Halflings are small race native to the Small Country in Cannor and Fahvanosy in Sarhal known for their wit, positivity, and adventuring spirit in addition to their exemplary agricultural and culinary expertise.
Appearance[]
Like their cousins the gnomes, halflings are among the shortest of the races of Halann and can be mistaken for them at a distance. A noted difference between the two is their ears: gnomish ears are larger and slightly pointed while a halfling's are rounded. Halflings also have hairy and proportionally-large feet, a point of pride for many, leading to them eschewing footwear except when necessary. Much like one may style the hair on one's head, halflings will do the same with their feet hair, brushing it into neat little curls and occasionally decorating it with braids and beads; halfling nobles in particular might wear elaborate powdered wigs for their feet, carefully secured and decorated with ribbon. Unlike gnomes and the similarly-short dwarves, facial hair can be difficult for halfling men to grow beyond sideburns; while there are exceptions, keeping a clean-shaven face remains the predominant fashion.
Among Cannorian halflings, skin tones range from fair to tanned. While brown curly-to-wavy hair is the most common, shades of blonde and red do exist albeit much rarer. Physical differences can be observed among the descendants of the various older Cannorian halfling ethnicities: Hillfoots and Moonfoots, whose traits define the quintessential bucolic and cheerful halfling archetype, are of the typical soft yet resilient halfling build; the well-fed Ciderfoots tend to be rounder and plumper, especially those of Butterburn; the martial Royfoots are stronger, sturdier, and stockier; Oakfoots tend to be lean and rangy due to the relative scarcity of food in the Approach; and Beefoots are small, even by halfling standards, and certain family are noted to be more hirsute and capable of growing fuller facial hair.
The Vyzemby of Sarhal are darker-skinned with hair in tighter curls.
Biology[]
Halflings live about as long as humans do with an average lifespan of 80 years though there are some exceptions. The region of Thomsbridge is known to harbor many centenarians due to an easy-going local lifestyle. In terms of body build, halflings metabolize quickly and retain excess as fat, giving a healthy halfling a layer of pudge. This high metabolic rate is why halflings need to consume so much food, resulting in up to seven meal times in a single day.
Having diverged from halflings, interracial couples of halflings and gnomes can still have gnomeling children, who are sterile.
History[]
While it is commonly understood that Cannorian halflings originated from the Southern Sarhaly region, the exact specifics of how they arrived in Cannor are difficult to prove definitively. Despite this, there are several commonly accepted theories amongst historians for how the Vyzemby became the 'Foots' of Cannor and the gnomes, who originate as halflings mutated by the damestear of the Splinters.
Migration Theories[]
Grand Voyage theory[]
One of the earliest theories on Halfling migration was the rather simple explanation that they simply sailed up along the Sarhaly coast and landed in Lencenor. It has been pointed out that even prehistoric halflings of Fahvanosy were proficient mariners, having spread across the Summer Isles. However, most modern historians reject this theory for the following reasons: Sailing up the Sarhaly coast would have them traveling against the natural currents of the sea, which would require drastically more effort than simply following those currents east. If they were capable of sailing all this way, why choose to stop in Lencenor? The earliest recorded signs of Halflings living within the region date back to a time when the region is theorized to have been undergoing an ice age. If they were seeking more fertile land, why not settle in Akasik or Bulwar? If they were able to make the journey, why then would they have not settled in more locations along the way? Prior to the discovery of Fahvanosy, many Cannorian scholars believed the halflings of Cannor to be the only members of their kind. There is some contention on the ‘discovery’ of Fahvanosy, as Kheteratan clerks have records of the Vyzemby. Their records of trade with them, primarily via their satrapy of Kunolo, predate the Cannorian discovery of Fahvanosy by several hundred years. There are also documented incidents of so-called “Ghost Halflings” living deep within the Dao Nako. These have been cited as potential Halfling remnants from the migration, but finding, let alone interviewing, these groups is notoriously difficult. Those few that have been contacted cite their origins back to the fall of the Ananoma.
