Sgru’bu

Alternate Spelling: Sgru’ba

Sgru’bus are squat, waddling scavengers that reek of rotten vegetation. Easily identified by their backs full of bristles and large lower jaw, sgru’bus are found primarily in thick underbrush and underground. They are slightly taller than the typical fubarnii, although their spines account for half of that.

Completely blind, the sgru’bu detect odours, vibrations and temperature through six thick bristles spread across their lower jaw, augmented by the bristles on their back. When properly treated, the bristles make for fine quality writing implements. When bundled together, they can serve as a flexible replacement for short pieces of wood or metal. The spines are so sharp that they can easily pierce a devanu’s skin.

A sgru’bu unpleasant smell is due to the thick, waxy substance that they exude all over their body, and which serves as a protective fungicidal coating. The fubarnii collect the wax and refine it, using it to protect stored food and goods from spoilage by fungi when stored underground. Care must be taken, as the wax has a bitter taste that is very difficult to remove.

The overly large jaw is used primarily to push through the thick undergrowth and loose topsoil that the sgru’bus live in. It also makes an excellent impromptu club, augmenting the defensive capabilities of the smell and digging claws. However, the weight of the jaw and the thick neck force the sgru’bus to turn their head to one side to bite or swallow most objects.

In the wild, sgru’bus favour shallow holes in dark, protected places, although it is not uncommon to observe groups rummaging on the outskirts of fubarnii settlements. While sgru’bus can be domesticated and raised for their bristles, their smell keeps this from being practical.

Sgru’bus hardly change in appearance as they move through their lifecycle. As they age, they gain an increasing number of bristles and the kopa grow dull scales along their top.