ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Vodyanoy

Vodyanoy is a mythical creature from Slavic folklore. It is said to be a water spirit that lives in lakes, ponds, and rivers. Vodyanoy looks like a little old man with long hair, a green beard, and webbed hands and feet like a frog.

Vodyanoy likes to play tricks on humans by making them lose their way in the water or causing their boats to capsize. It can also make the water rise and become dangerous. Because of this, people were often afraid of vodyanoy and would try to avoid the places where it was said to live.

In some stories, it is said that vodyanoy can be appeased with offerings of bread, salt, or fish. In others, it can be defeated with the help of a magical mirror or by making it laugh.

So, to sum it up, vodyanoy is a mischievous water spirit that looks like an old man with webbed hands and feet, and it likes to play tricks on humans, but can be appeased or defeated with certain actions or objects.
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