The Painted Folk

Said by some lore to be the most ancient of peoples in the Westerlands, Halflings, the Painted Folk in their language, used to be the predominant group in the continent. However with the encroachment of Elves, Humans and other peoples, Halflings were slowly pushed further and further into the ancient forests which they originated from. Many Halflings abhorred industry and cities due to their religion, a more radical version of the Verdant Faith Faith, to the point that even when the Ascension occured many Halfling tribes hadn’t moved beyond the most basic of smithed weapons.
Fighting bitterly against the cutting down of their forests by other peoples, Halflings have often engaged in brutal wars of attrition against outsiders, but increasingly they have lost their traditional way of life. In the north they’ve been pushed to the last free forests outside the Marcher realms, and in the south they are often made to be ‘indentured laborers’ by the Eternal Lordships to cut down the very forests they used to worship. Some Halflings have chosen assimilation, and have integrated into other societies, but discrimination due to their wild reputation and fears of raiding parties hinders them.
For more detail, See: History of the Painted Folk.

Type

Geopolitical, Tribe