Halfling
With their short statures and tendency to blend
into the background, halflings don’t receive
much notice from the other folk of Golarion.
Their origins date back to the beginning of humanity. From the very start, they seem to have always walked alongside mankind, living in human cities, adopting human customs, seeing to the common needs of humans as cooks, entertainers, and menial laborers. It’s easy to take them for granted because they have always been around.
Halflings themselves take nothing for granted, and always keep their eyes open for the next opportunity that allows them to survive and even thrive. This impulse often casts them as servants, with half lings attaching themselves to human families or institutions as a matter of symbiotic survival. Many societies, particularly the Chelaxians, value half lings as slaves—if only for the fact that they take up less room.
Despite their close involvement in many facets of human society, halflings have a tendency to be ignored and underestimated. Their ability to blend into the background, be it at a social gathering or amid the comforting shadows of a dark alley, is unparalleled. They know when to bend with the wind, but when they have the chance to seize a grand pile of gold, they never let the opportunity pass by. Often blamed for putting themselves into danger, the small folk simply cannot resist the temptation of a new adventure, a daring heist, or the lure of the unknown.
Fortunately, their superior sense for danger allows them to survive these hazards and has granted them the reputation of being exceptionally lucky. It is no surprise that superstitions revolving around luck and fate have become common among halfling harboring lands, and some cultures even assign mystical value to the small folk. Being lucky is second nature to nearly all half lings, though many demystify their successes with tales of superior reflexes, unmatched skill, or inscrutable cunning. A few halflings, however, stand out because of their unmistakable lack of luck. These individuals seem to bring mischief and bad luck to those around them, and as a result they are avoided or even feared, especially among cultures heartily embracing superstitions.
Halflings themselves believe this occurrence to be a rare blessing of Desna, and children bearing this gift are often encouraged to study the magical arts. Because of these attributes, and in contrast to their stable and altruistic communities, halfling society has a hidden, darker side as meaningful, developed, and important as the unassuming face maintained for the unwitting public.
Almost all halflings possess a strong opportunistic streak that is most prominent during their younger years. During this time, many stray from the rules of the community and involve themselves in the disdained affairs of thievery, subterfuge, adventuring, and vagabond life. Despite their curiosity-driven wanderlust, halflings possess a strong sense of house and home that develops over the years. A halfling takes great pride in his domicile, often spending above his means to add to the common comforts of home life.
Halflings usually adopt the religious beliefs of the societies with which they merge. Unsurprisingly, many half lings worship the gods of humankind, such as Cayden Cailean, Iomedae, or Shelyn. Rumors also tell of a large cult venerating the aspect of Norgorber known as the Gray Master, with a few cultists worshiping him as Blackfingers. Forever living in the shadows of their taller kith and kin, halflings wear whatever styles prevail in the human culture in which they dwell. Halfling slaves tend to dress more flashily but in cheaper fabrics than their free cousins, especially in Cheliax, as their owners often use them as status symbols. Emotionally, halflings are easygoing but excitable, prone to laziness but frenetic when roused. Ironically, their greatest strength is their perceived weakness—halflings can count on the advantage that they are continually underestimated, an edge they exploit mercilessly.
Their origins date back to the beginning of humanity. From the very start, they seem to have always walked alongside mankind, living in human cities, adopting human customs, seeing to the common needs of humans as cooks, entertainers, and menial laborers. It’s easy to take them for granted because they have always been around.
Halflings themselves take nothing for granted, and always keep their eyes open for the next opportunity that allows them to survive and even thrive. This impulse often casts them as servants, with half lings attaching themselves to human families or institutions as a matter of symbiotic survival. Many societies, particularly the Chelaxians, value half lings as slaves—if only for the fact that they take up less room.
Despite their close involvement in many facets of human society, halflings have a tendency to be ignored and underestimated. Their ability to blend into the background, be it at a social gathering or amid the comforting shadows of a dark alley, is unparalleled. They know when to bend with the wind, but when they have the chance to seize a grand pile of gold, they never let the opportunity pass by. Often blamed for putting themselves into danger, the small folk simply cannot resist the temptation of a new adventure, a daring heist, or the lure of the unknown.
Fortunately, their superior sense for danger allows them to survive these hazards and has granted them the reputation of being exceptionally lucky. It is no surprise that superstitions revolving around luck and fate have become common among halfling harboring lands, and some cultures even assign mystical value to the small folk. Being lucky is second nature to nearly all half lings, though many demystify their successes with tales of superior reflexes, unmatched skill, or inscrutable cunning. A few halflings, however, stand out because of their unmistakable lack of luck. These individuals seem to bring mischief and bad luck to those around them, and as a result they are avoided or even feared, especially among cultures heartily embracing superstitions.
Halflings themselves believe this occurrence to be a rare blessing of Desna, and children bearing this gift are often encouraged to study the magical arts. Because of these attributes, and in contrast to their stable and altruistic communities, halfling society has a hidden, darker side as meaningful, developed, and important as the unassuming face maintained for the unwitting public.
Almost all halflings possess a strong opportunistic streak that is most prominent during their younger years. During this time, many stray from the rules of the community and involve themselves in the disdained affairs of thievery, subterfuge, adventuring, and vagabond life. Despite their curiosity-driven wanderlust, halflings possess a strong sense of house and home that develops over the years. A halfling takes great pride in his domicile, often spending above his means to add to the common comforts of home life.
Halflings usually adopt the religious beliefs of the societies with which they merge. Unsurprisingly, many half lings worship the gods of humankind, such as Cayden Cailean, Iomedae, or Shelyn. Rumors also tell of a large cult venerating the aspect of Norgorber known as the Gray Master, with a few cultists worshiping him as Blackfingers. Forever living in the shadows of their taller kith and kin, halflings wear whatever styles prevail in the human culture in which they dwell. Halfling slaves tend to dress more flashily but in cheaper fabrics than their free cousins, especially in Cheliax, as their owners often use them as status symbols. Emotionally, halflings are easygoing but excitable, prone to laziness but frenetic when roused. Ironically, their greatest strength is their perceived weakness—halflings can count on the advantage that they are continually underestimated, an edge they exploit mercilessly.
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