The Shardback, known to the Senti Tribe as “Duramak” (meaning “Stone-Shelled Guardian”), is a turtle-like reptile native to the rocky shallows and grassy shorelines of Lake Tijonara in the Asari Region of the Habitual Belt on VOI 700 D. Recognizable by its spiked, stone-hardened shell, the Shardback is both a herbivore and ecosystem balancer — grazing on aquatic vegetation and basking for long hours on warm rocks.

Shardbacks play a vital ecological role in regulating plant growth and clearing overgrowth in deltaic areas. The Senti consider the creature a guardian of waterways, and their appearance is seen as a sign of seasonal balance.

• Size: Shell length up to 60 cm
• Weight: 15–20 kg
• Shell: Broad, dome-shaped, coated in irregular mineral spikes
• Skin: Dark green to muddy brown, with algae often growing along limbs
• Mobility: Slow on land, agile in water using wide, webbed limbs

• Mineralized Shell Spikes: Offer natural defense and act as camouflage among rocky outcrops
• Powerful Jaw: Grinds through thick aquatic vegetation and deters aggressive intruders
• Algae Camouflage: Natural algae growth on shell and limbs blends with lake terrain

• Armor Class (AC): 15 (due to spiked mineral armor)
• Hit Points (HP): 28
• Speed: 20 ft. (land), 30 ft. (swimming)

• Shell Bash: 1d6 bludgeoning + knockback (DC 13 Strength save or pushed 5 ft.)
• Defensive Withdraw: Retreats into shell, gaining +2 AC and resistance to bludgeoning for 1 turn

• Vegetation Sense: Detects movement in aquatic plants within 15 ft.
• Shell Stability: Cannot be knocked prone while in water or on soft terrain

• Diet: Aquatic vegetation, roots, algae
• Social Structure: Generally solitary but may bask in loose aggregations
• Activity Pattern: Most active during calm weather

• Shell Camouflage: Remains motionless among shoreline stones and reeds to avoid predators
• Basking Clusters: Warms up by sunning in groups, deterring threats through numbers

• Nesting Sites: Females dig shallow nests near the lake’s rocky edge
• Egg Count: 3–6 per clutch, with hardened mineral shells
• Hatching Time: 8–10 weeks
• Juvenile Phase: Young Shardbacks resemble miniature versions of adults and remain near reeds
• Lifespan: Estimated 40–50 years

Shardbacks are perfect for setting tone or environmental challenge in semi-aquatic terrain:

• Obstacle Creatures: Passive unless provoked; blocking narrow paths or channel crossings
• Ingredient Source: Their mineralized shells may serve in crafting or trade
• Spiritual Role: Senti quests may involve protecting or tracking a rare Shardback nesting site

• VOI 700 D
• Habitual Belt
• Asari Region
• Lake Tijonara
• Senti Tribe
• Known Wildlife of Asari

Known Predators:

• Bluestrike Heron (juveniles)
• Skyweaver Eels (hatchlings)