Halflings

Common Names

Male Names: Antal, Boram, Hyrgan, Jamir, Lem, Miro, Sumak, Tribin, Uldar, Vraxim. 

Female Names: Anafa, Bellis, Etune, Filiu, Irlana, Marra, Pressi, Rilka, Sistra, Wyssal, Yamyra. 

Physical Description

Halflings rise to a humble height of three feet. They prefer to walk barefoot, leading the bottoms of their feet to become roughly calloused. Tufts of thick, curly hair warm the tops of their broad, tanned feet. Their skin tends toward a rich cinnamon color and their hair toward light shades of brown. A halfling’s ears are pointed, but proportionately not much larger than those of a human.

Halflings prefer simple and modest clothing. Though willing and able to dress up if the situation demands it, their urge to remain quietly in the background makes them rather conservative dressers in most situations. Halfling entertainers, on the other hand, make their livings by drawing attention, and tend to go overboard with gaudy and flashy costumes.

Age Range: Adult 22, old age 75, max age 100-200.

Halfling Males: Height 2'10"-3'4" and weight 32-38 lbs (average 3'1" , 35 lbs).

Halfling Females: Height 2'8"-3'2" and weight 27-33 lbs (average 2'11", 30 lbs).

Society

Rather than place their faith in empires, many halflings prefer to focus on the simpler virtues of their families and local communities. Halflings claim no cultural homeland and control no settlements larger than rural assemblies of free towns. Most often, they dwell at the knees of their human cousins in human cities, eking out livings as they can from the scraps of larger societies. Many halflings lead perfectly fulfilling lives in the shadow of their larger neighbors, while some prefer more nomadic lives, traveling the world and experiencing all it has to offer.

Halflings rely on customs and traditions to maintain their own culture. They have an extensive oral history filled with important stories about folk heroes who exemplify particular halfling virtues, but otherwise see little purpose in studying history in and of itself. Given a choice between a pointless truth and a useful fable, halflings almost always opt for the fable. This tendency helps to explain at least something of the famous halfling adaptability. Halflings look to the future and find it very easy to cast off the weight of ancient grudges or obligations that drag down so many other races.

Relations

A typical halfling prides himself on his ability to go unnoticed by others—a trait that allows many halflings to excel at thievery and trickery. Most halflings know full well the stereotypical view others take of them as a result, and go out of their way to be forthcoming and friendly to the bigger ancestries when they’re not trying to go unnoticed.

They get along fairly well with gnomes, although most halflings regard these eccentric creatures with a hefty dose of caution. Halflings respect elves and dwarves, but they often live in remote regions far from the comforts of civilization that halflings enjoy. By and large, only half-orcs are shunned by halflings, for their great size and violent natures are a bit too intimidating for most halflings to cope with.

Halflings coexist well with humans as a general rule, but since some of the more aggressive human societies value halflings as slaves, they try not to grow too complacent.

Religion

Always practical, halflings frequently worship the deity most favored by their larger and more powerful neighbors. They also usually cover their bets, however, by giving Desna her due. The goddess of both luck and travel seems a natural fit for most halflings and offering her a quick prayer every now and then is only common sense. 

Adventurers

Their inherent luck coupled with their insatiable wanderlust makes halflings ideal candidates for lives of adventure. Though perfectly willing to pocket any valuables they come across, halflings often care more for the new experiences adventuring brings them than for any material reward.

Others often put up with this curious ancestry in hopes that some of their mystical luck will rub off. Halflings see nothing wrong with encouraging this belief, not just in their traveling companions, but also in the larger world. Many try to use their reputation for luck to haggle for reduced fare when traveling by ship or caravan, or even for an overnight stay at an inn, though this is met with mixed success.

Languages: Common and Halfling.

• Agile: Halflings are graceful and agile. They start with a d6 in Agility instead of a d4. This increases maximum Agility to d12+1.

• Keen Senses: Keen senses allow halflings to catch details others might miss. They start with a d6 in Notice instead of a d4. This increases maximum Notice to d12+1.

• Lucky: Halflings have a knack for surviving. They gain the Luck Edge. Even halfling Extras gain this ability!

• Reduced Pace: Decrease Pace by 1 and reduce the running die by one die type.

• Size -1: Halflings reduce their Size and Toughness by 1.

• Sure-Footed: Naturally graceful, halflings start with a d6 in Athletics instead of a d4. This increases maximum Athletics to d12+1.

Alternate Ancestral Abilities

• Adaptable Luck: Some halflings have control over their innate luck. Once per session, this character can spend a Benny to reroll a Critical Failure. This replaces Lucky.

• Fleet of Foot: Some halflings are quicker than their kin but less cautious. These halflings draw one additional card when using the Quick Chase Deck. Additionally, they do not reduce their Pace due to Wound penalties. This replaces Keen Senses.

• Low Blow: Some halflings train extensively in the art of attacking larger creatures. Halflings with this ability gain +2 AP when attacking creatures at least three Sizes larger than themselves. This replaces Sure-Footed.