halfling

Halflings – also known as Hin, the "quick folk" amongst themselves, or the "sly folk" or "good folk" by other races – are humanoid creatures similar in shape to humans. The term "halfling" was derived from the fact that they were around half of the size of humans, but otherwise very similar in appearance.

“Who knows where a hero's spirit will grow? Even the smallest seed can produce the mightiest tree.” — Elminster

Halflings are small in comparison with the members of most other races, standing somewhere from 2′8″‒3′4″ (81‒100 cm) tall. In many ways, halflings resemble small humans and usually had the same proportions as the typical human adult. Nearly all male halflings were incapable of growing true beards, though many had long sideburns. Halfling hairstyles were often complex, with strands woven together or braided. Although halflings had an affinity for collecting valuables, they did not prefer to wear these on their person, instead preferring more comfortable clothing.

Halflings are by nature joyful and friendly in their dealings with others. Because they live in a world where they are surrounded by larger creatures, halflings tend to avoid notice, often deliberately, or at the very least, act cordial towards the larger races. Halflings appear deceptively harmless, meaning they are often beyond the notice of enemies that might otherwise pose a threat to them. The halfling mind is practical and halflings concern themselves with their immediate surroundings. They usually take pleasure in simple things, with few aspiring to greatness in the same manner as humans. Some halflings do become adventurers, but usually this is a practice taken up for reasons of necessity rather than personal drive. Because of their love for home and family, halflings make loyal and courageous allies, willing to put their own lives at risk for the sake of others.

While many halflings do not have the ambition for adventure that some races did, most prefer trouble to boredom; the race is notoriously curious. Halflings are courageous, more so than many races, and their daring is often difficult to match. Many halflings also have a strong appetite for food and drink as well as narcotics and clothing. Similarly, many halflings are enthusiastic collectors, and love to hold on to possessions won through skill and daring.

Halflings are quick and dexterous humanoids, even given their size, with quick reflexes and an ability to recover easily from sudden danger. Halflings, who by and large have a strong force of personality, are also intensely courageous and are more likely to retain their valor than most other humanoids, even when under the effects of a spell or other power. Beyond this, halflings have what could be best described as a lucky streak, which makes it less likely for them to be injured in perilous circumstances. Additionally, the small size of halflings has an effect on their abilities. Halflings are, for instance, incapable of wielding larger weapons like greatswords or halberds.

“ First there were dragons, then dwarves, then elves, then humans. Now it's our turn!” — Old halfling saying.

Halfling history was, by and large, like the race, unremarkable. With the exception of the Strongheart nation of Luiren, halflings did not even have a unified culture to call their own. Records and evidence seemed to indicate that halflings, as a race, only appeared fairly recently, and after the appearance of the creator races, around the same time as dwarves, elves, and giants. The original homeland of halflings is uncertain, though it may have been within the area south of the Shaar and few were seen in the north until after the Hin Ghostwars, a tragic event that split the halflings into their current three breeds

Basic Information

Growth Rate & Stages

Halflings had lifespans comparable with, but slightly longer than, humans. A halfling was typically considered an adult in their early twenties and some lived into their 150s.[

Additional Information

Social Structure

Culture
Halfling communities are tightly knit groups found around the world, usually near the settlements of other races. Most halflings don't recognize the claims of kings or nobles as sovereign rulers but instead look primarily to their family elders to guide them. This focus on bloodlines enables halfling traditions to continue for millennia relatively intact. Halflings also value a sense of community; halflings naming each other "halfling" is a salute of brotherhood. Halfling culture has a fondness for stories and legends and is rich in the oral tradition. So much care is put into the retelling of traditional stories and their preservation that halflings often unwittingly have access to lore about ancient and long-gone cultures or empires that others have long since forgotten about. Many halflings are able to recall some detail of the ancient past, though it is usually wrapped in the shrouds of legends.
Halflings underwent something of a cultural and philosophical change through the Hundred Years of Chaos. During this time, the typical halfling aversion to adventure for its own sake was overcome by a powerful sense of wanderlust. Halfling-run adventure companies became common in many major cities of Faerûn.
Halflings call the longer times of a day by how far the sun traveled in the sky and shorter moments like up to three minutes "A long tune" and around ten minutes "3 long songs". Music in general is usually weaved into daily lives of halflings more as a rule rather than an exception. 
Halfling children are known to fish for bats using a light, durable twine string, and bait of live moths.

