That sounds plausible. I also feel that talking to the guy might be a bad idea.

If it was, why would that deity/contendor not reach Maxwell while he was still living there, but could show up and murder him just now? If these things had no power over the forest prior to this but now could just show up in the basement I'd be worried something already changed...

I also wonder why Nick needs you to locate the sleeper or if he somehow needs your permission to wake it. I mean, what keeps him from showing up and digging around on your lands?

I guess he is still on factory settings, maybe there is some way to change his texture?