Turyle

Early **Turyles** focused intensively on their shells, segregating themselves into tribes depending on the shells’ colors and shape. The mindset continues into the modern day through friendly rivalries between Akoopa’s islands. These shells, while no longer deciding one’s social status, are still a point of pride for the species; besides pride, they also offer protection in combat and can be retreated into at will. Turyles are natural swimmers but prefer to live on land. Despite Turyles pride in themselves, Turyles have a history of enslavement, being early targets by several galactic empires.

## Biology and appearance

Turyles are reptilian in nature, resembling humanoid turtles. Turyle limbs are typically stubby in nature. Turyles have stunted heads, having bone plating on the top of their head, leading to their shells and down to their short tails. Turyles also have thin ears and typically have beady eyes with below-average eyesight.

The Turyle species is most well known for their distinctive shells, which played a significant role in their early history and continue to be a source of pride in modern times. Turyles possess a humanoid body structure, but their most notable feature is their shell, which varies in color and shape. The shells vary in size, but typically cover the entirety of the Turyle's back. These shells, while protective, prove bulky, limiting the movement abilities of most Turyles. The shells have a wide variety of coloring, often artificially enhanced by the Turyle using dyes.

Turyles have adapted to both land and aquatic environments. They are natural swimmers but generally prefer to live on land. Their shells provide them with protection in combat, serving as a defensive barrier against external threats. Turyles can retreat into their shells at will, offering them an additional layer of defense and allowing them to navigate tight spaces or escape dangerous situations.

###### Subspecies

The common Turyle has a strong beak, able to bite with extreme force. The common subspecies, the Steelbeak Turyle, enhances this natural ability, having bone plated beak and face. Steelbeaks, besides their trademark strong bite, are also physically larger and tougher than the average Turyle, having longer limbs, bony plating across the softer sections of their bodies, larger eyes, and stronger shells, with each shell plate forming a spike, as compared to the smoother shells of the common Turyle.

## Society and culture

The cultural mindset of Turyles has been shaped by their early focus on shells and the tribal divisions based on color and shape. Although these divisions no longer determine social status, they have given rise to friendly rivalries between different islands of Akoopa. Turyles take pride in their individual shells and often engage in competitions or celebrations to showcase their unique appearances or in enhancing their shells through decorative art on them, physical displays, or surgical enhancements to their size and strength.

Despite their rivalries, Turyles share a sense of solidarity as a species, having experienced a history of enslavement by various galactic empires. This shared history has fostered a strong sense of community and resistance among Turyles, as they have fought against the oppression and exploitation they endured in the past. This has also manifested through skill of Turyle guerilla partisans; methods passed generation to generation by Turyles prove deadly and effective in practice, making Turyle mercenaries highly sought after.

Due to their history of enslavement, Turyles may approach interactions with caution when encountering members of other galactic empires. They have developed a sense of wariness and a desire to maintain their independence and freedom. However, Turyles also understand the importance of alliances and cooperation in the face of common threats and challenges. They are open to establishing diplomatic relations with trustworthy and respectful civilizations that value equality and individual rights. As such, the Turyles have a strong relationship with the Planetary Union, who have learned to embrace the independence of the Turyle culture.

The Turyle society values individuality, personal expression, and self-defense. They celebrate their unique appearances and respect each other's individual traits and talents. Turyles have a strong sense of identity rooted in their ancestral traditions, and they often gather to share stories, artwork, and music that reflect their cultural heritage. The Turyles treat their several days of independence with priority, filling each festive week with isle-wide celebrations and cultural traditions. With four main independence day celebrations, drafted around the four period of resistances deemed important by the Turyle, each celebration is relegated to a season on Akoopa, though these holidays are also celebrated by offworld Turyles.