Koschei the Deathless is the recurring nemesis of Ivan Tsarevich across Slavic skazki — the skeletal immortal abducts Ivan's beloved, catches and kills him three times, and defies death itself, while the young prince is resurrected by his animal kin each time and quests to the ends of the earth to find the needle that holds Koschei's life and snap it.
Marya Morevna imprisons Koschei in her castle, bound by twelve chains. When he escapes, he abducts her in revenge, sparking the hero Ivan's quest to rescue her.
In the Frog Princess tale, Koschei the Deathless cursed Vasilisa the Beautiful into frog form and later abducted her when Ivan burned the frog skin, forcing Ivan to quest for Koschei's death.
In the Marya Morevna fairy tale, Ivan Tsarevich finds Koschei's hidden death on Buyan — breaking the needle that ends the Deathless One's immortality and rescuing the captive princess.
Baba Yaga reveals to Ivan Tsarevich the secret of Koschei's hidden death — the needle in an egg, in a duck, in a hare, in an iron chest beneath the oak on Buyan. In the Marya Morevna tale, she also provides the magical horse that can outrun Koschei's own steed.
Koschei the Deathless hides his death on Buyan: a needle in an egg, in a duck, in a hare, in an iron chest buried beneath the great oak on the island. Only a hero who reaches Buyan can destroy him.
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