Halfling

# Halflings

## **On Halflings**

*"Thieves, tricksters and vagabonds the lot of them. If a traveling caravan comes through, you watch your purse strings. If you have the misfortune to go through their settled lands, hold your nose and be quick about it."-Robbin, concerned human housewife, to her youngest daughter before she sets out adventuring.*

*"Halflings are like humans, at half the size. They are good folk, trustworthy enough and given to hospitality. I actually like them."-Thaldus, dwarf scout, after receiving a pint from a halfling wench.*

*"Cosmic luck always seems to be in their favor. Certainly a mystery worthy of the gith how various halflings always seem to land on their feet."-Orrth, githzerai monk, when asked if his monastery would accept a halfling initiate.*

*"Best cooks in all the land. I don't care if they steal while off duty."-Doenrak Stormheart, minotaur warrior, with his priorities in order.*

Halflings are an Apian staple, crossing many racial or national boarders. Due to the nomadic lifestyle that most enjoy, the sight of halflings throughout the world is far from uncommon and it's a rare person indeed whose never met a halfling. Many a small village trades for essential goods with halfling caravans and owes its very survival to the brave little folk. Despite their nomadic nature, halflings also put a great deal of emphasis on family values meaning that in nations with developed halfling communities, like Latrellus, they have cozy, if private, towns. No halfling would ever fail to help another in need, even if they come from different sub-races. Halflings always maintain a sense of perpetual optimism, even in the face of a dark world.

## **Physical Description:**

Halflings get their name from their short stature. Most are under three feet, with females being even shorter and it is the rare halfling indeed that weighs more than 50 pounds. Unlike dwarves or gnomes, halfling proportions are nearly identical to human, save for the obvious size difference. While halflings do have ears with subtle points to them, it is their feet that most sets them apart from the humans they so resemble. Halfling feet are oversized, with thickened skin on the bottom and curly hair (the same color as their head) on top. Both sexes have equally hairy feet and go barefoot, letting the natural sturdiness of their soles protect them from rocks and thorns. They have soft pleasant features. Hair and eyes tend towards soft browns or reds with freckles being common. They wear simple clothes and jewelry that is sturdy enough to hold up to long travel times and the constant mobility of halfling caravans. While halflings enjoy styling their hair, they tend to keep it pulled back or cut short to prevent it tangling in wagon wheels or buttons.

## **History:**

The halflings are remarkably unconcerned with their own history. They don't really care about how they were created or what empires their ancestors carved out. Why listen to old men's stories or bother Yondalla with questions about esoteric lore? That won't help put food on the table or pick a man's pocket. Some suggest the halflings were created by Yondalla's act of stealing good traits from the other species and combining them into one race. Others believe halflings, like humans, are not native to Apia and were brought by mind flayers to serve as slaves. Regardless of origin, the halflings spread themselves far and wide throughout the world of Apia with a wanderlust and charm that was rarely seen by others. Each caravan has a story and each has a tale to tell and no halfling would dare tell the other his story isn't worth while. The only common figure who is shared by all communities is the near mythical "Littleman," a folk hero that all halflings claim is a distant relative. (Indeed, a Littleman story usually begins with the phrase "My Great-Great-Uncle Littleman...). Littleman outwits all manner of larger folk and always returns home safe, richer, with a fuller belly and a pretty girl. While these stories are likely little more than tall tales, they are received with near religious vigor constituting the closest thing halflings have to formal history. One other critical event is the creation of The County within Latrellus. When the halfling chef Bobo Hamhock saved the life of King Radovid IV by dislodging the olive pit he was choking on, the king, in his gratitude, awarded the halflings a nation of their own. This nation became known as The County. While technically part of Latrellus, this halfling nation is an independent kingdom in all other matters. It has its own mayor, its own laws and customs and its own holidays. The County contributes crops and manpower to Latrellus in times of war and peace and many halflings try to visit The County once in their lives. While halflings have districts and small town or committees spread throughout the various nations of the world nothing rivals The County.

## **Geography:**

Hairyfoot halflings (as the main breed is known) are a common sight throughout many of the various Apian countries, due to their nature as wandering travelers and caravan folk, though they rarely stay in one place for long. The County inside the borders of Latrellus is the closest thing to a halfling country that exists on Apia, though most major cities in Latrellus, The Dragon Empire and Taskanda have halfling districts.

