Halflings of Talingrad
Halflings in Talingrad can be divided into two ethnic groups, Heartland halflings and the Deigh.
Heartland halfling: Halflings have served the nation of Talingrad dutifully for as long as the modern nation state has existed. Talingrad’s focus on duty and family extends large into existing halfling culture. It is not uncommon for halflings to have extended and extremely large family units, often congregating into large enclaves in cities, or into their own tight knit communities. Halflings of Talingrad are also devout believers in Iomadae, viewing her has the patron goddess of the island, the nation, and largely of it's people. The interconnection of halfling culture with the values of the Talingradi nation state are so ingrained, that there are many who would argue that there are no major distinctions culturally between halflings and their human brethren at all. Halflings serve in all levels of the government, the clergy and the military. Those who against the grain of this social upbringing are often ostracized, or browbeaten into rejoining the fold, but dissidents do exist, oftentimes becoming sympathizers for the Deigh.
The Deigh: Referring to halflings who live north of the Watchwall, these exiled halflings are those who have “gone native”. They call themselves the Deigh (first in the old tongue) to reflect that they are the first, and true halflings of Talingrad. Supposedly intermixing with goblinkind and snow elves, these halflings resent the “slipper wearing” blood traitors to the south of the wall, while they are forced to survive in the harsh conditions of the tundra. While several attempts have been made to integrate halflings north of the wall into southern society and culture, these attempts have largely failed and ended in violence. What many to the south fail to understand is that the halflings of the north have similar focuses on family, but value freedom above all else. Many still worship the animist spirits of the north as patron deities, and rely on ancestors to guide them through tough periods, beliefs that do not mesh with the ideals of the inheritor. Others still attempt to research and reclaim a culture they believe was taken from them, and learn more about the society that they have lost.
Naming Traditions
Family names
Halflings on both side of the Watchwall adapt a modern Talingradi naming system. That is to say their names are usually three words, with an informal first name, a middle name for an existing family relation (oftentimes the halflings parent or grandparent), and a familial last one.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Halfling and Talingradi (common)
Culture and cultural heritage
If ancient lore is to be believed; the entire island of Talingrad once belonged to the halfling people. It is said they possessed large cairns, had an elaborate oratory cultures and possessed extensive burial rights for family members. They rae believed to have intermingled with certain tribes of gnomes in ancient past to build elaborate alchemically fueled settlements, tame the northlands, and build great homes for themselves across the island. While the encounters with elves during the 1st era were often hostile, the elves could not reproduce in large enough numbers to be a serious threat to halfling settlements. The said could not be said for humanity.
Coming from Varisia with advanced arcanum and logistics, halfling encounters with the human colonists proved hostile, and eventually disastrous. Conflicts spanned off and on across the 2nd and 3rd eras, as halflings began to lose more and more territory to the nascent human kingdoms, which seemed to sweep across the island like a flood. Not helping matters, if the ancient scholar Valras is to be believed, is that certain tribes of halflings joined with humanity to route out and eliminate competing Halfling tribes. The motivations for these betrayals range from a desire for land, to a desire for technology, and even religious conversion. By the dawn of the fourth era, halfling settlements had been pushed to the periphery of the borderlands, and human kingdoms began to more openly subjugate their territory.
When the Watchwall began construction in earnestness, during the 4th era groups of halflings, elves, and humans turned against all remaining halflings tribes still claiming sovreignty on the island. In what is called the "First Great War", the remaining halfling kingdoms were burned, their temples destroyed, and their remaining people driven to the north behind the Watchwall line. This sealing seperated families, ancestral holdings and entire communities, disrupting migration and nomadic paths, and causing millennia of resentment.
Some scholars, including disgraced professor Yenrin of Farholde, suggest that it was this exodus that lead to the creation of Bugbears in Talingrad, as halflings were forced to lay with goblins to keep their biology diverse. These theories are dismissed by the majority of learned minds in Ghastenhall, but it is not uncommon to hear heated arguments in Talingradi taverns where one calls a Halfling a "goblinibbing" bastard, a taunt that is usually met with violence.
During the "Second Great War", the Deigh, as they had begun calling themselves, attacked the wall in earnest with the help of duergar, giants, snow elves, and their goblin allies. The bloody campaign ultimately ended in defeat, and any hope of halflings regaining their ancestral territory was dashed. Several chieftans and halfling leaders on both sides of the conflict converted in the peace settlements that followed, and the era marks the end of halfling independence in Talingrad.
