Turtle Island Adventure — Me and My Turtle
Hey — this one is written for you, not for mom and dad.
Your Turtle’s Name Is Mori
Every child who uses Tortoise Time gets to adopt a turtle that belongs to them alone. His name is Mori. He has a pale silver-gray shell and big eyes.
Mori lives on a place called Turtle Island. Turtle Island is far away, on the other side of the ocean. Nobody has ever been there — only Mori knows the way.
On the island there is also a big turtle, Captain Mora. He is Mori’s elder, and the one who stays on the island with him. Every time you send Mori out and he comes home, Captain Mora is there, waiting.
Every so often, you can send Mori out on an adventure. He sets out from Turtle Island, swims across the sea, and explores distant islands, underwater caves, and special places that only appear at night.
How to Play — 4 Steps
1. Dispatch (Getting Ready to Go)
Open Tortoise Time, go to the Turtle Island home page, and you’ll see Mori. Tap “Dispatch” and choose a destination:
- The nearby Sandbell Shoal (shorter adventure, quicker return)
- The far-off deep ocean (longer adventure, but might bring back something rarer)
- The special seas that only appear on weekends (:weekend-mystery-window:, weekends only)
Once you’ve chosen, Mori picks up his little pack and dives into the sea. Captain Mora stands on the island and watches him swim away.
2. Wait (He’s On His Way)
After Mori sets off, you can’t immediately know what he’ll bring back. He needs time to explore out there — and that time won’t get shorter just because you stare at the screen. He has his own rhythm.
While you wait, you can:
- Play something else
- Look around the rest of Turtle Island
- Check out what Mori brought back last time
- Close Tortoise Time and go do something you like
Closing Tortoise Time won’t interrupt Mori’s journey. He’ll come back when it’s time.
Far out on the sea there is a band of gray mist. Don’t worry about it — it won’t come closer, and it won’t speak. Every time Mori lights a new small light, the mist fades a little.
3. Return (What Did He Bring?)
When the time comes, you’ll get a notification — “Mori is back!” Open Tortoise Time and you’ll see a little homecoming animation, plus what he brought back this time. Captain Mora is on the island, listening to Mori tell about his day.
It could be:
- A plain shell (most common)
- A shimmery piece of coral (less common)
- A glowing deep-sea creature (rare)
- Something you’ve never seen before (very, very rare — only found on the most daring adventures)
Whatever comes back is a surprise. We’re not going to tell you how to “farm” rare things — because that would ruin it.
4. Collect + Story (It’s in the Journal)
Everything Mori brings back goes into your collection.
Each time Mori comes home, he also writes something in his journal:
“Today I swam to a shallow bay covered in purple coral. The fish there kept circling around me, like they were dancing.” “I found a very old ship. Nobody was on it — just one enormous snail.”
These journal entries are only yours — nobody else sees them.
About the Pace
- How many trips can I send per day? — Your mom or dad sets that number.
- When can I send again? — Depends on how far the destination is. Near ones come back sooner, far ones take longer.
- What if the screen gets blocked during the adventure? — Mori keeps going. When you can open Tortoise Time again, he’ll be back waiting for you.
What Happens in the Next Few Years
Right now you’re playing Year 1 of the story. There are six more years ahead — you and Mori will walk through them together. The mist will fade, the lighthouse will light up, and a new little turtle will arrive. No rush. Slowly.
A Note for You
Mori isn’t a tool — he’s a companion. You don’t need to worry about “dispatching too many times” or “picking the wrong place.” Every trip is a new story.
Take your time. Collect slowly. Read what he writes in the journal. Turtle Island, and Captain Mora, will always be there waiting.
Want to understand the ideas behind Turtle Island? Point mom or dad to Gentle Guidance.