Halflings

(In Flan: *hobniz*)

There are three types of halfling (also called, rarely, hobbits) on the Flanaess--Lightfoots, who are around 3 feet in height with ruddy faces and brown hued eyes and hair; the slightly shorter, course-haired and broader-faced stouts; and the tall, slim-bodied, fair-faced tallfellows. Halfling hair is often curly or wavy, and it's not uncommon for halflings to grow thick muttonchops.

Halflings were natural traders and merchants, mingling and interacting with the other races. Some halflings still live in small towns and villages, but on the whole they prefer to live in the nations and towns of stronger races.

Halflings love the land with the passion and care of an elven ranger, but in a different way. Where elves love the wild things of the forest and letting things grow as they will, simply content to protect them from the outside, the halflings love cultivation. They garden and landscape, and breed wonderful pets.

They are courageous for such small people, stalwart and strong of heart. They are also lucky, tenacious and can be bloodyminded. They are at once a simple and extravagant people. The things they take pleasure in are simple--food, wine, song, family and friends--but they take pleasure in these things in large portions.

Halfling wear knee-britches with tunics or shirts, and usually vests. Female fashion is to dress in bodice and long skirts. They favour stripes and embroidery of contrasting bright and dark colours.

The best halfling magic is culinary--indeed, it is said that cooking itself is halfling magic. Outside the kitchen, halflings frequently use magic to defend and protect.

## Lightfoot Halfling Racial Traits

* +2 Dexterity, -2 Strength, +2 Wisdom.
* Small size. +1 bonus to Armor Class, +1 bonus on attack rolls, +4 bonus on Hide checks, -4 penalty on grapple checks, lifting and carrying limits ¾ those of Medium characters.
* A halfling’s base land speed is 20 feet.
* +2 racial bonus on Climb, Jump, and Move Silently checks.
* +1 racial bonus on all saving throws.
* +2 morale bonus on saving throws against fear. This bonus stacks with the halfling’s +1 bonus on saving throws in general.
* +1 racial bonus on attack rolls with thrown weapons and slings.
* +2 racial bonus on Listen checks.
* Automatic Languages: Common, Halfling. Bonus Languages: Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Goblin, Orc.
* Favored Class: Rogue and Druid.

## Tallfellow Halfling Racial Traits

These traits are in addition to the lightfoot halfling traits, except where noted.

* +2 racial bonus on Search, Spot, and Listen checks. Like an elf, a tallfellow who merely passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check as though actively looking for it. This trait replaces the lightfoot’s +2 bonus on Listen checks.
* Tallfellows are less athletic than lightfoot halflings and do not have a racial bonus on Climb, Jump, and Move Silently checks.

## Stout Halfling Racial Traits

These traits are in addition to the lightfoot halfling traits, except where noted.

* Darkvision out to 60 feet.
* Stonecunning: Like dwarves, deep halflings have a +2 racial bonus on checks to notice unusual stonework. Something that isn’t stone but that is disguised as stone also counts as unusual stonework. A deep halfling who merely comes within 10 feet of unusual stonework can make a check as though actively searching and can use the Search skill to find stonework traps as a rogue can. A deep halfling can also intuit depth, sensing the approximate distance underground as naturally as a human can sense which way is up.
* +2 racial bonus on Appraise checks and Craft checks that are related to stone or metal.
* Deep halflings are less athletic than lightfoot halflings and do not have a racial bonus on Climb, Jump, and Move Silently checks.

## Common Halfling Regional Feats

**Deepseer** *Stout Halfling--* You have better vision in darkness than others of your race.

**Elflore** *Tallfellow Halfling--* You've memorized epic poems, histories and songs of the elven people, gaining insight into Oerth's history and magic, granting you a bonus on Knowledge and Spellcraft check.

**Faerie Mysteries Initiate** *Tallfellow Halfling--* You know the timeless secrets and rituals of the Faerie Mysteries, self-improving rites of grace and passion that have been handed down since the earliest days that form a fundamental pillar of elven culture, gaining various bonuses depending on the ritual you perform on a given day.

**Halflinglore** *Halfling--* You've memorized countless recipes, wives tales, folktales, and legends honored by the halfling people, granting you a bonus on all Kn. Local, History and Profession (Cook) checks.

**Mercantile Background** *Lightfoot/Stout Halfling--* You come from a family that excels at a particular trade and knows well the value of any kind of trade good or commodity, granting you a bonus on Appraise checks and the Craft or Profession check of your choice.

**Noble Soul** *Lightfoot Halfling--* Your strength of spirit and forthrightness bolsters your resolve and draws others toward you, granting you a bonus on Will saves and Diplomacy checks.

**Well-Traveled** *Halfling--* Your travels across the Flanaess have given you strong depth of local knowledge and a broad repertoire of far-flung tales, granting you ranks of Kn. Local, and allowing you to use this skill in place of Diplomacy when dealing with those willing to converse with you.