Tortle
Basic Information
Biological Traits
Tortles have leathery skin that varied between olive-green to blue-green hues. The dorsal portion of their shells is usually darker than their skins, while the ventral portion is lighter, usually with yellowish tones. Tortles rarely wear any clothing, favoring instead belts and harnesses to carry their belongings.
Basic Traits
Ability Score Increase: Strength score increases by 2, and Wisdom score increases by 1.Speed: Base walking speed is 30 feet.
Claws:If tortles hit with their claws as a natural weapon, it deals slashing damage equal to 1d4 + Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Hold Breath: Can hold breath for up to 1 hour at a time. Tortles are not natural swimmers, but they can remain underwater for some time before needing to come up for air.
Natural Armor: Due to their shell and the shape of their bodies, tortles are ill-suited to wearing armor. The shell provides ample protection, however; it gives a base AC of 17 (Dexterity modifier doesn’t affect this number). One gains no benefit from wearing armor, but if a shield is used, the shield’s bonus can be applied as normal.
Shell Defense: Can withdraw into the shell as an action. Until emerging, one gains a +4 bonus to AC, and have advantage on Strength and Constitution saving throws. While in the shell, one is prone, and the speed is 0 and can’t increase. One also has disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws, one can’t take reactions, and the only action one can take is a bonus action to emerge from the shell.
Survival Instinct: Have proficiency in the Survival skill.
Language: Speak, read, and write Aquan and Common.
Source: The Tortle Package
Additional Information
Social Structure
Tortles only reproduce near the end of their natural lifespans. When their young hatch from their eggs, they spend the remainder of their lives sharing all their life experiences and teaching survival skills. Young tortles become orphans after about one year, by which time they are expected to be able to fend for themselves.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Tortles are common in southern Chult, near a peninsula that bordered Samarach. An event brought by the Spellplague separated the peninsula from the continent by a narrow strait. The newly formed island became known as the Snout of Omgar and provided a natural defense from predators from the mainland. They build the fort of Ahoyhoy in the northwestern tip of the island.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Tortles prefer simple, non-gender-specific names that are usually no more than two syllables. If a tortle doesn’t like its name for whatever reason, it can change it. A tortle might change its name a dozen times in its life. Tortles don’t have surnames or family names.
Male and Female Names: Baka, Damu, Gar, Gura, Ini, Jappa, Kinlek, Krull, Lim, Lop, Nortle, Nulka, Olo, Ploqwat, Quee, Queg, Quott, Sunny, Tibor, Ubo, Uhok, Wabu, Xelbuk, Xopa, Yog
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Tortles have a saying: “We wear our homes on our backs.” The shells they carry around provide all the shelter they require. Consequently, tortles do not feel the need to root themselves in one place for too long. A tortle settlement is primarily used as a kind of moot, where tortles can socialize with one another, share useful information, and trade with strangers in the safety of greater numbers. Tortles do not regard these settlements as places worth defending with their lives, and they will abandon a settlement when it no longer serves their needs.
Although they spend a considerable portion of their lives in isolation, tortles are social creatures that like to form meaningful friendships. They have no inbred animus toward people of other races. In fact, a tortle will often seek out friendships with non tortles to learn new customs and new points of view.
Tortles don’t have their own pantheon of gods, but they often worship the gods of other races. It’s not unusual for a tortle to hear stories or legends related to a god and choose to worship that deity. In the Forgotten Realms, tortles are especially fond of Eldath, Gond, Lathander, Savras, Selûne, and Tymora.
Comments