Zarude (5e Race)

Zarude

“	Once the vines on Zarude's body tear off, they become nutrients in the soil. This helps the plants of the forest grow.	”
—Dexter, Shield Pokedex

Physical Description

Zarude is a simian pokémon resembling a baboon or mandrill, with a tail, long arms, and prehensile digits tipped with black claws. Its body is primarily covered in coarse black fur, though its chest and belly are patterned with shorter gray fur that resembles ribs. Its upper snout, palms, and rings around its eyes are devoid of fur, and its skin underneath is shown to be a light gray. The fur around the side of its head flares into wing-like crests on either side of its eyes. This facial fur can grow quite long and even becomes beard-like for older zarude. Their eyes have red sclerae, green irises, and black, slitted pupils. Its teeth are pointed and its canines are visible even when its mouth is closed. Green vines extend from their bodies and wrap around their neck and wrists, being able to extend at will.

History

These apes are found only within the sacred forest where the Great Tree grows. They are said to have come about from mystical waters that spew forth from sacred springs surrounding this tree. As a result of their sapience, they came to become the guardians of this region. The various packs of zarude all share this common goal to protect the tree and its springs from outsiders. Their connection to the tree and its springs has allowed them to harness a unique healing technique that draws on primal energy to replenish their own health.

Society

Zarude are social and live in packs organized within the Great Tree forest. These packs are organized with alphas and elders being the highest, and sub-alphas and everyone else below them. They're usually incredibly aggressive and frighten most other Pokémon. They never let anyone other than their own even near the tree and its springs and are incredibly secretive about it. Excelling in battle with their sharp claws and quick wit, zarude are fearsome guardians to those around them. However, they have been known to occasionally exhibit a softer side. A caped zarude named 'Dada' split from its pack to raise and nurture an orphaned human infant. It's said that this zarude derived unique strength from its bond to the adopted human child.

Zarude Names

Most names for zarude are fairly simple, consisting of repeated sounds, like "Dada." They are usually no more than two syllables each.

Zarude Traits

Simian creatures bonded to their packs and forest home
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2 and your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Age. Zarude can reach ages of 50, by which they are considered elders. Their lifespans stop at around 70 or 80.
Alignment. As monkeys of the forest, zarude can be quite chaotic. Even when tied to a tribe, some zarude are known to break from tradition and strike off on their own.
Size. Zarude stand just shy of 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. You also have a climbing speed of 20 feet.
Leaf Guard. You have resistance against lightning damage, but you have disadvantage on saving throws against fire damage.
Vine Whips. Prehensile vines are wrapped around your arms, which you can use to make unarmed attacks. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Dexterity modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. These vines have a reach of 10 feet.
Savage Attacks. When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, you can roll one of the weapon's damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.
Power Whip. You are proficient with whips.
Jungle Healing. As an action, you can touch a creature and cause it to regain a number of hit points equal to your level. Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one extra language of your choice.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
5′ 11''	+1d6	154 lb.	× (1d4) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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