Fey Portal theory[]
Another theory posits the possibility of fey interference, and the potential of a portal similar to the instance observed in the Domandrod. Though there are no recorded portals within the Dao Nako, the region is known to have fey influences. It has been argued these could have been much stronger in ages past, having been diminished later by genie dominance within the region. The undeniable fey presence in the Redglades is then speculated to be the other end of this theoretical portal. Multiple attempts have been made to contact the archfey within the Redglades to either confirm or debunk this theory. Results have been mixed, with most attempts being ignored and the few semi-successful attempts being met with cryptic non-answers and riddles. Opponents of this theory argue that such a portal, even deactivated, would have left behind substantial arcane radiation that has not yet been uncovered in either the Redglades or the Dao Nako. Proponents of the theory counter that the magical energies of the Redglades would overshadow these traces and that much of the Dao Nako is unexplored. Another argument against the portal theory is the fact that seemingly no other animals, beast, or fey from the region made the same journey the halflings are alleged to have. The most common rebuttal is that usage of the portal may have required archfey cooperation, however the lack of modern archfey cooperation in answering questions renders this functionally impossible to prove or disprove.
Marid Wish theory[]
The third theory of halfling travel is that of a group of halflings having wished to go there. The most common genie subtype assumed to be responsible are the Marids, a genie attuned with the plane of water that at one time made their homes within the seas of South Sarhal. This theory benefits from being well within the established powers of genies, as transporting someone from one place to another is a common outcome of carelessly worded wishes. Especially were multiple marids to collaborate, it is possible they could have transported a sizable population of halflings from Sarhal to Cannor. That the Halflings ended up in a location with exceptionally harsh living conditions, during the time they’d have arrived at least, is often used to lend further credence to the idea of a poorly worded wish. Opponents of this theory primarily point to a lack of motivation on the part of the marids. While transporting individuals or small groups great distances is well within the power of an individual marid, transporting the number required for the halflings to survive and thrive in Cannor would have likely required multiple. One marid acting alone could simply be a malicious prank, but a group effort implies some sort of goal. Unfortunately, the motives of marids from ten thousand years ago are quite opaque. There is also the question of the halfling’s motives in making a wish in the first place. Similarly opaque, it is theorized that some disaster, natural or otherwise, may have caused a large group to want to leave their homeland by any means necessary. What this disaster could have been is a topic of heated debate, ranging from lizardfolk hostilities, dangerous predators such as tall-mouthers, and geothermal disturbances from local volcanoes.
Storm Giant theory[]
The fourth and final prominent theory of halfling travel is relatively new, and argues the halflings could have been brought to Cannor en masse by Storm Giants. One major piece of evidence in favor of this is the fact that Cannorian Halfling and Gnomish populations are largely centered in regions with high concentrations of Storm Giant ruins, that being Lencenor and the Dragoncoast. Beyond that, evidence of Storm Giant ruins have been found in Fahvanosy and along the southern coast of the Dao Nako. Opponents of the theory are quick to point out that Storm Giant ruins have been found across the entire world, not just in places with Halflings. Proponents of the theory point out that this simply helps further illustrate the naval capabilities of the Storm Giants and further proves they would be capable of causing such an exodus. The question of motive is rather contentious, with proponents of the theory arguing that Storm Giants were known for their abilities of foresight. Perhaps, then, if they saw in the future that Cannorian halflings would inhabit Lencenor, they took it upon themselves to make this future happen by intentionally moving a large population of halflings from Sarhal to Cannor. Opponents of this theory find that explanation especially frustrating. Whether or not causing something to happen because you ‘saw it in a vision of the future’ is something a ‘rational being’ would do has caused multiple academic papers to be retracted for vulgarity.
Recorded History[]
The Age of Awakening was a time of strained gnome-halfling relations as Gnomish folklore suggests they were pushed out of the fertile Dragondowns into the poorer highlands of the Dragonspine by halfling tribes, only retaking them around 1100 BA. The unification of the Gnomish Hierarchy included the participation of halflings alongside humans as raiders who were used by the city-state of Royvibobb in their gambit to weaken their rivals. Despite these hostilities, the gnomes did trade with them in peacetime; the city of Portnamm was founded as such a trading post. In what would eventually become the Small Country, halflings mingled with proto-Lencori humans, occasionally acting as their allies, other times as foes.
From the rise of the Hierarchy to its fall in the Dragonwake, the halfling tribes of Cannor would be subservient to their gnomish overlords, after which they would be harried by Gawedi warlords during the Lencori Warlord Period. A halfling-led sovereign state came only with the founding of the Small Kingdom in 478, which itself was a weak power until Lorenan the Great's confirmation of their rule as his subjects. Groups fleeing the chaos of their homelands found refuge across the Dameshead as Dameria offered lands in the Luna River valley in exchange for their cultural expertise, establishing the Moonfoot community. The halfling tribes settled into petty-kingdoms under the Small Kingdom, one for each of the Old Cannorian Halfling cultures.
