Halflings

The halflings of Bas-Lag vary from nomadic beast-riding barbarians to wily urban merchants and professionals. With the broad expanse of New Crobuzon, the halflings are as widespread as any other race across Bas-Lag.

Description

The diminutive halflings survive in a world full of larger creatures by avoiding notice or, barring that, avoiding offense. Standing about 3 feet tall, they appear relatively harmless and so have managed to survive for centuries in the shadow of empires and on the edges of wars and political strife. They are inclined to be stout, weighing between 40 and 45 pounds.
Halflings' skin ranges from tan to pale with a ruddy cast, and their hair is usually brown or sandy brown and wavy. They have brown or hazel eyes. Halfling men often sport long sideburns, but beards are rare among them and mustaches even more so. They like to wear simple, comfortable, and practical clothes, favoring bright colors.

Culture

The halflings on Armada, inhabitants and rulers of Shaddler riding, devoutly practice a faith deeply concerned with blood. The sounding of "bloodhorns" and the sight of red-horned temples are common in Shaddler, and during rain they mourn the fact that the sky is bleeding. Their martial fighting art is known as mortu-crutt. It is unknown where halflings originate from, or whether their cultural practices elsewhere are similar to those of Armada's population.

Speculation

It is just barely possible that halflings are a sub-population of humans or close human relatives, with a serious genetic disorder or some other affliction to explain their sanguine differences.

Traits

Ability Scores: Choose any three +1
Size: Small
Speed: 25 ft

---

Age. A halfling reaches adulthood at the age of 20 and generally lives into the middle of his or her first century.
Size. Halflings average about 3 feet tall and weigh about 40 pounds. Your size is Small.
Lucky. When you roll a 1 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll.
Brave. You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.
Halfling Nimbleness. You can move through the space of any creature that is of a size larger than yours.
Languages. Common and Halfling.

Available Sub-species

Ghostwise

Silent Speech. You can speak telepathically to any creature within 30 feet of you. The creature understands you only if the two of you share a language. You can speak telepathically in this way to one creature at a time.

Lightfoot

Naturally Stealthy. You can attempt to hide even when you are obscured only by a creature that is at least one size larger than you.

Stout

Stout Resilience. You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you have resistance against poison damage.