In the hushed dark of the threshing house, a flicker of coal-red eyes may watch you. That is the domain of Ovinnik — spirit of the barn and guardian turned arbiter of flame. He waits in the shadows of grain and chaff, where heat and harvest meet danger.

Appearance & Nature

Ovinnik often takes the form of a sleek black cat with eyes that burn like fire — yellow at their core, ringed with crimson glow — or sometimes a small humanoid figure cloaked in smoke and soot. His voice can bark like a dog, and his claws carry sparks. He is born of barn and furnace: he walks among shadows of grain stacks, watches over drying floors, and holds dominion over flames that preserve or destroy the harvest.

When the barn’s breath smells of smoke, Ovinnik stands behind the door.

Guardian or Arsonist

He can protect the barn and its contents — if offered his due. But if forgotten or insulted, he becomes vengeful. He sets fire to grain, burns drying floors, and turns blessing into ruin. His presence reminds mortals that fire is both life and death.

Feed him pancakes or sacrifice a rooster — save your barns from his wrath.

New Year’s Touch

On New Year’s Eve, it is said Ovinnik walks among the barns. His touch foretells your fortune: warm is blessing, cold is misfortune. To neglect him is to invite famine and flames to follow the year.

The Enigma of Ovinnik

He is spirit, guardian, and threat in one small form. Bound to barn and flame, he teaches vigilance — that prosperity demands constant care and respect. To live with Ovinnik is to know that the flames that dry the harvest may also set it ablaze.

Prosperity endures only with care — what guards you today may burn you tomorrow, if forgotten.