Deku Scrub (species)

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Deku scrubs, sometimes referred to merely as scrubs or deku, are a race of squat humanoid plants that primarily dwell in forests and swamps. Their bodies are made of wood, leaves, and nuts. Their appearance is characterized by glowing yellow eyes and a tubular mouth. Most scrubs are extremely wary of other beings, and live reclusive lives. Often they are regarded as weak, paranoid, and sometimes even second-class citizens among the likes of hylians and gorons.

Eerie Plant-People

An adult deku scrub stands at a height between 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 a natural shrubbery-like look. Most scrubs 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 reproduction.

Monogendered Seedlings

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 many deku scrubs.
     After conception, a deku scrub is effectively immobile, dependent on the environment—or friendly caregivers—to receive sunlight, water, and other nutrients. During this period, lasting a few years, the immobile deku scrub may be affected by the pollen of other deku scrubs in the area, and consequently, be influenced by their genes. 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. By this point, the deku scrub gains something resembling sentience. Curiously, deku scrubs at this stage inherently know some basic words and phrases in the Deku language. Indeed, it is believed the entire Deku language is based on the basic words all scrubs seem to know.
     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.

Natural Hermits

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 infrequently have 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, a habit which some 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 having family values.
     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.
     Despite some overlapping history, deku scrubs do not have an inherent or particularly strong relationship to the Great Deku Tree nor the kokiri and koroks who revere this deity. Some legends nonetheless suggest these races share a common ancestor somehow. It is often falsely assumed by by outsiders that deku scrubs must have some alliance or relationship with the Great Deku Tree and his children. Although scrubs sometimes share adjacent territory with these races, this is the exception rather than the norm.

Character details

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      Alignment. Deku scrubs are often paranoid, often irrational, and tend to live selfishly. They have a strong inclination towards chaos and a slight leaning towards evil.
      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.
      Diet. As a Small humanoid-plant, each day you require at least 1 pound of food and 1 gallon of water to avoid exhaustion. As a deku scrub, you can forgo these requirements if you finish a long rest within a deku flower.
      Names. Names are less important to deku scrubs than to most other intelligent beings. They are often born without a name, and usually only give themselves a name when interacting with hylians or other races with which names are important. Even then, it is usually some variation on "Deku," such as Dekki or Deppi. Within the most organized of deku scrub societies, different scrubs are usually referred to by their occupation or another title, such as "Deku King" or "Deku Butler." As their tribes are isolated and rarely exceed a hundred, this remains effective for them.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
1′ 10″	+2d12	20 lb.	× 1

Character traits

      Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2.
      Size. Deku scrubs range in height from 2 to 4 feet. Your size is Small.
      Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.
      Darkvision. A deku's glowing eyes are adapted to dim, dank forests and marshes. 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.
      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.
      Natural Armor. Your skin is a form of wood. Your Armor Class can't be lower than 12 + your Dexterity modifier, regardless of what kind of armor you are wearing. If your AC isn't at least this high without this trait, you are vulnerable to fire damage. You can't benefit from a shield in addition to this AC.
      Seed Shot. Your funnel-like snout can shoot seeds that are naturally produced by your body, and you can shoot a seed as a ranged weapon attack without using your hands. This attack has a range of 20/60 ft. You add your Dexterity modifier and proficiency bonus to this attack roll. On a hit, you deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d4 + your Dexterity modifier (or your Constitution modifier if it is higher).
      Deku Flight. You know the petal glide spell. You can cast it once without expending magic points, and once you do so you cannot cast it again in this way until you finish a long rest. If you have magic points, you can also cast the spell normally.
      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.
      Languages. As a player-character, you can read, write, and speak both Deku and Hylian. It is common for deku scrubs to speak Hylian awkwardly, and many can't speak it at all.
      Subrace. Choose one subrace from woodland, swamp, royal, or business.

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Woodland Scrub

      Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
      Ambush. The first time in each combat your attack roll hits a creature that has yet to take a turn, you add a d6 bonus die to the damage roll.
      Woodlander. You have proficiency in the Stealth and Survival skills. You have advantage on any ability check using either skill in forests, woodlands, or other terrain of abundant foliage.

These most iconic scrubs have deep green leafage and are well-adapted to a humble, isolated life in the forest. Such scrubs likely hail from a long line of scrubs who have lived this traditional lifestyle. Most woodland scrubs inherit, practice, and embody the means most defining of deku scrubs: hiding in a dimly-lit corner of a forest all day, only to spit nuts at anything and everything that gets too close. It's a simple life.

Swamp Scrub

      Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
      Deku Resilience. You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you have resistance to poison damage.
      Native. You have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks made in forests, woodlands, or other terrain of abundant foliage.

The wildest of scrubs are often called mad, but they may just be misunderstood. Swamp scrubs are exposed to poisons and toxins abundant in certain marshes so frequently that they build up a potent tolerance. These scrubs' foliage tends to be of a brighter orange that stands out from their kin. Like their woodland cousins, they tend to be quite satisfied spending most of the day hiding in a hole and absorbing nutrients from the soil.

Royal Scrub

      Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.
      Disconcertion. Though scrubs tend to be apprehensive and paranoid, you have subdued these tendencies into a defensive asset. You cannot be charmed or jinxed.
      Bottle Squeeze. Through a bizarre royal scrub secret, you can move through a gap as narrow as 1 foot without squeezing. If you do squeeze, you can fit your entire body into or through a cube that is 6 inches (half a foot) on all sides.
      Deku Vocation. You have proficiency in one of the following tools of your choice: carpenter's tools, woodworker's tools, or horns.

Royal scrubs are so-called because they originate from kingdoms or other communities that are better organized than the norm for their race. These scrubs often have more education and compassion than is typically expected from scrubs. Some royal scrubs have even managed to construct impressive castles out of mere wood.

Business Scrub

      Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
      Manipulative. You have proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Deception, Insight, Persuasion, Sleight of Hand, or Stealth.
      Scavenger. While many deku scrubs find what they need in the wild, you seem to find what you need in markets and bazaars. You have advantage on any ability check you make to find a buyer, a seller, or a specific item to buy.
      Extra Language. It's common for business scrubs to deal in cultures that are extremely foreign to most deku. You can speak, read, and write one extra language of your choice.

Business scrubs are generally those who live among or near societies of other races. Although they don't necessarily conduct business, most of them make a habit of basic trade—offering a small selection of wares that only deku scrubs could obtain easily.

Lineage feats

The following feats are exclusive to members of this lineage.

Name

Effects

Scrub Magician

You have learned an esoteric form of magic innate to your race, and gain the following benefits: Your seed shot's damage die increases to d8. It overcomes damage resistance and immunity as if it was magical. You know two cantrips of your choice from acid bubble, druidcraft, pirouette, and summon instrument. Dexterity is your casting ability for these spells. You can spend 10 minutes creating a deku flower in natural soil. Any flower created in this way lasts for 24 hours before withering. If you expend 500 rupees worth of appropriate spoils when creating the flower, it instead lasts permanently.

The material on this page is based on content found throughout the Legend of Zelda series, which is copyright Nintendo Co., Ltd.