Grover Underwood

A satyr who traded crutches for courage and found a new purpose as the Lord of the Wild.

Grover Underwood is a satyr and Percy Jackson's best friend, characterized by curly reddish-brown hair, fur, acne, and a wispy goatee. Initially appearing to walk with crutches to hide his goat-like trot, he gradually reveals his true nature as the series progresses, including growing horns. Grover uses reed pipes for music and carries a cudgel. In The Lightning Thief, he earns a searcher's license after safely delivering Percy, enabling him to hunt for the lost god Pan. His journey is defined by loyalty, evolving from a nervous protector into a Lord of the Wild with a seat on the Council of Cloven Elders.

Quick Facts

Species: Satyr
Affiliation: Camp Half-Blood, The Council of Cloven Elders
First appears: The Lightning Thief

Lore & Background

Grover's destiny shifted dramatically in The Battle of the Labyrinth, when Pan himself bestowed a part of his essence on him. At the end of The Last Olympian, he is named a Lord of the Wild and given a seat on the Council of Cloven Elders.) When Polyphemus captures him in The Sea of Monsters, he activates an empathic link with Percy that he had established a year earlier, allowing telepathic communication across great distances. In later series like The Heroes of Olympus, Grover acts as a key ally reporting on Gaea's rising and participating in negotiations to transport the Athena Parthenos statue. In The Dark Prophecy, Meg summons Grover after getting a prophecy stating that she and Apollo will need a satyr guide. In Wrath of the Triple Goddess, Grover drinks a strawberry-flavored potion and destroys Hecate's mansion, but later helps to fix it.

Reader's Guide

Grover Underwood serves as Percy Jackson's constant companion and emotional anchor throughout their journey. While he initially masks his goat legs with crutches, readers learn these are a deliberate disguise for his true satyr form. He plays music on reed pipes and sometimes carries a cudgel. Grover's growth is marked by significant milestones: earning a searcher's license, surviving capture by Polyphemus, activating his empathic link with Percy, and eventually becoming a Lord of the Wild. He remains active across multiple series, from reporting on Gaea's rise to guiding Apollo through the Labyrinth and assisting in quests for New Rome University letters. His presence is constant whether facing ancient monsters or modern gods, proving that a satyr can be as vital to mythology as any Olympian.

Did You Know?

In The Burning Maze, Grover guides Apollo and Meg through the Labyrinth and, alongside the other nature spirits, aids in their fight against Medea and Caligula.
He uses nature spirit connections to help Percy sneak into Mount Olympus during Zeus' brunch for Rhea.