The Tuktuk are a warrior culture of turtle-folk who have claimed the volcanic island of Tyvern as their ancestral home. Their thick, naturally armored shells and stocky builds make them nearly indestructible in battle, while their fierce code of honor drives them to seek glory through combat and conquest. These rugged fighters believe that strength must be proven repeatedly through trial by combat and dangerous undertakings.
Tuktuk society revolves around martial prowess and clan loyalty, with disputes settled through formal duels and leadership earned through demonstrations of courage in battle. Their island home has shaped them into excellent seafarers and raiders, though they prefer stand-up fights to sneaky tactics. Young Tuktuk must prove themselves through a series of increasingly dangerous challenges before they are accepted as full warriors.
The volcanic forges of Tyvern produce some of the finest weapons and armor in the known world, as the Tuktuk have learned to work volcanic glass and rare metals found only near active lava flows. Their settlements are built to withstand both enemy assault and the frequent volcanic activity that shapes their homeland.
The making
A turtle carries its own shelter on its back and outlasts almost anything that walks, and that endurance was the gift fixed in the Tuktuk's true name at the Birth of Man, when Gaea set them among her animal-children (see Beastman). The hardest ground Alaria offers is the cooling volcanic rock of Tyvern, and a Tuktuk is built to last the island that made it, shell for armor and patience for the long volcanic seasons; the glass and rare metal of the lava flows arm the rest.
Gelnor
Not every Tuktuk fits the fire-forged mold. Gelnor, a paragon born to fog and water rather than flame, was sent to put down a rising among his own kin and used that gift to drown the rebels in mist and pass the slaughter off as a hard year of attrition; Tyvern honors him still as a steady commander, never having learned what he did. He has spent the centuries since as a lich in self-exile on the Shroud Isles far to the north, atoning where no one is making him. See Gelnor.
Vitals
- Size: Medium
- Height: 4-5 feet
- Weight: 180-280 pounds
Aspects
- Honor-bound warrior
- Tyvern-forged
Battle Fury
Major ability. Instant. Your wounds fuel the strength of your blows. You may use this ability to add a d6 to your next attack roll equal to the number of wounds you have.
Game mechanics
Natural Armor
Passive ability. Your thick shell provides +2 natural armor defense that stacks with worn armor. When you use the defensive stance, you take one-quarter damage instead of half. You can withdraw into your shell as an action, becoming incapacitated but reducing all incoming damage to 1.