## **Personality:**

Halflings are a friendly people that tend to be interested in comfort, both their own and others. They are quick to joke, quick to laugh and quick to forgive. Halflings love food and are some of the finest cooks in all Apia. They are quality farmers and gardeners with the crops they grow and the animals they raise more bountiful than anywhere else in Latrellus. Most have a sense of wanderlust that drives them to explorer their youth and so many halflings are found as adventuring sorts. They are quick to share things among their own families and communities and, as a result, sometimes have a less than polite idea about what "sharing" means. While many halflings are not thieves, and resent the accusation, many are and are quick to pilfer anything they can get their hands on. Others don't go quite so far as to become professional or petty thieves but instead use their charisma and quick wits to become con artists and charlatans. Wherever halfling caravans go, a few of these less than reputable types are sure to follow. Most halflings have large extended families with many siblings and the halfling reputation as seekers of physical pleasure is not entirely exaggerated. Overall, most halflings make good and loyal friends who prove to be rays of sunshine in otherwise dark places.

## **Society:**

Hairyfoot halflings, whether they be caravan folk or settled, follow a similar social structure. Halflings are a democratic people by nature and don't tend to need much management. Every halfling village or caravan elects a mayor for a three year term. While their is no limit to the amount of times a respected halfling can become mayor, most don't take more than three or four terms due to the pressure being mayor creates. The mayor decides where the caravan will head next, if in charge of one, or whatever other major decisions are needed. They also handle disputes between halflings and deal with those problems that arise among a community. Communities are made up of mostly extended family groups but halflings are known to bring along unrelated halflings or even members of other species who are willing to contribute to the betterment of the community. Indeed their are accounts of half-orcs, half-ogres or even tieflings who were lovingly accepted into halfling communities and experienced kinship their that they wouldn't have anywhere else. Halflings have no standing armies but each halfling is well trained in the art of the warsling and shortbow and can put up enough of a fight to discourage the average party of bandits. When traveling though more dangerous territories a caravan will hire trustworthy mercenaries for the duration of the journey. As halfling caravans pay well and offer repeat contracts the loyalty of these hired men and women is rarely in doubt.

## **Religion:**

Halflings are devoted to Yondalla, their creator goddess and the ideal halfling woman. She is a caretaker, a farmer, a healer and a mother. Yet most of all, she is a warrior, unafraid to defend her people or ideals with great vigor. Her temples are found in all halfling communities and a halfling caravan has at least one shrine to her on one of the wagons. The other key figure in halfling religion is Dallah Thaun, Yondalla's "sister." Dallah is the dark mirror of Yondalla, willing to steal, lie, cheat and other side act in protection of the halfling people who have been given precious few tools to help themselves in this dangerous world. Her temples are hidden with Yondalla's and outsiders know nothing of their existence.

## **Alignment:**

Halflings are mostly neutral good. They are a good natured people and even the most malicious halfling is little more than a thief. They aren't exactly a law-abiding society but their family values and love of cooperation keeps them from pure chaos.

## **Relations:**

Halflings have few enemies and few formal relations. They are aligned with Latrellus by their ancient decree and are on friendly terms with good aligned species of all stripes. Wood elves and giff, lizardfolk and minotaurs, all are willing to trade with the halflings and all benefit from doing so.

## **Language:**

Halflings speak halfling and common. As the major trade language and one spoken in most nations there isn't a halfling alive who doesn't learn common as a child.

## **Adventurers:**

With the stories of Littleman and the common wanderlust of all halflings, it is unsurprising how many turn to the adventurer's life. Halfling rogues and rangers are just as interested in exotic foods, good company and better stories as they are in wealth and fame. Despite their short stature and folksy nature, they make remarkably good adventurers.

## **Names:**

A halfling has a given name, a family name, and possibly a nickname. Family names are often nicknames that stuck so tenaciously they have been passed down through the generations.

**Example Male Names:** Alton, Ander, Cade, Corrin, Eldon, Errich, Finnan, Garret, Lindal, Lyle, Merric, Milo, Osborn, Perrin, Reed, Roscoe, Wellby

**Example Female Names:** Andry, Bree, Callie, Cora, Euphemia, Jillian, Kithri, Lavinia, Lidda, Merla, Nedda, Paela, Portia, Seraphina, Shaena, Trym, Vani, Verna

**Example Family Names:** Brushgather, Goodbarrel, Greenbottle, High-hill, Hilltopple, Leagallow, Tealeaf, Thorngage, Tosscobble, Underbough

## **Traits:**

Hairyfoot halfling traits are identical to those found in the player's handbook.

## **Sub-Races:**

Stoutheart Halfling

Savage Halfling