Bodach

A bodach, also known in legends as The Old Gray Man, is the fey embodiment of age and decrepitude, a malicious thief whose greed is depthless and unburdened by morality. They're likewise associated with the gray, ceaseless drizzle of winter and the steady weathering of cliffs and castles alike.

In appearance, a bodach resembles an old man, and many can pass for mortal at first glance. A closer look betrays them, however—everything a bodach carries is old and decaying, every piece of fabric frayed and every scrap of metal tarnished and rusted. There's an odd grayness to them, as if the light never illuminates them properly. Bodachs are most often spotted at twilight or on overcast days; they aren't harmed by sunlight, but they don't much like it either.

Despite their association with age, bodachs are quite spry. A bodach is a thief and a trickster by preference, accosting travelers and trying to wheedle away their coins with a plausible lie. More sinisterly, some bodachs steal people as well, crawling down chimneys to spirit away a household's children.

Many non-fey believe catching even a glimpse of bodachs is an ill omen that foretells of grave dangers or even death, beliefs that might be tied to the dread these creatures inspire. Local folk tales note that circles of salt are enough to keep a bodach at bay, though in truth this has little effect. Regardless, many homes found near where bodach sightings are common are protected by a line of salt meant to "seal" the hearth or fireplace.