Tortle

What many tortles consider a simple life, others might call a life of adventure. Tortles are born near sandy coastlines, but as soon as they're able to walk on two legs, they become nomad survivalists eager to explore the wilderness, experience its many wonders, put their skills to the test, and make new acquaintances.


Tortles believe that they “carry their homes on their backs”, and that’s largely due to their upbringing. Tortles are raised and protected for only a year or so before their parents die of old age. Each tortle learns the skills and stories of their progenitors then strikes out into the world alone. They learn to survive in the harsh wilderness while extremely young, brought up to be explorers from the start. Then once they are near the end of their lives, they seek out mates to raise a new generation. It’s in this final stage that they finally settle down, building impressive fortifications to protect their young. It’s for this reason that there aren’t many tortle towns to speak of. They’re fully capable of building permanent residences but they see no need for it, not until their twilight years anyway. The tortle communities that do exist are more like moots or simple meeting places. Places where tortles can converge to share stories of far-off lands, and skills obtained from experience. Each tortle saves up new experiences and stories from as many far-off places as possible, then shares them with the next generation.

Beyond wanderlust, tortles are usually pleasant and non-obtrusive. They respect the opinions and territories of others and will usually opt to wander elsewhere if unwanted. They have no gods or religion of their own, but they have a curious affinity for the sun and moon, which they believe to be the “eyes” of day and night that watch over them in their adventures. They get uncomfortable underground or anywhere they can’t see at one or more of these celestial guardians.

Tortle

Ability Score Increase Your Strength increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Size Medium

Speed 30ft

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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 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. You can speak, read, and write Aquan and Common.