Halfling

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, adventure, 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 a dirt road or a raft floating downriver.

Small and Practical

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.

Pastoral Pleasantries

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 a dirt road or a raft floating downriver. 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. 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.
Halflings, unlike Dwarves, are not an incredibly religious bunch. They do not have their own gods, but rather adhere loosely to The Prime Pantheon; and in particular the Gods Pelor, Avandra, Ishran, and Waukeen.
There exist many small shires spread out throughout the human kingdoms who live mostly to themselves; interacting mostly to sell their wares to the outside. But there are a number of “halfling cities” that exist around the world. While not a pure halfling kingdom, these cities are dominated by halfling populations, and in at least one case the surrounding countryside is home to several hamlets and shires giving a sort of impression of a minor kingdom. The Mootlands, in the southern Ondari Dominion contain the highest proportion of Halflings anywhere in the world with them making up nearly 70% of the population of the province as a whole. Due to the prevalence of short people, it is also a popular destination for Gnomes searching for a new life. Major Halfling settlements around the continent:

• Kangaloon - Found within the Ondari Dominion; is a city of short people. It is located in the Deepmoss Woods, with the majority of its buildings being into either large mushrooms, or warrens under the roots and bases of trees. Its a lively place, with natural springs, bright flowers, and gentle sunlight. Halflings make up around 40% of the population with Gnomes and Hill Dwarves making up most of the remainder.

• Shellharbour- A coastal hub in the Southern Moot. It’s built in, on, and around the shell of a long dead ancient turtle! A city has popped up around the shell, followed by a protective wall. There are several shires in the surrounding hills making it also one of the most densely populated halfling areas. The people here are hardworking fishermen, and coastal farmers living a fairly laid back life.

• Boomderry - Lies on a small island in the Emerald, as part of the Meridian Concord. Boomderry is a regular stop for all sorts trading ships Ships traveling up and down the coasts. Boomderry itself is built into a narrow, steep cliffed cove, and appears like fairly ramshackle collection of haphazardly built shacks, docks, and huts of all types and varieties stacked on top of one another up the walls of the cove, even using portions of old ships as structures. They’re known specifically for their creation of fine fireworks and moonshine, and as a lively town to stop in for a drink and rest for weary sailors crossing the Seas; it is said that the cove is even enchanted for good warm weather. It is also a rare place where other races like Kenku and Goblin, often persecuted elsewhere feel like home. As freebooter haven, there is a lively underbelly to the town as smuggling is par for the course. Several gangs compete for dominance, including the Halfling gangs: the Saints of Boomderry Docks and Boomderry Rocka Fellas, the Goblin 'Ard Boyz Cartel, and Ken-Ku Klucks Klan

• The Hussletuff Traveling Caravan - Legendary among Halflings and common folk around Esseas, the traveling caravan is among the largest of its kind. Originally started by a handful of families; the caravan now encompasses several hundred individuals and just as many carts. They travel all across human lands as prolific traders, musicians, and mischief makers. They move twice a year, once in the spring when they move somewhere more northerly, and once in the fall to a more southerly location to weather a more mild winter. When returning south, they will send traders back to the Mootland to bring more wares to the caravan to sell north; particularly tobacco, Rushweed, beer, and other crafts.

• Dundoo’s Dazzaling Darkmoon Faire - Known far and wide across the much of Esseas for some of the most amazing performances of magic, music, acting, and food. The Faire, while run and owned by several families of halflings, is known to recruit from anyone who has the talent to perform, either selecting them by hand to train as a protege, or trying out for a spot. The Faire regularly performs for the courts of noble lords, and has even been known to play for the Emperor himself. The faire has seen the likes of some of the most famous musicians play among their ranks like Ringo Underhill, Oberon Barlow and Lavinia Tosscobble. While the faire performs on a regular basis as they move, every Darkmoon (when neither moon is up the sky the Faire puts on it’s full festival and visitors come from far and wide. The faire is also rumored to hide in it a thriving black market supported from goods and services as they travel the country.
  
• Province of The Mootland - The Mootland (or the Moot), is among the most fertile farming lands in the Dominion. The Moot is a land of gently rolling hills and grasslands that slopes upward gradually until the land rises into the into the Greenleaf Hills to the south and west, and into the Sea of Ulmo to the east. Farmers raise many famous varieties of tobacco (eg. Aver Prime Blend), rushweed (such as Fogmaker Red, Longbottom Leaf, Old Toby, Southern Star, and the notoriously strong Fumigator), barley, and hops (eg. Burdock and Tanglefoot). Most of the province is open, with scattered patches of deciduous trees along the riverbanks. The only two large forests of note outside of the slopes of the Greenleaf hills, are the Sleepy Wood and the mysterious Alter Forest.