Frightening witch fables have been a part of folklore and storytelling traditions for centuries. These tales often depict witches as sinister and malevolent beings, capable of casting spells and wreaking havoc on unsuspecting towns and villages. One of the most famous witch fables is the story of the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts during the late 17th century. Accusations of witchcraft led to the execution of numerous women and men who were believed to have made a pact with the devil. This dark period in history has since inspired countless stories and adaptations in popular culture. In many witch fables, witches are portrayed as old, haggard women with long, crooked noses and warts.
"Good day to you, niece," said Baba Yaga.
Self-Resurrection She was once burned to ashes in her own oven, but was so powerful and popular among the mundies that she was able to survive and reconstitute herself. When the evil Max Piper visited Fabletown in the 1920s, she drove him away after a fearsome battle, and worked to restore the Fables fertility after he released virus to sterilize the community.
In many witch fables, witches are portrayed as old, haggard women with long, crooked noses and warts. They are often depicted as living in isolated huts or deep in the woods, adding to their mysterious and frightening aura. Witches in these stories are said to possess supernatural powers, such as the ability to fly on broomsticks, shape-shift into animals, and create potions or curses.
Frau Totenkinder (Fables)
She is the Black Forest witch from the Hansel and Gretel story. Her outward appearance as a rather frail old woman masks the fact that she is one of the most powerful Fables to have escaped the Homelands, and she could, in all probability, hold her own against most of those mages working for the Adversary.
Homelands
Totenkinder was born into the Fog Mountain tribe and grew up there. Once she reached puberty, she began to experience premonitions, initially weak, but growing in strength and accuracy, until the tribe made her their shaman. She became romantically involved with Aurac, the son of the tribe's chief, until another nearby tribe invaded their lands. To avert war, the chief's son was married to the daughter of the other chief, leaving the newly pregnant Totenkinder alone. If it became known that the two had slept together, both would have been banished, so Aurac denounced her, accusing her of consorting with demons, leading to her being banished from the tribe. Realizing that she would need far greater power than she currently possessed in order to survive, Totenkinder ritually sacrificed her newborn son and was granted considerable power, which she used to take revenge on Aurac. She learned that, while sacrificing one child a year would keep her power, sacrificing two would prevent her from aging. Years passed as she heaped every indignity imaginable on the tribe that cast her out; ages passed and she remained unchanged, growing only in power and cunning. She assists those who are kind to her, creating the three Billy Goats Gruff to eliminate a bridge troll that was causing problems for a village that wins her favor, and blessing those who she felt worthy.
She took her revenge on the town of Hamelin by creating an enchanted flute that was used to lure away their children. Prompted by her experience with Aurac, she waged her own private war against handsome princes and men of wealth and privilege, during which she was responsible for the curses on Beast and Flycatcher. In order to stem her own physical desires, she allowed herself to age considerably. Finally, tiring of dealing with others, she retired to a cottage deep in the woods, interacting with others only when a child passed, when she would dress up her house with sweets to lure them in to be sacrificed to keep her power. Finally, she encountered Hansel and Gretel, who outsmarted her and burned her in her own oven. Surviving in horrific condition, she was eventually rescued by Snow White and Rose Red, running from the Adversary's forces. Telling her about the mundane world, Snow and Rose attempted to help her reach it, covering a considerable distance with her. However, they became separated while traveling and exactly how Totenkinder ultimately reached the mundane world is unknown.
Fabletown and War with the Adversary
Totenkinder has been instrumental in resolving several crises that have hit Fabletown. When the evil Max Piper visited Fabletown in the 1920s, she drove him away after a fearsome battle, and worked to restore the Fables' fertility after he released virus to sterilize the community. While generally acting in the best interests of Fabletown, Totenkinder is something of a schemer and often seems to be playing her own game. Her help usually comes with a price, as Cinderella found out when she needed one of the witch's potions (although what that price was has yet to be revealed). She has established something of an alliance with Beast since his advancement to the position of sheriff; while this generally establishes itself as a quid-pro-quo arrangement of mutual favours, it remains to be seen if any darker reasons lie behind it
Totenkinder has been instrumental in resolving two of the recent crises to hit Fabletown. She defeated Baba Yaga in magical combat during the wooden soldier assault, much to the shock of the latter, who had always considered her opponent to be minor-league at best. She was also responsible for thwarting the plans of Yusuf, chief adviser to Sinbad of the Arabian Fables, when he released a d'jinn, instructing it to eliminate all his opponents and bring him great power and wealth. Totenkinder anticipated this possibility and ensorcelled him, so that, unknown to him, he actually instructed the genie to kill all his accomplices, then himself (in as drawn-out and painful a manner as possible; as had been intended for his opponents, had to be now intended for him) and then return safely to its bottle. Without her foresight, it seems likely that Fabletown would have been largely destroyed, quite possibly along with much of the mundane world around it.
