Halflings

The Relentless Travelers

History

It is said by those whom travel this world of Aethius that the places they travel allow for them to experience lives far outside of their own. A rewarding, and enriching experience for the mind, body, and soul. Those who have taken such a lifestyle to the core of their persons are none other than the Halflings themselves.

When the world of Aversia was new, and the grasses laid untouched by the feet of mortals, the valleys of mountains had never graced a human’s eye, and the vast oceans and lakes were never flown over by the Avians above it was the duty of the travelers to take in these scenes for the first time. Nomads, they swept through the lands, and witnessed the world, for new, in their own eyes.

One band of these travelers would be known as the family of Yovarye, whose dwarven eyes and experiences were unmatched. They traveled far, with an insatiable curiosity and admiration of the world around them. The Yovarye family is said to have traveled the far islands of Honji, and graced each continent as they passed - lead by their hazel eyed mother, Yesna. Wherever her family traveled, their stories would be written down, and the landscapes they witnessed were illuminated upon the stones, engraved into figurines, and painted across manuscripts. Such are artworks that exist to this day.

Traveling the world in its entirety, the journey of the Yovarye family finally came to its final destination - upon the continent of Aversia. Yesna’s hazel eyes set to the horizon, she guided her family through a mountain range - and had finally found its end. As the world opened up into a wide plain before her. Yet, it was in her sleep that night that she had passed away, only steps away from being the first mortal witness of the entire world.

As her soul left her corporeal form, a gentle hand had reached out - and held her soul. The hand of the traveler, Oklamat, himself - in admiration and great interest of her lifetime spent across the world. He spoke to her soul, and granted her the privilege of one wish granted by his power.

From her wish, the race of Halflings were formed from her lineage. A race to never tire upon their feet, a race to never forget a landscape which they have found, a race whose sole wish is to experience the world around them. Yesna’s lineage is one that can travel farther than she ever could, and love the world around them. All Halflings may trace their ancestry to her, the first to have been taken by wanderlust.

Physical Description

Halflings exist amongst the smallest of all the Aversian races, with their little bodies standing perhaps up to the knee of their companions. Standing at full height, the tallest of Halflings may still look up to a Dwarf. Though, their smaller sizes are to their advantage. Quick, nimble, and sly, the Halflings were not created to take command of the scene, and rather travel across the lands, and squeeze into its nooks and crannies for the sheer thrill of exploration.

In their early years, Halflings can be distinguished by their incredibly short height, and two distinctly large feet, and a nose that will rapidly grow much larger. Here, their bodies will grow, reaching their mature height by around 28 Tsels. Their lives, up to that point, a slow growing process. Growing callouses upon the soles of their feet, and finding their legs well built - these are tasks and feats that are incredibly easy in their early years. Their hair will begin to grow in, and the color will take hold - one of only three possible colors of Blonde, Ginger, or Silver. Their eyes, however, remain constant - every Halfling will have Hazel eyes. A pure mixture of Brown, Blue, and Green will always blend to meld within their eyes. Their noses themselves, meanwhile, will become large and round - and will never stop growing throughout their lives. Ending with many of their elder parts flaunting such as a mark of their years spent upon the world.

Halflings, when young, will begin as short, and stocky - and a little bit thin. Their bodies are made to be efficient so that they may press into their travels, and steam ahead. Though, over their decades and past even a century - their bodies will become less so. Their large feet will become calloused over and worn, and their once thin body will become fat and plump. Between their eyes will rest a magnanimous nose, and their brows themselves will grow so big that they will droop down over their vision. However, at no point in their age will their bodies become bedridden, or unable to walk. For their feet and legs are too powerful and great for such. No matter how their back may ache, or their vision may fade - the Halfling will always be able to wander.

• Common Height: 2’11” - 4’0”
• Common Build: Mesomorph
• Common Eyes: Hazel
• Common Hair: Blonde, Ginger, Silver
• Common Skin Tones: Pale, Beige, Freckled

Culture

United by wanderlust, Halflings are born and raised - with parents expecting for their child to wish to run away, or to bring them across the world at some point. Though, this does not mean that none have settled. Many Halflings have created homes that they often return to, or even live in for most of the year. Here, they do not farm, but rather wish to forage amongst the nearby forests and fields for their meals and food. Surveyors of the land, Halflings are accredited to be well versed in what they may survive upon, or what is poisonous.

Their communities are often very in tune with the nature around them, when finding a fallen tree in the woods - the Halflings will not clear it. Rather, they will cultivate mushrooms upon the decaying tree, for both themselves and the wildlife to feed on. Often, the nature will as well return favor, rabbits will leave behind a small vegetable they had dug up upon a Halfling’s doorstep, and a Mimicrov may leave a stalk of mint upon their windowsill in gratitude.

Halflings enjoy keeping history, and their experiences alive. And for this, not only do they travel the world, but they capture their scenes and experiences usually in some medium of storytelling, or art. Usually, in a shire of Halflings, one will find numerous depictions of far distant landscapes, long dead Queens and foreign Monarchs, and the renown Champions of gods that a community may produce throughout the tsel.

Once every few Tsels, all Halflings of a community may return home, already knowing of a festival. Here, the villages will become covered with the amassed artworks and pieces created by all the traveling Halflings, and perhaps triple in their normal population. Here, small stones will be gathered into formations called Faerie Circles - and Halflings will gather around with their family, friends, and strangers speaking and telling their stories. Sharing art, they will travel from one Faerie Circle to the next, enjoying one’s company - or even selling a telling of a thrilling story, or the location of a monument for a quick coin. Though, one thing will separate all the other stories and art - as above all, an original piece of Yesna’s artwork will be found, to be shared and revered amongst the community. Considered one of the highest honors and privileges of a Halfling, to be able to see what Yesna had saw the world once as. It is a feeling that is rewarding beyond belief.

The lives and cultures of all Halflings are built around their insatiable want yearning for wanderlust. Their communities are built around it, and their history and origin are founded upon their insatiable yearning. Amongst all Aversians, the Halflings are the true travelers.

Mechanics

• Lifespan: 170 years
• Halflings are extremely nimble and quick on their feet, able to jump and scale sheer surfaces with ease - they are often slippery and tricky and have the same speed as goblins.
• Halflings possess very large feet, which never seem to tire, become exhausted, or sore. The only true things stopping a Halfling from wandering forever are their needs to eat, and sleep.
• Halflings possess an immunity to poison, and are able to tell where the poison is, and what ingredients were used to make the poison itself.
• Halflings’ skin does not tend to tan, but rather freckle.
• The wanderlust of a Halfling does not derive from their culture, but rather it is a characteristic innate and inescapable of their race - a constant that is core to their very race as Halflings.
• Naturally, Halflings hold a very artistic eye, and are usually able to some form of art such as painting, sculpting, carving, or even tinkering very easy, which they take from their dwarven cousins.

The World of Aethius • The Multiverse of Aethier