Iron Knight

The trees of Arcadia are older than the world, darker than the night and as miraculous as a dream. There, a crooked path leads to crooked wood where the crow cries alarm and the Iron Knight guards the lonely bridge over a twisting stream.

Description
"Broken bones and blood will kill you. Cowardice can do worse. You’ve trespassed on my lands, will you take my challenge face-to-face? Or run and hope to escape the price of your curiosity?"

The Iron Knight rules the domain where the black oaks grow. He catches the curious who stray from the proper path, chasing after will-o’-wisps or sweet Fae voices. He challenges mortals to single combat, and those who feel the better part of wisdom is flight he chases down and buries under the ensnaring roots of his forest domain. Most who come to such a fate die, food for the oak trees that groan and cry in the wind. Those who survive are changed, some core strength stolen away. They are diminished, shadows of the mortals they once were. But, cocooned in the roots of the forest, those changelings learn the secrets of Arcadian night and shadows.

Those who once fled the Knight’s challenge now serve him as spies and pathfinders. They hunt down other fleetfooted trespassers, and bring them to their Keeper for judgment. When the Knight is bored or greedy, he sends his Mirrorskins out into the forest to tempt travelers off the paths by imitating fair maidens or lost children. The Knight has little use for treasure beyond his weapons, this armor and the Beast he rides but Archivists must keep careful record of the booty he takes from defeated victims nevertheless. Although the Knight may not use gold or silver, he is driven into a fury should someone lose the least copper penny of his hoard.