As part of the League of Free Realms during the War of the Sorcerer-King, halflings fought to defend their homelands during the invasion of Lencenor. At its end, the old petty-kingdoms were restored at the Grand Ball of Anbenncóst in 1021, only to fall over the following centuries due to the Lorentish-Gawedi Wars of Dominion. Compounded with the formation of the Empire of Anbennar in 1221, the old cultures developed under foreign influence into the contemporary Bluefoot, Redfoot, Visfoot, and Imperial Halfling identities by the time of the Lilac Wars.
Halfling nationalism would develop in the Free City of Viswall, culminating in the failed Viswall Rebellion in which the city was partitioned, leaving no sovereign halfling state standing. Though the separatist sentiments remained, the rebellion's failure encouraged migration into Escann for the founding of Newshire as well as into the rediscovered continent of Aelantir, the latter resulting in the colonies of Thílvis and West Tipney.
Society[]
Beliefs and Values[]
Halfling society values hearth and home above all else: family and friends, good food and drink, and comfortable living. These manifest as close-knit communities, especially in rural settlements. Even if the stereotypes of halflings being soft and craven have some truth to them, they are willing to defend their homes when threatened and engage in long-term guerilla warfare when needed.
Though typically warm and hospitable to guests, their love of close kin can result in a clannish and provincial mindset; the most infamous example of this is the Cider Feud between the Appleseeds of Appleton and the Peartrees of Pearview, a long-lasting succession dispute over the petty-kingdom of Ciderfield which led to the fall of the Small Kingdom.
The famous exploits of the hero Finnic Shadowhand during the War of the Sorcerer-King led to a dramatic rise in the number of halfling thieves and rogues; the romanticization of adventure, intrigue, and larceny remains a common trend among halfling youth. Colonel Sanderfoot was a leading figure of the culinary arts and emphasized halfling's love for food. Additionally Fiddle Swifthand inspired many halflings and ynnic people to engage in music with his violin skills.
Out in the country, many halflings retain certain traditionalist beliefs. For example, halflings have strong taboos against men handling milk, leading to the production of butter and cheese being professions exclusive to women, resulting in Butterburn's dairy guilds being dominated by the Butter Baronesses. The Redfoots of Bigwheat in particular hold to superstitions regarding lucky charms to ward off danger and the rite of "breaking bread" to signal that no harm is to be done over a shared dinner table, both stemming from the legacy of their Royfoots ancestors.
Relations with Other Races[]
Halflings in Cannor have generally had two main races they have interacted with throughout history: humans and gnomes. In both cases, it has been a relationship of subjugation. As tribes, the halflings often paid tribute to the various human tribes of Lencenor, such as the Lorenti peoples (the predecessors of Lorent) or under governance of the Gnomish Hierarchy (who did the same to their human neighbors too). Despite these long-running relationships, most halflings generally saw this as something of a political nature rather than race, and in times of peace halflings were protected and generally left to their own devices by their overlords.
There have been few occasions of halflings rising up against their non-halfling masters, and most have combined halfling patriotism with nationalistic motivations to make a unified Small Country. The first of which was the Small Kingdom, which was a rump state of a collapsing Gnomish Hierarchy. While dominated and led by halflings, the Kingdom actually welcomed fleeing gnomes into their lands, who went on to form the industrial backbone of the fledgling kingdom. The second was the formation of the Small Country itself, which unified the divided halfling lands under the control of the Kingdom of Gawed and Kingdom of Lorent.
As a whole, halflings have a cordial relationship with most of the traditional 'non-monstrous' races, even if those races seem to treat halflings with less respect due to their stature. In multiracial cities, some halflings have even bonded with goblins and kobolds who have also suffered ridicule or prejudice due to their small size.
List of Halfling Cultures[]
Cannor[]
Old Cannorian Halfling[]
- Old Halfling †
- Beefoot - The largely urbanite culture of the halflings of Beepeck and Orston; more naval, mercantile, and cutthroat than other Cannorian halflings
- Oakfoot † - The reclusive forest halflings of Elkmarch and Uelaire; skilled hunters and trappers with a grudge against Uelaire
- Royfoot † - The stodgy, honest, and stalwart folk of Roysfort and Bigwheat; famed pony breeders, grain farmers, and castle defenders
- Ciderfoot † - The feuding aristocratic farmers of Appleton, Pearview, and the western counties; prosperous, passive-aggressively polite, and proud of it
- Hillfoot † - The quintessential barrow-dwelling halflings of Greymill, Coppertown, and Thomsbridge; mixed farmers and city-dwellers at the heart of Small Country culture
- Moonfoot - A culture descended from Dragonwake refugees who were granted refuge in the Luna River valley; assimilated much of Damerian culture, use legalities to protect themselves
- Creekfoot - A culture present in the land of the of the kingdom of Iochand
Modern Cannorian Halfling[]
- Imperial - An umbrella term for all halflings living in the Empire of Anbennar, namely those of Beefoot and Moonfoot descent.
