Garkuwa Tortoise

Racial Magic

First Ability

Elbixur's Vision

Able to enter a meditative state in which the caster can explore and peek through portals or windows within Elbixur's Plane. History and memories related to tradition, ritual, repetition, habit and routine are stored here, useful for navigating the desert and knowing where to dig their burrows or find food.

Second Ability

☀️Gokrilvek's
Rithaldis'
or
Flithmar's
Shield

Flithmar or Rithaldis' Shield grants immunity to damage or ill effects from radiant energy or flames, natural or magical, making them either fireproof or immune to radiation and strong sunlight. Those with Gokrilvek's Shield cannot be damaged by blunt force or be knocked over, becoming un immovable force. They are immune to all gravity magic as well.

☀️

Gokrilvek's Skin

by Lee Stepp

Their skin is particularly tough. It cannot be punctured and is very resistant to damage in general. For this species, this effect is focused onto their scales and carapace, making their already tough shell nearly impenatrable.

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This is the largest terrestrial tortoise in Emynea, living mostly in the border between the Shamsi Desert and Kasar Wuta. Steady, long-lived and hardy but surprisingly active for a tortoise it is no wonder they are well regarded. There are few creatures who can match their defenses, they have no major predators as adults. They also make surprisingly docile and amenable familiars, even extending the lifespan of any partner who earns their trust... if one doesn't mind their slow pace!

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Basic Information

Anatomy

by Lee Stepp

Original Ancestor

Centrochelys sulcata
African spurred tortoise

Lifespan

50-150 years

Weight

180-265 lbs (81-120 kg)

Length

1.9-2.8 ft (57-86 cm)

Coloration

Sandy with thick yellow-brown to golden skin. Their shells are brownish, large and oval with noticable grooves and growth rings on each scute. The skin on their limbs is extremely thick with age, covered in large, overlapping scales resembling armor. Garkuwa tortoises also have spurs on their back legs and have large claws for digging. Their light colors are useful for camoflage but also help them deal with extreme heat, tolerant of up to 122 F (50 C). They might also kick mud onto their shells or salivate on their arms to cool down. In their magic form, their heads usually become sandy brown or beige while their shells will take on different colorations dependon on their manifestation. Possible colors include prismatic or white, bright orange or dark walnut brown.

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Genetics and Reproduction

by Lee Stepp

Mating occurs right after the rainy season, usually in the morning. Males are highly territorial at this time, fighting with each other over breeding rights and can be quite vocal. They will bite and ram each other, trying to flip their opponent over—a deadly position for them! Most of the time the largest male will win especially if he has Gokrilvek magic. Males are polygmous, usually mating with several females. Two months after mating, the female will roam to find the optimal nesting site. She may excavate four or five different nests before settling on a location to lay her eggs.

The female will lay two to three clutches which contain fourteen to fourty eggs each! A necessary adaption for their sought after eggs. Once she is done, she will fill the nest in until all of the eggs are covered. So long as the temperature is around 86-88 F the eggs will incubate for 90-120 days. Hatchlings are 4-6 cm (2 in) in length. Their carapace is oval and serrated. They are yellow and each scute has dark brown outline. Garkuwa hatchlings are very feisty and active, aggressive with each other from birth and often ramming into each other or any nearby objects. They grow quickly, reaching 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) within a few years. They grow more quickly when there is rain but aren't sexually mature until they reach 10-15 years of age.

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Ecology and Habitats

by Lee Stepp

These rather large tortoises live along the southern edges of the Shamsi Desert and in both Gaarreen Ho'aa and Kasar Wuta, sometimes wandering into Nyasi za Rangi or the Arabiyyan Desert. They prefer arid and warm habitats, prone to shell rot in too moist an envrionment, living in arid grasslands, savannahs, xeric scrublands, ergs, rocky hills, sand flats and wadis.

Garkuwa tortoises spend a considerable amount of time in their burrows, dug deep underground to evade dangerous heat or cold. In fact, during the hottest parts of the day they hibernate in their burrow, a habit called aestivation. These burrows can reach to 49 ft (15 m) deep and 98 ft (30 m) long. It isn't uncommon for grasses and succulents to grow around their burrows, the tortoise eating these and fertilizing them with its own feces. Living in mostly dry habitats, they may have little to no access to water for months at a time. They are most active at dawn and dusk, basking early in the morning and foraging for food in the evening.

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Dietary Needs and Habits

by Lee Stepp

Mostly herbivorous, these tortoises eat a wide variety of grasses, plants and succulents. This can include hay, flowers, cacti, algae, vegetables, leafy greens and any leaves they can find. Garkawa tortoises need a lot of fiber but too much protein may cause them to grow too quickly, detrimental to the integrity of their bones. On occasion, they might scavenge carcasses especially those of Tamadla Goat and zebra. As water isn't always available, they rely on metabolic water and moisture in their food. They have no known predator as adults, mostly needing to be wary as hatchlings. Once they reach 30 kg they become impervious but their eggs are still highly sought after, expecially by reptiles like Hangkok Lizard.

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Additional Information

Domestication

by Lee Stepp

Garkawa tortoises are seen by many Alkelbulian tribes as a mediator between the gods and men thanks to their mental magic, Elbixur's Vision. They are often kept in villages to communicate with their ancestors, providing food for the tortoise in return. If the tortoise is feeling amenable, one can request their aid in "contacting their ancestor". Each village has a differernt ritual but for the most part, an offering is made to the tortoise and the one seeking their aid will touch their shell. The tortoise will give them a peek into Elbixur's Plane and browses the memories of those they are seeking the counsel of, easily mistaken for speaking to the spirit of the person they seek. In Dogon villages, leaders always have a garkawa tortoise at their side -usually as their familiar- so that they can always consult with the ancestors in times of uncertainty. These tortoises are otherwise seen as a symbol of virtue, fertility, happiness and longevity.

When taken as pets, beast companions or familiars, they are quite passive an docile. However, it stresses them out if they are handled too frequently and they despise being picked up! Naturally curious and very active, they might find themselves on their back from time to time and need help flipping back over. They are almost dog like, following their human around however slowly and quickly forming strong bonds.