Turto

According to ancient legend, Turto was once an ordinary turtle, albeit with an insatiable curiosity about the world around him. One fateful day, in his quest to explore uncharted territories, Turto climbed a steep hill. Reaching the summit, he lost his footing and flipped over onto his back. Unable to right himself, he remained stranded for several days, exposed to the elements and vulnerable to predators. His plight was so dire that the other animals in the forest began to pity him. Just as he was about to give up hope, a benevolent deity appeared and took pity on him, bestowing upon Turto divine power and eternal life. This act of mercy transformed him into the god of flipped turtles.
Since that time, Turto has been a patron of all turtles who find themselves in similar predicaments. Many turtles who are rescued from being flipped over are believed to be blessed by Turto and are said to enjoy good fortune in their future travels.
In regions like Nogginsby, where turtles are a common sight, Turto is a beloved figure. His image can often be found in the homes of turtle-keepers and fishermen, carved into amulets or painted on the sides of boats to ensure safe passage. During the springtime, when young turtles are most vulnerable, festivals are held in Turto's honor. These festivals often include ceremonies where turtles are ceremonially "flipped" and then righted as a way to symbolically invoke Turto's protection.
Worship of Turto involves several key rituals. One of the most common is the "Righting Ceremony," where devotees flip over small turtle effigies and then carefully turn them right-side up while offering prayers for protection and good fortune. Another important ritual is the "Shell Blessing," in which a turtle shell is anointed with sacred oils and inscribed with protective symbols. This shell is then placed on the altar of Turto to invoke his blessing.
In more rural areas, it is not uncommon for villagers to carry small tokens or charms in the shape of a flipped turtle, believing that these will bring them good luck, especially during long journeys. Fishermen, in particular, have a deep reverence for Turto, often attributing their safe returns to his protection.
Turto's followers believe that he watches over all turtles, ensuring their safety and guiding them on their journeys. Some even believe that Turto has the power to turn back time and prevent turtles from being flipped over in the first place. This has led to some interesting theological interpretations, particularly among more radical sects.
One such belief is that the world itself is a giant turtle, known as The World Turtle. According to this doctrine, the world has metaphorically "flipped over," leading to the current state of chaos and disharmony. Followers of this belief hold that Turto will soon intervene, turning back time to a period before the world was "flipped," thereby restoring balance and erasing all the events that have led to the current era, including the existence of sentient races like humans.
The idea of a flipped World Turtle has sparked considerable debate among scholars and worshippers alike. Some Turto-worshipping seismologists, who study the mythical tectonic forces believed to be at work on The World Turtle's shell, argue that such an event would have catastrophic effects on the ecological environments that inhabit the turtle's back. These effects could range from massive tidal waves and earthquakes to the complete reshaping of continents.
Others, however, view the metaphorical flipping as a more symbolic event—one that represents a shift in moral and spiritual values rather than a physical catastrophe. This interpretation suggests that the world has lost its way and that Turto's intervention will guide it back to a time of purity and harmony

Proto-Turto Religions

Research conducted by Sherlorc Holmes suggests that most, if not all, current Nauticalist Religions are based upon a monotheistic Turtle-based religion that was discovered by researchers in Tybia's End. While evidence at the site suggested that this proto-religion still participated in rituals of various types of sacrifice, most modern adaptations of this mythos have adapted their teachings to a more modern ethos, and only a select few small subsections or cults still follow these ancient sacrificial rituals.

Ideals

Relationship Ideals

Never flip over another