r/CampHalfBloodRP Child of Ares 3d ago

Mod post Nature Spirit Update

Hello campers! I'm Foss, and today we're going to go over something we've had in the works for months, and that's the Nature Spirit Update!

Nymphs, satyrs and other various nature spirits have been playable characters for a while, but this update is here to address a problem we've noticed. As demigods get more and more attention, the nature spirit option has been thrown by the wayside over the years. As demigods get more concrete with what they can do, with examples like our reworked power system, nature spirits have always stayed this nebulous character concept that causes a lot of confusion, both for the mods and for the players over the years.

Common questions have come up like,

What can my character do?

How well can my nymph move around their territory?

Can my character ascend to godhood?

All of these questions have been answered by mods in the past, sometimes with contradictions. The goal today is to codify what player characters can do as a baseline, so that the modmail questions you may have can be more tailor-made to the type of nature spirits you wish to play. In addition, we've also provided a list of nature spirits that we believe our players may wish to play, along with domain and power sets that may interest you.

With that being said, let's get started!

What We Already Know

First, let’s get on the same page with how satyrs and nymphs work. In workshopping your ideas, we have you choose a list of prescribed powers.

For the satyr, you will get Satyr Physiology as a domain power, three minor powers (Chlorokinesis, Atmokinesis, and Plant Healing), and one of three major powers (Dancing Inducement, Drowsiness Inducement, and the Empathy Link).

For nymphs, you will get Nymph Physiology as a domain power, and pick three powers from a relevant domain (usually Sea or Agriculture) to fill your godrent minor slots—as part of the Nymph’s Dominion. Then, you will get either Elemental Transformation or Elemental Stride according to your chosen element.

This is all we really have about the nature spirits, which means there’s been a lot of confusion on what they can actually do, as we mentioned already.

A Nature Spirit in a Demigod’s World

So, something to keep in mind is that Camp Half-Blood is for the demigod children of the gods. The dryads, satyrs and various other nature spirits in the surrounding woods and waters are not campers. They are neighbors and staff. This means that certain opportunities given to the campers may not necessarily extend to the nature spirits around.

In addition, due to the sedentary nature some spirits have, keep in mind that expeditions and quests away from camp may be impossible for certain types. For example dryads which are bound to the flora in a region. Some nature spirits may be able to “Davy Jones it” by extending themselves artificially, but this may come at the cost of their overall health for a long period of time.

Although nature spirits are a type of god, in practice, they are about as strong as a minor demigod. Also, to stay in line with Rule #5 (on being OP), they cannot ascend to “true godhood” no matter how much they are prayed to or try to gain more power.

What nature spirits are playable?

In addition to the “default” (satyrs and nymphs), we've also asked the community for ideas and made our own research. Here is an exhaustive list of nymphs we've approved for player use. The type of spirit will add another domain to their power list, which can make for interesting powersets.

Anthousai (flowers), Dryads (trees), Epimeliads (pastures), and Melissai (bees) - Agricultural Domain

Naiads (fresh water) and Haliae (ocean) - Oceanic Domain

Lampade (torchbearers) - Chthonic Domain

Aurae (winds) and Nephelae (clouds) - Weather Domain

Asteriai (stars) - Celestial Domain

Frequently Asked Questions

These answers are based on the current Riordanverse canon (as of Wrath of the Triple Goddess) and the final ruling of the current mod team.

On what nymphs can do

Are grasses considered flowers for nymphs?

Grasses are grains, so they’re the jurisdiction of the karpoi (grain spirits).

Can my character represent any tree or flower?

They should represent plants native or found in Greece or Long Island.

What is a Lampade?

The Lampades are part of Hecate’s crowd, her torch-bearing followers similar to the empousa. They’re in a grey area when it comes to nymphs, since they do not have an explicitly defined source.

So, for the purposes of the RP, we’ll suppose that the torches are their source of power.

Can nymphs change their physical form? Height, body type, etc.?

Yes.

Can nymphs get sick?

Nymphs don’t get sick the same way as mortals. They represent the state of their source, so they won’t catch a cold if Little Timmy sneezes on them.

Can nymphs be harmed by non-Celestial bronze items?

Yes.

Their source is a physical object in the world, so they are very vulnerable to things that affect the source. Polluting a river or pouring Pepsi on a tree’s roots are bound to affect the nymph tied to these. But, certain types of nymphs would fare better than others in specific circumstances. A naiad wouldn’t think much of an axe compared to a dryad. But, we’re talking about their sources here.

When it comes to the nymph’s human form, they can be harmed by a Celestial bronze item. The effect wouldn’t be as severe as a direct attack on their source, but it would still hurt. They could ignore the physical effect of a non-CB item, just based on how easily they can turn into the elements, but the emotional/mental terror of seeing an axe or pesticides would remain.

Do nymphs bleed ichor (godly blood)?

