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The '''cragshell tortoise''' is a species of giant tortoise native to [[Xatabra]]. Their titular shells petrify as they age, their scutes turning to rough stone as new layers grow beneath. Though it provides the tortoises with excellent means of defense against their natural predators, largely carnivorous dinosaurs, their shells are also a liability, as failure to regularly scrape off the petrified shell can render the animals unable to move under their weight. | The '''cragshell tortoise''' is a species of giant tortoise native to [[Xatabra]]. Their titular shells petrify as they age, their scutes turning to rough stone as new layers grow beneath. Though it provides the tortoises with excellent means of defense against their natural predators, largely carnivorous dinosaurs, their shells are also a liability, as failure to regularly scrape off the petrified shell can render the animals unable to move under their weight. | ||
Once common around [[Lake Nulukkhaz]], cragshell tortoises were hunted nearly to extinction by [[Khapesh|Khapeshans]] thousands of years ago when the desert kingdom stretched south to Xatabra. In the modern day their population is still far below their historical maximum. Solitary by nature, some cragshell tortoises can still be spotted in the southern marshes around the lake, but most now live in [[Talmithe]] to the south, where breeding populations have been established by Great House [[Thevrumines]]. | Once common around [[Lake Nulukkhaz]] where the minerals they eat can be found, cragshell tortoises were hunted nearly to extinction by [[Khapesh|Khapeshans]] thousands of years ago when the desert kingdom stretched south to Xatabra. In the modern day their population is still far below their historical maximum. Solitary by nature, some cragshell tortoises can still be spotted in the southern marshes around the lake, but most now live in [[Talmithe]] to the south, where breeding populations have been established by Great House [[Thevrumines]]. | ||
Cragshell tortoises continue to grow as they age - most lizardfolk of Xabatra believe this to be without limit, as the tortoises nearly always meet their ends due to predators or the weight of their own shells. An average adult cragshell tortoise is roughly 15 feet long, but some, like the one whose carapace now forms the Shellhouse in [[Khaxl]], are known to become much larger. | Cragshell tortoises continue to grow as they age - most lizardfolk of Xabatra believe this to be without limit, as the tortoises nearly always meet their ends due to predators or the weight of their own shells. An average adult cragshell tortoise is roughly 15 feet long, but some, like the one whose carapace now forms the Shellhouse in [[Khaxl]], are known to become much larger. | ||
Latest revision as of 23:02, 12 March 2024
The cragshell tortoise is a species of giant tortoise native to Xatabra. Their titular shells petrify as they age, their scutes turning to rough stone as new layers grow beneath. Though it provides the tortoises with excellent means of defense against their natural predators, largely carnivorous dinosaurs, their shells are also a liability, as failure to regularly scrape off the petrified shell can render the animals unable to move under their weight.
Once common around Lake Nulukkhaz where the minerals they eat can be found, cragshell tortoises were hunted nearly to extinction by Khapeshans thousands of years ago when the desert kingdom stretched south to Xatabra. In the modern day their population is still far below their historical maximum. Solitary by nature, some cragshell tortoises can still be spotted in the southern marshes around the lake, but most now live in Talmithe to the south, where breeding populations have been established by Great House Thevrumines.
Cragshell tortoises continue to grow as they age - most lizardfolk of Xabatra believe this to be without limit, as the tortoises nearly always meet their ends due to predators or the weight of their own shells. An average adult cragshell tortoise is roughly 15 feet long, but some, like the one whose carapace now forms the Shellhouse in Khaxl, are known to become much larger.