Halflings
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 fine conversation. Though some halflings live out their days in remote agricultural communities, others form nomadic bands that travel 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.
The diminutive halflings survive in a world full of larger creatures by avoiding notice or, barring that, avoiding offense. Standing about 3 feet tall, they appear relatively harmless and so have managed to survive for centuries in the shadow of empires and on the edges of wars and political strife. They are inclined to be stout, weighing between 40 and 45 pounds. Halflings' skin ranges from tan to pale with a ruddy cast, and their hair is usually brown or sandy brown and wavy. They have brown or hazel eyes. Halfling men often sport long sideburns, but beards are rare among them and mustaches even more so. They like to wear simple, comfortable, and practical clothes, favoring bright colors. Halfling practicality extends beyond their clothing. They're concerned with basic needs and simple pleasures and have little use for ostentation. Even the wealthiest of halflings keep their treasures locked in a cellar rather than on display for all to see. They have a knack for finding the most straightforward solution to a problem, and have little patience for dithering.
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. 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.
Halflings are adept at fitting into a community of humans, dwarves, or elves, making themselves valuable and welcome. The combination of their inherent stealth and their unassuming nature helps halflings to avoid unwanted attention. Halflings work readily with others, and they are loyal to their friends, whether halfling or otherwise. They can display remarkable ferocity when their friends, families, or communities are threatened.
Most halflings live in small, peaceful communities with large farms and well-kept groves. They rarely build kingdoms of their own or even hold much land beyond their quiet shires. They typically don't recognize any sort of halfling nobility or royalty, instead looking to family elders to guide them. Families preserve their traditional ways despite the rise and fall of empires. Many halflings live among other races, where the halflings' 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.
On Tethys
It is said that the Halflings were created by the Titan Great Mother who was convinced to stay from the war in the First Age, The Titan War by none other than the first Titan-killer - Translucent Traveler. The halflings didn't see the goddess as their ally, thus very few were convinced by her, even in the Second Age, Godswar. Things changed when she showed, time and time again, that the halfling race can depend on her. The first time she helped was in the War of the Half-heart, where the halfling tribes were to war with each other. A disagreement over the future of their race and leadership turned bloody and many died. This allowed powerful beings to hunt the halflings, thus prompting the intervention from the Translucent Traveler, who helped the tribes settle their difference. However, they couldn't live together, thus she helped to transport the race to different parts of the world, far away from the constant conflict of the Godswar. The Ghostwise tribe was sent far north of future Azura, where there was little conflict in those parts of the Godforge Lands but they were very wary of it, thus became more recluse than others. The Lightfoot tribe was sent to the center of the Old World, where their wanderlust would send them to many places. The Stouthearted tribe was sent to the Ashen Mountains, where they would steel themselves from everything that would come to them. The race would come together in the Third Age, Kingdoms when the Lightfoot halflings and their wanderlust brought them to their brethren. The race once more was together and better than ever. This marked The Great Reunion Feast and the moment that the Translucent Traveler became the true patron of the race. Since then, the race had its up and downs but was able to survive thanks to their hardiness and willingness to overcome adversity.First World
On the First World, it is said that the Halflings came from a distant land, maybe even a different world, as they suddenly appeared before a great war between civilization and monsters. They took lands once belonging to Orcs and called it their own, helping the races of good in the process. Some speculate that the halflings had a hand in saving their world, more than the Translucent Traveler.
Genetic Descendants
Comments