Tortle
Basic Information
Anatomy
Tortles are humanoid, but hunched over. They have leathery skin. Their hands and feet are relatively huge. Their wrists are undefined and hard to find. Where they would have nails, they instead have nail-like claws that act as a natural weapon. Their faces resemble those of turtles or tortises. They have short tails, barely reaching the ground. Most prominently, they feature massive, hard shells, like those of turtles or tortises, which are part of their skeletons.
A wildback tortle's shell is lumpy, and they can retract their head and limbs into it for additional defense. The pattern of bumps are unique for each wildback tortle.
A drownback tortle's shell curves into a spike, providing additional natural offense.
Growth Rate & Stages
A tortle is born from an egg. Rarely does a tortle live with its parents for more than a year. This is because a tortle only feels a need to mate when it feels the end of its natural life arriving.
Wildback Tortle
When a wildback tortle's parents die, the tortle hones its survival skills where it was born, orphaned. This usually does not bother the tortle. After some time - anywhere from 5 to 20 years - the tortle feels an overwhelming urge to explore, and leaves to wander the world. They may return home to share what they have found and learned, only to leave to wander again.Drownback Tortle
When a drownback tortle's parents die, its clan cares for it. In return, the tortle cares for the clan. This clan does not travel, and remains in one swamp.Ecology and Habitats
Wildback Tortle
Wildback tortles tend to not settle for long, except in their youth and near the end of their lives. They can be found anywhere.
Drownback Tortle
Drownback tortles can never feel completely at home except for in swamps. That is where drownback tortle clans can be found.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Tortles are carnivorous for their first 10 years of life, but become omnivorous at around that age.
Additional Information
Social Structure
While wildback tortles are comfortable alone, drownback tortles feel an overwhelming need for company.
Drownback tortle clans are family-like. Every member of the clan helps in whatever way they can, and tortles will do this without prompting. It's not common for non-drownback-tortles to be in a drownback tortle clan, but it's certainly not unheard of. They don't have a designated leader, although a member of the clan may be looked to for guidance at times, especially older members.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Tortle shells can make for strong shields, but that is horrifically taboo among tortles, and often taboo among other races as well.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Tortles prefer short, simple names - one or two syllables. This is a preference, however, and not a rule. Tortle names are ungendered, and they often change their names on a whim if they find another name they like better.
This Fantasy Name Generator page should work well for randomly generating a tortle's name.
Tortle Name Generator - Dungeons & Dragons
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Tortles are taught Primordial in their youth, and often another language.
Lifespan
140 years, up to 160 years
Average Height
5-6 ft.
Average Weight
~450 lb
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Wildback tortles have a dark-forest green colour to their skin and shell, while drownback tortles have an almost-black green. Either way, they feature splotches of darker and/or lighter shades throughout their skin and shells.
Geographic Distribution
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