Purplebacks

Log Line

Large turtle variants that have air pockets underneath their shell which allows riders to quickly ship items to other islands without the need for a port or a full crew.

Physical Description

Purplebacks, as their name suggests, are large turtles with ridged purple shells that are incredibly bouyant thanks to the air pocket that lies underneath their shell. They range in size from around 600 sq. ft. to 1,500 sq. ft. and can fit much more than their exteriors indicate. Typically, the inside of their shell is lined with a lightweight wood to keep the floor level and bioluminescent algae line the walls to help sailors see in the interior. Purplebacks are generally accompanied by a druid of any race who keep them company and translate for the captain.

General Demeanor

As larger animals, Purplebacks have very exaggerated movements and generally mild attitudes. Most Purplebacks are content with the work that they do and enjoy the company of people. They particularly love Druids for their ability to hold a conversation with them. There are some Purplebacks with a bit of a sour streak and would rather freely float in the Calms but don't bother to resist since their humanoids can guarantee them their next meal and a nice place to sleep.

Feeding

Feeding Purplebacks is time-consuming since they only eat large fruits and certain types of dense algae which can cause problems for new owners since if they are hungry, Purplebacks will refuse to move until they are fed. On rare occasions, Purplebacks will accidently eat passing fish which can upset their stomach and cause further delays.

Breeding

There are a few islands and companies that specialize in breeding sea transportation species like the Purplebacks. The most well-known are the Regal Seagulls, a small group of breeding experts that raise some of the largest Purplebacks not found outside of breeding pools. They are particularly known for the fact that they put druid tamers through a rigorous set of interviews and testing to make sure that the match is perfect making their Purplebacks easy to maintain and control.

Wild Versions

There is only one version of the Purpleback which has been spotted in the wild near the edges of the Storm. These Purplebacks' shells are teeming with a mini-ecosystem underneath their shells and offer safe passage through sections of the waters underneath The Storm but few have gone this route with many either returning unsuccessfully or disappearing into the depths.

Storage and Maintenance

Purplebacks love to bathe in the sun whenever at all possible so most ports have a large sandy area enclosed specifically for Purplebacks. Their shells have to be cleaned from time to time to keep them hydrodynamic and to replace the bioluminescent algae which takes anywhere from 3-5 days depending on the crew. On their annual checkups, Purplebacks have their whole body cleaned instead of just their shell to replace the animals and plants that would normally clean the bodies of the Purplebacks.