Leshen - a terrifying guardian of the forest

[MJ]

Leshen - a terrifying guardian of the forest

“At the heart of the forest lies a secret. In a place born of darkness and primeval nature, resides a mighty and terrifying guardian. Immune to human steel, it is believed the Leshen is nature’s way of protecting the forest and the animals that live within it from the threat humans started to pose upon their ravaging expansion deeper into the lands…”

Read the story of the Leshen, one of the monsters from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Would you find enough courage within you to enter the forest and face this mysterious being?

 

[Kinley]

Nice! I love little introductions like these. A nice way of keeping the community engaged. Thank you!

Spoiler

What could that little bugger be? It's very reminiscent of a nekker, but its ears are too big. Some sort of goblin maybe?
Speculation time!

 

[Master_Dandelion]

It's a nekker indeed.

 

[sidspyker]

The red doppelganger from the trailer maybe.

 

[Kinley]

It's a nekker indeed.

Ears seem a bit big for it to be a nekker.

The red doppelganger from the trailer maybe.

I don't remember the thing from the trailer having such big ears though.

 

[althrian]

It's Gollum.

 

[Zhyphix]

Probably this thing. Can't say whether it's the new version of a nekker or not, however.

Spoiler

About the Leshen, I really like the concept, although it was already known since last year's E3. It should make for the usual interesting ambiguity the series has got us used to.

 

[HellKnightX88]

Oh goody, bestiary entries! Looking forward to more of these

PS: that looks like a redesigned nekker to me.

 

[Marcin Momot]

Whaf if it's not a nekker:hmm:

 

[JimmyQ]

But the link in the op says the Leshen can summon nekkers :hmm:.

 

[Kinley]

But the link in the op says the Leshen can summon nekkers :hmm:.

Nice catch, haha. Most likely a typo.

 

[fchopin]

I can see fire will be very handy in the game.

 

[blackgriffin]

isn't that a drowner?

 

[HellKnightX88]

isn't that a drowner?

Not unless they changed their model. The drowners we've seen in the 37 minute gameplay vid look a lot like the ones from TW2. They even have that crest thingy on their heads. This creature doesn't.

After looking at it some more I think it's probably not a nekker either because of how the ear is shaped. Nekker ears sorta point downwards.

 

[Bamul]

Leszy sounds like a bro, I hope there is some way to avoid slaying him.

 

[tommy5761]

Hmmm the head and ears remind me of a Fleder . Maybe Fleder 2.0 Can`t get a good look at the teeth though . But the head definitely gives a nosferatu vibe . Plus the veins in the hand and arm almost says I was once human . But then again maybe not .

 

[Fallout_Wanderer]

Nice! I love little introductions like these. A nice way of keeping the community engaged. Thank you!

Spoiler

What could that little bugger be? It's very reminiscent of a nekker, but its ears are too big. Some sort of goblin maybe?
Speculation time!

Whaf if it's not a nekker:hmm:

Could it be one of these little critters that wander the sewers beneath the magnificent port city of Novigrad? :hmmm:

If not the goblin-esque creatures from the concept art above, I would have to agree with@The Fixer
The ears do certainly point towards one of these creatures. @Tommy - It without a doubt gives off a Nosferatu vibe. Possibly a Lesser Vampire.

The leshen and his wolves look awesome! Love the write up and cannot wait for any additional entries to come. Great job CDPR!

But the link in the op says the Leshen can summon nekkers :hmm:.

I believe the silhouette is only teasing the next monster to be revealed, not necessarily connected to the Leshen. That or merely for atmosphere.

 

[ONLY_ONCE]

I think it's a vampire species of some kind

 

[Blothulfur]

I do like the Leshen, presses all the right mythological buttons for me, Herne, the Horned God, Cernunnos etcetera. Common motifs from our shared ancestry, that recall the symbiotic relationship we once had with the forest, as a place of bounty and salvation but also a dark place of danger and outlawry. Plus the antlered skulls of deers are always eery, got a great rack from an old Fallow up in me living room, much to everyones disgust. But it's my way of honouring the meat it gave me and the respect it deserves as provider through death.

 

[GuyNwah]

Not unless they changed their model. The drowners we've seen in the 37 minute gameplay vid look a lot like the ones from TW2. They even have that crest thingy on their heads. This creature doesn't.

After looking at it some more I think it's probably not a nekker either because of how the ear is shaped. Nekker ears sorta point downwards.

While it doesn't match known creatures, it does have a strong "bog people" vibe. The darkened leathery skin is a strong suggestion of that.

Compare the well-known "Tollund Man" (Jutland, 3rd-4th C. BCE)