Halfling

S m a l l a n d P r a c t i c a l The diminutive halflings survive in a w orld full of larger creatures by avoiding notice or, barring that, avoiding offense. Standing about 3 feet tall, they appear relatively harm less and so have managed to survive for centuries in the shadow of em pires and on the edges o f wars and political strife. They are inclined to be stout, weighing between 40 and 45 pounds. Halflings’ skin ranges from tan to pale with a ruddy cast, and their hair is usually brow n or sandy brown and wavy. They have brown or hazel eyes. Halfling men often sport long sideburns, but beards are rare am ong them and mustaches even m ore so. They like to wear simple, com fortable, and practical clothes, favoring bright colors. Halfling practicality extends beyond their clothing. They’re concerned with basic needs and simple pleasures and have little use for ostentation. Even the wealthiest of halflings keep their treasures locked in a cellar rather than on display for all to see. They have a knack for finding the most straightforward solution to a problem, and have little patience for dithering.   K i n d a n d C u r i o u s Halflings are an affable and cheerful people. They cherish the bonds of family and friendship as well as the com forts of hearth and home, harboring few dream s of gold or glory. Even adventurers am ong them usually venture into the w orld for reasons of   A f f a b l e a n d P o s it iv e community, friendship, wanderlust, or curiosity. They love discovering new things, even simple things, such as an exotic food or an unfamiliar style of clothing. Halflings are easily m oved to pity and hate to see any living thing suffer. They are generous, happily sharing what they have even in lean times.   B l e n d i n t o t h e C r o w d Halflings are adept at fitting into a com m unity of humans, dwarves, or elves, making themselves valuable and w elcom e. The com bination of their inherent stealth and their unassum ing nature helps halflings to avoid unwanted attention. Halflings w ork readily with others, and they are loyal to their friends, whether halfling or otherwise. They can display remarkable ferocity when their friends, families, or com m unities are threatened.   P a s t o r a l P l e a s a n t r i e s M ost halflings live in small, peaceful com m unities with large farms and well-kept groves. They rarely build kingdom s o f their ow n or even hold much land beyond their quiet shires. They typically don’t recognize any sort of halfling nobility or royalty, instead looking to family elders to guide them. Fam ilies preserve their traditional ways despite the rise and fall of empires. Many halflings live am ong other races, where the halflings’ hard w ork and loyal outlook offer them abundant rewards and creature com forts. S om e halfling com m unities travel as a way of life, driving w agons or guiding boats from place to place and maintaining no permanent home. Halflings try to get along with everyone else and are loath to make sweeping generalizations— especially negative ones. Dwarves. “Dwarves make loyal friends, and you can count on them to keep their word. But would it hurt them to smile once in a while?” Elves. "They’re so beautiful! Their faces, their music, their grace and all. It’s like they stepped out of a wonderful dream. But there’s no telling what’s going on behind their smiling faces— surely more than they ever let on.” Humans. “ Humans are a lot like us, really. At least some of them are. Step out of the castles and keeps, go talk to the farmers and herders and you’ll find good, solid folk. Not that there’s anything wrong with the barons and soldiers—you have to admire their conviction. And by protecting their own lands, they protect us as well.”   E x p l o r i n g O p p o r t u n i t i e s Halflings usually set out on the adventurer’s path to defend their communities, support their friends, or explore a wide and wonder-filled world. For them, adventuring is less a career than an opportunity or som etim es a necessity.   H a l f l i n g N a m e s A halfling has a given name, a family name, and possibly a nicknam e. Family nam es are often nicknam es that stuck so tenaciously they have been passed down through the generations. Male Names: Alton, Ander, Cade, Corrin, Eldon, Errich, Finnan, Garret, Lindal, Lyle, Merric, Milo, Osborn, Perrin, Reed, R oscoe, Wellby Female Names: Andry, Bree, Callie, Cora, Euphemia, Jillian, Kithri, Lavinia, Lidda, Merla, Nedda, Paela, Portia, Seraphina, Shaena, Trym, Vani, Verna Family Names: Brushgather, Goodbarrel, Greenbottle, High-hill, Hilltopple, Leagallow, Tealeaf, Thorngage, Tosscobble, Underbough   H a l f l i n g T r a i t s Your halfling character has a number of traits in com m on with all other halflings. Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2.   Age. A halfling reaches adulthood at the age of 20 and generally lives into the middle of his or her second century.   Alignment. M ost halflings are lawful good. As a rule, they are good-hearted and kind, hate to see others in pain, and have no tolerance for oppression. They are also very orderly and traditional, leaning heavily on the support of their com m unity and the com fort of their old ways.   Size. Halflings average about 3 feet tall and weigh about 40 pounds. Your size is Small.   Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.   Lucky. W hen you roll a 1 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll.   Brave. You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.   Halfling Nimbleness. You can move through the space of any creature that is of a size larger than yours.   Languages. You can speak, read, and write Com m on and Halfling. The Halfling language isn’t secret, but halflings are loath to share it with others. They write very little, so they don’t have a rich body o f literature. Their oral tradition, however, is very strong. Alm ost all halflings speak Com m on to converse with the people in w hose lands they dwell or through which they are traveling.   Subrace. The two main kinds of halfling, lightfoot and stout, are m ore like closely related fam ilies than true subraces. C hoose one of these subraces.   L i g h t f o o t As a lightfoot halfling, you can easily hide from notice, even using other people as cover. You’re inclined to be affable and get along well with others. In the Forgotten Realms, lightfoot halflings have spread the farthest and thus are the most com m on variety. Lightfoots are m ore prone to wanderlust than other halflings, and often dwell alongside other races or take up a nom adic life. In the world of Greyhawk, these halflings are called hairfeet or tallfellows.   Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.   Naturally Stealthy. You can attempt to hide even when you are obscured only by a creature that is at least one size larger than you.   St o u t A s a stout halfling, you’re hardier than average and have som e resistance to poison. S om e say that stouts have dwarven blood. In the Forgotten Realms, these halflings are called stronghearts, and they’re most common in the south.   Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.   Stout Resilience. You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you have resistance against poison damage.