Work In Progress: Faulty Hummock (Leshie)
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Photos copyright © 2005 The Morezmore Estate. Do not use without permission.
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The Leszi (or Leshii, Leshie in plural) is known by a variety of names and spellings including Lesiy, Leshii, Lesovik, lesij, or leshii. A leszy usually appears as a tall man, but he is able to change his size from that of a blade of grass to a very tall tree. He has hair and a beard made from living grass and vines, and is sometimes depicted with a tail, hooves and horns. He has pale white skin that contrasts with his bright green eyes. He is sometimes considered akin to the devil. He is the Forest Lord and the Master of the Wood.
He is said to have the ability to shapeshift into any form, animal or plant. When he is in human form, he looks like a common peasant, except that his eyes glow and his shoes are on backwards. In some tales he appears to visitors as a large talking mushroom. He can also vary in size; shrinking himself to the height of a blade of grass when moving through open fields, or grow to the size of the tallest trees when in the forest.
If a person could befriend a leszy, the latter would teach them the secrets of magic. Farmers and shepherds would make pacts with the leszy to protect their crops and sheep. The leszy had many tricks, including leading peasants astray, making them sick, or tickling them to death. They were also known to hide the axes of woodchoppers.
Leszi is a terribly mischievous being, he had horrible cries, but could imitate voices of people familiar to wanderers & lure them back to his caves, where he would tickle them almost to death, he removes signs from their posts. Lechies isn't always evil, though he enjoys misguiding humans & kidnapping young women he is also known to keep grazing cattle from wondering too far into his forests and getting lost. Sometimes cow herders will make pacts with Leszi by handing him their cross from around their neck and sharing communion with him after Christian church gatherings, these pacts are said to give the cowsmen special powers.
The Leshii likes offerings of kasha, suet, blini, bread & salt. He is also perfectly happy with a cookie or candy left on a stump or log. To protect yourself against the leshii, you can: turn all your clothing backward and also the collar on your horse, chant "Sheep's mug, sheep's wool" or if you encounter him, get him to laugh. When the leshy could be coaxed to befriend a human, the human often had to make a pact, never again wear a cross or take the eucharist. In return, the Leshy would teach the human the secrets of magic. He is, after all, the Green Man.
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