"Finding the town was not easy. I had to leave my horse in Ywe and travel for days through the bog, dodging crocodiles, carnivorous plants that were the size of a cow, and many other... unwelcoming denizens. I finally reached the Halfling village, and was intrigued by the living conditions they so readily sought after. Their houses were made of the flexible wood from a Gorwe tree and were stood up on stilts so as to not sink into the swamp. Roads were made by laying down horizontal planks atop rigid platforms constructed in a similar way as their houses' foundations. The inhabitants were less than happy to see me. The most welcoming of them, an old woman who appeared to be a leader of sorts, explained to me that the swamp was meant to discourage visitors but that she respected my ability to survive it. We sat down over a cup of bitter tea and began to talk." - An excerpt from "The Travels of Hafrick Moriarty"
Halflings were created by Kebis roughly 70 years after the creation of Elves. They found a great fondness in Otia and Lai'lou, and directed the majority of their worship towards her. Most Halflings live in remote villages in hard-to-reach places, such as swamps or islands. They prefer to keep to themselves and distrust the outside world, believing the sins of the city-dwellers were what caused The Silence. They are predominantly found in northeastern Isatis or on small, secluded islands in central Mytkora.
Squat and Tough
Halflings have largely human features, with a few exceptions. They have wide, leaf-like ears with a single point at the corner like an elf's. They also have large feet with tough soles, causing many to prefer being barefoot. They stand around 3 feet tall with little variation between males and females, and average around 45 pounds. Like humans, they can have a variety of skin tones ranging from a deep brown to a pale white, and can have hair of black, brown, red, or blonde. The mature quickly but then plateau, reaching adulthood around 20 years old and living into the middle of their second century.
Reclusive
Halflings enjoy a solitary lifestyle among others of their kind and rarely accept outsiders or visitors. They find great pride and honor in tending to one's home for their entire lives, taking care of their family and their community. Halflings often apprentice under their mothers or fathers and one family generally is the master of a specific necessary trade. Halflings rarely eat meat, preferring to live off the blessings of Lai'lou rather than by killing animals they live among.
Of Many, One
There are three main subraces of Halflings, though they all share similar stories. The Stouts, believed to have been influenced by Cadros during their creation, resemble Dwarves in some senses and act as farmers, herbalists, or builders. The Lightfoots, darker skinned and smaller than their cousins, make for excellent scouts, gatherers, and craftsmen. Finally, the Quickwits, with fair skin and sharp minds, are often the leaders, historians, and teachers of the community. These different groups form one community and are no more likely to stay among their own subrace as they are to mingle with the others. Together, they form a strong and close community.
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