Halflings
Standing about 1.30m tall, they appear relatively harmless and so have managed to survive for centuries in the shadow of larger kingdoms and on the edges of wars and political strife. They are inclined to be stout, weighing between 25 and 30 kilos.
Halflings’ skin ranges from tan to pale with a ruddy cast, and their hair is usually brown or sandy brown and wavy. They have brown or hazel eyes. Halfling men often sport long sideburns or mustaches, but beards are rare among them. They like to wear simple, comfortable, and practical clothes, favoring bright colors.
Halfling practicality extends beyond their clothing. They’re concerned with basic needs and simple pleasures and have little use for ostentation. Even the wealthiest of halflings keep their treasures locked in a cellar rather than on display for all to see. They have a knack for finding the most straightforward solution to a problem and have little patience for dithering.
Halflings are affable and cheerful people. They cherish the bonds of family and friendship as well as the comforts of home, harboring few dreams of gold or glory. Even adventurers among them usually venture into the world for reasons of community, friendship, wanderlust, or curiosity. They love discovering new things, even simple things, such as exotic foods or an unfamiliar style of clothing.
Halflings are easily moved to pity and hate to see any living thing suffer. They are generous, happily sharing what they have even in lean times.
Halflings are adept at fitting into a community of humans, or dwarves, making themselves valuable and welcome. The combination of their inherent stealth and their unassuming nature helps halflings to avoid unwanted attention.
Halflings work readily with others, and they are loyal to their friends, whether halfling or otherwise. They can display remarkable ferocity when their friends, families, or communities are threatened.
Most halflings live in small, peaceful communities with large farms and well-kept groves located in the Merovingian kingdom, they are technically part of the kingdom but are not bound by their laws, a special arrangement permits them to live in Merovingian Kingdom territory without obligations such as conscription, they do pay taxes in the form of grain to the Merovingian crown. Halflings typically don’t recognize any sort of halfling nobility or royalty, instead looking to family elders to guide them. Families preserve their traditional ways despite the rise and fall of empires.
Other large communities of Halflings are located on the island of Erin, the free city of Goldenfields is also almost entirely inhabited by halflings.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Andry, Bree, Callie, Cora, Euphemia, Jillian, Kithri, Lavinia, Lidda, Merla, Nedda, Paela, Portia, Seraphina, Shaena, Trym, Vani, Verna
Masculine names
Alton, Ander, Cade, Corrin, Eldon, Errich, Finnan, Garret, Lindal, Lyle, Merric, Milo, Osborn, Perrin, Reed, Roscoe, Wellby
Family names
Brushgather, Goodbarrel, Greenbottle, High-hill, Hilltopple, Leagallow, Tealeaf, Thorngage, Tosscobble, Underbough
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The Halfling language isn’t secret, but halflings are loath to share it with others. They write very little, so they don’t have a rich body of literature. Their oral tradition, however, is very strong. Almost all halflings speak Standard Imperial, and Halfling in the Merovingian kingdom speak Merovingian, they love to converse with strangers and are able to learn languages faster than most other races.
Shared customary codes and values
Halflings value community above all, peaceful creatures by nature they can become fiercely irate should friends or family be in danger.
Foods & Cuisine
The halfling diet is varied and rich, eating is a communal activity and every meal serves as a place to talk and share stories. Halflings can eat a lot more than their stature would suggest, traditionally they eat four full meals each day, breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, and dinner, they're also fond of having a lighter half meal between lunch and dinner.
Halflings drink lots of beer and wine but are not usually fond of stronger alcoholic drinks, traditionally they drink after sundown until dinnertime, halflings have dinner later than humans so this drinking period lasts from one hour during summer to four and a half hours in winter.
While they drink halflings sing and dance and are gleeful and cheery, sometimes fights start between the drunk halflings, these fights are social in nature and usually end without serious injuries or bad blood between the partecipants.
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