Tortle are tortoise looking humanoids, native to the jungles of Kildar, most prevalent around Scalepoint. Often mistaken for a sub-species of lizard-folk, they are their own distinct species.
Rarely leaving their jungles, to see a Tortle wander the streets, would often be met with strange looks and whispers.
Tortles have large shells on their backs, that are capable of containing their entire body. They have leathery skins 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 was lighter, usually with yellowish tones.
Although generally poor swimmers, tortles are capable of floating on water and can hold their breath for over an hour. Their high buoyancy grants them the ability to cross swamps, mud, and quicksand with little difficulty.
Tortles are sturdy and natural wanderers, living much of their lives in solitude. They
spend decades traveling across land, gathering experiences and knowledge before
returning to the coast near the end of their natural lifespans. At that time, a Tortle will seek a mate, and together they build a small stone fortress upon the shore. After their young hatch from their eggs, Tortles spend the short remainder of their lives sharing all their life experiences and teaching survival skills to their young. After which the young tortles would become orphans and leave their nests, having learned all they need to know to be able to fend for themselves.
Thankfully, the chances of twins or triplets are high, for otherwise their people would dwindle. The abandoned fortresses often remain as silent monuments to their brief but dedicated parenthood.
The Tortle tongue is strange to outsiders. It is marked by loud breathing, rumbling
throat-tones, and sudden sharp snaps of the beak. To those who learn it, the language
is deeply rhythmic, almost like the ebb and crash of the tide.
Tortles have walked the lands of Kildar for countless generations, but their nomadic
lives leave little trace in history. The beachside fortresses built to hatch their young are
among the few lasting marks they leave behind, often standing for centuries without
record of who raised their young there. Luckily Tortles are blessed with extraordinary
memory meaning renowned Tortles can often recall their birthplace in vivid detail.
Though most describe their origins as modest and unremarkable, other species
speculate wildly about their ancestry—some claiming Tortles are a forgotten branch of
the Dragonborn, others whispering that they are children of the very island itself.
Haddi Darkflame: A paladin of renown, Haddi earned the respect of the
Darkflame Clan and was made an honorary member, fueling speculation of
shared heritage between Dragonborn and Tortles.