The beast

The Beast is an ancient creature that inhabits "The Unknown," the mysterious forest where Wirt and Greg get lost. His origin is never fully explained, reinforcing his aura of myth and fear. According to what is revealed in the series, the Beast is kept alive by the oil obtained by burning Edelwood trees, which, tragically, are people who have given up on the forest and lost all hope. To get more people to become Edelwoods, the Beast manipulates lost travelers by whispering lies and offering false hope. The Woodcutter falls under his influence after losing his daughter, believing he can save her soul by keeping the lantern lit with the oil.

The Beast persuades the Woodcutter to continue feeding the lantern, convincing him that his daughter's soul is inside. In reality, the lantern contains the Beast's soul, and his survival depends on someone else continuing to carry and feed it. Their story culminates when Wirt, upon realizing the truth, exposes his lies. The Woodcutter finally frees himself from his control, extinguishing the lantern or at least questioning its purpose, representing a symbolic victory over despair and fear.

The Beast is a manipulative, intelligent, and extremely calculating entity. He speaks with a soft, serene voice, but every word is laced with threat and psychological control. He feeds on fear, hopelessness, and abandonment. His main strategy is to corrupt the lost souls of the forest, making them believe all is lost in order to turn them into Edelwood trees. He shows no remorse or empathy, and enjoys watching his victims give in to despair. Despite his calm demeanor, his presence instills pure terror. He does not attack directly, but rather undermines the will of others, especially that of the Woodcutter, whom he emotionally enslaves.

The Beast is a shadowy, almost intangible figure, whose form changes subtly depending on the darkness of his surroundings. He is generally seen as a tall, thin humanoid silhouette, with a black body shrouded in shadow and a long cloak that seems to float in the wind. His face is featureless, but his white eyes glow brightly in the darkness. One of his most disturbing characteristics is that, upon closer inspection, his body appears to be composed of intertwined branches or roots, suggesting a direct connection to the trees of the forest. Some fans theorize that his true body could be within the trees of Edelwood, or that those trees are victims transformed by him.