In Slavic/Slavonic folklore, polevik (Singular: Poleviki) are nature spirits, protectors of fields (pole means field)...
A polevik usually hides in corn fields.
It delights in misdirecting travellers, and even cruelly killing drunken farmers and idlers.
Terrible tales were told around hearth-fires of the Polevik's harsh and blood-thirsty nature, and of the peril a slothful farmer faced...
Despite this, the Polevik received a grudging respect from the farmers for their diligent protection, and paid their fields a small tithe of blood to show the Polevik their connection to the land.
Some of the youngest Polevik have become disaffected with their rustic lifestyle, and have hired out to unscrupulous fae as assassins; a task at which they prove unnervingly adept.
Fortunately, forgoing their bond with the land, they also lose the associated Birthright and Frailty, although this doesn't bother them unduly.
In their eyes, they're just reaping a harvest of a different variety.
Their favourite quote >>"Time to reap the harvest"...
The appearance of the Polevik was described differently in every region.
In Poland, he appears as a deformed dwarf with eyes of dual color and grass instead of hair. He shows up either at noon or sunset and wear either all black or all white suits.
In the northern parts of Russia, she is a female called Poludnisa, ('Poluden' meaning 'noon') and appears as a tall, beautiful girl dressed in white...
A female spirit Poludnitsa walks along the field in white clothes, taking care of the grain. The midday is supposed the time of her reign, when no one should stay in the open field. She chases people from the field, can even scrag them or cut their heads with her hook.
It is said that you can prevent Polevik from coming near your land by placing two eggs and a cockerel at the edge of a field...
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