Niya Halflings

Niya Halflings (or "spirit" halflings) are a race of small humanoids from Jisrima. They are one of a variety of tiny people, all from this region. Much of their population was scattered to the winds after the Treaty of Jisrima was written. Niya are a variation that had traveled nomadically, but quickly settled in Tsoh Sei and joined with the Wanagi people. 
Ability Score Increase: Your Dexterity score increases by 2 and your wisdom score increases by 1.
Age: A halfling reaches adulthood at the age of 20 and generally lives into the middle of his or her second century.
Size: Halflings average about 3 feet tall and weigh about 40 pounds. Your size is small.
Speed: Your base walking speed is 25 feet.
Lucky: When you roll a 1 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die. You must use the new result, even if it is a 1.
Brave: You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.
Nimble: You can move through the space of any creature that is of a size larger than yours.
Silent Speech: You can speak telepathically to any creature within 30 feet of you. The creature understands you only if the two of you share a language. You can speak telepathically in this way to one creature at a time.
Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common and Halfling.

Naming Traditions

Other names

Niya Halflings typically have 4 names. The first name is their given name, given to them during their birth or naming ceremony. The second name is the given name of their father with the suffix "bin" or "bint" meaning "son of" or "daughter of." The third name is the given name of their mother, also with the suffix of "bin" or "bint." The fourth name is given to them by the Wanagi based on their deeds. For example, a halfling may be named Arumo Laricbin Isaribin Goldenweaver.

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

Many halflings have a culture of politeness, respect, propriety, and tradition. They are fiercely proud of their homes, regardless of what style it might be, and can make anyone who is welcome inside feel comfortable. They would never try and disrespect anyone, and are content to live in their private communities away from excitement and drama. Even Niya halflings enjoy a simple nomadic life in an almost reverent service to the Wanagi. They have developed a strong attachment to the local wildlife as well, taming and riding cheetahs as mounts, becoming fierce hunters and defenders of their tribe.

Shared customary codes and values

Niya halfligns have almost completely abandoned all previous sense of traditions and culture to the halflings of the west, instead falling in step with the cultures of Meldran and particularly of the Wanagi. They see the Wanagi as almost ethereal, spirit wardens. The Niya halflings travel with them as part of the community, in an almost reverent service to them. They use their natural skills and cheetah mounts to help hunt, repair goods, and trade, bringing with them recepies of the "motherland." to give their cultures some of the best food in Meldran.

Common Etiquette rules

There is a strong idea of respecting and bringing honor to your elders, ancestors, and parents. Boasting and displays of self pride and confidence are not only common, but encouraged, however its important to have someone confirm these boasts in order to keep people honest. Despite these boasts and displays of pride, people of Meldran know that all people are equal in value, and that their upbringing and circumstances of their birth that often influence their actions. This is why an insult to someone is generally more of an insult to their parents, because their parents are responsible for their upbringing. However, that does not mean people do not actively try and be better themselves or that a person cannot be bad despite all of the best efforts of their parents. To add to this culture, Niya halflings in general have a strong sense of etiquette and it is easy to offend or be considered rude by a halfling, though they would never call you out on such manners. This can be as simple as waiting till everyone is seated before eating, keeping all non food items off the table (such as weapons or keys), respecting your elders, being punctual, not stopping by places uninvited, never touch another halflings pipe, no discussion of politics, money or religion at a table or public setting, wallways bring baked goods when visiting someone, using proper titles such as "master," etc.

Common Dress code

People of Meldran have grown used to leather worked clothing and hides or thick wool fabrics. They incorporate furs of various animals into their clothing to adjust for the northern winters or use simple leather pants and tunics for summer wear. They often incorporate beads and dyes to these clothing, feathers, and bone. Their style may be similar to that of the giants though they rely far more on bison then they do on mammoths. There isn't a huge distinction between upper and lower class in this territory, however those with more leadership power or wealth tend to have more well designed clothing or styles. Its not uncommon, however, for people of the "upper classes" to donate excess to the lower classes to maintain a balance and sense of community and prevent fighting.

Art & Architecture

Primarily nomadic, Niya halflings travel with the wanagi around Tsoh Sei. They survive primarily off the wild herds of animals, migrating with them at times, and living in easy to pull tents and wagons. They are well known for their blankets and tapestries of rich furs, leather working, and beeding. They make extra money to trade for goods through their arts and trinket crafting, or selling their meets and furs.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

Halflings will typically have a "name day" ceremony where people bring foods for a potluck style picnic. This is usually around the child is 1 year of age, when the parents have grown to like a specific name for the child. The name day ceremony is typically also the child's first birthday where the name is officially transcribed in family and community documents.

Coming of Age Rites

Halflings will typically host a 20th birthday party for themselves which is a community potluck, often accompanied by music and a lot of beer. Their ability to host and plan such an event is often a cause for great scrutiny, and says a great deal about how well they were raised in halfling culture. After this birthday, they are typically considered adults. It is during this event that Wanagi elders will gift the halflings their fourth name.

Funerary and Memorial customs

People of this area tend to do funeral pyres as a habit being nomadic people that wouldn't be able to go back and visit graves. The community has developed a culture of saying goodbye to their dead in somber rituals and songs, before moving on and not looking back. Niya halflings have adapted this culture.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

People of Meldran tend to be very self expressive and decorative. People often value how an individual expresses themselves via their talents, or how they show of their home and traditional skills of homemaking, hunting, gathering or farming. For example, a hunter with well made hides of fur, bone decorations, and claw necklaces would be considered very stylish and desirable. This has carried over into the general style of Niya halflings as well.

Gender Ideals

Males are considered hunters, warriors, or sailors while women tend to stay home and care for children, cook or mend and maintain the home. There is great pride and social expectation to display skills within expected gender roles. For example, a male might be expected to be a proud and a good hunter. He might display his furs and bones decoratively as beauty ideals and act proud or boast of these skills in order to gain social popularity. A woman might be expected to maintain a house, cook, and care for children. She might display good craftsmen of fabrics or host a gathering at her well cared for home with delicious foods. She would be proud of these skills. These skills also reflect on how well they were raised. Children are often seen as the pride of their parents and an individual with poor skills reflects poorly on the parents. Rejecting these roles is not just a rejection of social expectation, but also a rejection of your parents ability to raise you and is an insult to them.

Courtship Ideals

The community often notices the skills and displays of the youth to make themselves seem desirable, and will play matchmaker, often bringing to couples together that seem exceptionally well suited together. Dating becomes more of a simulation among the elders then something the couple engages in. If it doesn't work out, the community understands but will get increasingly more frustrated if the couples are considered "picky." If someone is homosexual, they often show this by not partaking in beauty displays or pride displays and let the community know that they are not interested in marriage. This is usually left alone, with some negative stigmas and communal disappointment.

Relationship Ideals

Since people are usually drawn together by the community, relationships tend to be well matched if they succeed and diversity in skill and traditional values are encouraged. Together, a couple should be self sufficient and independent, working together as a cohesive unit.