Folus Tarius

Timber timber, we're falling down; let the forest hear our sound

Appearance

Not much can be said of the astute Deku. He had grown larger than other Deku for some reason, but he was still no taller than an average Hylian. If he were to remain completely still, a passerby may think they were looking at a man-shaped tree. Since his body is primarily made of wood, it would make sense that there were branches shooting from random parts of his body. His bark looked like that of an old oak tree, and moss grew over most of his body. Vines grew from his shoulders and waist, almost like a form of clothing that drifted behind him as he walked. They cover his nails, which effectively look like little roots sprouting from more developed ones. A bed of golden, leafy ‘hair’ lay atop his head, and his eyes bedazzle any who look into their glowing, yellow centers. All in all, he was a less than average Deku to behold, but he was a proud Deku all the same.

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Personality

Folus Tarius is a Deku whose pride is the first trait anyone remembers him by. Folus is proud, territorial, impersonal, and aloof. His pride comes from his appointment as a kind of guardian by the Great Deku Tree - Folus loves to have a task given to him. He feels good about himself when he can help others; at his core, that is what he feels compelled by. He wants to help others at his core, but what clouds his vision is entirely his sense of pride. It’s linked to his identity; if he cannot fulfill his role as to the wishes of the Great Deku Tree, could he himself be thought of as a Deku? Folus thought not.

Folus, while having high expectations of himself, also holds others to a bar raised high. Not as high as his, but high nonetheless. If a Deku - or even a Kokiri - were to not take their home seriously, to not go at lengths to maintain its protection - why were they even there? He knows the grounds of the Sacred Grove like the back of his hand. He knows just about all the denizens of the Grove, and those he doesn’t know are people he does not trust. Folus does not take kindly to strangers. Even in his own social circle, people have to prove their worth for him to trust them. Folus’ devotion to the rest of the Deku people has caused whispers in the rest of the Grove, but he is so devoted because this place is their home. He doesn’t want anything to change that, and he desperately wishes for others to act as if they feel the same way.

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History

Folus is an old Deku. So old that the calendar has been forgotten, but he thinks he’s seen what must be 300 springs and summers. There once was a time where he served as a member of the Royal Deku Family in the distant land of Termina. But after enough time passed, the Royal Family gave him a mission that only a person of his values and ideals could be trusted with. The numbers of the Deku were diminishing in Termina, and if it weren’t for his efforts to protect the kingdom in Termina, it was likely the Deku would only inhabit one place for the rest of their species’ existence. So, Folus was tasked with finding a new place for the Deku to expand. But Termina was a heavily wooded area, and people were sure to get lost near its borders.

Leaving the Southern Swamp was perhaps single-handedly the scariest and hardest thing he had ever done in his life - more so than plundering the depths of Woodfall Temple. His entire self-worth had been built upon serving the Royal Deku Family, and by extension, the rest of the Deku found in southern Termina. Every merchant, every traveler, every visitor, had to have his express permission to enter their sanctious lands. He was taught the ways of nobility, of servitude, loyalty - and to be asked to uproot his life in such a way tore him apart. He couldn’t imagine leaving his home, but worse… he couldn’t imagine disappointing the Royals whom he served so, so passionately. But his sense of duty left him with no choice: he would have to find a place to save his race, so that perhaps in the distant future, the Royal Family may inhabit it.


And he would settle for nothing less than perfection. This place had to fulfill every item on his wishlist: a place removed from heavy traffic; a place removed from predators; a place large enough for his people to grow; and, a place that the Deku Royal Family would find worthy. As their butler, and now their vassal, he had to carry their dream and vision into the new Deku home. In the coming weeks, Folus made the necessary preparations for his expedition. He assembled a crew, acquired sundries for the journey, and said his final goodbyes. He and his crew were off, and their journey took quite some time.

There was a place in the woods that many knew to be very easy to get lost in, but Folus had faith in his scouts. They had seen the lands outside the Deku Kingdom, so surely they weren’t going to lose their way. Various places looked like suitable locations, but they all had their share of drawbacks: some had invasive species that would combat for space, others had soil that was too toxic for a Deku’s roots. They preferred places that were loamy, with soil not too acidic. If it weren’t for the plants’ hostile tendencies, then other natural predators were sure to be found! Anything from bugs to birds would love to find their nutrition from a Deku’s Flower. The ideal place would have to be somewhere that was protected from the outside world so their numbers could increase. Someplace that wouldn’t allow them to live in harm’s way.

Though, one day they entered a part of the forest that felt different, somehow. The air was crisper than usual, even though there was a fog obscuring the forest’s canopy. The trees grew much, much wider and taller, and they were further spread apart. By all means, this would have been a perfect place for them to settle, if they didn’t feel so… unsettled by their surroundings. It was as if it was permanent night here - and Folus did not trust the plants that grew only by night. Most of them were somehow poisonous, and Folus would not lead his people into poisonous territory. So, they pressed on. Or, rather, they tried to turn around, but even as the scouts traced their footsteps, they eventually lost their path. Looking around, they noticed a hollow tree trunk that lay on its side, allowing them a passage through a rock wall.

