Tortitan

In the swamps of Northern Ludwag the thunderous steps of its largest inhabitant are often cause for concern. Many less-privy adventurers suggest that these earth-shaking noises are caused by intentional earthquakes. This isn’t the case, but the grandness of the culprit still can’t go without mention. The Tortitan is the heaviest land animal on the continent, renown for its ability to shape the landscape to its liking. Though they’re titanic demeanor may seem imposing, they’re widely regarded as gentle -if a bit dim- giants.

#### Physiology and Anatomy

Tortitan are an odd species of tortoise. Their armor plates run along their back and belly, at points several inches thick. The top of a Tortitan’s shell can resist the force of an Urgunth or Ogre beating down upon it, making it one of the strongest organic structures on the continent. Tortitan shell is composed of a partially mineral-enriched bony covering which grants it a gravelly color and texture. Unlike other tortoises, it cannot feel through this shell and thus hardly concerns itself with what goes on top of it. One could construct a small place of refuge upon its back and it would hardly be the wiser. As a result many smaller animals often may their homes upon a Tortitan’s back, using them as ferries across the marshland. A Tortitan’s skin is equally impressive, composed of stone-like scutes which make stabbing or puncturing attacks effectively moot bar their soft orange underside.

Tortitan are extremely slow, too heavy to even keep above water. While they can hold their breath for extended periods of time to circumvent such it cannot save them if they need to flee. As a result the Tortitan boasts some effective armament on top of its defense. Its slow yet muscular legs can deliver reasonably strong kicks, able to fell a grown man with a worthwhile shove. Being trampled or stomped would almost surely spell doom as the weight of the beast is too great to bear. The titular weapon of the Tortitan is not its weight though, it is the muscular tail club that it carries. Tortitan’s have a collection of extremely concentrated muscles on the base of their tail; by exercising these muscles they can deliver a swing of immense force. A swing is met with a bony club of the same material as its armor, should it collide with something, it will surely reduce bone to splinters and wood to chips.

As herbivores, Tortitans spend a lot of time eating. Their beaks and jaws are strong enough to allow them to eat just about any vegetation. They can digest a variety of forms of plant material and level whole portions of the marsh in an ever-hungry advance. Though this may seem destructive it is not so, Tortitan waste has some of the highest densities of nitrogen of any animal, making it an ideal fertilizer for new growth and farmland.

#### Psychology

Tortitan are dim and otherwise nonaggressive. They do not care for the happenings of other creatures unless it directly threatens themselves. They will not intervene nor flee from a threat that doesn’t affect them. Preoccupied with feeding, they’ll allow other animals close or even upon them unless they’re a large predator. Reasonably social, Tortitan’s dwell in herds of up to five adult members and will work to protect their feeding areas from threats.

Though they cannot be tamed, Tortitan are comfortable around sapient races and will allow them to create lodgings upon their backs. These are interesting novelties though not without risk, Tortitan are constantly on the move and often submerge themselves completely. Permanent residences are ill-advised.