Cuisine

It is said that "Cheese, bread, ale and more cheese are what fill a happy Hin's stomach." and that can be evidenced by their own agricultural choices in places like Secomber and Corm Orp. Sometimes the Hin make food goods for humans, among these are sausages, cheeses, stews, and several types of baked goods. Halflings themselves have a tendency to enjoy these foods as well, but make them chewier and more rubbery for their tastes, with no strong spices, but instead using melding herbs. When Hin are left to their own devices, they produce flavored cheeses, sour grape wines, "blue eyes" (blue grapes), sour table grapes, and goat and sheep meats and their milk. In winter, the Hin have two stews ready all day; one lighter broth, and the other filled with more sustenance.
Named special halfling foods:

• Belbuck: A translucent green, spearmint beer.
• Blue eyes: A blue grape grown for wines. They grew in halfling-sized clusters.
• Orthin: This buttery yellow cheese made from goat's and sheep's milk was named after its long-dead inventor. It was somewhat like brie from Earth except not as runny and it had a very thin rind.
• Luiren spring cheese: A cheese/drug that only had an effect on halflings.
• Luiren's Best: A black-as-ink, very sweet stout. Brewed by a coastal clan of Luiren, Smokardin.
• Rivengut: a notoriously strong whiskey drink favored by halflings and other people of the realms

Geographic Origin and Distribution

The halfling race has many traditional homelands, though as a whole the race was typically nomadic. Many halflings who do not wander live primarily within human-dominated states.By the 1370s DR, halflings made up about half or more of the population of the city of Secomber in the Western Heartlands and the town of Ethdale on the Easting Reach. 
The center of halfling culture was, until relatively recently, the kingdom of Luiren. The land was devastated by the Spellplague however, as were other halfling homelands such as Arnrock and the Chondalwood. Since then the halflings have become more displaced than before, though as a result they also have come together in unity even more tightly than they had before. There was also a sizable kingdom of hin called Delmyr, located in the forest on the eastern slopes of the Glittering Spires mountain range in the Hordelands. The folk of Delmyr were isolationists and lived much more in tune with nature.
Since then, halflings are found in their greatest concentrations within the nation of Amn. Though formerly met with prejudice, halflings have earned acceptance through their skill as merchants and business partners. Halflings could also be commonly found along the Sea of Fallen Stars, particularly human-dominated cities. In fact, human cities are often the most common place to find halflings, who frequently find ways to exploit the ever-changing climate of human societies, although dwarven cities are also quite accommodating.

Civilization and Culture

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Halflings, in general, try their best to get along with everybody and manage to do so with most other races. Lightfoot and strongheart halflings tend to be friendly, outgoing, and uncommonly adept at fitting into communities of humans, dwarves, elves, or gnomes. Most halflings, in fact, don't live in communities of their own but instead regions dominated by other races. It should be noted that halflings usually find insults directed at them to be amusing rather than insulting.
Exceptions to the general rule of halfling amenability does exist of course, and ghostwise halflings are known to be notoriously xenophobic.

Humans

Halflings call humans the "Big Folk," "Manyhanded", or "Hurbryn". Halflings usually enjoy human company more than that of any other race and most humans have a strong affinity for halflings. Humans appreciate halfling curiosity and willingness to get along, halflings see their own spirit in human intelligence and tendency to travel, and each respects the other's adaptability and drive.

Halflings and humans have lived together for thousands of years, and the halfling tendency to dwell in the regions dominated by other races is particularly true regarding human societies. They have worked hard to always be welcome, for humanity holds more lands than any other race, granting the halflings more realms to roam. So close is this kindship that some humans prefer to live alongside halflings than other human cultures, and communities of the two peoples sometimes integrate into one another, with many human cities having a halfling neighborhood where the smallfolk could retain a distinct culture.

Despite their coexistence, humans and halflings have their own caricatures of each other. Many humans retain the impression, much to their dismay, that halflings are cute or whimsical, which they either tolerate or attempt to rectify through shows of ferocity. Halflings meanwhile consider humans sweet in their own way but big and goofy, almost as friendly as half-elves and with a hint of half-orc gullibility, a winning combination. Humans also have an odd tendency to war on each other, but they are always creating and always need something done regardless, which is good for halflings. Humans and their society attracts halflings with their diverse and ever-changing ways.

