Halfing
The comforts of home are the goals of most halflings’ lives: a place to settle in peace and quiet, far from marauding monsters and clashing armies; a blazing fire and a generous meal, fine drink (and plenty of it) with fine conversation and a good pinch of pipeweed.
The diminutive halflings survive in a world full of larger creatures by avoiding notice as much as possible, and avoiding offence to the best of their ability. While inclined to be stout, they average just over 3 feet tall, so appear relatively harmless and have managed to survive for centuries in the shadow of empires and on the edges of innumerable wars and political strife. Skin ranges from tan to pale with a ruddy cast, and their thick, wavy hair is usually brown or sandy. Halfling men often sport long sideburns, but beards are rare among them and moustaches even more so. They like to wear simple, comfortable, practical clothes, favouring bright contrasting colours.
Halfling practicality extends beyond clothing. They are concerned with basic needs and seek simple pleasures, with little use for ostentation, and even the wealthiest keep their treasures locked in a cellar rather than on display for all to see. Nevertheless, the vast majority of halflings are affable, cheerful people, cherishing the bonds of family and friendship as well as the comforts of hearth and home. Ambition for gold or glory is extremely rare; even the handful who follow an adventurous path usually do so for reasons of community, friendship, wanderlust and curiosity… there are few delights greater than discovering a tasty or exotic new food, beverage or smokable leaf.
Halflings do not have, or want, kingdoms of their own; most do not even aspire to holdings beyond their quiet shires. Some live out their days in remote small, peaceful agricultural communities with large farms and well-kept groves; others form constantly roaming nomadic bands, lured by the open road and the wide horizon to discover the wonders of new lands and peoples, though even these wanderers love peace, food, campfire, and home, even when home is a wagon jostling along a dirt road or a raft floating downriver. They are adept at fitting into communities of humans, dwarves or elves, invariably making themselves valuable and welcome with hard work and loyalty, which offer abundantly satisfactory rewards and creature comforts. A combination of inherent stealth and unassuming nature helps halfling folk avoid unwanted attention, they work readily with others and are extremely loyal to friends, halfling or otherwise, displaying remarkable ferocity when their homes, families, friends or communities are threatened.
Halflings are easily moved to pity and hate to see any living thing suffer. They are generous, happily sharing what they have, even in lean times, and have a knack for finding the most straightforward solution to a problem, with little patience for dithering. And they typically do not recognize any sort of internal nobility or royalty, looking instead to family elders to guide them: families preserve the traditional ways despite the rise and fall of empires.
Ancestry
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
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.
Male: Alton, Ander, Cade, Corrin, Eldon, Errich, Finnan, Garret, Lindal, Lyle, Merric, Milo, Osborn, Perrin, Reed, Roscoe, Wellby
Female: Andry, Bree, Callie, Cora, Euphemia, Jillian, Kithri, Lavinia, Lidda, Merla, Nedda, Paela, Portia, Seraphina, Shaena, Trym, Vani, Verna
Family: Brushgather, Goodbarrel, Greenbottle, High-hill, Hilltopple, Leagallow, Tealeaf, Thorngage, Tosscobble, Underbough
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