonderful post and beautifully written -I hate you! ;) x

    Baba Yaga's hut has always puzzled me in terms of D&D gaming? Sometimes I would imagine it to be a garden shed straight out of B&Q, other times a tree house, but mostly I'd see it as a shed on stilts. The more experienced players would use it as a means of avoiding trouble, or a place to heal up and rest. To me, it just seemed too convenient for my liking.

    And Iggwilv is quite a foxy lady... good luck to any DM attempting to play her as an NPC!

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    1. Thank you for the kind words :)

      As far as Baba Yaga's hut goes, I'd never use it or let it be used by anyone other than Baba Yaga. It's just too iconic. I love the notion of someone putting a B&Q shed on legs and proudly calling Baba Yaga's hut though. There would be reprecussions, that's for sure.

      Yes ... playing Iggwilv would be a challenge.

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  3. Let us know when you do cross paths?

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  4. I'd love to meet her in a game, but she would be one heck of a challenge for a GM to NPC.

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    1. Like Mark said above - she would be a challenge and a half. I'd hate to do it face to face, but it might be possible over the internetz.

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  5. KD - I got notification of your message, but it isn't showing up. So glad you liked the illustration :)

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  6. Anyone who can convince Baba Yaga to adopt her rather than eat her is automatically hella cool in my books.

    Also, the relationship between Iggwilv and Graz'zt reminds me of the film Razor Blade Smile, one of the more refreshing takes on the vampire thing, featuring (gasp!) a non-tragic, independent, hot woman vampire.

    A-Z @ Elizabeth Twist

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    1. Well, exactly. I always think Graz'zt must have been chicken feed after Baba Yaga.

      Don't know Razor Blade Smile, but I'll see if I can find out about it now. Thanks for the tip.

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    2. If we're talking female (cool) vampires, there was an American film 'Innocent Blood' (directed by John Landis) that had a French actress as the lead: Anne Parillaud, Anthony LaPaglia as her love interest, and Robert Loggia as the main bad guy.

      Great film :) In fact, I think I'll A-Z it :)

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    3. PS: Anne Parillaud played the original Nikita, in 'La Femme Nikita' - another excellent film :)

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    4. Ooh, please do. I'll look forward to reading it.

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  7. Thank you for your sweet comment :)

    Wow, interesting, she sounds like a great character! I loved the pictures too! Have a lovely day :)

    Nikki – inspire nordic

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  8. Green lipstick? I have yet to see anyone wearing it. But if you can get away with it, go for it!

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  9. What a great back story. Always liked Baba Yaga.

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