Yamanba are cruel witches who live deep in the mountains of the Japanese-inspired land, far away from civilization. They make their homes in caves or dilapidated old shacks, using magic to make them look like rich manors or cozy inns with sturdy walls and a warm fire. Then they disguise themselves as beautiful ladies or kind-looking grandmothers. It's the ideal trap for a weary traveler looking for a place to relax. Once they've enticed a traveler to stay, a yamanba will treat them with the greatest hospitality. Warm food, a cozy fire, a bath, and flirty conversation are given. This is a tactic to make their prey lower their guard. Once their guest has drifted off to sleep, the yamanba transforms back into her horrible self. She then brutally murders her victim - carving knives being a favorite instrument. She devours their flesh and leaves the rest to rot among the bones of countless past victims.[1]
At The Spring Bird, an inn located on Mount Kaijinzan, a yamanba took up residence and began luring in victims with the help of a sarugami. Sometime later, as a heavy snowstorm bore down upon the witcher/ronin Geralt, he stumbled upon the luxurious inn with a resplendent hot spring. It was run by a beautiful, single innkeeper who begged him to stay and offered him every hospitality. Luckily for Geralt, he never let his guard completely down. If he had actually been asleep when the yamanba revealed her true form, he might have wound up as just another dried skeleton on the floor of the witch's kitchen.
Trivia[]
- In Japanese folklore, yamauba (山姥 or 山うば), yamamba or yamanba are variations on the name of a type of yōkai.