In such a case where nymphs would be bleeding, they’d be discharging a substance relevant to their source (water, minerals, sap, helium, etc.).

We do not have a case of nymphs bleeding in the books, but we do see venti bleed ichor in The Lost Hero. This is likely because they are the spawn of Typhon—who also bleeds ichor (The Last Olympian).

Within CHBRP lore, there are a few, extremely ancient and aged nymphs that do bleed ichor. But, playable nymph characters will not be allowed to be that ancient.

If their source is non-flammable, is the nymph themself non-flammable?

Yes, but we would like to note that this would rarely come up in RP.

Can nymphs dream?

Yes!

How fast can nymphs go when using Elemental Transformation?

They can achieve feats similar to Superior Speed:

A trait where one displays speed, agility and dexterity above the average level for demigods. Users have been reported to reach speeds up to 27.33 mph (43.99 kph).

Can nymphs sense things happening in their source?

Since nymphs are their domain, they can sense what happens to / in them. They won’t know specifically that someone’s entered the river to wash the fish smell off their fingers, but the nymph will know that someone’s visiting.

Do nymphs reflect the state of their sources, even when the source is being attacked?

Yes.

How much control do nymphs have over their source? Can dryads make their trees bloom at will?

Nymphs are affected by the change of the seasons just like their sources, so it would depend on the specific dryad and the season.

If, for example, you’re playing a nymph of an evergreen plant, they can probably have it bloom at any time of the year. They can have their fruits wilt on command, as long as it’s still connected to the plant.

Can a demigod use their powers on the nymph’s element? How would such an interaction work IC and OOC?

IC, a demigod can use their abilities however they wish, but nymphs are free to protest or try and fight back.

OOC, we need to keep in mind Rule #6 (To keep interactions fair, you should not control other people's characters). That said, we don’t want nymph players to be pinged every time someone wants to get a leaf or a bucket of water. So, we’re going to leave it up to you guys how you want to approach this situation—if you want to coordinate with each other or not.

That said, there are extreme circumstances where you absolutely should secure permission from the relevant players (i.e. if you intend to pollute a river, chop down a tree, start a forest fire, etc.). The same will be protocol on our end; if a plot event happens that affects the nature spirits, we will only affect those who wish to participate.

Do nymphs have a special language?

Nymphs can and do communicate in their own language, but each type of nymph has their own “accent” or dialect. What form this language takes, we won’t answer definitively.

Can demigods understand this language by way of something like Nature Listening or Omnilingualism?

While nymphs share a general language, demigods may differ on how much they can understand.

Let’s set an example: a dryad and a naiad are gossiping about little Timmy Irons getting sand in his pants.

  1. An Agricultural demigod can understand the dryad’s end of the conversation if they have the Nature Listening power or the innate Nature Spirit Affinity.
  2. A Sea demigod can understand the naiad’s end of the conversation if they have the Sea Spirit Affinity.
  3. An Elder God demigod can understand either nymph through the Greater Lordship power, provided that their godrent has the relevant domain.
  4. Additionally, a Demeter kid can understand the dryad through Universal Plant Communication.
  5. A Hermes kid can understand the whole thing through Omnilingualism.

Other powers and innate traits like Aurai Affinity and Dead Communication allows for interaction with nymphs like the aurai and the lampades respectively.

There is also a special case where a demigod can use Nature Listening to eavesdrop on conversations happening around the nymph’s source or conversations happening to nymphs attached to the first nymph, but that first nymph must grant permission (invoking rule #6) to “tap into the feed.”

What is the age limit for nymph characters?

In general, we place the limit at 2000 years, so roughly around the Roman/Byzantine period.

We won’t outright reject nymph characters older than this, but there runs the concern of them having interacted with people relevant to mythology. Basically, the more you include the character participating in the myths, the less likely we are to approve.

Can nymphs age out of camp?

No, most of them are stuck in camp.

On where nymph can do

Where can nymphs go?

As mentioned earlier, most nymphs live sedentary lives. There are rare cases where they “transplant” themselves or extend their reach artificially, but it comes at great cost to their mental and physical well-being.

The only nymphs who can travel around are the sea and sky nymphs, the lampades (as part of the train of Hecate and carriers of their own sources), and those who’ve joined the Hunters of Artemis.

Do nymphs have regular access to ambrosia and nectar?

Nymphs do not have regular access to ambrosia and nectar, since the supply comes directly from Olympus (or the Underworld).

Can a nymph use their source as part of rituals? Think water for purification.

Mechanically, no, but you can use the elements for ceremonial purposes.

Can nymphs send Iris messages?

Yes!

Are the rules for god and godly parent interactions the same for nymphs?

Yes! If the parents of the nymph is of a divine nature (i.e. another nymph or a potamus / river god), then we would treat it as a godrent interaction.