“We have no choice but to move forward,” Folus said after many moments’ silence. It was deafening. Not even crickets were chirping; no birds, no flies, no… anything. Just a heavy, dark silence caught in the haunting dead of night. Something was inviting him through the tunnel, though. The call of the void, perhaps? Regardless, he was compelled to move through. His nerves, unsettled beyond his belief, caused him to shake with every step. Dead leaves ruffled out of his hair as he led the way through the trunk-tunnel. Only the faintest glimmer of light stirred in the tunnel, but at least it was a straight-shot. No twists, no turns, only straight ahead. Nobody knew for how long they were in the tunnel, but when they got out on the other side, it was at least daytime. The fog still remained overhead, and the trees were still spread out, but they weren’t as thick or as few in number.

This forest was different. Folus felt it in the air. He could smell it. The ground was different, too - the roots of these trees weren’t caught in water-logged soil anymore. They were walking on rich, firm soil. A good sign that they were headed in the right direction. There were even different kinds of vines hanging from the tree limbs, which grew in number the further they walked. The only plants that they found in this forest were those that would grow in a normal one: all sorts of oaks and evergreens, with the shrubbery to match. This was nothing like the swamp. This place was completely different. The only thing that was the same was the sunlight and moonlight. This would take much more adjusting than Folus anticipated. And he thought he planned for everything!

“You who set foot in this forest,” they suddenly heard. It was a deep voice, not dissimilar from the Royal Deku King. “Hear my voice. You are Deku, and I am your guardian. Come to me.” They took a step forward, and before long, flowers appeared before their feet. They grew as if in a wave, all brilliant colors. Vines and long limbs grew pointing toward the direction the flowers were growing; everything seemed to be pointing Folus and his crew to a certain destination. It was truly a magnificent sight to behold. Before long, they found themselves walking along the edge of a massive cliff. This forest must have been enormous for a canyon to exist inside it. Massive roots, as big as the pillars supporting Woodfall Temple - bigger, even - writhed in and out of the ground. These roots were so big that smaller trees were growing out of them. They encircled each other and grew into the tallest, most magnificent tree Folus had ever seen - the other Deku as well, no doubt.
“Young Deku, I know you are lost. Your roots have not planted, and you have no home.” How did this talking tree know what Folus was here for? As skeptic as ever, he almost felt as if his pride were attacked - like he was being made a fool. But something about this talking tree soothed him at the same time.

“You know who we are?” Folus asked. “We come from--”

“Yes, I know. You come from distant lands and are seeking a home here.”
Thus began a conversation of their previous home, their arduous and mysterious journey, and their desire for a new place to settle. It began the conversation of this new land called Hyrule, though the place they currently stood was somewhere outside the proper borders of the country. The land of Hyrule had the blessings of the beings they called Goddesses, whose names were quickly ingrained in their minds. Several regions of Hyrule had their own protectors; other, smaller deities.

“I am the Great Deku Tree,” the divine tree stated simply, “The guardian of this sleeping forest. Many creatures have dwelt within my secret domain for centuries. All sorts of plants, animals - even some Hylians.” He remained silent for a few moments. At the mention of his title, Folus dropped to his knees. His people were saved, so long as this Great Deku Tree would allow them residency within his domain. And that is precisely what Folus pleaded at the end of his monologue.

“Yes, my child. You may not know, for your Royal Family has lived in such a distant land for so, so many generations… but your people and my people are one and the same. The Deku people spread far and wide, and call many places their home. But you need a new home, as I understand. Your people have been praying for your safe arrival.”

“You can hear their prayers, across all this distance?” Folus asked, dumbfounded.

“Prayers arrive at the whim of faith, my child. Whether your people believe in Goddesses or Giants, it matters not - for their prayers were passed in the Sacred Realm and were delivered to me. I knew of your arrival. All your people will be safe in my domain.” Folus felt vibrations in his legs - the trees around him shook, and a ray of light pierced the canopy and shone directly on a stone palisade behind them. Moss patched the mortar, and vines kept them secure. Folus and his crew walked toward the palisade only to find it opened by the roots swirling and twirling. They breached the barrier, and were dazzled at what they saw: A set of ruins untouched for centuries. Decrepit buildings long since abandoned adorned the massive, labyrinthine, wooden grotto. Pools of water collected at the base of tiny waterfalls flowing in what looked like old plazas indicated by the remains of old masonry.

“This place once had a name, but it has been forgotten with time… now, the Hylians who have peeped over the palisade have dubbed it the Sacred Grove. You may use this as your home, but I must ask you one thing.”

“Yes, Lord Deku Tree, your wish shall be my command.” Folus said with a bow.

“Plant your roots, and allow your worries to disperse.”

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Miscellaneous Information

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