Homebrew Deku Scrub Species Details

Physiology

An adult Deku Scrub stands at a height ranging between roughly 2 and 4 feet, and weighs somewhere between 25 and 50 pounds. Scrubs have skin comprised of tree-like bark, and they feature outgrowths of leaves used to absorb sunlight and perform a process similar to photosynthesis. Nearly all Deku Scrubs have some form of leaves or shrubbery growing from atop their heads, though many of them style it in ways other than the typical wild look. Most also grow leaves below their neck and across their torsos, which other races might mistake for clothing. Though rare, Deku Scrubs can also grow flower petals alongside or in place of leaves—and this is usually considered a feminine quality. Deku Scrubs have yellow, orange, or red eyes which glow dimly and allows many of them to see in darkness. Rather than a nose or a mouth, their face features a short tubular ‘snout’ which can both smell and taste that which enters it. Most Deku Scrubs are able to move their snout from its default circular shape, especially with practice—and those who live among other races often to so to more easily convey emotions to races prone to smiling and frowning. These snouts are frequently used to spit nuts at high speed, used as both a means of warding off predators and as a means of re-
production.

Gender and Life Cycle

Like most plants, Deku Scrubs are effectively hermaphrodites, as there are no physiological differences to differentiate gender. Scrubs who are influenced by gendered races usually adopt a gender for themselves, but this usually depends only on whether the Deku Scrub feels like a more masculine or feminine individual. Male is chosen more often than not. To a Deku Scrub, the seeds its body produces are more of a means of weaponry than of reproduction. Creating a seed requires very little resources on behalf of the scrub, but it is draining enough that a Deku Scrub usually only does so when it feels threatened. When a scrub does spit one of its seeds, that seed rarely finds soil and nutrients enough to grow. When it does, the seed gradually grows into a Deku Scrub in its own right, usually with no dependency on parents. Indeed, the concept of a special parent-child relationship is foreign to all but the most cultured of Deku Scrub tribes. After conception, a Deku Scrub is effectively immobile, dependent on the environment—or friendly caregivers—to receive sunlight, water, and other nutrients Once the period ends, the Deku Scrub grows legs, and its mobile body is able to separate from a rooted part of the plant—a “Deku flower”—that is left behind where the scrub was planted. The body of a young Deku Scrub only has legs, an abdomen, and a head. It doesn’t gain arms until it reaches a certain age—anywhere from 5 to 15 years. Some never grow any arms at all, though this is usually an inherited deficiency. Deku Scrubs are most at home while nesting in their Deku flowers, as the flowers are both physically comfortable and provide additional nutrients that are otherwise difficult to obtain. Many a scrub spends its entire life comfortably resting inside its own flower. Some scrubs instead move from one flower to the next, renting and trading prime locations, in the same way other races trade in real estate. A Deku Scrub can generally gain the same nutritional and nesting benefits from any Deku flower. Although it is unpleasant, a rare few Deku Scrubs give up reliance on Deku flowers entirely for the sake of independence.

Society

Due to their means of reproduction, many Deku Scrubs don’t think of themselves as part of a “society,” and are inherently very individualistic. They usually only find family in other Deku Scrubs that were planted near them by happenstance, and have no traditional roles such as parent, child, or sibling. They are inherently distrustful of any creatures not of this family, even other Deku Scrubs. Such scrubs instinctively spit nuts at strangers to ward them off, which a habit many of them have difficulty breaking. Although this simple life is tradition, in the past few centuries some Deku Scrubs have learned to organize and culture themselves more like other races. A few families have even formed their own small kingdoms in swamps, forests, or other places of abundant flora. These kingdoms have adapted many cultural habits from other races, most notably Hylians, such as building wooden structures or forming small but organized armies. There are a few rare scrubs who intermingle with Hylians, Gorons, and other more hospitable races. These Deku Scrubs tend to fancy themselves as businessmen
and traders, or occasionally adventurers. Even these civilized scrubs have a tendency towards erratic behavior, paranoia, and other unusual habits compared to the likes of Hylians.

Deku Scrub Traits

You have the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase

When determining your character's ability scores, Dexterity is increased by 2. Follow this rule regardless of the method you use to determine scores, such as rolling or point buy.

Languages

Your character can speak, read, write Common and Deku Scrub.

Age

Deku Scrubs do not become mobile for 2 or 3 years after being planted, and do not reach adulthood until the mid-teens. Most can live to an age of 70.

Alignment

Deku Scrubs are often paranoid, irrational, and tend to live selfishly. They tend towards chaos.

Size

Deku Scrubs range in height from 2 to 4 feet. Your size is Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Hybrid Nature

You have two creature types: humanoid and plant. You are affected by a game effect if works on either of your creature types.

Darkvision

You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Barkskin

Your skin is literally bark. Your AC can’t be lower than 13, regardless of what kind of armor you are wearing. All Deku Scrubs are more vulnerable to fire damage.

Seed Shot

Your funnel-like snout can shoot seeds that are naturally produced by your body, as a ranged weapon attack. If you hit with it, you deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d8. You may use it 3 times before you will need a long rest to regain them. At 6th level, you can shoot 4 seed. At 11th level, 5 seeds. At 16th level, 6 seeds. This attack has a range increment of 20–60 ft. You are proficient with this weapon.

Deku Flight

You know the petal glide spell, and can cast at its lowest level. Once you cast this spell with this trait, you cannot do so again until you finish a short rest.

Water Hop

If you use your action to Dash, you can traverse over the surface of water or similar liquids until the end of your turn. If your turn ends while you are over a liquid, you will submerge into it as normal.

Subrace

Choose one from Business Scrub, Mad Scrub, or Royal Scrub.