Shal-Turak

Basic Information

Anatomy

Most Shal-Turak stand 6 to 7 feet tall and weigh 200 to 250 pounds, their powerful muscles covered in scales of gray, green, or brown. Some breeds have short dorsal spikes or brightly colored frills, and all swim well by moving with flicks of their powerful 4-foot-long tails. While completely at home in the water, they breathe air and return to their clustered mound-dwellings to breed and sleep. As their reptilian blood makes them sluggish in the cold, most Shal-Turak hunt and work during the day and retreat to their homes at night to curl up with other tribesmen in the shared warmth of large peat fires.

Ecology and Habitats

Though generally neutral, Shal-Turaks’ standoffish demeanor, staunch rejection of civilization’s “gifts,” and legendary ferocity in battle cause them to be viewed negatively by most humanoids. These traits stem from good reasons, however, as their own slow rate of reproduction is no match for warm-blooded humanoids, and those tribes who don’t defend their wetland territories to the last breath quickly find themselves overwhelmed by the mammalian hordes. As for their tendency to consume the bodies of dead friends and enemies alike, the practical Shal-Turak are quick to point out that life is hard in the swamp, and nothing should go to waste.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Shal-Turak are omnivorous, though they will almost always prefer meat to any other food.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Shal-Turak are often dismissed as dumb, brutish, and cold, but these little reptilian creatures actually have a strong social structure that stresses devotion to the tribe and they are excellent tacticians.

Civilization and Culture

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

At their core, Shal-Turak view other humanoids with an indifference verging on pity. Born into the world lacking stout scales and sharp teeth, it's a wonder they have managed to survive for so long. The typical human would barely make it through a day in the swamps.
Still, if other creatures prove useful to Shal-Turak, those creatures can trigger a protective response made all the stronger by their apparent weakness. The Shal-Turak assess such beings as hatchlings, young ones incapable of protecting themselves but who might prove useful in the future if they receive care.

Lifespan

50 years

Average Height

6'6''

Average Weight

150-250lbs