Halfling
"Sure, halflings look friendly and harmless, but fight alongside one and you'll see their inner might."Living in the shadow of larger races, halflings are guarded by luck and driven with enthusiasm. Peaceful folk with no home of their own, they can be found all over Vyrd. Their ancestors protect them, but their bravery guides them.
Small and Nimble
Around 3 feet tall, halflings can easily go unnoticed. Their skin has a range similar to humans going from extremely dark to paler than paper. They have ears pointer than humans but not as long and sharp as elves'. Their hair color goes from white to black and is often wavy. It is rare for halflings to grow facial hair but there have been documented cases. Most of the time, halfling men grow long sideburns. The name "halfling" comes from larger folk, as they are around half the size of a human. They normally refer to themselves as Hin, but they do not take offense to the name halfling. Halflings are built light and quick. They are normally nimble enough to squeeze through tight spaces. This works to their advantage as it allows them to navigate places inhabited by larger folk by dodging in between their bigger bodies. Some say that they are born stealthy, but halflings know that they simply use their size and luck to their advantage.Unnoticed and Everywhere
Halflings have no land of their own. Sometimes halflings become nomadic people, moving from place to place, from town to town, settling down nowhere. Some halflings live in small hamlets with relatives, but most live among larger folk. They consider the place they live home even if it wasn't made by halflings. Even the most isolated dwarven Strongholds and elven cities might have a few families of halflings running about. They are strong and adaptable workers, making them valuable everywhere. The Power of Ancestors Halflings have no gods of their own, but they do venerate their ancestors. They perform modest rituals in their deceased relatives' honor, normally burning incenses or candles at shrines. Halflings believe that their ancestors never truly die. Once they were a living body, but now they're a corpse and the breath of the wind. Their physical form may be gone, but their consciousness remains to protect their descendants. Halflings see omens, whether they be the wind blowing in a particular direction at a fork in the road or rain falling after a risky decision, as their ancestors trying to guide them from the grave. They often try to ask their ancestors for guidance through small rituals. Because ancestors are worshipped, they become a sort of pseudo-deity, with the power to manipulate fate, but they are not extremely powerful compared to entities such as Archdevils or Gods. At the age of 3, halflings go through a ceremony where they find their guardian spirit. A guardian spirit is an ancestor who is said to guard a specific halfling. The halfling reveres them more than their other ancestors and seeks guidance from them often. The guardian spirit visits the halfling in dreams and sends omens to protect them. The spirit may manifest itself in omens as how they looked in life, an animal, or a force of nature. Some guardian spirits appear most subtly than others, some appear every night in dreams, and others will appear only when needed. Whatever a halfling's relationship with their guardian spirit is, their ancestor guides them throughout life. The luck of the halflings is a well-researched phenomenon. When a halfling is in danger, the tides of luck can turn in their direction. If a gang of bandits approaches a halfling village, they may mysteriously find themselves lost. If a halfling misses while shooting a shortbow, the wind may drift the arrow towards the target. If a halfling falls off a deadly height, they may find their clothes snagged on an outcrop. Other races debate why this happens, some say that it's because halflings are descended from fey, others say it's because of an ancient prophecy, but the answer lies in their guardian spirits. The spirits can manipulate fate to make sure halflings survive and succeed in a dangerous world.Unknown Origins
The origin of halflings is a question that escapes many experts. Lacking gods of their own, it's truly unclear where they come from. Halflings themselves don't really care about this timeless conundrum, saying it's where they go in life that matters. However, there are signs of where halflings came from. Ancient cities found in secluded jungles and deserts have text written in a language that seems to be an ancient form of halfling. Temples in these cities have shrines that resemble the shrines that halflings create. The cities are made of a gleaming metal that is similar to gold. Treasure hunters of all types flock to these cities because of the riches said to be hidden within them. These cities provide more knowledge of the mysterious origin of halflings.Halfling Names
Halflings are given names at birth. Halfling names are normally short, lyrical, and are rarely over 3 syllables. Their surnames are generally a simple descriptor of where they live, and is not usually passed down patern Male Names: Alton, Altus, Cade, Eldon, Errik, Ferb, Finnius, Flyn, Frodo, Huldak, Jay, Kay, Krup, Lyrich, Milo, Rickrol, Samwise, Tefer, Yarl, Zan Female Names: Andry, Bree, Brixa, Cora, Harana, Isadove, Jili, Kithri, Levinia, Maltina, Naya, Nevira, Nib, Prina, Sada, Therla, Vala, Vani, Wiara, XaraHalfling Subraces
There are numerous Halfling subraces, most shaped by the people they historically lived with.Lightfoot Halflings
Lightfoot halflings are often found in human and elven cities. Even the most isolated elven city or xenophobic human town might have a family of lightfeet running around. They are nimble and have a knack for hiding, even if the only thing to hide behind is a larger person. They are said to be naturally charismatic and are often found running jobs that reflect that. They are also commonly criminals, using their small size and persuasiveness to swindle.Stout Halflings
Said to have dwarven blood, stout halflings, also known as stouthearts, are resilient and hardy. They are commonly found in dwarven Strongholds or cities that clan members have moved to. They are shorter than other halflings and often retain the need for craft from dwarves. They have a resistance to poison that some attribute to dwarven lineage and others to their ancestors' protection. Stout halflings are often artisans or found in jobs that make use of their increased constitution.Ghostwise Halflings
Ghostwise halflings have the power to telepathically communicate with each other, known as Silent Speech. They developed this power millennia ago, back when all ghostwise halflings lived in monk monasteries. Silent Speech is an extension of the ghostwises' mastery of their life force. Originally it was an art that took years to master, it became a biological trait after many centuries. Halflings believe that this form of telepathy is their ancestors carrying messages to other people. In the monasteries, there were days where it was forbidden to speak, to show respect to the ancestors, so Silent Speech was used to bypass this as well as respect their traditions. Ghostwise tend to be quieter than other types of halflings, often preferring to speak through Silent Speech. Born to the forests and woodlands, timbersoul halflings are natural explorers. Timbersouls come from the wild, often living with wood elves, forest gnomes, firbolgs, centaurs, or on their own, in small communities. Bonded to nature, they have a natural knack for druidic magic. They have keener senses than other halflings. Timbersouls are often found protesting the destruction of wilderness, even if the land in question isn't their home, as they feel a primal connection to nature and don't want to see it fade.
Lifespan
Halflings are considered adults at 20 and live around 250 years.
Height
Halflings generally stand around 3 feet tall.
Weight
Most halflings weigh around 40-45 lbs.
Languages
Because they normally live in other folk's lands, halflings often speak Common or the tongue of the people they live with. Halfling is a traditional, poetic language that is often abandoned by Halflings in favor of Common. It has a rich body of songs, literature, and stories.
Alignment
Halflings tend toward law as they are taught to value society and family and to good as they are taught to honor others and themselves. Some turn to evil because of tradition, desperation, or for some other reason.
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