The village that goes by the name of Skilpadde experiences changes in weather. These changing weather patterns occur more regularly in Skilpadde as opposed to other villages. During the course of a few weeks Skilpadde can experience tropical weather then blizzards, heavy snow then falling leaves, browning foliage backing into intense heat going into glacial conditions before advancing into mass flowerings. Skilpadde’s weather changes on a turtles whim.
Skilpadde was built on what was assumed to be solid ground. And for years that was the case. Until the ground began to quake and the village began to lift up from the ground. The inhabitants of the village ran out of their homes to see what was happening. Looking down from the edge they began to realise what they had thought was solid ground was the back of an immense turtle. And now the turtle had arisen from its slumber, moving to new pastures carrying the village with it and the surrounding forests, mountains and rivers. Getting off the turtle at this stage was now impossible so Skilpadde is forced to go where the turtle goes.
Sometimes the turtle rests in rivers. Sometimes it traverses frozen tundras. It seeks out forests and wanders across deserts. It plods through canyons and climbs over mountain ranges. And sometimes during its wanders it meanders into a city. The denizens of the metropolis are greeted by the surreal, whimsical, dreamlike happening of a colossal turtle roaming the streets of their city, accompanied by its village and its villagers.
This originally was going to be a one-off, but the more I thought about it the more I found myself pondering Skilpadde’s isolated existence and how it would develop. So I am planning a series explaining Skilpadde’s customs, society and unique animal species in detail.
Skilpadde is Norwegian for Turtle and the idea of this story is based upon the myth of world turtles who carry worlds on their backs.
Golden Giraffes Riding Scarlet Flamingos Through The Desert of Forever 