Mavka — Killer Concept Based on Ukrainian Folklore
Fan Chapter Concept: Mavka — The Whispering Wraith
(Inspired by Ukrainian Folklore)
Lore:
In the shadowed heart of the Carpathian Mountains, where the trees grow twisted and the wind carries ancient songs, there lived a girl whose name was lost to time.
She was kind, radiant, and deeply in love with a hunter who wandered into her grove. He promised her eternity, but returned to his village and betrayed her trust. When others came — with fire, axes, and fear — her forest burned, her lake blackened, and her soul shattered.
In Ukrainian folklore, such a fate births a Mavka — a spirit of the forest, often the soul of a drowned maiden or unbaptized child. Mavkas are beautiful, ethereal, and deadly. They lure wanderers with song, then drain their life or tickle them to death beneath moonlit branches.
This Mavka walked into the lake, hoping for peace. But the water rejected her. The forest took her back — hollow, vengeful, and bound to the mist.
Now, her song is no longer one of love. It is a melody of loss, of memory erased, of footsteps forgotten. The Entity heard her voice echo through the Fog, and welcomed her into its realm.
Power: Song of Forgetting
Mavka emits a haunting melody that disrupts survivors’ focus and movement, turning the chase into a psychological trap.
Activation:
Mavka releases waves of spectral whispers in a 24-meter radius.
Survivors affected gain the “Forgetfulness” status for 6 seconds:
- Sprint speed reduced by 8%
- 0.5-second delay when vaulting or dropping pallets
- Directional audio distortion — Mavka’s sounds come from false locations
Chase Bonus:
If Mavka is chasing a survivor under “Forgetfulness”:
- She gains +5% movement speed
- Survivor leaves phantom scratch marks, confusing teammates
Cooldown: 30 seconds
Secondary Ability (Ctrl): Luring
Mavka creates a phantom copy of herself at a chosen location within 16 meters.
- The illusion emits her song and blocks the nearest vault or pallet for 4 seconds
- Survivors near the copy have their aura revealed for 3 seconds
- If Mavka is more than 24 meters away, she can teleport to the copy (40s cooldown)
Addon Example: Motanka
- Survivors near the illusion cannot use items for 5 seconds
- Illusion duration increased by 2 seconds
Map: Forgotten Grove
A misty Carpathian forest, filled with crooked trees, moss-covered stones, and eerie ritual sites. In the center lies a black lake, still and silent, reflecting the faces of those who never escaped. Motankas (traditional protective dolls) hang from branches, and the wind carries fragments of Mavka’s song.
Killer Stats:
Movement Speed: 4.6 m/s
Terror Radius: 32 meters
Height: Medium
Difficulty: Hard
Power Type: Control / Disruption
Closing Thoughts:
Dead by Daylight has explored many cultures, and I’d love to see Ukrainian folklore represented. Mavka brings a unique blend of beauty and horror, rooted in real legends that deserve the spotlight. Her gameplay would be tactical, atmospheric, and deeply unsettling.
Thanks for reading. Feedback welcome.