Halfling

Andraous (Discontinued)    Sentient Folk    Kin Folk      Halfling

Small in size but big with personality, Halflings are a common sight in many Humans settlements. They rival Humans with their curious nature and sociability. They tend to be friendly, with good sense of humor, and have good control over their temper and emotions.
Halflings tend to avoid violent conflict, but will fight to defend themselves if needed. Their small size and relative weakness means that they fare poorly in war, especially against the larger folk, though they do have some special fighting techniques for bigger opponents. Weapons of choice include slings and daggers.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Of all the Kinfolk, Halfings are one of the smallest, standing only half the height of a human, but not as stout and stocky as a Dwarf. While they are often being compared to Humans, there are several key differences between the two folk. Halflings have relatively bigger hands and feet. Their broad feet are topped with thick curly hair, while the bottom of them are roughly calloused. Despite their smaller size, Halflings typically have an athletic build.

Biological Traits

Have similar magical abilities to humans.
Can be decent swimmers, but many are not comfortable being out on water due to not having opportunities to learn how to swim.

Genetics and Reproduction

Halflings typically have one child per birth. Twins are very rare and there are often complications with the pregnancy and birth due to the Halflings small size. They are considered adults when they reach around 20 years old.

Ecology and Habitats

Halflings originated on warm, temperate islands. Since then and the lost of the majority of their islands to invasions, many have become integrated into human settlements across Tamerea.
While many now live in human modified dwellings, originally they lived in dwellings that were partially buried.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Due to high metabolisms, they tend to eat many meals throughout the day.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Family is everything to Halflings, and they tend to have very large families. It is extremely rarely for one to betray family, whether it be blood or found family.
They are also very hospitable with strangers.
Halflings love any excuse to gather and have party.
Adoption and the Treatment of Orphans Orphans are often very quickly adopted by another member of their extended family, and are treated as if they were their own child. If a child's entire extended family is deceased, another member of the community will adopt them. It's not only Halfling orphans that get this treatment, but any orphan of other folk.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Not uncommon to see them in the slave trade. They will either wait for the opportunity to slip away or eventually break and consider owners as their family.

Facial characteristics

Their broad faces house their large, bright eyes. Their ears are big and rounded. Men often have long sunburns, but it is rare for them to have beards/mustaches.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Originally hailing from a series of warm, temperate island of the coast of Tamerea, most Halflings are now found scattered throughout Tamerea.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Gifted with keen senses. They are known to have good hearing and sharp eyes.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Ride smaller animals to get around, such as ponies, dogs, ect.
Those that settle into one location often pick up farming. Mainly they will focus on plants, but will raise chickens, rabbits, goats, and sheep.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

• Female Names: Anafa, Bellis, Etune, Filiu, Irlana, Marra, Pressi, Rilka, Sistra, Wyssal, Yamyra.
• Male Names: Antal, Boram, Hyrgan, Jamir, Lem, Micro, Sumak, Triban, Uldar, Vraxim.

Courtship Ideals

For many Halflings, tokens of affection include poems and songs.

Average Technological Level

Having lost much of their original home and culture, Halflings have mainly adopted Human technology.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

The vast majority of Halflings are able to speak Merchant's Tongue and one of the various Human languages. It's also not uncommon for them to learn several other languages. Surprisingly it is rare for a Halfling to know their ancestral language.

Common Dress Code

As a general rule, Halflings prefer comfortable clothes over fancy clothes, but will dress up if the situation requires it. Entertainers however, often dress up in flashy and gaudy outfits. In both cases however, they prefer their clothes to be brightly colored.
One thing that is nearly universal among Halflings, is their preference of being barefoot. Shoes are rarely worn and when they are Halflings will take them off as soon as they can.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

While much of their culture has been replaced, they still have some of their original customs and traditions. One of these is the huge emphasis placed on friends, family, and community. For example they are constantly trying to improve one's own dwellings as a sign of respect and affection towards guests and loved ones.
Many Halflings have a strong sense of wanderlust during their younger years, and will set out on an adventure. However they also have a strong sense of hearth and home, and enjoy the luxuries and comforts of domestic life, and will always return home, or settle down in a new town.
Halflings value experiences over material goods, though it is not uncommon for them to have small trinkets to remind them of specific places/events/people. This desire for experiences is one of the main reasons young Halflings will leave home and set out for an adventure.
Will decorate wagons and campsites.
Money is for making life easier and more comfortable, not an end goal.

History

Long ago, Halflings lived exclusively on a series of islands off the coast of Tamerea, with minimal to no contact with the outside world. In the age exploration however, one of the coastal Human kingdoms discovered the islands by accident, and were shocked to find them inhabited by "children". Seeing an opportunity to expand their marine power and territory, the Humans claimed the islands as their own.
As for the "children" the Kingdom decided they couldn't leave them on the island, and needed to be raised in proper homes. All of the Halflings were gathered up, brought to Tamerea and adopted into Human families. While the Human kingdom thought they were doing a good deed, rescuing these orphans and putting them into good homes, they didn't realize, (or care), that they were separating families, and treating adults as children. It would be several generations before Halflings would be considered their own folk and not Human children, but at that point the damage was done. The Human Kingdom had an iron grip on the islands and refused to return them to the Halflings.
Much of the Halfling's culture on the islands had been destroyed to make room for the Humans own outposts. The Halfling's culture was further degraded after generations of living in the Human kingdom, being slowly replaced by Human culture. Now most Halflings are fully integrated within the various Human kingdoms.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

General Overall Halflings tend to get along with most other folk, which is important because there is no Halfling communities and they must live within other folk's communities. They try to be entertaining/useful to avoid aggression from the larger folk, if that doesn't work they try to avoid being the center of attention.
They try their best to respect the laws of the lands that they travel through, however sometimes their sense of justice and freedom can get them into trouble. They also know that sometimes they have have to scrape and scrounge to survive.
Humans Halflings have learned to coexist with Humans, but there is still some resentment for being taken from their ancestral land.
Elves Respect Elves.
Dwarves Respect them.
Gnomes Cautious, but can get along with Gnome.
Half Orcs Intimidated by Half Orcs.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• 'Ancient Ones'

Origin/Ancestry

Closely related to humans.

Lifespan

80-100years

Average Height

2-4ft

Average Weight

30-35lbs

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Halflings typically have a skin tone that is described as rich cinnamon in color, and hair that is some shade of brown.