THE WORLD OF VYASNA
Shadows of Nav: Koschei — a dark Slavic fantasy series
Shadows of Nav: Koschei is a dark Slavic fantasy series by the independent studio VYASNA. Young Prince Kasyan, who has lost his beloved and his faith in the old gods, journeys into the world of the dead to restore order and bring the spring back to his people.
teninavi.com is the official website of the series. It brings together the episodes, the characters and the lore of the story's world. VYASNA music, song lyrics and music videos are published at vyasna.art.
What the series is about
When the border between the living and the dead is broken, ordinary weapons are no longer enough. Kasyan sets out on a road where saving people is bound up with duty, loss and the fate he has tried to escape.
The journey begins with “White Silence”. Returning from a campaign, the prince and his voivode Ratibor find the settlement of White Springs locked in icy silence. This encounter with the aftermath of the Great Frost becomes the first step on the road to Nav.
Koschei in the world of Shadows of Nav
In the series' own universe, Koschei is the guardian of the border between worlds. His immortality is tied to the price that must be paid for order. The story draws on a familiar fairy-tale figure to speak about human choice and its consequences.
This is an artistic interpretation. Folklore about the character and the rules of the series' world should not be confused: you can read about the fairy-tale figure in VYASNA's article on Koschei the Deathless.
Why it is dark Slavic fantasy
Slavic motifs form the space of the story: Nav, the Smorodina River, the Kalinov Bridge, and the spirits and creatures along the heroes' path. The dark side of this world shows itself in eternal winter, lost memory and hard decisions that have no painless outcome.
The world is not reduced to a struggle between good and evil. Crossing it means understanding what holds the border between life and death, and what a person is willing to sacrifice for others.
Who goes into Nav
At the heart of the story is Prince Kasyan. Beside him are Ratibor, Zdana and Velemudr — each with their own role in the journey and their own reasons to keep going. You can meet them without spoilers in the characters section.
Who makes Shadows of Nav: Koschei
The series is made by the independent studio VYASNA. The project is funded in part by viewers through subscriptions and crowdfunding. News is published on the official VYASNA YouTube channel and in the Shadows of Nav community on VK.
Where to watch
The episode guide lists the published episodes in order, with descriptions and official links to each platform. If you are new to the series, start with episode 1, “White Silence”, or watch the teaser.
VYASNA music
The songs continue the heroes' story and its mood. Music, videos and lyrics are collected in the music section of VYASNA.