Lutazum the Tortoise

From the Book, The Southern Reaches - of Savages and Silver, a travel log by Admiral (ret.) Saveth, noted Naturalist

"On the second of Thirdmoon, we visited the first village of the Haneset. We were warmly greeted by the little folk, dressed in their green-dyed leathers. They showed great interest in our arms, making the greatest hullabaloo about our armor. They pointed our breastplates
and shouted 'Tili Lutazum! Tili Lutazum'. We thought this both amusing and puzzling, but we would learn the reason later.

We were treated as guests of honor by the simple folk, and a great feast was laid before us. Venison, or at least something that stood well in its place formed the main part, along with myriad fruits of their heavy forest. After this most excellent repast, their leader asked us (through the assistance of our Mage Condurus, translation magic being one of his specialties) if we wanted to see the great Lutazum, and if so, those who would must bear no arms. Curiosity being strong in myself, as well as feeling that my magical skills could easily protect me from any ambush these simple folk may arrange, I agreed. Along with Condurus and Veladim (a Dwarf bodyguard of most expansive girth) I followed the chieftain. The towns children followed behind us, again shouting 'Tili Lutazum! Tili Lutazum!'.

We entered a clearing in which grew a grove of massive-leaved plants, and there, before us, was a tortoise of a size never seen on this creation! Should we have brought a horse, I do not doubt that a rider could pass underneath it's legs without the need to duck!
This habit of walking high on its legs I though odd for a turtle, especially one of such bulk, but in truth, there was little about the beast that was not strange.

It's head swung to view us and I was struck by the intensity of the eyes. It was so strong that I asked Condurus to cast a spell to translate my words. He complied, though with some hesitation, and I attempted to speak to the beast. If it could understand me, it did not show me. It simply looked with interest upon my yammering, and when I gave up, it went back to it's meal. Every motion was slow and deliberate, and then I noticed that the upper portion of it's shell was festooned with leather containers of all description.

After a few questions to the Hanaset chieftain, I found that this beast was known to the tribe as Lutazum (and that 'Tili' means 'small' - they thought our plate armor made us look like little Lutazums!). It would trek in a big circle, visiting the other 3 Hanaset villages in turn, eating from specially tended gardens that grew the large-leafed plant it loved so much. They used the turtle to pass gifts, offerings, trade good and the like between them. Nothing of the forest would touch the turtle - nothing was large or powerful enough, so it was a safe, reasonably reliable mail service! Would that our lands be similarly blessed. The tribes all had a common set of taboos regarding the turtle and disturbing it on the march was one of them. Tribal legend held that should the taboos be violated, it would not visit the offending town, but carry on to the others.

From all accounts, this is a singular beast, the gift of the gods from so long ago none can tell.

Here follows a list of the Tribal taboos regarding Lutazum:

1. The Hosts of Lutazum may not lift a hand to any tribe.
2. No tribe may lift a hand against the Host of Lutazum.
3. No outsider may bear arms within sight of Lutazum.
4. No one may steal from Lutazum's goods.
5. Gifts of evil nature may not be placed on Lutazum, nor anything that breathes.
6.Nothing that once breathed shall be presented to Lutazum as food.

On further discussion with the Chieftain, I discovered the that the legends have it that Lutazum is a reincarnation of the Hanaset first Chieftain Hatumah, a high priest of great wisdom. When he lay on his deathbed after many years of defending the people, he asked of the Gods to be able to keep watch on his beloved people rather then join the Gods in the Green Kingdom or Letasur (The Hanaset term for the afterlife). The Gods themselves still wanted Hatumah to join them, so they separated a fraction of his spirit and infused it into Lutazum, who up to that point was a normal-sized great tortoise kept by the tribe as a pet. This infusion of the great priest's spirit along with the hands of the gods changed the turtle to it's present form.

Now, though the link between the fragments of Hutumah's spirit, he can watch his people while sitting at the side of his Gods.

Full Description:

Lutazum is an immense (32' at the top of it's shell) tortoise which walks on huge 2' thick legs. It is dark green with speckles and looks about with surprising intelligence. The eyes are more mammalian then would be expected of a turtle, almost human in appearance. On top of its shell are strapped leather containers of all description.

Additional Information

This beast is magical in addition to it's great bulk. It has the ability to cause sleep in most creatures should they meet it's gaze and it chooses do so. Unless it is pressed by an attacker armed well enough to hurt it, it will simply ignore them. Only in rare cases will it resort to physical violence, in which case it will use it's huge legs as pile-drivers. Note, that with the great mass of the creature, being stepped on by Lutazum is generally fatal.

Normal elemental attacks (natural fire, lightning, floods, even rockfalls) cannot injure him. His shell is very strong, being very thick. His leathery skin contains small bone plates, similar to a crocodile, and is thus only a little less protected then its shell.

Since only a fraction of Hutamah's spirit is present, the Tortoise's intelligence is only a little higher then that of normal Tortoises. It can recognize Hanaset people easily.

Due to his strongly divine nature, he has strong resistance to hostile magics of all forms.

Plot Hooks:

Can I take that back

More suitable to lower level characters, a tribesman has sent something they would like to recall, but they cannot act for fear of violating the taboo. They are willing to pay the PCs to retrieve the package.
Now, this huge turtle will not stop,so it may be more difficult then it sounds.

Turtle Soup

A dragon has moved into the lands of the Haneset. The tribal leaders are terrified that something may finally kill their divine gift.
They promise great rewards if the PCs can defend Lutazum, or ideally, kill the dragon.