Leshy

**Leshies** (singular: **Leshy**) are Slavic (Czech) demigod-like forest spirits.

## **Characteristics**

Leshies are nature spirits that function in a manner analogous to certain Fairies of the British Isles. Like Fairies, Leshies lead travelers astray, drive interlopers out of their forests, and steal unattended children. Their usual method of killing is to make the victim sick or tickle their victims to death. Those who had to travel in the forest protected themselves by turning their clothing inside out and by saying prayers before entering the forest. Some people entered into pacts or agreements with the Leshies, and were rewarded with protection and magical abilities: hunters, and herdsmen whose cattle were pastured in the forest, were often reputed to have made such pacts.

Leshies are great shapeshifters, and can take on the appearance of any domestic animal, human, or even a mushroom; their usual representation is as a male human wearing the typical peasant dress. Their remit is the forest and all who dwell or travel within it, but they are especially associated with wolves.

## **Similar Creatures**

Similar creatures/variations include:

* **Borovoi** (Russia)
* **Borowy** (Poland)
* **Gayevoi** (Russia)
* **Gajowy** (Poland)
* **Leshak** (Russia)
* **Lešak** (Serbia)
* **Lesij** (Croatia)
* **Lesnik** (Russia)
* **Leshi** (Albania)
* **Lesovik** (Russia)
* **Leśniczy** (Poland)
* **Lesovoi** (Russia)
* **Lesovoj** (Serbia)
* **Lesun** (Russia)
* **Lesný mužík** (Slovakia)
* **Leśny dziad** (Poland)
* **Lasowik** (Poland)
* **Mezhsargs** (Latvia)
* **Mishkinis** (Lithuania)
* **Mishko Velnias** (Lithuania)
* **Vir'ava** (Russia)
* **Lechie** (unknown)
* **Lesovy** (unknown)
* **Lesiy** (unknown)
* **Leszi** (unknown)
* **Leshachikha** (female only, Russia)
* **Leszachka** (female only)
* **Lesovikha** (female only)

## **Powers and Abilities**

Leshies possess great inhuman powers.

* **Super Strength**- Leshies possess inhuman strength, able to overpower and flick full-grown men around with ease with one hand, regardless of the form they take.
* **Super Speed**- A Leshy is capable of moving a speeds far greater than any human, their speed rivals that of other supernatural creatures.
* **Immortality**- They are immortal creatures, some Leshies are as old as the forest they live in.
* **Advanced Invulnerability** - It is assumed Leshies are near completely invulnerable, however they are capable of being killed, but there is no information in their lore on their weaknesses.
* **Shapeshifting**- Leshies have the ability to take on infinite different forms, such as human, animal, plants, and even inanimate objects.
* **Biokinesis** - Leshies are capable of making people sick. Most often fatally.
* **Voice Mimicry** - They are able to mimic human voices, they do this to lure their victims to their caves to be killed.
* **Telekinesis** **-** Skilled telekinetics, they can move objects with their minds with a significant amount of force.
* **Electromagnetic Interference**- They can cause electromagnetic fields in the air in the near vicinity.
* **Thermokinesis**- Similar to other nature spirits, Leshies can make the temperature change.
* **Teleportation**- They can teleport anywhere they want on Earth.

## **Weaknesses**

* **Deities**- Gods can annihilate any Leshy effortlessly.
* **Divine Weaponry** - A weapon of a god can kill them.