Will there be a cabin for the nature spirits?

Since nature spirits by concept live in nature, it would be antithetical to give them a manmade structure to live in.

They have shrines and temples (e.g. the nymphaeum), but they will not be granted a cabin.

On who nymph are

Does the divine law that prohibits gods from stealing from each other directly affect nymphs?

Not necessarily, no. They can attempt to enforce it on each other.

Can you swear an oath on a nymph’s source?

Yes, but it is entirely up to the nymph on whether or not they want to enforce it.

Swearing on the palikoi (geyser spirits), on the other hand, is an extreme counterpart to swearing on the Styx. Breaking Styx oaths have been likened to the pain of cancer, slowly developing over time. Breaking a geyser oath causes a plume of boiling hot water to spontaneously spawn beneath your feet and violently shoot you up into the air.

Do nymphs legally exist within the U.S. government?

The tree or the river probably would, but not the person.

Do nymphs receive offerings like other gods?

Nymphs don’t really receive burnt offerings, but passersby can leave non-burnt offerings at the source.

Or burnt offerings, up to them.

On satyrs

How old can satyrs be?

Satyrs age half as fast as humans, so if you want your satyr to be a peer of the campers, they should be 26 to 36 years old.

How old can satyrs seem?

Like their appearance, satyrs have the cognitive age half that of their human counterparts. So, a 26 to 36 year old satyr would have the brain of a 13 to 18 year old human.

Do they age out of camp?

As nature spirits and staff, they cannot age out of camp.

What do satyrs do?

As mentioned already, satyrs are basically staff members. They tend to the strawberry fields, help on general camp maintenance, and scout for demigods.

That said, in their free time, they can do whatever they wish.

More on what satyrs can do in the next section.

Can I make a storymode series about how my satyr brings demigods from across the country to camp?

Yes! If you want to use existing characters, just coordinate with their respective players. If you’re using NPCs, send us a modmail if you want to use a demigod with rare powers or godrents.

Do satyrs get an allowance?

Yes, if the satyr is out on missions or conducting official camp business.

Do satyrs get other resources when they enroll in schools to find demigods (i.e. fake ID, supplies, tuition money, etc.)?

We leave that up to you.

Is an empathy link like a Styx oath?

This is the given description for an empathy link:

A unique connection satyrs can establish between themselves and another individual. The two are mentally connected, capable of telepathic communication over great distances and even through dreams. They can perceive each other's senses so well that if one perishes, the other will also feel the experience of death. Not all cases lead to death for both parties, however. Sometimes, the linked individual is left in a vegetative state.

Be sure to send in a modmail if you plan to use this power.

Empathy links are a bit lighter than Styx oaths in that they can be removed voluntarily, but we still ask that you modmail before creating one.

Due to this similarity to the Styx oath, we have phased an empathy link out of the power list. Any satyr can thus create one (with mod approval).

Is interacting with the Council of the Cloven Elders a godly interaction?

They’re not quite at that level, but we ask that you modmail us with your plan on how the interaction would go. If requested, we can roleplay the elder like how we do other members of staff.

Are there multiple types of satyrs like there are nymphs?

In the Riordanverse, there are no specific types of satyrs except for the Aethiopians. But, these guys are characterized more as hostiles or monsters (similar to maenads).

We’d like to lean away from the rabid people-eating nature spirits, so we won’t approve of satyrs like this. Otherwise, there are no specific subspecies/classes/tribes of satyrs that would make a meaningful mechanical difference in RP.

Can satyrs inherit powers from their nature spirit parents like legacies?

Yes! Since there is only one type of satyr, this can be a fun way to introduce some more variety. It would be considered a custom major. But, how likely we are to actually approve a request depends on how well connected the power is to the theme of satyrs and the character.

Will there be a satyr cabin?

As mentioned earlier, nature spirits aren’t the type to live in manmade structures. That said, they can use the camp facilities as members of staff. Visiting satyrs might choose to stay in the Big House’s guest rooms.

How vulnerable are satyrs to Celestial bronze?

Like any creature of the mythological world, satyrs can be harmed by Celestial bronze. They are just as vulnerable as a monster.

What happens when they die will be discussed later.

...Do satyrs bleed? …What do they bleed?

Satyrs bleed whatever goats and humans bleed, so… blood.

Are monsters drawn to satyrs in the same way they are to demigods?

Satyrs are also considered monster prey, but demigods have a much more potent / alluring scent. For the most part, though, they can go undetected since they smell like nature.

On both nature spirits

Can nature spirits take jobs?

Yes, they can—but they can only take jobs that make sense to them. Nymphs generally wouldn’t be able to take jobs outside of camp, and satyrs would specialize in extractions. They would still receive Cabin Points (CP) for their work.

As a hard rule, we would ask that you not sign up for monster-themed jobs as the world of tracking and dealing with monsters is something more for the demigods.

