Pioneer Breakfast
Pioneer breakfast is a Halfling tradition in which one eats pie for breakfast. The pie in question is typically a sweet fruit pie, such as an apple or peach pie, though a savory or custard-based pie may occasionally be eaten instead if no appropriate fruits are in season. Though a pioneer breakfast can be enjoyed at any time, it is particularly traditional to have a pioneer breakfast before a move or a long journey.
The origin of the name "pioneer breakfast" is unknown. Most believe that it comes from the halfling pioneers who crossed the plains of Dreibach at the beginning of the halfling race, in the Age of Anxiety (see: Ages of History). Those pioneers who used up their fruit, sugar, and flour rations before they left were often able to make a stronger head start on their journeys and avoid being robbed of their supplies by bandits; therefore, the practice of making and eating a pie amongst the family was born. Others attribute the name itself to a simple pun on the word "pie."
The strength gained from a calorie-rich breakfast is not the only way that a pioneer breakfast can fortify travelers. Some Aberrations, such as intellect devourers, are naturally attracted to the stress and uncertainty that a major journey can provoke. The comfort of a sweet food shared amongst family and friends can ward off some of that stress, and thus cause fewer emotion-feeding monsters to seek out the travelers.
When a family moves, it is tradition for their closest neighbor to bring a pie (or multiple pies) the night before, to share with them as a going-away gesture. These neighbors often bake or serve the pie in a dish meant to be kept by the family who is moving, and adorn the crust of the pie with lucky symbols like the clam shell of Aibel or any simple symbol that represents their family. The next morning, there should be enough pie left to eat for pioneer breakfast before the journey begins. It is not uncommon for multiple neighbors to deem themselves "closest" to the family in question. Sometimes, this causes intense drama and competition between multiple clans; other times, it results in a spontaneous party where dozens of halflings come away with stomachs full of pie.
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