Brass Tortoise

Physical Characteristics

Brass Tortoises are ancient beings whose most striking feature is their brass-like metallic shell, which contains high amounts of natural brass alloy. This gives them their distinctive golden-bronze appearance and incredible durability. Their massive shells can reach heights of 20-30 feet when fully grown, though legends speak of the Grand Mora, a female who stood 40-50 feet tall when lying down.

Underground Shaping

These ancient beings are the true shapers of the underground world. They spend their lives slowly carving through stone and earth, creating the vast network of caves and tunnels that dwarves later expand into their mighty halls. Their continuous tunneling activities create the foundation for entire underground civilizations.

Dwarven Symbiosis

Brass Tortoises maintain a symbiotic relationship with dwarven communities, who consider their presence a blessing. The dwarves provide grooming and care for these gentle giants, polishing their brass shells and treating any injuries they might sustain from their continuous tunneling. In return, the tortoises' natural excavations create the foundation for dwarven settlements.

Metallic Composition

The metallic composition of their shells helps them withstand the intense heat and pressure of their deep-earth journeys. This natural brass alloy provides incredible durability and resistance to the harsh conditions found deep underground, allowing them to thrive in environments that would be lethal to other creatures.

Reproductive Cycle

Every century, females make the perilous journey to the deepest reaches of their tunnel networks, seeking out lava flows where they lay their eggs. These eggs, protected by shells containing the same brass-like metal as their parents, are released into the flows, traveling through the planet's molten rivers before eventually emerging elsewhere in the world.

Survival Challenges

Only one in thirty eggs survives to adulthood, making each Brass Tortoise precious to both their own kind and their dwarven allies. The heat of the lava flows is crucial for proper egg development, as it helps forge the metallic properties of their shells. This low survival rate makes the protection of these ancient creatures a priority for both dwarven and surface communities.