Ingredients
1 crown of moss and antlers
Breath of pine needles after rain
A laugh echoing through hollow logs
Fur from a wolf, feathers from an owl, and claws from a bear
A sprig of ash tree blessed by moonlight
Preparation
Dwells deep in old-growth forests, appearing as a towering man with bark-like skin, tangled mossy beard, and bright green eyes. Can shrink to the size of a mushroom or grow as tall as the treetops.
Diet: doesn’t eat flesh—feeds on balance. He consumes imbalance in the ecosystem (overhunting, greed, corruption) to restore order.
Mischievous—may lead travelers astray with laughter or illusions, but only if they disrespect the forest.
Animals follow him in harmony; trees bend subtly when he passes.
Warnings:
Never whistle in the forest—it is said to summon him, and he will test your intentions.
Cut down a sacred tree, and his wrath will be felt in storms, wolves, and sudden silence.
But leave an offering of bread, salt, or milk, and you may walk under his protection.
Story Sparks
Appears to defend a forest facing destruction from loggers.
Befriends a lost child who wandered too deep into the woods.
Tests a knight by leading him in circles until he learns humility.
Becomes an uneasy ally to a witch whose herbs grow in his domain.
Helps a village survive winter by guiding game animals into their hunting paths