Halfling

Cover art by Chris Rahn. Article by Shpjokk.

It is unknown of the true origin of halflings, but one day, the formerly lands in the west infested by goblins was suddenly inhabited by the first few halflings. Some speculate they came from goblins, and developed intelligence; Others say they were molded from the earth itself.
Halflings are by nature calm and, humans often think, lazy. In truth, that isn't the case. Halflings simply take things at a slower rate than humans do, mostly due to their much longer lifespan. They are known to be a bit shy towards strangers and outsiders, though they'll never decline any interaction. Halflings are known as very eccentric in that sort of half-contradiction; They never seek active interaction with strangers, but gladly accept new possible friends and acquantances, and readily open the door to a stranger in need. To a halfling, the comforts of home are simply a basic need of anyone: a place to settle in peace and quiet, far from marauding monsters and lashing armies; a blazing tire and a generous meal; fine drink and fine conversation. Though some halflings live out their days in remote, agricultural communities, others form nomadic bands that travei constantly, lured by the open road and the wide horizon to discover the wonders of new lands and peoples. But even these wanderers love peace, food, hearth, and home, though home might be a wagon jostling along an dirt road or a raft floating downriver.
Most halflings live in small, peaceful communities with large farms and well-kept groves. Though officially a kingdom, almost only Footlong is affected by the acting royalty, as halfling communities largely tend to themselves.
Halflings are known to live among other races, where their hard work and loyal outlook offer them abundant rewards and creature comforts. Some halfling communities travel as a way of life, driving wagons or guiding boats from place to place and maintaining no permanent home.
Equally, though, in the halfling communities in the Hills it's common to find humans, tieflings and wood elves wandering about as well, living freely as part of these small hubs. Because of this, halfling villages are often a mishmash of larger and smaller buildings.

Basic Information

Biological Traits

Halflings are small, shorter than even dwarves, and even at such small statures are often varied in their physical size. Stouter halflings are not an uncommon occurrence though, what with their love for food. They do however, have quite large feet, in contrast to their smaller stature.

Growth Rate & Stages

Halflings live up to around 270 years, and mature at half the rate of a human, reaching maturity around their late thirties.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Halflings often have a bit bigger noses than humans do.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Halflings are mostly based in the Halflings Hills, far west of Sanctuary. For stout halflings, they have a few settlements around the Dwarven Barrens, and one or two villages in the Hills.
A small tribe of strange halflings are said to live in the southern Barrens, but it's well-hidden, and few have ever seen them.

Average Intelligence

Halflings, though not a people as well educated as the high elves, still are intelligent, in their own ways. But, because most of the work of halflings is more the hands-on kind, like farming and fishing, not too many halflings from the Hills are educated beyond basic mathematics.

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.
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, Brandybuck

Major Organizations

The largest known city of the halflings is on the westernmost coast, called the Hillrise, and is one of the largest coastal towns known today. Though halflings are largely independent of each other, they have a small set of base laws that apply to the entirety of the Hills, governed and diplomatically voted for through the government in Hillrise.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Halflings speak halfling, which has some similarities to both dwarven. It's not unlike how swedish and danish are close.

Common Etiquette Rules

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. Those who find themselves in the care of halflings can rest assured that they will be treated well, so long as they reciprocate in kind with respect and good stories of their travels.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Halflings are an affable and cheerful people. They cherish the bonds of family and friendship as well as the comforts of hearth and home, harboring few dreams of gold or glory. Even adventurers among them usually venture into the world for reasons of community, friendship, wanderlust, or curiosity. They love discovering new things, even simple things, such as an exotic food or an unfamiliar style of clothing.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Traditions and festivals litter the halfling culture. The one festival that's known wordwide is the Festival of Spirits, a biannual event where the halflings feast and enjoy themselves for three days straight, then pray in respect for their dead for two straight days.
Halflings that are exemplified for their heroics are often given the title "From Under Hill", in respect to Teriades Underhill. It's not a title many claim, partially because halflings do not actively seek adventure.

Common Taboos

Though halflings enjoy a good adventure story, they are by their own culture not an adventurous people. They frown upon the halflings with adventurous tendencies, and often families with an adventurous child have a falling out.

History

A further time back, the Hills were infested with only goblins. Though there are still several tribes of goblins in the Hills, when the halflings popped up, the goblin population dwindled rapidly with the spreading of the halflings. Among the people, the heroics of the first halfling king, Teriades Underhill, who managed to drive out the goblins from what is now the Halfling Hills, and gave his people a place to settle.

Historical Figures

Teriades Underhill, the first king. His heroics in driving out the goblins from the Hills to establish the first halfling settlement is known throughout all of the halflings' lands.

Andrys Thorngage - Halfling Scout by srionart

Origin/Ancestry

Humanoid

Lifespan

Up to approx. 300 years.

Average Height

90-110cm.

Average Weight

45-70kg

Average Physique

Halflings come in all shapes and (smaller) sizes. It's not uncommon to find a scrawny halfling, but just as well it's not uncommon to find a bulky one.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Halflings often look like smaller humans. This also applies to their skin color and hair colour, etc.