| “ | This is what passes for idolatry? Celebrities? What do they have besides small dogs and sun-baked skin that washes off with the rain? Whatever happened to hunting boons and gifts of fruit? | „ |
| ~ Leshy. |
Leshy is the Slavic patron god and spirit of forests.
Overview[]
Leshy protects the animals and birds in the forest and tells them when to migrate. While he protects the forests and often aids mortals, it usually only happens should the mortals display the proper respect to the Leshy and its domain. He is known to have a more neutral disposition towards humans, dependent on the attitudes and behaviours of an individual person, or local population, towards the forest. Leshy could take children who were cursed by their relatives (in particular, parents) away to the forest people.
Leshy is a Russian spirit of the forest and an enemy of the Baba Yaga with the two often engaging in various conflicts with one another. A Leshy has a close bond with the gray wolf, and is often seen in the company of bears as well.
Appearance[]
Leshy usually appears as a tall man, but he is able to change his size from that of a blade of grass to a large tree. He has hair and a beard made from grass and vines, is usually missing a right ear and is sometimes depicted with a tail, hooves, and horns. He has pale skin that contrasts with his bright green eyes. He carries a club to express that he is the master of the woods. Legend describes him as having a red scarf and his left shoe on his right foot.
History[]
Background[]
The origins of the Leshy are unknown as much of the information and legend surrounding it in Slavic mythology have been lost to time. Some believe he was the product of the Green Man who created the Leshy to safeguard the forest and its inhabitants while said inhabitants manage over the seasonal cycles of the Earth. This would also make the Leshy a guardian of the nymphs, often maintaining the balance of nature's aspects by preventing satyrs from ravaging a nymph.
In some accounts, Leshy is described as having a wife (the Kikimora of the swamp) and children (leshonki, leszonky). He is known by some to have a propensity to lead travelers astray and abduct children (which he shares with Chort, the "Black One"), which would lead some to believe he is an evil entity. But in spite of this, the Leshy would engage in various conflicts with Baba Yaga, often preventing the Hag from abducting children who were lost in the Leshy's forest.
Whatever the case may be in regards to the Leshy's origins, it made its impact to the Slavs during the old ages. The Leshy receives sacrifices and offerings from the people in order to secure his favor and aid in their survival. As the master and guardian of the forest, a huntsman's success or a woodcutter's bounty was believed to be dependant on the will of the leshy. Even herdsmen relied on this creature. Because of this relationship the herdsmen were seen as intermediaries between the human world and the world of the Leshy, the spirit world.
Encounter by Koschei[]
Leshy is encountered by Koschei and his band on their quest to slay the dragons. He spoke to Koshchei, warning that he knew it was Baba Yaga that sent him on this quest. Leshy agreed that the dragons needed to be stopped as they would be a threat to both man and beast. However he warned him that Baba Yaga may be using him for her own ends. The god guided Koshchei to their next comrade, but also warned him not to harm any of the creatures of the forest.
Aiding Hellboy[]
Leshy lives in the dreamscape of fairy tale Russia, where he is at odds with Baba Yaga. When Hellboy was forcibly taken to Baba Yaga's realm, Leshy decided to assist the demon-spawn out of spite for the witch. Summoning his wolves, they made short work of the witch's undead warriors. He gave Hellboy one night of sanctuary in his forest and called upon Perun to bring a storm to weather Baba Yaga's army.
Personality[]
Leshy is a terribly mischievous being: he has horrible cries, and can imitate voices of people familiar to wanderers and lure them back to his cave, where Leshy will tickle them to death; he also removes signs from their posts. Leshy is not malignant, although he enjoys misguiding humans and kidnapping young women, he is also known to keep grazing cattle from wandering too far into the forests and getting lost.
Sometimes cow herders will make pacts with a Leshy by handing him their crosses from around their necks and sharing communion with him after Christian church gatherings; these pacts are said to give the cowherds special powers. Some of these pacts would only require the renouncing of Christianity. In relation to this, Leshy were also amazing gamblers, playing cards against one another and other spirit demons. Frequently betting their resources of their particular woods.
Power and Abilities[]
Leshy is a powerful divine spirit that protects the animals and birds in the forest and tells them when to migrate. He can shapeshift into many different forms, but those that are exclusive to his domain such as bears and wolves to domestic cattle. He can even transform into a tree or a whirlwind of leaves. As a human, he looks like a peasant with glowing eyes, and his shoes are on backwards.
A person who befriends a Leshy can learn the secrets of magic. Farmers and shepherds would make pacts with the Leshy to protect their crops and sheep. The Leshy has many tricks, including leading peasants astray, making them sick, or tickling them to death. They are also known to hide the axes of woodcutters. A person gets lost in the woods when a Leshy crosses their path. To find the way out, you have to turn your clothes inside out and wear shoes on opposite feet.