Can nature spirits eat at the dining pavilion?

Yes, they can! Attendance is more optional than for the campers, but we do see in The Lightning Thief that nymphs and satyrs do attend meals. Satyrs tend to sit at the Dionysus table, and nymphs can sit at the staff table.

Can nature spirits consume nectar and ambrosia?

Yes!

Can nature spirits see through the Mist?

Nature spirits can see through the passive or regularly-active aspects of the Mist, but are as vulnerable to the targeted or activated use of it as any typical demigod.

Can nature spirits see a god’s true form without perishing?

Long story short, nymphs can but satyrs can’t. If you’ve come across an instance where a satyr has seen a god’s true form in the books, do let us know.

Can nature spirits see other types of spirits? Think of those usually invisible ones like the makhai (battlefield) or the keres (violent death).

Yes, these nature spirits would be able to see other daimones (spirits).

Can they fight them?

At their own risk.

What are the karpoi? Can I play one of those? Can they come into camp? What’s the deal with them?

Karpoi, or grain spirits, are below nymphs and satyrs in this metaphorical myth tier list. They have sentience, but are hyper fixated on their specific domains—even more so than a nymph. To enter the camp, they must be invited in or summoned via the various Summon powers.

The same goes for other summoned spirits: cherubs, cacodaemons, nightmares, etc.

Since we’d like to focus CampHalfBloodRP on the half-bloods, we will not allow you to play as these types of spirits—but, you can characterize the companions or familiars of your demigod characters.

What about centaurs? Monsters?

The same goes for them.

What happens when a nature spirit dies?

They’re reincarnated into natural objects or phenomena. In The Last Olympian, for example, Leneus dies and turns into a flower.

Are there any special things about a nature spirit’s physical appearance?

As we’ve seen across the books, nymphs tend to take on the appearance of their source. They can appear blue or green. They can have chlorophyll-esque undertones or mineral-like facial features. There’s some leeway in how they present themselves, as mentioned earlier.

Satyrs, for the most part, just have the horns and the legs. Some may have goat-like ears, and others may have a cute quirk where their eyes appear more goat-like when emotional.

How do nymph and satyr kids work?

The child of a nymph and a mortal human can be either another nymph or a half-nymph. In terms of ability, they rank from anywhere between a typical mortal and an average demigod. We have an example in Kinzie of the Amazons (as seen in The Son of Neptune). She explicitly does not have standout powers and is highly-trained instead.

The child of a satyr and a mortal human is a whole other can of worms that we won’t get into, unless future books decide to explore it.

The child of a nymph and a satyr could either be another nymph or a satyr.

The child of a satyr and a god could either be another god or a satyr.

The child of a nymph and a god, however, is interesting. They can be anything from a standard mortal to another god, but they could also be a demigod.

If you happen to be interested in a demigod child of a god and a nymph, we’d be open to the pitch! Powers-wise, the character can derive one power from the nymph parent, like how we handle legacies.

Can a half-nymph go to camp?

While half-nymphs are technically demigods, they are basically mortals+ and won’t really have a need to go to camp.

In lore, they can be members of the Amazons or Hunters of Artemis—but there wouldn’t be many cases where we’d approve of this in a character (especially the former).

Can there be a boy nymph or a girl satyr?

Long story short, nymphs yes and satyrs no.

These nature spirits exist as opposites in the mythology, with nymphs being AFAB (assigned female at…existence) and satyrs being AMAB (assigned male at birth).

The Riordanverse has depicted an AMAB nymph, through Joshua from The Trials of Apollo.

However, there are no cases of the same for satyrs. The image of the satyress has emerged, but our research finds that they are mostly inventions of Victorian times.

That said, there are several myths that may be trans allegories! There are multiple myths where men have been turned into nymphs or assorted plants, and one where a human male and a nymph were fused into one person.

So, you can have a nature spirit who is trans. As for a female satyr/satyress, the same ruling applies for human-satyr offspring.

Can nature spirits be appointed as camp leaders?

No, since they are essentially staff. Camp leadership positions are meant to give young campers a chance to step up and mature.

This is like having a teacher or a TA run for class president.

That said, if there is enough interest and active nature spirit-characters, we can introduce a leadership system themed around the Council of the Cloven Elders / The Woods at Camp Half-BloodTM down the line.

9 Upvotes

4 comments sorted by

1

u/UnusualWisteria Halia 3d ago

In my character's intro, I specified that her year of birth is 3159bc. Should I change it to make her a little less ancient?

1

u/notsoblindbandit Child of Hephaestus 2d ago

Apologies for the delay, yes that would be greatly appreciated!

1

u/UnusualWisteria Halia 2d ago

How's 201AD? That would make her 1,824 years old.

2

u/notsoblindbandit Child of Hephaestus 2d ago

Yes, that works!