Elves

Halflings appreciate the elven capacity for cooperating with most other races. Elves find halflings incredibly charming and value their ability to fit into almost any group, with most greatly enjoying their company. Both seek to avoid conflict through negotiation, which impresses halflings and earns respect from elves, even if they do so for different reasons. The elves are nearly always welcoming when halflings come to their lands due to their charm, trade goods, and interesting tales. Halflings are generally flattered when elves purchase their wares or occasionally sought halfling aid in ventures where they would be useful, and were only too glad to help.
However, most elves aren't quite sure what to make of halflings. For one, they are aware of their reputation for sticky fingers and rarely let them visit areas where valuable artifacts are kept. They also feel they are holding back somehow, which they often are. Halflings are somewhat in awe of elves, their high society, long lives, and wide experiences making them feel somewhat inferior, like awkward younger siblings. As a result they suppress their rambunctiousness and open charm around them, leading elves to consider them somewhat stodgy. Their desire for variety leads halflings to limit their visits to elven homes, but their true, fun-loving nature would reveal itself over long periods of exposure.
To a halfling, a half-elf is just as a regular elf, but less so. They have the same grace without the intimidating demeanor, and all of the charm coupled with a respect for other cultures born from being part of more than one. They also have much shorter lives, meaning they talk about ancient events less and have a tendency to live in the present, endearing themselves to halflings further. In addition they tend to be more individualist in nature, each interesting in their own way, and good negotiators as are the halflings themselves.
On the part of the half-elves, halflings overlook their mixed-blood and appreciate their nomadic lifestyle. Some even travel with halfling clans exploring new territory. Aside from acceptance, half-elves admire halfling survivalist skills and their ability to stand smiling at adversity. The two races are kindred spirits, the only complaints held by halflings being that half-elves are a bit too tall (the stature of halflings not bothering the half-elves given their own short, slender frames) and truthful to a troubling degree.

Dwarves

Halflings admire dwarves for their industrious nature and strong family ties, two qualities that resonated well in hin culture. Conversely, halflings possess two traits dwarves valued highly, a knack for fitting in and the ability to make themselves useful. They have a fondness for halflings the same way an older brother would be fond of a smaller, awkward sibling, and are capable allies for them in small-scale treasure hunts due to their talent for acquiring money, even despite their general stodginess and provincial attitude.
Where halfling and dwarf relations suffer the most tension was regarding the matter of war. Halflings do not hold martial prowess as an ideal, often choosing to avoid conflict when possible. Some dwarves mistake this disinterest for inability, and have something of a patronizing attitude towards halflings on the subject, the race as a whole maintaining a vague concern about their safety and continually making diplomatic offers of martial training or equipment. On the halflings part, they find the dwarves a bit too war-like, but accept their arrogance and overbearing nature as just part of who they are and something to ignore, so dwarves remain blissfully ignorant of their opinion.

Gnomes

Halflings consider gnomes kindred spirits, fellow little people, and natural allies. Furthermore, they are capable wizards and fantastic singers, with the presence of a gnome bard at a celebration making it all the better. Gnomes meanwhile respect halflings for their practicality and adaptability. At the same time, halflings find gnomes strangely short-tempered, pleasantly chatting one minute and shouting the next, and seem easily frustrated over the smallest things. On the gnome side, the halflings are seen as perhaps their most frustrating ally. They consider halflings flighty and undisciplined, disinterested in examining the world, and lacking in self-sufficiency. In many ways halflings embody a particular aspect of their psychology, and seeing that part of themselves made manifest both irritates and attracts gnomes.

Others

Half-orcs are handy for halflings when capable muscle was required and they can appreciate more obvious kinds of humor that few others would, but even so, halflings have very little in common with them. In general they see them like bulls, strong and stupid beings that make good targets for games of confidence and perhaps even theft. At the same time, they are among the least susceptible to halfling charm and wit, and the consequences for getting caught by them were more dire.
To a halfling, half-orcs embody everything big and brutish about humanity. To a half-orc, halflings possess the intelligence and quick-witted cruelty that humans might show them but lacking size or strength. And yet, they tend to get along relatively well, despite all of their differences.
Halflings and kobolds could find common ground in the art of trap-making, but many factors keep them apart. The pleasant demeanor of halflings reminds kobolds of fey, an unfair assessment but nonetheless one they make, and their suspicion is particularly harsh when dealing with races possibly related to gnomes. Furthermore, kobolds judge halflings as duplicitous and self-serving, something no honestly speaking halfling rogue could disagree with.

Scientific Name

homo sapiens pumilio

Lifespan

up to 150 years

Average Height

around 100-120 cm