The various Tortoise Spirits<ref name=":0">

TORTOISE SPIRITS

Kame-Kami

Relevant Schools: Shaman
Appearance: Tortoise spirits, like many spirits, range wildly in appearance, with some motifs or markings to determine their form. Some may appear to be large tortoises with changes that mark what other spiritual influences color them, while yet others may appear to be human or human-like, with appearances are tortoise-like. They are less prone to change their appearances between sightings than other spirits. - Tortoise Spirits</ref> also know a Kame- Kami are spirits of land-dwelling turtles and their associated tropes.

Appearance

Following a fairly obvious tortoise theming though they are far less protean then most spirits preferring to stay in the same general appearance over time.<ref name=":0"/> They can appear as aged humans. The shell is usually represented in some way.

Abilities

Well known as guardian spirits along with the Dog. <ref>Guardian Spirits (Warden) - A text detailing three kinds of guardian - the Stone Lion, the Tutelary Spirit, and two types of animal spirit predisposed to protection, the Dog and Tortoise spirits. Some summoning rituals are included. - Pact Dice: Mile End Books collected</ref>

Can be spent to consecrate an area though this can be seen as a waste.<ref name=":1">Background: Tortoise spirits are very old, both in the sense that they have been around for a long time on an individual level, and the sense that they have been recurring figures in practices dating back to early humanity. Tortoise spirits are uncommonly consistent in what they represent, whatever culture they appear in - contrast this to the snake, who is a symbol of healing and rebirth to one culture and a bringer of the apocalypse to another, a guide and sign of wisdom to one culture, yet a tempting, cunning spirit to another. Tortoise spirits do not tend to die easily, but remain rare and hard to find due to how they manifest, proving weak and valuable despite being numerous, they are often preyed on. The ones that survive their first weeks, months and years are often the ones that survive hundreds of years. - Tortoise Spirits</ref>

Variants

Elephant Spirit

Cover some of the same ideas given pachyderms' seemingly consistent global cultural portrayal.<ref>Elephant Spirits - Like Tortoise Spirits, Elephant Spirits are tied into myths about supporting the world, and have roles as supporting the spiritual realm, though most often as judges, lords, or overseers, taking on a noble bent. - Tortoise Spirits</ref>

Kappa

Believed by some to be failed turtle spirits.<ref>Kappa - Intermediaries of water spirits, related to tortoise spirits, these may be tricksters, but they tend to prey on tricksters. They share the Tortoise Spirit’s close relationship to other spirits. Some theorize Kappa are lesser Tortoise Spirits who did not meet certain standards of behavior required to become esteemed. - Tortoise Spirits</ref>

Trivia

This is specifically about land-dwelling Tortoises, using legs to get around, instead of turtles which can include their sea-dwelling cousins with flippers.<ref>Nashville Zoo covers the scientific distinction as does Garden state Turtles</ref> Spirits being what they are both are considered probably considered "Turtles" but the distinction should be noted among the Cryptodira suborder. In short; all tortoises are turtles but not all turtles are tortoises.

References