#polevik

[ekvilion]

My characters in The Witcher world: Uglesha (aka Zubets) is a child given to the witcher via "The Law of Surprise". Initially, she was not supposed to be a witcher, so she was trained in self-defense and to be a squire. When she was helping her stepfather fulfill an order, she was bitten by a werewolf, but the search for a cure yielded no results. The stepfather already wanted to end her suffering, but Gunter O'Dimm appeared and resolved the situation... in the worst way possible. Uglesha did not want to face monsters more often than necessary, her stepfather hoped for a possibly successful marriage and a normal life for her, and her half-sister wanted to be a witcher herself (which often led to conflicts). As a result, the sister ran away from home, and Uglesha, after grueling training (which became tenfold tougher) and the unbearable demands of her stepfather, hurried to start a separate life (well... she ended up ran away. The family broke up in general). After werewolf transformations, her hair attained wool texture, and the fangs were only getting sharper. Gray hair began to appear from stress in the process of incredible adventures. During the execution of orders, she introduces herself with the pseudonym "Ludvik", and her voice, which has become coarse after transformations and vigorous potions, helps her pretend to be a young man.

Plut (aka Plut) is a field spirit (polevik) that lives in a dying village and is doomed to a slow death along with its field. Once, out of boredom and curiosity, he robbed a merchant, who after that began to look for a witcher. Uglesha was just passing by and she needed money, so she agreed to take this order. Before she had time to really examine the crime scene, a certain "eyewitness" appeared who wanted to help find the thief. (I only know the game, but I didn’t find field spirits in it or on the wiki. I assume they are avatars of a specific field, which they are attached to. They can create illusions and fool people, but their magical powers depend on the current state of their field) Uglesha quickly figured out the deception and realized that it was not a human who was "helping" her, but she did not expose Plut, she was wondering what this would lead to. As it turned out, the monster was not so scary, and since he absolutely did not want to fight with an armed witcher, he managed to return the stolen things peacefully. With the help of one ritual, the polevik was untied from the field, and now he hangs out with her, from time to time inciting her to partake in not-so-noble adventures.

Fun Facts: - Uglesha badly lacked an optimistic fellow traveler, so she is ready to endure almost any antics of Plut. - When Uglesha cannot take a mission, Plut takes the form of a more formidable witcher and takes it himself. - Once Plut took the form of Geralt. - Each of them was reprimanded for it. - Plut knows how to shoot from a crossbow (Uglesha taught him), but it's much more interesting to hide behind a tree and watch the fight from cover. - this AU does not claim to be canonical and was made for fun. UPD: Okay, I found information about poleviks on the wiki. I don't like them so I replaced them with my version. Well, or in my AU there will be both versions.

[fairylandblog]

Polevik, Slavic Fairy

Deeply ingrained in agriculture and rural life, the Polevik is a figure from Slavic mythology known as a spirit of the fields. Often shown as a little, humanoid creature with grass or soil-like skin, the Polevik is supposed to fit well with the fields it lives in. Though it can also be a mischievous or even evil power if disrespected, it is said to be a guardian of the land, watching after crops and guaranteeing that the rhythms of nature are preserved.

To guarantee their crops stayed healthy and free from damage, farmers in Slavic cultures would commonly leave offerings for the Polevik including eggs, bread, or milk. If the land was abused or if people worked in the fields at unsuitable times, such during holy holidays, the Polevik was supposed to grow enraged. Ignoring these rituals ran the danger of upsetting the spirit, which may cause unusual diseases, bad harvests, or mishaps while working. Depending on how the Polevik was handled, this dual nature made it both a defender and a possible threat. The Polevik's relationship to the natural world captures the great reverence and anxiety ancient agricultural communities possessed for the elements. Attached to the cycles of the planet, it reflects the concept that people have to coexist peacefully with their surroundings. Stories about the Polevik helped to remind people of the value of appreciating the abundance of the ground and to support social standards on farming methods. It also emphasizes the conviction that human existence is much influenced by invisible influences. In other stories, the Polevik is presented as a trickster luring people into the fields and guiding them off course. Wandering into the fields at noon, a time connected with the spirit, is supposed to cause odd meetings or perhaps injury. This aspect of the Polevik's personality contributes to its mystery and makes it a figure of respect as also caution. Although its behavior seems random, it reflects the erratic character of the surroundings it depicts.

Though trust in the Polevik has dropped with the industrialization of agriculture and the collapse of rural customs, its legends remain a significant component of Slavic folklore. The Polevik reminds us of the fine equilibrium between respect of the land and the results of disregarding it as a symbol of humanity's interaction with nature. Its myth lives as evidence of the manner in which prehistoric societies tried to negotiate the secrets of the natural world and explain them.

[lpbestiary]

In Slavic mythology, the Polewiki are spirits of the field. They are said to resemble deformed dwarves with odd-coloured eyes and grass instead of hair.

The Polewiki appear at noon or sunset, and are said to lead people into their fields, where they will infect them with diseases or even trample them with horses. They can be appeased by an unusual but specific gift; two eggs, a rooster, a toad and a crow, placed in a ditch when no one is looking.

Image source.

Monster master list.

Suggest a spook.

[deadlydeady]

Polevik!! kills ya if you nap and drink instead of taking care of your land! 

[cache-valley-book-club]

https://abookofcreatures.com/2015/05/11/polevik/

"The polevik was there, and the bolotnik. There were others—dozens. Creatures like ravens and creatures like rocks and mushrooms and heaps of snow. Many crept forward to where the white mare stood beside Vasya and Solovey, and clustered about their feet. Behind her, Alyosha gave a whistle of astonishment. “I can see them, Vasya.”

Arden, Katherine. The Bear and the Nightingale: A Novel (p. 295). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.