An interesting undertaking by Balum and Dagda, the tortles are humanoid by only the loosest of terms. Looking more like their reptilian brethren, Tortles have leathery skin, and a thick, Keratin shell covers their midsection that they can retract into. Tortles are usually very set in their ways, and the older they get, the more thick-headed they get.
Society
Tortles are peaceful and reclusive and tend to get along well with races with similar habits and personalities. They tend to move and speak in a slower, more mild fashion, compared to the other dwellers of the material plane. They live in hunter/gatherer style tribes and are ignorant of modern technology, normally living in mud and straw huts. They live under the servitude of the Chief of the Tribe, who rules like a monarch, with their descendants taking the mantle once they pass. Tortle tribes are friendly to most if not all races but are especially friendly toward peaceful Lizardfolk. Few races are able to look past the reptilian aspects of both their species, because of this, they get along. Other than using the slash and burn farming method (which leeches nutrients from the soil), tortles generally live in harmony with nature.
Tortles crawl for the first few weeks of their life. After they learn how to walk on two legs, tortles are expected to fend for themselves. Tortles refrain from mating until they are approaching the final years of their lives, and will die within a year of mating. All females ready to produce eggs gather in a specially prepared compound, which the males guard against attack. Tortle eggs are considered delicacies, so the location of the egg-laying grounds is always defended. Each female lays 4-24 eggs, which hatch about six months later. Because of this, tribes are often massive, spanning miles upon miles of land. However, it is not uncommon for tortles to practice a nomadic lifestyle. This is because tortles consider their homes to be the shells on their back.
Basic Information
Tortles are humanoid tortoises. They walk upright with a ponderous, rolling gait. The creatures have leathery, reptilian skin and shells that cover their backs and bellies. An adult Tortle stands just under 6 feet tall and weighs more than 750 pounds.
Tortles have no hair; their skin is mostly olive or blue-green. Their back shells are usually shinier and darker than their skin, while their front shells tend to be lighter, with a yellowish cast. A Tortle's mouth is beak-like and toothless and can deliver a vicious bite.
Tortles are stocky, but most of their weight comes from their shells, so they tend to remain at the same weight throughout their adult lives, never growing fat or thin. Their arms and hands are shaped like those of humans, but thicker. Tortles can wield most weapons as easily as humans, though they usually do not wear clothing, only sometimes wearing cloaks, belts, or harnesses for carrying tools and supplies.
Comments