Hefflin

A shadow flits by below the notice of most in a city throng, weaving amongst the legs of humans and aulfs with easy grace. As small as a child but infinitely more quiet and reserved, a hefflin navigates a world of creatures much bigger than he with a quick step and fast reflexes.
Though similar in size to gnomes, the two are rarely confused. Even a quiet gnome is generally louder than a rowdy hefflin and the latter's stocky build and strange tendency to fade from view when not directly observed set them apart from their tiny Elanni cousins. Rarely rising above waist height of taller races, hefflin are nevertheless surprisingly durable and often found in the company of dwarves due to a shared interest in spelunking and treasure.
Though hefflin are fond of collecting treasure, they are rarely craftsmen of rare materials, as dwarves are. For that matter, their notion of what constitutes treasure often baffles their companions, dwarves most of all. If it weren't for a mutual love of alcohol it's possible dwarves might not be able to tolerate their strange little friends.
Hefflin are usually a community-minded lot, valuing family, friends, and social connections. They live in large, closely knit towns and villages in rural areas and often congregate around historic districts in cities. It is a common social expectation that a young hefflin obtain financial independence and marry as soon as possible. This tends to cause an unusual social dynamic to emerge in which young hefflin are usually busy concerning themselves with family matters whilst older hefflin, whose children have moved out and started families of their own, find themselves with lots of spare time to focus on their other love, treasure.
Once a hefflin has paid his dues to society and has a dozen or so successful children with several times that number of grandchildren, he finds himself with time to really focus on his hoard. All hefflin are collectors of some kind, whether that be butterflies or butterfly knives, antique baby rattles or magically taxidermized rattlesnakes (not defanged, of course; that lowers their value),  ancient cheese wheels or carefully categorized breaking wheels (alphabetized by the last name of the last occupant). In their younger years, distracted as they are by sneaky children doing as children do, most hefflin keep their hoards safely tucked away in a difficult to access room in their labyrinthine tunnels. Once their children are gone, their houses often become like museums dedicated to their passions. When they've created their last exhibition, most hefflin lock their doors and step out into the wide world, ready to expand their collection.
Consequently, most hefflin adventurers are middle aged or older and find they've traded one type of parenting for another. Their companions are usually young, naive and idealistic, with lofty notions of how the world should and should not work which are largely untethered to either knowledge or experience. Therefore the image of the tired hefflin once again saving his companions from whatever idiocy they've mired themselves in this time has become something of a trope in bard's tales.
With a love of tunneling and a natural ability to squeeze through spaces other races wouldn't even be able to attempt, it is no surprise that hefflin domiciles are usually subterranean mazes. As a hospitable nod to their larger visitors, most houses have generous space devoted to entryways and sitting rooms at the front but quickly devolve into impossibly complex, dungeon-like sprawls full of passages that only a hefflin could traverse without (much) danger. Deep within these tunnels lie the hefflin's most treasured possessions which could be a king's ransom or kind of random, depending on the hefflin in question. A common competition among neighbors are raids whose aim is claim an item from such a hoard to display as bragging rights. Some hefflin communities have been obliged to regulate such games due to excessive competitiveness resulting danger to surrounding towns, villages, cities or countries. At one time there was no law against offering young dragons living space in the labyrinth below your kitchen in exchange for a small monthly fee and the roasting of rival spelunkers. Now there is.
Sometimes hefflin are referred to as "halflings" due both to their size and a bastardization of their given name in the common tongue.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Hefflin appear as small, stocky humans. Their proportions are nearly identical to their taller cousins, save only slightly larger heads, hands and feet on average. Hefflin have highly dense bones which causes them to be heavier than they look and possess a durability that belies their size.

Civilization and Culture

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Hefflin generally get along well with all races. They are polite and reserved in company and experts in small talk due to extensive experience in their family oriented communities. They quickly form bonds with other parents over shared experiences with children, which they love to talk about. Practiced storytellers, hefflin can command audiences wherever they go if they wish.
Due to shared love of delving, treasure collecting, and family, hefflin often keep company with dwarves. Humans are common traveling companions on adventures, and gnomes share a love of puzzles and riddles. Aulves find hefflin perfectly agreeable but baffling and therefore rarely share companionship.