Lightfoot
Lightfoot halflings, also known as hairfeet or Luiren halflings, were the most common type of halflings seen in the world, in large part due to their famous wanderlust, which set them apart from the relatively sedentary ghostwise and strongheart halflings. Lightfoots were most comfortable living alongside other cultures, even adopting their cultural practices, right down to their deities.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Lightfoots displayed the same range of skin tones, hair colors, and eye hues as humans. Though they were most frequently seen to have brown or black hair and black, brown, or hazel eyes. Their skin also typically had a ruddy complexion.
Ecology and Habitats
Lightfoots typically lived in warm plains. They were, by nature, wanderers, and so could rarely be found tied down to one place for very long. Typically, lightfoot halfling clans moved from one area to another rapidly, staying in one place rarely more than a year or two. There were exceptions to this rule, however, and in spite of their curiosity and adventurousness, some halflings were drawn to their ancestral homeland of Luiren before its destruction. Others merely settled more permanently in some foreign land, usually human. Still, it could not truly be said that lightfoot halflings had any land of their own; instead, they called the whole world their home
Dietary Needs and Habits
Much like other halflings, lightfoots were an omnivorous people. They loved breads, fruits, vegetables, and the occasional pheasant. They were very skilled at foraging, often gathering berries, nuts, roots, and wild grain more deftly than other races.
Behaviour
Lightfoots were among the most affable and good-natured halflings. They were typically curious about others and very open to sharing about themselves. Altogether these aspects of their personalities kindled fast courtships and friendships with others. These were often brief, for most lightfoots innately felt a sense of wanderlust that compelled them to not stay in one place for too long. Though lightfoots were very loyal and such relationships were genuine, some felt the way they so deftly parted ways made those friendships disingenuous.
Due to their personalities many races stereotyped lightfoots as being fickle and flighty in nature, being unreliable and easily distracted. However, despite the impression they gave such races, these halflings were very cunning, opportunistic, and resourceful individuals.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Lightfoots formed tight-knit communities, especially in the cities of other races. Some traveled in small bands, often switching members when they come across another band, while others traveled in clans made up of several extended families. Members of such communities often packed up and collectively moved together to locations that offered new or better opportunities. Some communities just moved regularly, embracing a nomadic lifestyle. When communities traveled they typically did so in wagons or boats.
Lightfoots adored keeping pets, for the sake of both protection and companionship. They often kept some form of large hound. Another common animal kept were foxes, who they admired for their stealthiness and cunning.
Lightfoots typically excelled in professions related to traveling, such as cartwrighting, handling of pack animals, navigating, and sailing. Those who who spent their lives wandering tended to learn many of the skills associated with these tasks along their travels. Some lightfoots were known to take up the profession of a craftsman, entertainer, or merchant.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
In terms of regions beyond Luiren, lightfoot halflings were often found in the lands of northwest Faerûn, areas of the Shining South just south of the Shaar, in the Purple Hills of Tethyr, the Sword Coast and Sword Coast North, as well as the Western Heartlands. They were also the only sub-race of halfling to live in the Unapproachable East.
In terms of particular nations, lightfoots could be found in eastern Aglarond, eastern Amn, Chondath, Chessenta, northern Damara, Halruaa, and Turmish. In northwest Faerûn they were widely scattered in human cities, particularly Everlund, Silverymoon, and Waterdeep. In the Sword Coast they were often often in Baldur's Gate, Berdusk, and Secomber. They were also quite common near the human communities north of Luiren.
Civilization and Culture
Beauty Ideals
Facial hair was relatively rare, with men at most sporting long sideburns or the occasional beard, and women sometimes sporting short sideburns. Mustaches were extremely rare.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Lightfoots typically knew how to speak Common and Halfling. Those who spent their lives wandering picked up many regional and widely spread languages. Some even knew how to speak Elvish and Goblin. The majority of their sub-race as a whole were literate.
Common Dress Code
When not adventuring or entertaining others, lightfoots preferred to wear simple, well-made clothing that was comfortable to wear, yet looked attractive,5 favoring those with bright colors.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Like other halflings, the patron deity of lightfoots was the goddess Yondalla. Her faith was popular among both sedentary and nomadic lightfoots. The latter also tended to favor the halfling god Brandobaris, as they considered his outlook on life to be realistic and good-humored. Cyrrollalee was widely popular in later generations, taking to her promises of a new homeland and greater respect from other races.
Out of all halflings, lightfoots were the most likely to worship gods outside of the halfling pantheon.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Due to their wanderlust nature, lightfoots could often be seen dwelling alongside other races. They were adept at fitting into most communities, including elven, dwarven, human, and gnomish. There they did their best to make themselves seem valuable and welcomed. They were most frequently found living in or around human societies, as the ever-changing nature of that race's societies allowed for easy exploitation.
Some lightfoots assimilated into the communities they settled in, partially or wholly adopting the local majority race's beliefs and views about the world. Those who spent their lives wandering often held an amalgamation of outlooks from the places they had been. But some acted antithetical to how one would expect of them, adamantly retaining their distinctive lightfoot point of view as they saw it as being what set them apart from other races and halfling sub-races.
Skin: Ruddy
Hair: Black, Brown
Eyes: Black, Brown
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