- Esmari Halfling - A subgroup of Moonfoot Halflings who were granted refuge by the Damerians, these Halflings chose to travel further on and settle north of the Luna Valley within the fertile lands of Esmaria. With Esmaryl already popular within the Small Temple, they had little difficulty acclimating. Stereotypes applied to Esmari humans are broadly applicable to the Esmari Halflings, with their culture having melted nearly seamlessly into the local culture. A particularly vulgar stereotype, however, is that every Esmari Halfling woman has at least ten children.
- Borders Halfling - A subgroup of Lunafoot Halflings who traveled east to the Borders, these smallfolk are rarer and hardier than their western cousins. Though still maintaining the stereotypical love of food and comfort, decades of gnollish incursions, shambling undead in their gardens, and whatever other horrors the borders throw at them, these Halflings have learned to never leave home without a weapon. The invention of mass-produced firearms was especially well received by these Halflings, evening the odds between them and their dangerous neighbors, and it is said that every Borders halfling older than twelve knows how to shoot a gun. For some, this marksmanship has seen them find great fortune among Wexonard mercenary groups.
- Bluefoot - The Gawedi-influenced halflings living in the northern Small Country, known for their archers and family businesses
- Eaglecrest Halfling - Prior to the invasions of the Gawedi, and the Peace of Lorenan, the hills of Eaglecrest had once been part of the Old Gnomish Hierarchy and housed halflings, gnomes, and human subjects. When Lorenan’s peace established new borders for the Small Kingdom, the hills of Eaglecrest were ceded to the Gawedi under the stewardship of Lodan Scalecloak. Halflings living in the region were provided financial incentives to move southwards, but many chose to remain in what they considered their ancestral home. In time, they would be viewed as proper Eaglecresters as they fought to defend their lands from Kobold, Gnomish, or Gerudian incursions as fiercely as any human. An Eaglecrest Halfling once caused a horrendous scandal in Viswall by presenting a rainbow-dress decorated with kobold scales to his bride-to-be, leading to the stereotype among other Halflings that they’re backwards Hillfolk.
- Alen Halfling - Originally taken as slaves during the early days of the Godrac the Invader, these Halflings found enough success as farmers to earn freedom. Or, at least, as much freedom as can be expected of medieval peasants. Known to be quite superstitious, even by the standards of those who live near the Greatwoods, the homes of these Halflings are often decorated with wards and charms meant to keep away the dangers of the outside world. But behind the shuttered windows and barred doors, they hold and cherish the quiet comfort and softness of the Small Country.
- Redfoot - The Lorentish-influenced halflings living in the southern Small Country, known for their pony cavalry and courtesies
- Bloodwine Halfling - Stemming from the long history of cooperation between the Lencori and the Halflings, these Halflings settled along the Bloodwine river over the course of hundreds of years following the collapse of the Gnomish Hierarchy. During the Small Country revolt, a culture of exaggerated Lencori nationalism took root due to a desire to reaffirm their loyalty. Other Halflings often stereotype them as sycophantic and twofaced, while they similarly demonize their rebellious cousins as traitors and troublemakers.
- Iochander Halfling - Made of a mix of Creekfoot, Ciderfoot, and the odd Roysfoot, the oldest families of these halflings have been living here since before the fall of the Gnomish Hierarchy. Others were pushed or drawn to these parts during the height of the Kingdom of Iochand. Often stereotyped as practical and down-to-earth, the halflings of Iochand make an odd counterpart to the stereotype of whimsical Creek Gnomes. Always eager to remind their supervisors of reality, they have a knack for ensuring parties, plays, and grand projects are completed on time and on budget.
- Visfoot - The colorful and cultured city-dwellers of Viswall with a dramatic style of speech and love of the arts
- Newfoot - Descendants of Escanni adventurers, infamous for their Chloromancers and their tea culture
Aelantir[]
- Towerfoot
- Pipefoot
- Plumfoot
Sarhal[]
- Vzemby
- Amezetany
- Fomarati
- Mboala
- Mazava
- Lonanofi
† = Extinct