Tortles

Tortles

''Tortles usually stand a little under 6 feet tall, weighing about 300lbs, most of it shell. Their leathery skin ranges from green to brown. The Tortles of inner Sankhret worship demons and strange spirits, while those on the fertile coast follow the Conduct, a philosophy that rejects the worship of gods and emphasises self-sufficiency. Relations are poor, holy raids frequent. Tortles tend to be devout, whether they follow the Conduct, the old dark gods, or the new gods of Pendria.''

''Coast tortles have accompanied Sankhreti sailors across the Pendric Sea; they’re mediocre mariners, but canny (or at least enthusiastic) businessmen. Their placid, calm exterior hides a deep avarice – tortles love get-rich-quick schemes, and those who become adventurers are usually seeking treasure (or bad trades have forced them into debt-induced exile as a spear-for-hire).''

''When they’re not tempted by lucre, Tortles live peaceful, unhurried lives. They tend towards long periods of languor mixed with bursts of activity. Their culture values enduring hardship without complaint, and they can be embarrassed in the presence of strong feeling. They’re friendly, but humans can find their customs strange. Their child-rearing attitudes are particularly cavalier by mammalian standards; they think little of leaving eggs anywhere they think they’ll probably be safe, or of abruptly walking out of families to pursue some opportunity.''