Halfling
Basic Information
Anatomy
Shirefolks are small in comparison to most other sapient races. They are 2′8″‒3′4″ (81‒100 cm) tall and weighing on average between 30‒35 lb (14‒16 kg). This height to weight ratio resembles that of elves, thanks to also having hollowed, woven bone structure. It also allows shirefolks to be much more agile and move quicker than other races of similar size, such as gnomes.
On the outside, shirefolks resemble small humans and usually have the same body proportions as typical human adults. Most shirefolks have dark hair and eyes, but their skin complexion and hue have ranges similar to those of humans.
Ecology and Habitats
Shirefolk get their names from their communal dwellings, called 'shires'. A shire is a series of mounds or hills that are grouped together, often no bigger than 1,500 feet (450 meters) in all directions from a central community yard. The surface, and roof of the mound usually serves for farming while the cave inside will house families, business and communal structures.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Shirefolks live in small mounds and hills called 'shires'. A shire is a collection of 50-100 families who live a very communal life and share almost all resources with each other. Privacy is a strange concept for most shirefolks, who spend most of their lives surrounded others. Gossip also plays a key role in the shire societies and their daily management, with communal grounds existing merely for the exchange of such information known as the shire's 'gossiphoods'.
A shirefolk family is one of the closest relationships known to exists. Parenthood is very involving, and siblings are taught to relay on and help each other as much as possible. Shirefolks also rarely hold any personal belongings, and share their possessions with their close family and friends. Rare and unique collections are often on display in familial mounds, demonstrating accomplishments and riches. These displays are known to attract raiders and robbers, the entire shire will rise to fight such intruder, even to the death, making them a very serious opponent rather than easy marks.
When shirefolk come of age they are often encourage by their parents to undergo a journey or to travel the surrounding lands so they will be more educated and learned about the world and its ways. Those pilgrimages led to shirefolks being present and common throughout the continent, with some traveling for decades before finally returning to their shire to start their own families and share their tales with their friends.
Facial characteristics
Like elves, male shirefolks are incapable of growing true beards, though they are capable of growing sideburns longer than those of gnomes. shirefolks hairstyles are often complex, with strands woven together or braided. Even shorter haircuts will usually show some complexion in pattern or the shape of the cut.
Civilization and Culture
Common Etiquette Rules
Commenting on a shirefolk's height, even between the shirefolks themselves is considered inappropriate. The term 'halfling' is considered extremely demeaning, and most shirefolks consider it offensive.
Another common behavioral trait is the collection of small mementos for display in the family's shire. These could be very mundane items but more often than not have intriguing stories behind them and serve mostly as conversation pieces or memory aids. Despite those harmless intentions, those who are not aware of the shirefolks tendency for travel might confuse them for beggars who dig through trash for scraps.
The concept of beggary is also a strange thing for most shirefolks, who consider the practice shameful and as a sign of the moral corruption of the entire society. This stems from the shire's communal behaviors, where every individual is cared for their basic needs regardless of their capability to contribute to society.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Shirefolk have a very deep connections to the land that is somewhat similar to that of elven and durinian races. The key difference is that this connection is less direct, and tied more to the general health of their homelands. In times of great fires, extinction events and even large wars, shire communities are known to exhibit more sickness and crime than other racial settlements. While there is no scientific or magical explanation to the phenomena, the communities act to better the lives and environment of everyone around them. This approach, while mostly beneficial, do cause territorial and ecological disputes between shires and the sovereigns of their lands.
History
The exact origins of the shirefolks are unknown. They are rarely mentioned in any elven or dwarven lore, with the very few exceptions of occasional figures. Those mentions can be dated to around the same time period when humans first began to appear in those chronicles and stories. Their many, diverse cultures also do not pay any homage to, or even mentions a creator or a creation story.
Most shirefolks clans live in shires, small, autonomous communities that interfere very little with the realms they are located in, yet will gladly trade and even serve in its armies. Shirefolks never had a nation of their own and most clans have experienced some kind of long migration, suggesting their origin was somewhat nomadic.
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