She has established something of an alliance with Beast since his advancement to the position of sheriff; while this generally establishes itself as a quid-pro-quo arrangement of mutual favors, it remains to be seen if any darker reasons lie behind it. Totenkinder eventually reveals the nature of her spies in the Empire. She installed a magical brush in the woodcarver guild's tools which allows her to look through the eyes of any of the carved beings whose eyes are painted using that brush and to see what they see. Among her unwitting spies is Geppetto's pet owl. She has also been able to apply this spell upon Fabletown's zephyr spies, as per Prince Charming's request. This allowed for members of the Fables' magical community to see what spies saw, in order to make up for the zephyrs' lack of experience with solid beings. Very little escapes her attention in Fabletown; she was the only one to be aware of Snow White's seventh child, for example, and knew of the arrest of Trusty John, despite attempts to keep it quiet. She also has her methods of gathering information from within the Homelands - she claims to have numerous spies there and was aware, for example, that Boy Blue had been captured by the enemy during his time there..
Mister Dark
She continued to assist Fabletown with their needs until the moment Mister Dark attacked. Having decided that the duel with the creature would be her last service, she rejuvenated herself (taking the name of 'Bellflower)' and traveled to the Homelands to find a way to stop him. There she found Clara and the other Fables, she is able to trap Mister Dark inside a gold statue. But he manages to escape and mortally wound her, apparently killing her. She didn't die but transported herself back to the Farm where she reincorporated, but having spent all her magic during the duel, she is no longer a match for Mr. Dark. As she had already decided before the battle that it would be her last, she leaves with Dunster.
She is seen again in the Homeland of the North, having been recruited by the North Wind to help with his sacrifice in dealing with Dullahan. However, they become trapped there until Winter finds them and brings them back with her.
She is seen again as a victim of Goldilocks where she and Dunster are felled by her sword. She is returned to life at the cost of his.
Death
After her apparent resurrection, she had only a few magic left in her. Worse, is that she is again indebted to Rode Res when the latter helped her out, and was forced to work with her during Fabletown's Civil War. Her end came when Cinderella, tasked by Snow White to assassinate her, tracked her down in Dark's castle. The two fought, but eventually, Frau had enough and subsequently demolished the building, taking Cinderella with her. As the two lay dying, Cinderella used all of her remaining strength to jam her glass slipper unto Frau's skull finally killing her.
The consequences of crossing paths with a witch in these fables are often dire. It is said that a witch's curse can bring illness, bad luck, or even death. Some stories also suggest that witches have a taste for human flesh or blood, making them even more terrifying to encounter. Despite their fearsome reputation, some witch fables also provide a more sympathetic perspective on these mythical figures. They may explore the reasons why someone may turn to witchcraft, such as seeking revenge or gaining power in a patriarchal society. These tales invite readers to question the dichotomy between good and evil and consider the complexities of human nature. Overall, frightening witch fables serve as cautionary tales, warning against the dangers of dabbling in the occult or falling prey to the allure of dark forces. They tap into our deepest fears and fascinations, reminding us of the thin line between magic and malevolence. Whether they are purely fictional or rooted in historical events, these stories continue to captivate and chill audiences around the world..
Reviews for "Witches in Art: From Macabre Portraits to Bewitching Landscapes"
1. Amy - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "Frightening Witch Fables" as I am a big fan of horror and witch-related stories. However, I found the collection to be extremely underwhelming. The stories lacked depth, character development, and originality. It felt like the author just compiled random clichés and mixed them together, resulting in a predictable and lackluster read. Overall, I was left disappointed and will not be recommending this book to anyone who enjoys well-crafted horror stories.
2. Mark - 1 star - "Frightening Witch Fables" was a complete waste of time. The stories were not scary at all, and some of them were even laughable. The writing style was amateurish, with awkward phrasing and poor grammar. The characters were one-dimensional, and the plots were completely predictable. This book felt like a cheap attempt to cash in on the popularity of witches and horror, without putting any effort into creating an engaging and thrilling reading experience. I regret spending my money on this disappointing collection.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I expected "Frightening Witch Fables" to be a chilling and captivating read, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The stories lacked originality and offered nothing new or innovative to the genre. The pacing was off, with some stories dragging on and others ending abruptly without any resolution. The author seemed more focused on shock value and gore rather than creating a truly frightening atmosphere. Overall, I found the book to be mediocre and forgettable, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a good horror read.
4. Mike - 1 star - "Frightening Witch Fables" was a disaster from start to finish. The stories were poorly written, with awkward dialogue and inconsistent characterization. The author seemed to rely heavily on clichés and recycled tropes, which made the whole collection feel unoriginal and uninspired. The attempts at scares were laughable at best, and I found myself rolling my eyes more than feeling any genuine fear. I would strongly advise against wasting your time and money on this book.