Halfling Details

Halflings, also known as Half-men, are an unassuming, short and lightweight people noted for their somewhat childlike appearance. While many halflings value comfort, they also value freedom and have a curiosity and wanderlust that draws them to venture out into the world as rōnin. Halflings have no settlements of their own larger than villages, instead, they often live alongside the taller peoples of Kamiato.

Appearance and Physiology

Halflings are humanoids distinguished by their short height and lightweight builds. Adults stand between three and four feet tall on average. They are a fairly short-lived people, living around 60 years on average. They make up for their shorter lifespans with a high birthrate, and mothers bear twins and triplets with much more regularity than other folk. Halflings often have roundish, somewhat childlike features and large ears.

Due to their short stature, halflings, especially younger adults, are often perceived to be younger than they really are by non-halflings. This is consistent source of irritation for many halflings living in more cosmopolitan settings, but also a source of drive for many halflings who seek to prove themselves.

Society

Halfling societies vary depending on the region. They are less widespread than some of the other mannish ancestries, but where they may be found, they are quite numerous. While most halfling communities are integrated into larger settlements of the taller peoples, some isolated halfling communities, or wandering bands of halflings possess a culture of their own.

Halfling Bloodlines

There are two halfling bloodlines, distinguished largely by the environments that they have chosen as their homes.

Lightfoot Halfling

The lightfoot halflings, sometimes called the more "civilized" of the two lineages, make up the majority of halflings found in larger cities, towns, and villages, especially those with large non-halfling populations. In these larger cities and towns, these halfling have a tendency to cluster together, with most halflings in a larger city living on just one or a few specific districts.

They are inclined towards affable and friendly personalities and many seek no more than the comfort of a safe place to call home. The rest, however, are often driven by wanderlust, and may form roaming, nomadic bands that travel from place to place, occasionally settling for a period, before moving on to the next place. Lightfoot halflings often find work in areas that require their nimble fingers and small statures, or where the tendency towards affability helps them to succeed.

Wildhair Halflings

The wildhair halflings, sometimes considered the more "primitive" of the two bloodlines, have lived on the coasts and along the waterways of Kamiato for centuries, usually in small villages and communities. They typically make their homes in the treetops, and as a result, prefer to sleep in elevated places, even when they venture beyond their home villages. They stand out among other halflings due to their fiery red hair and the faint reddish tint of their skin.

Life in the treetops along riverbanks and coasts often trains wildhair halflings to be adept at both swimming and climbing. In regions such as the Spiritwood they consider themselves kindred spirits with the Masaru, while those that call the Dragon Isles home may feel a kinship with the sea elves. The relatively small number of these halflings that live in predominantly non-halfling communities often make a living as fishers.