For the halflings on the southern edge of the Watchwall, integration into human society became inevitable and encouraged. Some of the Deigh or their sympathizers, contend that this was a known attempt at cultural genocide by then ruling monarchs of the different areas of Talingrad. They argue these rulers knowingly suppressed the halfling culture to create a class of hearty laborers and devout warriors for their kingdoms. While this view of history is dismissed by modern scholars including many halflings, the lack of halfling cultural heritage sites does concern many who wish to celebrate their peoples history.
Shared customary codes and values
All halflings value family and community. It is not uncommon for halfligns to move or congrate near one another if only to replicate the feeling that family offers. The definition of "family" however is not as rigid as some societies might expect. Halflings serving in the military will often organize team meals with their fellow soldiers, or set patrol schedules to serve with their adopted families. Merchant halflings in distant communities will often stay in hostels or group boroughs in order to replicate the feeling of halfling life. Many of the deigh have done the same, working together with goblinkind especially in order to rebuild communities in the tundra.
Halflings in the heartland value duty and hard work above most other values. "No son of Talingrad was ever afraid to do his duty" is a saying among halflings especially those who serve the nation itself. The Deigh and their sympathizers conversely value freedom, and have a common expression "better to die shoeless than in chains".
Average technological level
The Deigh: Simple
Halflings in Talingradi Society: Advanced
Common Etiquette rules
Halflings of all levels of society are unflinchingly polite. If proper decorum is maintained, a halfling family is obligated to host a traveler, provide a meal, give directions, or otherwise help wayfarers. Halflings are equally expected to be sociable, especially in group gatherings, the phrase "a party without a barefooted drunk is no party at all" is common within certain shipping centers across the heartland.
Among the Deigh, there is a live and let live mentality with other creatures encountered in the tundra. Deigh etiquette dictates not to kill the wounded, to spare the dying, and to aid those who request asylum, in the hopes the same will be done for them.
Common Dress code
Normal Talingradi dress defines most of the halflings south of the watchwall, though many halflings to emblish articles of clothing with flowers of flares of color to help to brighten moods. The deigh tend to weave cloths from furs or leathers of animals found within the north, but are careful not to overhunt their populations. Trade is also common with merchants ships willing to smuggle into northern lands, and it is from them that they receive help in the forms of silks and dyes from nations like Varisia and Balyntine.
Art & Architecture
Little remains of ancient halfling architecture, and it is believed that the ancient building methods used to halfling society have been lost to the sands of time.
Modern art and architecture within halfling culture resembles main Talingradi society in both form and appearance, and is not distinguishable enough to be considered its own field of art.
Common Taboos
Certain members of the unorganized and unaffiliated society called the “new Deigh” or the “modern Deigh” exist on the southern side of the Watchwall. These individuals believe that halfling society is mocked by their human “overseers”, and argue that certain positions of employment are excluded from halfling ranks, as humanity tries to keep the halfling cause down. Some worship the god Eamontrout, while others worship ancestral deities, or the “forgotten ones” referring to the racial deities halflings once possessed, but of whom all trace has been destroyed.
One Halfling attempting to identify another as a believer in the “New Deigh” might use a phrase such as “Greet the New Day” or “It will be a bright New Day”. While several unorganized attempts at rebellion have been attempted in northern areas of the borderlands, none have been successful, or even noteworthy, by Talingradi military standards.
Common Myths and Legends
Myths related to Halfling deities have largely been lost to history with the loss of their ancient culture. Some within the north still worship ancestral spirits, but it is hard to verify if these practices relate to any older customs, or were merely adopted in the 4th era.
Several myths exist concerning the so called "tower of mixtures" survive to the present day. Supposedly an alchemical tower that may have existed during the early second era, it is said to have withstood the events of earthfall. The tower and the island it resided on are said to possess great crystalline formations and a garden unlike any other. The structure has been lost to history, and many doubt its existence to begin with, but if it were to exist, Inheritor only know what sort of treasures would like within.
Historical figures
Admiral Jenny Havar: The halfling commander is currently the highest ranking woman in the military. A skilled gunsmith and arcanist, she is considered the right arm of Queen Ericka l called the Ironbound, and is the enforcer of Talingrad's will.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Halfling ideas of beauty model after existing norms in Talingrad. Men are expected to be clean shaven, hair for both genders is expected to be bound or shortened, and free flowing hair is discouraged.
Feet among halflings are something of a divide. Most halflings of the heartland with shave their feet in order to better fit into boots or work shoes, the Deigh however take their hair as a matter of pride and go unshaven, and often shoeless when possible.
Major organizations
The Talingrad Military
Blessed Order of St Macarius
The New Deigh
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