When the Babayaga appeared, her bargain was as such; Each House will provide to her a noble from their bloodline to act as hostage while she deliberates upon her selection for a new apprentice. These candidates, sans her selection, are to be released on the day where the true heir is revealed. This is to take place eight weeks to the day of her first announcement. Neither the Tribune or the Volchenks Union would deny her this request, for fear that their enemy would gain the support of the Baba in war. Whether the Babayaga was believed or not, the chance was not worth the risk and the compact was sealed.
At the start of the game the Babayaga herself will visit each House and select one ‘random’ Noble from the team in question to apprentice her during the game.
The team does not get to choose who amongst them is selected by the Babayaga.
Bargains can be struck, however, and legend speaks often of the Baba’s jealousy, opportunism, and greed. Any noble selected must remember these traits, and the more successful Player will bend them to their own advancement. The Babayaga is no fool, however, and the Player is cautioned to remember that while serving underneath her roof, her word is law.
Players selected to attend the Baba’s kitchen table court will be instructed on their duties at that time.
The selection of the Players for the Babayaga's court may not be entirely random but will largely not impact the flow of play. One or two Players may be selected from the Governor role, if that team appears to require additional challenges but this will not be done if the team would be hamstrung by the absence of their most active team member. The Babayaga side of the game, does not require every team's hostage in order to function, so Control can observe the flow of the game, releasing or cycling the hostage Player as neccesary to improve the cohesion and fun for all teams. The Babayaga side of the game will be more technical, and challenging, allowing return Players or seasoned megagamers a role to grow into if need be. That being said it is not designed that a new megagamer can not approach the difficulty if they seem up to it.
As the day goes on, Players will die and otherwise cycle out, meaning that more Players will be aware of what is happening in the Baba's kitchen court. It is important for the Control team member who is playing the Babayaga to moderate how much information about what they are actually doing is shared to the Players in her space.
The full context and rules for Baba's court and the 'Secret' side of the game will be available in the 'Book of Baba,' and associated control handbook chapters, which explicitly are not known about by the noble House Players. Control should keep in mind that while the main loop of the game follows the structure outlined in this handbook, that it is not the extent of the game and a steady drip of information from one side to the other can help manage a healthy suspicion in both sides.
If the Babayaga is killed, one of her apprentices will be able to discover 'The Book of Baba,' and attempt to discern the true nature of the game through it. Killing the Babayaga does not guarantee her replacement, as only wielding her knowledge affords such power, either mechanically, or narratively.