Singular: Tortuvina
Plural: Tortuvina
Youth: Tort (plural: Torts)

Creation and Arrival

Tortuvina were created by the deities as one of the two Lightkeeper species (the other being the Candle Noodles), specially for Faia. Their large size and incredible wisdom meant that they were optimal to guide the freshly created Faia, ward off the Wither, and, of course, provide Light to the skies and seas.

Anatomy and Physiology

Tortuvina are, without competition, the largest of the Faian species. They are as grow to be as big as elephants, or larger, with their total lengths usually being between 30 to 40 feet, beak to tail. A newly hatched tort is usually around 4 to 6 foot long.

Their diet consists mainly of foliage from trees, although they are not so picky, and are known to eat small animals (mostly bird-creatures, out of the air), as well as fish (via diving or swimming). Their beaks are incredibly strong, and can easily crunch both bark and bones. Tortuvina do not eat often, only a few times a week, so long as they are satiated. Due in part to their size, their digestive system is quite slow, so they feel sustained for a while. They do, however, eat a lot at a time.

Tortuvina can live a very long time: up to hundreds of years, in fact. They fully mature around the age of 20 to 25. Most, however, do not attempt Uvemora’s trial until they are triple that, as they prefer to live a little bit of freedom after the nitpicking and “helicopter” nature of tortuvina parents. Due to their cultural perceptions, they do not often raise more than one tort, which keeps the population from growing at more than a constant rate.

Their mist is what connects them to the Light of Faia. It is present in a small puff when they are hatched, and slowly spreads along their bodies as they grow and age. To some creatures, legend tells them their mist has healing properties, although asking this to a tortuvina yields some uncertain responses. Loners sometimes keep critters on their backs, inside of the mist, to keep them safe.

Tortuvina are notably meant to be airborne, and in some cases, underwater. Their breath skills are incredible, allowing them to breathe at oxygen-deficient levels, as well as hold their breaths for a few hours.

Without proper access to magic, tortuvina have difficulty moving on land. Their mist aids them in flight, which means that it makes hovering an option. Without it, they would have to crawl using their wings, which would destroy them upon frequent use. Certain wing types, such as faerie wings, are almost entirely unable to “crawl” due to their delicacy.

Accomodating with Others

Tortuvina are very large compared to the other Faians, so it is rare to see them living in settlements that aren’t exclusive to their species. In the case that they are, they typically fly above paths, and usually aren’t able to go into crowded settlements or small buildings.

Non-tortuvina-run shops, in their attempt to be accessible (or receive more sales), will send out flyers, pamphlets, and magazines with their wares to nearby tortuvina homes, that of which can be sent in for purchase, with their products delivered. In settlements with Tortuvina-friendly streets, shops often put lists of their wares on windows (or even roofs) in hope that they will attract some tortuvina customers.

Ultimately, they tend to live in small settlements for just their species, if not by themselves. Most tortuvinas gravitate towards secluded villages, such as those in the Kalean whitelands.

Due to their perception as wise and knowledgeable creatures, they are often expected to fill the shoes of leadership throughout Faia. Aside from garnering many cultural principles, this expectation often puts them in important roles that they are often, but not always, qualified for.

While many tortuvina are humble, many others are rather elitist when it comes to their species. They will believe themselves to be the best of the species of Faia, and trust their own advice more than another’s (often only taking it if it comes from an elder tortuvina). Yet, even though they can be particular, they are a very peaceful species—they do not often start problems (and many wouldn’t dare to try to create a problem with a creature their size).

Cultural Principles

The most apparent value to tortuvina is having a wide skill-set. It is very much harped upon to be well-rounded, with many lifetime aspirations, ventures, and hobbies. As a result, parents put immense time and effort into a young tort to set them up for the best life they can live. Torts are taught numerous different skills, both practical and artistic, so that they might enlist all of the time they are granted among many different pathways.

In general, their culture discourages having multiple children at once, with the idea that this would force parents to distribute their attention, and not focus on developing their specific offspring. While raising another tort after the previous is grown is perfectly acceptible, many parents are unwilling to repeat the process, due to the high cultural standard.

While not always common to know other families, tortuvina can be rather competitive when it comes to the achievements and knowledge that their offspring possess, as a way of proving themselves to each other; however, they will eventually settle so long as they agree that the other side has put in significant effort, and is an adequate parent. Negligent parents, on the other hand, are looked down upon by society. In this case, there tends to be sympathy towards their offspring.

Spiritually, they have high emphasis on their duty to spread Light; they place importance in understanding that without it, there would be no knowledge or wisdom to speak of. Travel is certainly a part of the tortuvina experience, especially in younger years; many are well-travelled, priding themselves in their symbolic outreach. They believe that they spread Light through their presence, as well as their conversation and interaction with others.

Other than that, spirituality tends to be a personal experience, with little outside influence. Meditation and fasting are common practices among tortuvina, usually carried out in personal ritual as they see fit. Tortuvina are known to build shrines, but there are not frequent visitors; shrines are typically personal or familial and cared for as such. It is rare to see devotees in public temples.

Aside from their busy years in youth, tortuvina take their lives in long, patient strides, picking one aspiration at a time. Of course, sometimes they will also develop other skills in the background, but this would not override their current passion.