Halflings appear upon first glance to be a variant sub-race of Humanity: their most notable difference is
their height (their name is derived from the fact that
the average Halfling is about half the size of a
Human). However, they cannot interbreed with Humans
(or Elves). Halflings can thrive anywhere where
Humans or Elves can.
It startles many beginning scholars to learn that the
Halfling's primary protector and benefactor is
Michael, Archangel of War. Admittedly, these days
Novalis is nearly as involved in the race's
development, but it still seems odd - if one is
unobservant, and fails to see the fundamental
toughness that lies beneath a Halfling's well-fed,
prosperous frame.
Characteristics, Bonuses and Flaws
Halfling characters are built on 5 Forces. As a
general rule, a 5-Force Halfling will have only one
Corporeal Force, with a minimum Agility and Precision
of 2 (before racial bonuses). Halflings also have a
minimum Will and Perception of 3. Maximum number of
Forces: 15.
The sunny nature of Halflings (+1 Charisma) hides
their ability to soak up punishment, whether physical
or spiritual. All Halflings have Toughness/2, +2 to
Agility, +1 to both Precision and Will and the racial
skills Move Silently/1 and Throwing/1. The race tends
to live to about 80: lifespans of over a century are
hardly uncommon. Total points: 16.
However, like many short-legged races Halflings suffer
from a -1 to general move rates. Also, Halflings
start play with Addiction (pipe tobacco)/3 and
Merciful/1. Gluttony is also not unknown, alas.
Total points: -13.
Recommended skills: Ranged Weapon (bow or sling),
higher Move Silently and Throwing, various Craft
Skills.
Total Cost: 2
Psychology
Generally, the race is cheerful, peaceful and not
overly given towards introspection. Halflings tend to
be fairly straightforward and uncomplicated in their
choice of pleasures: good food, better beer (it's a
tossup about whether Halflings or Dwarves make better
brewers), a pipe of tobacco and a sing-along is the
Halfling definition of a fun evening. The race tends
to shrug off a lot of the usual abstract worries that
trouble other sentient species: while capable of
recognizing potential threats, the average Halfling
will not obsess over them.
Oddly enough (considering their creator), most
Halflings are not particularly adventurous. Give a
group of Halflings six months to settle somewhere, and
it will look like they've been there for centuries.
Those that do feel the need to explore or adventure
tend to do it while very young - then promptly go back
to their old homes afterwards and become
indistinguishable from the rest of their fellows, with
maybe a weapon or suit of armor in the hallway to
denote their 'wilder' days. The race tends to be
mildly matriarchal, but Halflings are not known for
elaborate social restrictions or compacts. Simple,
straightforward customs suit them just fine.
Halflings do not create their own nations, instead
preferring to join other races' political entities as
full citizens. Most other races are happy to oblige,
as Halflings make good, quiet and productive
neighbors. As a general rule, Halflings tend to
gather together - most cities have a Smalltown quarter
- but members of other races willing to duck a lot and
stand their rounds will have no problems fitting in.
Rural Halflings tend to be slightly more clannish, but
remain well-disposed to other species.
However, don't piss them off. It takes a lot to
aggravate a Halfling, but once it happens, they become
extremely effective guerrillas - and their small size
and innate agility allows them to infiltrate urban and
rural areas with equal ease. They tend to favor a
direct and personal response to oppression: more than
one would-be local tyrant has posthumously discovered
that castles are not optimally designed for repelling
three-foot infiltrators...
Ecology
Halflings can live anywhere, but prefer places where
one can grow an acceptable amount of food (according
to the Halfling). They tend to have few (if not none)
of the allergies that other species can suffer from,
and can live on a diet that would cause other races to
collapse from dietary deficiencies. They won't enjoy
it much, mind, but they can do it.
Role in the War
It may seem odd that Michael would create such a
seemingly-noncombatant race - and that he considers
them an almost unqualified success, at that. It
doesn't seem to be the Archangel of War's style, or
something.
Actually, it makes perfect sense, if one looks at it
correctly. Michael never has any trouble with
acquiring warriors - they seek him and his out,
actually. He can pick and choose at his leisure.
Logistics personnel, however ... do you have any idea
how hard it is to get good quartermasters and sutlers?
It was simply easier to create some, and have them
breed true.
Thus, most Halfling Soldiers are not usually
combatants. Michael gives them training (and a second
Corporeal Force as their sixth, if they don't already
have two), but what he really wants from them is for
them to keep the supply lines running. They're very
good at that, being naturally incorruptible in such
matters. A Halfling cook can be wheedled for an extra
helping ... but not bribed or coerced into diverting
supplies. They also eat - precisely and in equal
measure - what their charges eat, too (those with
military backgrounds can explain to the others
precisely how rare this is). Of course, not all
Halfling Soldiers are quartermasters: some actually go
into the field. They tend to be very good, very quiet
and very annoying scouts and guerrillas: they rarely
head 'good' insurrections, but often advise the
leaders of them.
Needless to say, the other War Faction Archangels are
bitterly envious that Michael has access to such
paragons, and demonstrate this by raiding his
organization whenever they can get away with it.
Laurence is especially shameless about this - because,
well, he can. Running the War has to have some
benefit, no? There are also a significant amount of
Halfling Soldiers among the Peace Faction, not too
surprisingly: Novalis especially likes the race, but
Blandine and even Jordi will recruit them.
Halflings and Hell
Poaching on Michael's turf should be an irresistible
temptation, but most of the fighting Princes could
care less. Baal thinks that Halflings are pointless
(who cares if Hellsworn die of starvation, as long as
the mission succeeds?) and Belial just thinks that
they burn nicely. The only one that really tries to
play with Halflings is Haagenti, and he would much
rather use them up to make yet more and more Kobolds.
Still, an Unbroken Race is an Unbroken Race: most
Princes will at least occasionally attempt to corrupt
Halflings, either individually or as a group.
However, Hell has noted that anything that seriously
discommodes Humans or Elves will usually spill over
into the lives of those annoyingly-happy midgets...
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