Halflings in the Green Coast

A few decades ago, the halflings were second only to humans in their numbers. These days, while still numerous, their population has been decimated by the hobgoblins. Despite this, the halflings of the Green Coast have managed to bounce back with surprising speed and adaptability.

Physical Description

Halflings resemble humans, only shorter. Averaging between 3 and 4 feet in height, halflings do not cut an imposing figure.

     Unlike most other races, halfling women prefer to keep their hair short. The longest hair that most halfling women will have will end at their shoulders, while refugees tend to keep theirs even shorter with pixie cuts being the most common. Halfling men tend to keep their hair cut to just above shoulder height at longest, and prefer to remain clean shaven.

Society

If there is one feature that applies to halflings, refugees or otherwise, it is their inability to do things halfway. When a halfling sets out to do something, be it as specific as hunting down a person or item or as general as to learn a profession, he throws his entire being into it. This inability to settle for less than their best enabled the halflings to dominate the Green Coast north of the Free Counties. 

     Today, most halflings are refugees, and have formed stronger familial bonds as a result. To halflings, family is everything. Nearly everything that they do is for their families, in some way or another. Their refugee status has closed doors for many halflings, leading to them living lives of crime either on land or at sea.

     Since the loss of their homeland, many halflings have discovered that they possess sorcerous power. Called the Storm Gift, roughly thirty percent of halflings born after the rise of the hobgoblin empire have this power.

Relations

Most races pity the halflings, but few will go out of their way to help on more than an individual basis. Most attempts to help are truly just ways for the so-called helper to feel better about themselves. For their part, the halflings are determined to carve out their own place. This has directly led to the creation of Shadowmask, an elusive figure that taught the secrets of ki combined with unarmed combat and guerilla tactics.

Alignment and Religion

The two largest halfling founded organizations include a rigid religious organization and a secret order that operates outside the law. At heart, most halflings are decent people that have been kicked and beaten down, making them Neutral Good.

     Most halflings worship Mona, the silver moon goddess, and are among the church's most fervent followers. The single largest organization dedicated to her, the Abies Ceatung, was founded by halfling refugees that were looking for a purpose in life.

Adventurers

An unusually large number of halflings leave home to partake in adventures. Many of these halfling adventurers perform hit and run attacks on hobgoblin border patrols, while others take to the seas to become pirates. Still others assist the Archaeology Society by clearing out monster-infested ruins.

Names

Unless mandated by their station, such as a noble house or governmental office, halflings only rarely have more than one name. In the cases where a second name is required, they will choose one based on such names in the region. Most halflings are named for a great grandparent, or rarely a member of another race that performed a great service for the family.

Male Names: Ebroin, Kanfranc, Keltas, Lonas, Lonehikas, Mavanas, Pantel, Siddas, Yaremka, Zikas

Female Names: Aralanta, Cheli, Dalia, Gamora, Garit, Irada, Junana, Lina, Manana, Mella

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