Tortles

'You should go and see old Ye, if you need alchemy. She lives down by the coast, one of them tortles. About as old as the hills, and one of the brightest people you'll get to meet. Just... be patient with her, she's a bit slow. Comes with the territory when you're a giant tortoise, I suppose.' - Bunmyr Understone, innkeeper

What's a tortle? Well, it's a tortoise. An impressively large tortoise, as intelligent as a man, walking on two legs. Much like tortoises, they are slow-moving and exceptionally long-lived, considering calm and wisdom some of the most important qualities one can possess. Their formidable shells make them a hardy peoples, and they are eminently adapted to many of Ratha's environments - in a fight, they are capable of powerful magic and have a not-inconsiderable set of claws, which, combined with the strength of their shells, can make them hard to pin down. Unlike tortoises, they are capable underwater - they can hold their breath for up to an hour, and can swim much more quickly than they can run.

Basic Information

Ecology and Habitats

Tortles usually prefer to live in the coastal parts of the world, and, being reptiles, fare particularly poorly in the cold.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Tortles are strictly vegetarian, with hardy digestive systems allowing them to eat most vegetable matter, though they typically prefer leafy greens.

Biological Cycle

Tortles age slowly, reaching adulthood around 50. They lay clutches of eggs only every few decades, and care for them carefully until they hatch.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Tortles have faces similar to those of tortoises, with long necks, relatively small eyes and large beaks over their mouths.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Tortles are typically given a name in Aquan, and may take nicknames as 'surnames'.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Tortles typically speak Common and Aquan.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Tortle culture puts a great deal of pride on wisdom, with elders being considered revered elders among most tribes. They are on friendly terms with many species, and their ability to act beneath the water allows them to act as a go-between for the terrestrtial and aquatic species.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Tortles, being fairly wise and peaceful, are on good terms with a majority of other civilized species.

Lifespan

750 years, though many can apparently live much longer if not killed

Average Height

5ft

Average Weight

Incredibly heavy, most of which comes from their shells

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Tortles come in a variety of shades of yellow and green, and may have interesting patterns on their shells.