Leshy (ˈleʃɪ)

Forests. Primarily, large and ancient, primeval forest located in Eastern Europe.

Neither fully corporeal nor fully ephemeral, Leshy is a fusion of nature and sorcery. A complex amalgamation of organic and elemental entities, Leshy is a shapeshifter who can assume the form of any animal, plant, or natural phenomenon within his domain. Typically manifesting as a strong gale of wind ripping through treetops. Should he feel the need to appear physically, he can appear in a number of forms. In his human guise, Leshy appears as an elderly man with skin so wrinkled it has an almost bark-like texture. He has wily, green eyes. His left ear is gone. He does not cast a shadow of any kind in this form. Even if he sits in direct sunlight.   For the rare instance where he needs to make a more direct impression, his other form is commonly that of a towering humanoid standing at an intimidating height of six meters. With a physiology deeply intertwined to the forest ecosystem. Being made of the same malady brown wood as the surrounding trees with a covering of hardened bark. Moss and lichens cling to his bark-covered body. Mushrooms sprout from his trunk-like legs. The body is ornamented with the bones of various animals that are interwoven with the wooden burls behaving as muscle fibers. Gaps and hollows allow small woodland animals to make their homes within the outer layers of Leshy's body. The back of the right thigh is known to house an active beehive under the bark layer. The wood located deeper within this vessel's body has a composition similar to petrified wood but is also slightly flexible. Suggesting it fulfills a similar role as the human skeletal system. An interconnected series of vines within the body trunk appear to act like a central nervous system. His wooden body creaks and groans with each movement. He wears a thick mantle of dark green vegetation that grows from his shoulders, adorned with a collar made of moose jawbones. Leafless branches sprout from his head and back like antlers. But where his head should be, sits instead the yellowed skull and jawbone of a mighty stag with hollow eye socket that has been split, as if cut down the center, with its right side missing. Fused to the empty left side of the skull, the right side is made of wood and shaped like the wizened face of an old man. With a tangled curtain of moss for a beard and a green eye with an actual bush for an eyebrow. The branches of this half are decorated with healthy, green leaves and the bark seems to be healthier. The state and health of the vegetation on his body change with the seasons. As a confluence of organic and elemental materials, this form appears to defy traditional scientific classification.

Closely attuned to the forests in which he lives, Leshy wields total authority over his domain. Nothing happens within his forest that he does not know of. He's able to communicate with the trees and plants and take control of the minds of forest animals. Leading them to attack in coordinated efforts or use them to spy on intruders. He can also control the plants and trees. Summoning strangling roots from the ground to ensnare intruders. As he does not require a physical body to travel, Leshy can dematerialize and reappear anywhere within the boundaries of his forest at will. Leshy is a shapeshifter who can assume the form of any animal, plant, or natural phenomenon within his domain, typically manifesting as a strong gale of wind ripping through treetops or as leaves fluttering down from treetops. He can change his size at will. Leshy's power comes from his connection to the forest he protects with his powers becoming stronger the deeper into the forest he goes. If removed, he becomes small and weak. Another factor that affects his powers is the size and health of the forest he protects. Leshy's presence alone can passively boost the overall health of the local environment. He does not require traditional food and instead can draw sustenance from the Earth itself. The magical energy he absorbs not only sustains him but fuels his powers. Making him part of the very fabric of nature. Leshy can tie his essence into a new forest in order to become its guardian. This is how the Organization was able to keep Leshy in the Trench by allowing him to bond to the artificial forest that provided the superstructure's oxygen supply. As an incorporeal spirit, destroying his physical vessel does little to him aside from annoyance. Even as a minor deity, he is immortal. Defeating or outright killing Leshy will require inflicting irreversible damage to the local ecosystem. Either through severe destabilization or outright environmental destruction.

In any of his physical forms, Leshy does not have much in the way of accessories, save for a long tree log that acts as a cudgel. Symbolizing his authority over the forest. In his human form, he will often wear a dirty brown robe consistent with Slavic peasants of the medieval age. Both of his raggedy boots will be on the wrong feet and he won't wear a belt despite this form desperately needing one. His cudgel will appear as a gnarled wooden cane with a deer's antler for a handle.

Leshy is a protector of the forest. While a nature god may seem out of place in the metal halls of the Trench, Leshy is aboslutely vital to the superstructure and the functionality of its life support systems. His passive ability to encourage plant growth in areas where they would otherwise perish is the only reason the artificial forest of Eden is able to maintain its biosphere and constant oxygen production.

An ancient spirit, Leshy has great insights into the realms of arcane knowledge and mystical energies, especially in regards to how they interact with the natural world.

As an embodiment of nature, Leshy maintains a neutral disposition to worldly affairs. As there must be a balance of life and death within his forest in order for nature to thrive, he cannot interfere. For example, let's say Leshy got attached to a certain squirrel and one day that squirrel is eaten by a fox. Leshy can't take revenge on that fox because he understands that nature's balance means that animals like the fox will have to eat squirrels to feed themselves and their young. Which keeps the population of rodents in place so that they will not over-consume all the small plants, nuts, and seeds. This means that those plants have a chance to grow and those plants will mean that animals like birds and bees, which are important pollinators, will have a home to live in...you get the idea, in Leshy's mind, everything in the forest is connected.   However, just because Leshy has a neutral alignment, that does not mean that is going to ignore humans all the time. When it comes to intruders in his forest, he is neither actively hostile nor actively friendly. His disposition is going to be based on how they behave towards the forest. If an individual comes in to hunt a single animal or chop down a single tree, he's not going to bother them. If they were to come in and act in a way that completely disrupts nature's balance. Such as deforestation, overhunting, or starting to industrialize his forest, he will go on the offensive and attack with ruthless viciousness.

Leshy is sworn to protect his forest of Eden.

Despite his lordly status as king of the forest, Leshy is naturally mischievous and will play small pranks on everyone who enters his realm or may even try to help individuals. If these individuals do bad things, such as say, start a forest fire, he will probably attack them.   Leshy enjoys playing card games with the other nature spirits in Eden. His favorite time of the year is spring. He likes it when all the trees and flowers are in bloom. Despite his philosophy of non-interference in the natural world, he does harbor a soft spot for baby animals.

A person who befriends Leshy can learn the secrets of magic. Farmers and shepherds would make pacts with the Leshy to protect their crops and sheep.

Fickle, the life or death of humans in the forest is determined by whatever whim passes through Leshy's head. For as many stories exist of Leshy helping people lost in the forest, there are just as many of him leading people astray.   Leshy can be slow to action when his forest is not in any immediate danger.

Aloof, Leshy rarely manifests directly to mortals and tries to communicate through the actions of the surrounding forest and its animals. When interacting with other nature spirits and supernatural creatures that live within his realm, he appears as an unassuming, tea-drinking old man, almost grandfatherly, with a cheery demeanor. Should he fully manifest to defend his forest, he will attack with ruthless and merciless force.