Leshy by Runtsack

When I saw this challenge I immediately wanted to go for a cool assassin ghost type character but then I thought to myself: "Why shouldn't we have a guardian that could sustain and buff his allies AND be spooky?" (Ok that's not exactly how it went down...)

Then I was playing The Witcher 3 and I discovered my answer. Leshy.

Leshy has so much potential for abilities, it seemed only natural that he would be a guardian archetype as he his the protector of the forest. I really would like to see the Slavic Pantheon expanded and I loved the idea of Leshy being a sort of protective guardian that is focused on keeping his allies alive just like Leshy's lore notes.

leshy, in Slavic mythology, the forest spirit. The leshy is a sportive spirit who enjoys playing tricks on people, though when angered he can be treacherous. He is seldom seen, but his voice can be heard in the forest laughing, whistling, or singing. When the leshy is spotted, he can be easily recognized; for, though he often has the appearance of a man, his eyebrows, eyelashes, and right ear are missing, his head is somewhat pointed, and he lacks a hat and belt. In his native forest the leshy is as tall as the trees, but, the moment he steps beyond, he shrinks to the size of grass. (https://www.britannica.com/topic/leshy)

Leshy is the protector of all animals and birds in the forest. Mass migration of animals supposedly happens at leshy's instruction. 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 growing to the size of the tallest trees when in the forest.

If a person befriends a leshy, the latter will teach them 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. If a leshy crosses the path of a person in the woods, the person will get lost immediately. To find the way out, you have to turn your clothes inside out and wear shoes on opposite feet.

Leshies are terribly mischievous beings: they have horrible cries, and can imitate voices of people familiar to wanderers and lure them back to their caves, where the leshies will tickle them to death; they also remove signs from their posts. Leshies aren't evil: although they enjoy misguiding humans and kidnapping young women, they are 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.

If more than one leshy inhabits a forest, they will fight for territorial rights. The evidence is in the fallen trees scattered about and scared animals. (https://genies.fandom.com/wiki/Leshy)

Something I thought of which I would find entertaining is the method that Leshy would communicate:

Leshy's voice lines would consist of slightly distorted voice lines of other gods
When Leshy activates his ult, he gives out a screech as he grows in size
When Leshy defeats an enemy god, the slain god will begin laughing (to death)

Physical Appearance:

I imagine his default appearance would be have a deer skull with glowing green eyes. He would have hoove like feet that are covered in tree bark and talon like hands to grip his staff.

I can imagine an alternate skin where he appears as an old man with a long beard but maintains the glowing green eyes and horns.