Vila

The tale of the vile

High in the mountains of the South Slavs, in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Bulgaria, live the vile (one is a vila). They are fairies of the mountains, clouds, forests and springs: young women of unearthly beauty, with long golden or fair hair that falls to their feet, flowing white dresses, and sometimes wings. Some say they are born from the dew or from the grass after rain. Others say they were once girls who died unmarried and light-hearted.

They ride deer and stags across the peaks, use snakes as bridles, and shoot arrows that never miss. On moonlit nights they dance the kolo, the circle dance, in mountain meadows, and wherever they have danced, the grass grows thicker and greener in rings. They can build castles in the clouds, take the shape of swans, falcons, horses or wolves, and summon storms and whirlwinds.

Friend and enemy

A vila is the best of friends and the worst of enemies. She knows the secrets of every healing herb and can cure any wound, and she brings good luck to people she loves. Many heroes of the old South Slavic epic songs had a vila as a sworn sister. The great hero Prince Marko (Kraljević Marko) had the vila Ravijojla, who healed him and warned him of danger.

But a vila must be treated with care. Anyone who steps into her dancing ring, disturbs her spring, cuts down her tree or boasts of being better than her is in danger. She can strike him blind or lame with an arrow, send him mad with her dance, or dance him to death. In one famous song Marko and his friend ride over a mountain singing, and a vila, jealous of the friend's beautiful voice, shoots him with two arrows. Marko chases her down and forces her to heal his friend with herbs.

Vila in Battle of Myths

The Vila is a cost 1 Slavic hunter and assassin. Her ability, Mountain Arrow, flies the whole length of the board to strike the farthest enemy and silences it. As her quote says, she shot the hawk out of the sky because it flew over her mountain. With the Slavic heroes she shares the Cycle of Morana: the first time she falls, she rises again as a spectral spirit.

Did you know?

• The word for "fork" in many Slavic languages, vile, is the same as the plural of vila, but the two have nothing to do with each other.
• The Vilin skok waterfall, the "Vila's Leap", and many other springs, caves and peaks across the Balkans are named after them.