Savage Halfling

*"I can't believe how much damage a band of three-foot halflings could do. I watched the whole company cut down with bone axes and blowdarts. Only luck saved me."- Bjorn Shattershield, Delorgan mercenary captain, delivering a report to the Taskandan Royal Trade Company.*

*"Brutal little fighters. Welcome in Umgar any day."- Zevomar, half-orc barbarian chief, making sure the savage halflings know they can settle in his territory.*

*"If they ate a few more meals, they probably wouldn't be so grumpy."- Maemita Appledancer, hairyfoot halfling baker, in conversation with her husband.*

## Physical Description:

Physically the savage halfling resembles the hairyfoot halfling, with the slightly elongated ears, small statures and hairy feet. They have the same eye and hair colors and, were it not for the differences in dress, there would be no telling them apart. However, that style of dress is so radically different that even big-folk do not make this mistake easily. Savage halflings dress in crude outfits of leather, hide and fur. Some also use plant matter and bones in their clothing. Bones, feathers, tribal tattoos, crude jewelry and shamanistic fetishes decorate their bodies. With crude bone weapons in their hands and scars across their faces, often with a dinosaur in tow, nobody fails to identify the savage halfling for who he is, and they pray he's friendly.

## History:

It is well known that halflings are nomadic by nature. However, the extent of that wandering can shock even the most knowledgeable traveler or historian. In ages past, a group of halflings set out by boat to explore the uncharted seas around the Apian continent. Dondon Thunderbelly, the legendary halfling sea captain, led the expedition. While the halflings were a brave lot, and competent enough sailors, nothing could have saved them from the ensuing monsoon. The storm sank most of the ships, wrecking the rest on a tropical island that the halfling survivors did not know. With no ships that still functioned, and no way to repair them, this plucky band of halflings was now stuck on Tetus' Finger (a name given the island by the Delorgan explorers who later rediscovered it.)Yet these halflings would not simply give up and die. They built their homes in the trees, tamed some of the native dinosaurs, and beat back both harpies and yuan-ti, securing their place on the Finger. Education had to take a back seat to survival and, as a result, culturally, the halflings regressed, becoming far less educated and far more warlike than their mainland cousins. While some halfling traditions remained including a love of nature, cooking, and the valued family unit, even these have taken a different form. The savage halflings remained isolated on the island, aside from their natural enemies, until the arrival of Delorgan explorers and Imperial merchants. Both were stunned to discover the barbarian halflings already calling the island home. They still spoke their ancestral tongue, though in a harsher, more guttural manner. Still, these savage halflings were willing to trade with the new human guests and pleasant enough relations followed. Some savages accompanied the ships back to the mainland, and reconnected with their cousins. Today, savage halflings are a rare but not completely unknown sight on the mainland of Apia.

## Geography:

Most savage halflings still live on Tetus' finger but there is a significant minority population in The County. Additionally, savage bands are found in various countries across Apia.

## Personality:

While they might be more brutal and less educated than their mainline cousins, savage halflings are still halflings at heart and so share some common traits. They are interested in cooking and agriculture, though their diet leans more heavily towards hunted meat and foraged fruit than their farming cousins. While savage halflings do grow crops and raise livestock, they tend towards fruit trees and bushes better suited to their island home while their herds are mostly island swine and monkeys. Savage halflings will not turn up their noses at many types of foods their kin would scorn. They enjoy tropical rums and hallucinogenic mushrooms, both of which they cultivate. Savage halflings have a deep love for their families and friends, living in tree-top huts that contain several generations of family members within. They are driven by their desires while lacking the discipline of other halflings and so gluttony, drunkenness and infidelity to romantic partners are not only accepted among them but even celebrated. A savage halfling knows her life is likely to be short, she might as well enjoy it. Tribal music, art and storytelling are are popular past-times among savage halflings and, though their work is often considered primitive by mainland beings it is of the highest quality with their bone carvings in particular fetching a high price from collectors. Despite their originally passive nature, savage halflings are warriors first and foremost, battling the pirates and yuan-ti that threaten their home. Often they strike from the back of their dinosaur mounts or within the jungle trees, fading away as quickly as they came. They practice with weapons regularly and treat combat with a deadly severity that surprises those who know little of the savage halfling way. Anything that is needed to be done to win is considered to be acceptable to the savage halfling, making them very capable warriors.

## Society:

Savage halflings live in small tribal groups in elaborate tree houses high above the jungle floor. They are a family-focused people whose large villages are mostly extended family groups of first, second and third cousins. (Considering the savage halfling proclivity for sex it is best not to think too much about this.) Large gatherings of the village for feasts, dances and religious rituals are common with little excuse needed to eat, drink and be merry. Tribal dancing and music ring throughout the treetops as the halflings celebrate whatever they feel like celebrating. The only exception are the warriors chosen to stand guard outside the village during the revelries, keeping watch throughout the long night, for yuan-ti, hostile dinosaurs and harpies. These warriors are rewarded with a celebration of their own the next day. Martial prowess and the art of the ambush are considered to be critically important among the savage halflings, with tribal tattoos, fetishes and animal parts displaying their glorious conquest. Savage halflings are a boastful lot who love tall tales, boasting and bragging about their deeds. In fact, the most braggadocio of them are held in high esteem by their fellows.

## Religion:

Savage halflings are animists, worshiping the spirits of their ancestors, nature and animals. Many young halflings have a spirit animal or spirit guide that accompanies them through life. The more formal gods who win their approval include The Green Lord, Xoldarr and a warrior-maiden version of Yondalla who is more aggressive than her mainline counterpart. (A savage halfling cleric of Yondalla can take War and Strength as domains).

## Alignment:

Savage halflings are chaotic good. Though they lack the niceties of their cousins, they have good hearts, loyalty to one another and make good hosts. They find themselves opposed to evil in all forms and happily go to war against them.

## Relations:

Savage halflings get along well with other halflings as there is enough common ground to allow friendly interaction (mostly surrounding food). They also get along well with the barbarian tribes of Umgar who share their love of battle. Delorgans and Latrellites are also good friends to savage halflings, despite their vast differences.

## Language:

Savage halflings speak halfling and common. Their halfling has a notable accent, using some older words that have fallen out of use among hairyfoots.

## Names:

Despite their differences, savage halflings are still halflings after all and use names that are similar to their cousins. Their last names tend to have a "natural theme" but are otherwise identical to hairyfoots.

## Adventurers:

Adventuring savage halflings are quite common as the wandering life of the halfling, combined with the need for battle, makes them unconventional, but well respected, mercenaries. They can be paid in food and don't break contracts with honorable employees. Others set off on their own in simple quests for glory and loot. Others simply try and find something excited or stories worth telling.

## Traits:

Savage stats are identical to the halfling stats found in the player's handbook with the following exceptions...

Savage halflings do not have any ability score adjustments. They are stronger than normal halflings but not as dexterous.

Savage halflings are illiterate and must use 2 skill points to gain literacy.

Savage halflings gain exotic weapon proficiency blowgun or blowpipe as a bonus feat.