Tortle

Tortles are rare on Mystara outside of the Savage Coast. They have the normal PHB stats and abilities, with the exception of age and size. They usually reproduce only once or twice, the last time usually at the end of their lifespan.
+2 Strength, +1 Wisdom
Their base walking speed is 30 feet.

Alignment

Tortles tend to lead orderly, ritualistic lives. They develop customs and routines, becoming more set in their ways as they age. Most are lawful good. A few can be selfish and greedy, tending more toward evil, but it’s unusual for a tortle to shuck off order in favor of chaos.

Claws

Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Hold Breath

You can hold your breath for up to 1 hour at a time. Tortles aren’t natural swimmers, but they can remain underwater for some time before needing to come up for air.

Natural Armor

Due to your shell and the shape of your body, you are ill-suited to wearing armor. Your shell provides ample protection, however; it gives you a base AC of 17 (your Dexterity modifier doesn’t affect this number). You gain no benefit from wearing armor, but if you are using a shield, you can apply the shield’s bonus as normal.

Shell Defense

You can withdraw into your shell as an action. Until you emerge, you gain a +4 bonus to AC, and you have advantage on Strength and Constitution saving throws. While in your shell, you are prone, your speed is 0 and can’t increase, you have disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws, you can’t take reactions, and the only action you can take is a bonus action to emerge from your shell.

Survival Instinct

You gain proficiency in the Survival skill. Tortles have finely honed survival instincts.

Languages

Tortles can speak, read, and write Aquan and Common (or regional language).

Basic Information

Ecology and Habitats

Tortles are found exclusively on the shores of the mainland and the islands in the Sea of Dread. They build small fishing villages where they can also maintain their farms. They don't build up fortifications but rely on their natural armor and neighbor s to aid them in case they are attacked. While merchants may come to trade, tortles are generally known for their meager existences. Tortles do maintain a fortified building for their eggs. Here the female tortles come to lay their eggs, guarded by older tortle males.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Tortles prefer simple, non-gender-specific names that are usually no more than two syllables. If a tortle doesn’t like its name for whatever reason, it can change it. A tortle might change its name a dozen times in its life.
Tortles don’t have surnames or family names.
Male and Female Names: Baka, Damu, Gar, Gura, Ini, Jappa, Kinlek, Krull, Lim, Lop, Nortle, Nulka, Olo, Ploqwat, Quee, Queg, Quott, Sunny, Tibor, Ubo, Uhok, Wabu, Xelbuk, Xopa, Yog

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Tortles are a stoic and placid race, content to live in their shoreline villages fishing. With natural heavy armor and nothing of real value, most other races are content to leave them alone. While they have few enemies, Tortles do not go out of their way to make friends either.
Bound by Tradition
Tortles above all else value their peace and quiet. Most Tortles live alone, fishing and keeping their huts tidy. They are not known for being craftsmen or warriors. Tortles farm communally, coming together as a group in times of need. When winter comes they often load up on wagons and head to warmer climes.
While tortles are known as kind and caring creatures, they are not the most friendly. Rarely will you find a tortle going to trade with other races, and almost never will you find one living inside a city. Tortles are happy watching the world go on without them.
Slow and Ponderous Tortles have little in the way of variety, they have coloration ranging from brown to green but are hard to tell apart except for their shells. Each tortle shell is a unique pattern on the back, and occasionally they will paint them for decoration. The average tortle stands 6' tall, weighing in at almost 600lbs or more.
Tortles are reptilian in nature, with rough scales over much of their body. They have a thick shell that is on par with heavy armor and gets tougher as they age. Their faces have beaks for mouths, and also have large over sized hands and feet.
Natural Born Guardian
For some tortles living solitary, boring lives until they die isn't enough. They have to go out and make something of themselves, even if just briefly. Once in a long while a tortle will put down his hoe and fishing pole, pick up a weapon and go and try to make the world a better place. While not the most agile creatures, they make excellent warriors because of their natural strength and heavy armor.

Lifespan

Young tortles crawl for a few weeks after birth before learning to walk on two legs. They reach adulthood by the age of 25 and live an average of 150 years.

Average Height

5 1/2 - 6 1/2'

Average Weight

Tortles average almost 600 pounds. Their shells account for roughly one-third of their weight. Their size is Medium.