Turtle Folk

Turtle folk are humanoid turtles, with large, hard shells, stout limbs, and a small head on a long neck. They are usually green or brown, but some can be yellow or even orange.

Ancestral Traits

Your turtle folk character has certain distincitve traits.

Age. Turtle folk are incredibly long-lived, reaching adulthood at age 50 and living an average of 500 years.

Size. Turtle folk are the same height as humans, but weigh significantly more, due to their heavy shell. On average they weight 400 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed. The heavy shell and short limbs of the turtle folk means they are not as swift as some other ancestries. Your base speed is 25 feet.

Hard Shelled. Turtle folk have a large, hard shell that gives them ample protection from attacks. When you aren’t wearing armor, your AC is 16 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use this score to determine your AC if worn armor would leave you with a lower score. You may benefit from a shield as normal.

Shell Sanctuary. Turtle folk have even more protection from attack when they fall to the ground and withdraw into their shell. When you are prone but not Incapacitated, you instinctively pull in your head. Melee attacks against you while prone do not have advantage. Standing from prone requires two thirds of your movement, however.

Cultural Traits

Turtle folk communities are seafaring, forming fleets of ships, large and small. In times of peace, they bind their ships together into a large, floating town out at sea. Much of the year, however, they ply their trade on the open oceans. Some transport goods as merchants of some repute, while a few take a darker path, engaging in piracy. Either way, they approach their duties with quiet determination and patience, the product of the fact that those of turtle folk ancestry are long lived.

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom increases by 2 and your Constitution by 1.

Alignment. Turtle folk communities tend to be quiet, slow-paced environments, where folks behave in a habitual manner. They tend toward law.

Sea Faring. Turtle Folk communities spend their lives on the sea. You have proficiency in Vehicles (Water) and Navigator’s Tools.

Turtle Folk Raider Tradition. Turtle folk people follow the ways of the sea, either as merchants or pirates. Either way, they are trained from a young age with weapons for ship battles. You are proficient with the scimitar, spear, and light crossbow.

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