Kappa as a character race (Tortles)
by Marc SaindonIf you play in "Mystara Japan" or if there is Tortle as a character option, someone is going to want to play a Monk Tortle to spoof a well-known franchise. Yes, Tortles are bad builds for the Monk class because they are slow. But as a DM do you go against the grain with your players' fun? So, let them have Tortles. Or in this case, their Yasukan cousins, the Kappas.
Kappas are late comers to "The Culture", the great yasukan pact between the Myoshiman Rakastas and their protected fellows. While many of them adhere to the society, some are still "wild" (the Tortle-Snapper divide for those of you familiar with the Savage Coast). Even civilized Kappas find themselves on a spectrum between following their urges (some recessive Snapper genes manifest in individuals, and these Tortles count as Barbarians with Chaotic alignments, like Tokka from TMNT) or denying them, the latter taking up the path of the Monk (with Lawful alignments). While no game mechanic should be imposed, as a roleplay opportunity, your Tortle character could struggle in "keeping his emotions in check" and finally succumb to his urges and multiclass as a Barbarian for his active class (and change alignment); the reverse is possible, with a fearsome ruffian Kappa finding enlightenment after meeting a Monk, and decides to dedicate his life to tai chi and tea ceremonies.
Yasukan Tortles would live around the shallow waters of coastal regions, and while they don't have good movement on land, they would play a key role in amphibious operations as ninjas, so maybe give them the appropriate gear like nets, harpoons, tridents instead of nunchuks, katanas and sais.
Notes:
Kappa (folklore)
Tortle (5e Race Variant)
Savage Coast Monstrous Compendium: Tortle
Chelonian - The Kappa Redux
(Image from: https://www.deviantart.com/kriscooper/art/Ninja-Turtle-Fan-Art-417917644)