A to Z of Witches. K

K is for Kiki and Kikimora

Two related witches.

Kiki is from one of my favorite Studio Ghibli movies Kiki's Delivery Service.
Hayao Miyazaki is a master.  He not only knows his witches, but he also knows how to do an animated movie for children that can also appeal to adults.

Kiki is a 13 year old witch who is ready to do her year of training away from home.  Everyone knows witches are real and they are an accepted part of life.  Kiki's mom is the local potions mistress and her father seems to be a normal mundane human.
We got this movie back when my oldest son was still a baby and he loved it. But not at much as me I think.

Kiki's Delivery Service is not about being a witch though, it is about finding out your own strengths and finding out that what is inside you is everything you need to succeed.

I know there are debates between people that prefer one version or the other.  For myself I like the 1998 version with Phil Hartman as Jiji the cat.  Yeah he seems like he is from the same litter as Pokemon's Meowth and Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

There have been rumors of a live action Kiki for years.  I hear about them and then loose track.
Here is the trailer from the newest one.  I am not sure if we will see it in the States or not, but I easily recognize all the scenes.




One thing is sure. The actress playing Kiki looks spot on to me.  That nice mix of youthful excitement and cautious naïveté.

On the other side of the spectrum we have the Kikimora, a female house spirit from Slavic lore.  She looks like a small humanoid chicken (not the first female spirit to be connected to a bird) and will do house work if left alone.  If bothered she will break dishes and keep children up at night.
In other tales she is believed to be more witch like she is also the bringer of nightmares in children.

She shares many similarities with the brownie and leprechaun.

If I were to write this creature up for Pathfinder I would give her 2 or 3 HD and access to one Hex.

Kikimora
Armor Class: 6 [13]
Hit Dice: 2d8 (8 hp)**
No. of Attacks: 2 claws
Damage: 1d3, 1d3
Special: Spell-like abilities
Movement: 60’
No. Appearing: 1 per house
Saves As: Witch 3
Morale: 9
Treasure: None
Alignment: Neutral
XP: 25

The Kikimora is a house fae distantly related to brownies, sprites and, some say, hags.  The kikimora certainly looks like a small hag creature. It stands 1½' to 2' tall and dresses in the garb of a peasant woman. Her face is brown and wrinkled, giving the impression of actually being a shrunken apple.  Her nose is abnormally long and gives the appearance of a beak.  Her feet when visible are those of a chicken.  She carries a broom with her and sweeps where ever she goes.
The Kikimora is is naturally shy and prefers not to attack. She will attack animals if they bother her and humanoids if cornered.  If ignored she will perform small chores around the house. Sweeping, mending clothes and quieting crying babies at night so parents can sleep.  If a household suspects they have a kikimora they can appease it by leaving out a bowl of warm milk sweetened with honey.  Though other sages claim the best way to keep one is to also leave out strong spirits (such a vodka or brandy) and cigars out on holidays.  The kikimora will sleep in the next day (having drunk all the spirits) but this ensures the family protection and service till the next holiday.
If discovered and acknowledged with anything other than milk she will break dishes, pinch babies in the night and cause nightmares in children by whispering in their ears.
A kikimora will prevent a house from becoming the home to a brownie, boggart, poltergeist or a bloody bones.
A kikimora can also cast spells as if she were a 2nd level witch.



Supernatural AtoZ