Garkuwa Tortoise
This is the largest terrestrial tortoise in Emynea, living along the borders between the Shamsi Desert and Kasar Wuta. Garkuwa are steady, long-lived and hardy but surprisingly active for a tortoise--it is no wonder they are well regarded. There are few creatures who can match their defenses, having no major predators during the prime of their life. Garkuwa also make surprisingly docile and amenable familiars, extending the lifespan of any partner who earns their trust... if one doesn't mind their slow pace!
Herbivore | Scavenger |
Crepuscular | Solitary |
Kaithur
First Ability
Elbixur's Vision
By using Elbixur's Vision, Garkuwa are able to enter a meditative state in which the caster can explore and peek through portals or windows within Elbixur's Plane. History and memories related to tradition, ritual, repetition, habit and routine are stored here, useful for navigating the desert and knowing where to dig their burrows or find food.
Gokrilvek's Bone
Garkuwa tortoises with Gokrilvek's Bone have particularly tough bones and scutes, their carapace nearly impenatrable. It cannot be punctured and is very resistant to physical damage in general. Their shell also cannot be moved against their will, impossibly heavy and unyielding.
Second Ability
Rithaldis' Shield
Rithaldis' Shield grants total immunity to damage or ill effects from radiant energy including sunlight, solar plasma, photons and radiation--a necessity for surviving in the Shamsi Desert. This includes both natural radiance and magical, the ultimate solar defense!
Flithmar's Shield
Flithmar's Shield grants total immunity to damage or ill effects from flames and fire in general, whether natural or magical, protecting them from the elemental influences of Kasar Wuta. They are totally fireproof, unfettered and unbothered by the harshest wildfire or fiery attacks!
Anatomy
Original Ancestor | Lifespan |
|---|---|
Centrochelys sulcata African spurred tortoise | 50-150 years |
Weight | Length |
180-265 lbs 81-120 kg | 1.9-2.8 ft 57-86 cm |
Coloration |
|---|
Garkuwa are sandy colored with thick yellow-brown to golden skin and their shells are brownish, large and oval with noticable grooved growth rings on each scute. In their magic form, their heads usually become sandy or dark walnut brown while their shells turn either prismatic, stark white or bright orange. |
Adaptions
The skin on their limbs is extremely thick with age, covered in large, overlapping scales resembling armor. Garkuwa tortoises also have spurs on their back legs and have large claws for digging. Their light colors are useful for camoflage but also help them deal with extreme heat, tolerant of up to 122 F (50 C)! They might also kick mud onto their shells or salivate on their arms to cool down.
Camouflage | Strength |
Habitat
Desert | Semi-Desert | Shrubland | Savannah | Montane | Rural |
These rather large tortoises live along the southern edges of the Shamsi Desert or frequent oases of these radiant dunes. But might also be found in both Gaarreen Ho'aa and Kasar Wuta, sometimes wandering into Nyasi za Rangi or the Arabiyyan Desert. They prefer arid and warm habitats, prone to shell rot in too moist an envrionment, living in arid grasslands, oases, xeric scrublands, ergs, regs, rocky hills, sand flats and wadis.
Garkuwa tortoises spend a considerable amount of time in their burrows, dug deep underground to evade dangerous heat or cold. In fact, during the hottest parts of the day they hibernate in their burrow, a habit called aestivation. These burrows can reach to 49 ft (15 m) deep and 98 ft (30 m) long. It isn't uncommon for grasses and succulents to grow around their burrows, the tortoise eating these and fertilizing them with its own feces. Living in mostly dry habitats, they may have little to no access to water for months at a time. They are most active at dawn and dusk, basking early in the morning and foraging for food in the evening.
Garkuwa tortoises spend a considerable amount of time in their burrows, dug deep underground to evade dangerous heat or cold. In fact, during the hottest parts of the day they hibernate in their burrow, a habit called aestivation. These burrows can reach to 49 ft (15 m) deep and 98 ft (30 m) long. It isn't uncommon for grasses and succulents to grow around their burrows, the tortoise eating these and fertilizing them with its own feces. Living in mostly dry habitats, they may have little to no access to water for months at a time. They are most active at dawn and dusk, basking early in the morning and foraging for food in the evening.
