General Plantfolk Traits
- Vulnerable to Fire.
- Self-Regeneration. The Cactus Nymph regains 5 hit points at the end of each of its turns unless it has taken fire or necrotic damage in the past round. It only dies if it starts its turn with 0 hit points and doesn't regenerate.
- Non-eater. The Cactus Nymph does not need to eat.
- Immune to Blinding and Deafening. The Cactus Nymph cannot be blinded or deafened.
Nymph Specific Buffs
- Reach. All of the Nymph's melee attacks have an extended reach.
- Poison Damage. The Nymph's attacks do an additional 3d6 poison damage.
- Poison Immunity. The Nymph is immune to poison damage and the poisoned status effect.
Innate Spellcasting. The Cactus Nymph's spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). It can cast the following spells innately, requiring no material components:
At will: longthorn, entangle
1/day: swiveling spine
Multiattack. The Cactus Nymph makes one attack with its Flower Flail, and one attack with its Kick.
Flower Flail. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 25 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage, and 4 (1d8) piercing damage, plus 3d6 poison damage.
Kick. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage and 4 (1d8) piercing damage, plus 3d6 poison damage.
Wall of Spines (Recharge 6). The Cactus Nymph creates a wall of twisting, flesh-ripping, and needle-sharp spines, covering the area between two points it can see within 60 feet. The wall can be up to 30 feet long, 10 feet high, and 3 feet thick. The wall blocks line of sight. When the wall appears, each creature within its area must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw, taking 18 (4d8) piercing damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature can move through the wall, albeit slowly and painfully. For every 1 foot a creature moves through the wall, it must spend 4 feet of movement. Furthermore, the first time a creature enters the wall on a turn or ends its turn there, the creature must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw, It takes 18 (4d8) piercing damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Description
A Nymph, also known as a dryad in certain circles, is a celestial plantfolk tied to the forces of nature. They are often found in places of great natural beauty, where they serve as guardians and caretakers. The Cactus Nymph is a unique and intriguing variant of this creature, found in the harshest of arid landscapes and deserts.
Origin and Physiology
Unlike their more common, sylvan counterparts who blossom in lush forests and verdant glades, Cactus Nymphs are born from the very heart of the desert. They are said to emerge from the most ancient and resilient cacti, infused with the spirit of the sun-scorched earth. Their skin is a deep, earthy green, rough and textured like the body of a saguaro, and their hair is a cascade of thorny, flowering vines. Instead of the delicate grace of other nymphs, they possess a rugged, durable beauty, and their limbs are tipped with sharp spines.
Their connection to the desert gives them a unique set of abilities. They are incredibly hardy, able to survive for months without water, and their bodies are naturally fortified against the harsh elements. The spines that cover their forms are not just for show; they are a direct extension of their being, capable of being launched or manipulated to form dangerous barriers.
Culture and Lifestyle
Cactus Nymphs are solitary and fiercely territorial. They typically guard a specific oasis, a spring, or a particularly ancient and sacred grove of cacti. They are not malevolent, but their initial demeanor is often one of caution and suspicion. They have witnessed the ravages of careless travelers and the greed of those who would exploit the desert for its resources. As such, they are quick to defend their domain with a flurry of sharp spines and bludgeoning strikes from their Flower Flail, a weaponized, flowering vine that can extend to a great length.
However, once trust is earned, a Cactus Nymph can be a powerful and compassionate ally. They are protectors of all desert life, from the smallest scorpion to the largest sand worms. They possess a deep wisdom born from the silence and stillness of the desert, and they are masters of survival. They can guide lost travelers to water, share ancient remedies brewed from desert plants, and offer a haven from sandstorms and blistering heat.
Their innate magic is also tied to the desert. They can cast spells like Longthorn to create a single, powerful piercing attack, or Entangle to ensnare foes in a web of thorny vines. The most powerful among them can summon a Wall of Spines, a deadly barrier of razor-sharp cacti that tears at any who dare to cross it.
Enemies and Allies
Cactus Nymphs have few natural enemies, but they are often at odds with creatures that seek to corrupt or exploit the desert. Fire-based elementals and creatures are their greatest weakness, as they are Vulnerable to Fire and can be quickly reduced to ash. They also despise creatures that pollute or drain the precious, scarce water sources of the desert.
Their allies are the other hardy creatures of the desert, such as giant scorpions, sand drakes, and even certain nomadic humanoids who have learned to live in harmony with the land. Some druidic circles, particularly those who follow the Circle of the Desert, seek out Cactus Nymphs for their deep knowledge of desert flora and fauna. These druids are often the only ones able to truly communicate and befriend these reclusive plantfolk.
Overall, the Cactus Nymph is a symbol of resilience and quiet strength, a guardian of the arid lands that few dare to call home. They are a testament to the fact that even in the harshest of environments, life can find a way to not only survive, but thrive.
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