Ethereal Chronicles

Amidst the sheltered embrace of ancient trees, the old man of the forest dwells, safeguarding the creatures within which he cherishes so dearly. He is a fallen angel, forged by the devil’s hands, cast from heaven to reign over his own shadowed domain.

APPEARANCE

A Leshy is a guardian, at the core of the forest that he lives in. He is often described as having plant-like features, with leaves sprouting from his face and green, tangled hair that blends with the surrounding foliage. His long nails are caked with dirt, and the skin on his body is rough, covered with patches of bark and bears a bluish hue from the blood coursing beneath it. He may have a ragged beard, and carries a great club in his hand.

As a giant, the Leshy has piercing green eyes that bulge far larger than those of a typical human. He tends to avoid eye contact, however, and moves with a pronounced limp. His clothes, if he wears them at all, are in warm, earthy tones.

In other stories, the Leshy takes on more elemental forms, appearing as wind, rain or fog. In these appearances he is at his most dangerous, as the strength of his smallest blows can unleash devastating floods and tornadoes capable of tearing down entire towns.

Sometimes, the Leshy might not appear in a physical form at all, simply manifesting as a sudden, unexplainable fear that grips those who wander through his forest.

Regardless of his appearance, this spirit is rarely seen by human eyes. You can, however, hear his voice carry through the trees in hums, eerie whistles or laughter.

On calm summer nights, when the wind whispers gently and the moon casts her silvery glow, the enchanting sounds of the Leshy’s wedding procession can be heard. Music drifts through the trees, accompanied by ringing bells, the rhythmic beat of hooves and singing.

A LESHY’S HOME

The Leshy lives in ancient trees, caves and occasionally underground, away from human activity. Those who seek him out often find themselves lost, as the paths leading to him are not meant for human feet, existing instead on a plane quite unlike our own.

In other tales, the Leshy is said to reside at the very heart of the forest, surrounded by an impenetrable blanket of trees in a realm untouched by time, and unaffected by seasons or weather.

FATHER OF THE FOREST

Each Leshy is entrusted with his own forest, which he rules over as master. He therefore is responsible for maintaining the health and protection of his space as well as the animals that live there.

He may impose punishments on unruly humans who choose to trespass, set fires, hunt and cut trees without his permission. He will also defend against demons that attempt to infiltrate and poison the forest. He may engage in gambling with other forest spirits, sometimes wagering his own animals as part of the gamble.

Despite having an imposing, impressive demeanour, the Leshy is not entirely serious, often gathering with the other woodland creatures to indulge in drinking and card games.

COMMUNICATION WITH HUMANS

The Leshy is not inherently evil. In some cases, he may even display kindness, granting safe passage to humans and saving them from dangerous situations. But in most stories, he is merely a guardian, keeping order in the forest and punishing those who choose to ignore his rules. While he takes pleasure in frightening humans with cruel tricks and pranks intended to lead them astray, it is unusual for a Leshy to outright harm a human without just cause.

A Leshy may choose to communicate with humans by echoing their own voices, though he might not possess the ability to speak directly himself.

Before entering a forest belonging to a Leshy, it is imperative to seek his permission. Angering a Leshy can have detrimental consequences, and a single night in the forest without his blessing can quickly turn ugly, with the intruder facing tormenting visions, sickness or death. Similarly, hunters and woodcutters must also obtain the Leshy’s approval to hunt and cut trees.

While traversing a Leshy’s forest, a human can easily become disoriented and confused. Trees may appear to shift and rearrange themselves, warping the person’s sense of direction. The Leshy, mischievous in nature, exacerbates this by obstructing paths with rivers and fallen trees, or enchanting the human to grow attached to the forest. False hope and deceptive promises are made only to lead the individual further astray. Once lost, the person is unable to rejoin his companions, despite them being able to hear his nearby calls.

ABDUCTIONS AND DISAPPEARANCES

The Leshy is frequently implicated in mysterious disappearances within the forest. Much like Faeries, he can trap humans and whisk them away to the Otherworld, a place from which they can never return. Cursed individuals in particular are favoured by him, as he believes that they are promised to the forest. Such people are often irresistibly drawn to his domain, where they are taken in as children or slaves.

Cursed infants may be snatched from their cribs and replaced by Changelings; goblin-like creatures designed to mimic the appearance of the child that was stolen.

Women who stray too close can also be taken captive and subjected to the Leshy’s will. If he releases them, any of his children born outside the forest always return to it eventually.

A few of those who are abducted by a Leshy endure a life of torment in his forest. These unfortunates, surrounded by magic they are unable to handle, may suffer a gradual descent into madness, losing the ability to speak and shrivelling into themselves until they resemble parts of the forest. Some die from starvation or dehydration, having been cast into deep pits and forgotten.