Diet
Omnivore | Graminivore | Folivore | Florivore | Frugivore | Radicivore | Carrion | Algivore | Cactivore |
Mostly herbivorous, these tortoises eat a wide variety of grasses, shrubs and succulents including hay, flowers, cacti, algae, vegetables, leafy greens and any leaves they can forage. Garkuwa tortoises need a lot of fiber but too much protein may cause them to grow too quickly, detrimental to the integrity of their bones. Technically omniverous, they might scavenge carcasses from time to time, especially those of Tamadla Goat and zebra. Water isn't always available, forcing them rely on metabolic water and moisture in their food. While a prime meal as hatchlings, Garkuwa have no known predator as adults. After reaching 30 kg they become impervious to nearly any attack but their eggs and young are highly sought after, expecially to Hangkok Lizard. And many predators may still try their luck, elder Garkuwa's shells littered by nicks and scars!
Life Cycle
Territorial | Agonistic | Oviparous | Polygynous | Precocial |
Mating occurs right after the rainy season, usually in the morning. Males are highly territorial and vocal at this time, fighting with each other over breeding rights. Biting and ramming each other, competing males attempt to flip each other over—a deadly position for a tortoise! The largest male usually wins, especially he has Elbixur magic giving him special knowledge and experience. Yet a younger opponent with Gokrilvek magic ought not be underestmated either! Successful males are polygmous, mating with several females each season.
Two months after mating, the female will roam to find the optimal nesting site, excavating four or five different nests before settling on a nest to lay her eggs. Mother Garkuwa lay two to three clutches containing fourteen to fourty eggs each! A necessary adaption for their sought after eggs. Once a clutch is complete, the mother fills the nest in until all of the eggs are covered in sand or dirt. So long as the temperature remains around 86-88 F the eggs will incubate for 90-120 days. Hatchlings are 4-6 cm (2 in) in length and their carapace is both oval and serrated. Hatchlings are yellow and each scute has a dark brown outline. Garkuwa hatchlings are very feisty and active, aggressive with each other from birth and often ramming into each other or any nearby objects. They grow quickly, reaching 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) within a few years, growing more quickly when there is rain. They reach sexually maturity at 10-15 years of age.
Two months after mating, the female will roam to find the optimal nesting site, excavating four or five different nests before settling on a nest to lay her eggs. Mother Garkuwa lay two to three clutches containing fourteen to fourty eggs each! A necessary adaption for their sought after eggs. Once a clutch is complete, the mother fills the nest in until all of the eggs are covered in sand or dirt. So long as the temperature remains around 86-88 F the eggs will incubate for 90-120 days. Hatchlings are 4-6 cm (2 in) in length and their carapace is both oval and serrated. Hatchlings are yellow and each scute has a dark brown outline. Garkuwa hatchlings are very feisty and active, aggressive with each other from birth and often ramming into each other or any nearby objects. They grow quickly, reaching 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) within a few years, growing more quickly when there is rain. They reach sexually maturity at 10-15 years of age.
Domestication
Mutualistic | Domesticated |
Garkuwa tortoises are seen by many Alkelbulian peoples as a mediator between the gods and men thanks to their mental magic, Elbixur's Vision. They are symbols of virtue, fertility, happiness and longevity. Aged Garkuwa reside in villages along the borders of Shamsi, kept so that villagers can communicate with their ancestors in exchange for vegetables and hay. If the tortoise is amenable, which it often is if well treated, they share their visions of Elbixur's Plane which contains memories of the dead--of their ancestors. Most often these are memories of traditions, rituals and legends or even important, foundational memories of the dead which are of great comfort to their loved ones. These memories of the departed are easily mistaken as the counsel of departed spirits but the Garkuwa know, real or not, it brings comfort to their benefactors.
Each village has a different ritual for requesting these visions from the Garkuwa, most often making a offering to the tortoise and their ancestors and touching their shell. In Dogon villages especially, village leaders always take on a Garkuwa Tortoise as their familiar, ever at their side so they can always consult with the ancestors in times of uncertainty! When taken as pets, beast companions or familiars, Garkuwa are quite passive and docile. However, it stresses them out at any age if they are handled too frequently and they despise being picked up! Naturally curious and active, young Garkuwa might find themselves on their back from time to time and need help flipping back over. They are almost dog like, following their human around however slowly and forging powerful bonds and loyalty.
Each village has a different ritual for requesting these visions from the Garkuwa, most often making a offering to the tortoise and their ancestors and touching their shell. In Dogon villages especially, village leaders always take on a Garkuwa Tortoise as their familiar, ever at their side so they can always consult with the ancestors in times of uncertainty! When taken as pets, beast companions or familiars, Garkuwa are quite passive and docile. However, it stresses them out at any age if they are handled too frequently and they despise being picked up! Naturally curious and active, young Garkuwa might find themselves on their back from time to time and need help flipping back over. They are almost dog like, following their human around however slowly and forging powerful bonds and loyalty.
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