Races of Wild

Halflings are as eager to experience romantic love as anyother humanoids. To them, romance is just another greatadventure that may bring weal or woe. Infatuation is commonamong halflings, and since offspring frequently result fromsuch liaisons, lovers typically formalize their relationshipsas soon as possible. Romantic relationships betweenmembers of the same caravan or clan are discouraged butnot strictly forbidden.Two levels of marriage exist within halfling society.Handfasting is the most common method of formalizinga relationship within a halfling community. Only the twolovers and three witnesses of their choice need be presentto complete this ritual. The lovers’ hands are usually boundtogether with leather thongs; these are removed, knottedtogether, and presented to the couple at the end of theceremony. The lovers speak their own vows, which usuallyconsist of a promise to look out for one another’s welfare andremain faithful for as long as love lasts. Handfasted couplesare entitled to their own wagons. If neither party alreadyowns a wagon, one is built by the community at the earliestopportunity and presented to the couple as a gift. Until then,such a couple usually lives in the wagon of one or the other’sparents. Handfasted couples are expected to live and worktogether as long as they feel affection for one another.Some handfastings last for decades, and a few last forlife. Often, though, because halflings are intensely curiouscreatures, one partner becomes interested in someone else,or perhaps one wishes to leave for an extended period to goadventuring or join another caravan; and sometimes argumentssimply poison the couple’s love. In such cases, couplescan end their handfasting with a brief ceremony in which theknotted cords they received earlier are untied before threewitnesses and presented to the now-separate individuals.Children of such a couple live with whichever parent wantsthem. If both do, a child can choose if he or she is old enoughto speak; younger offspring remain with their mother unlessshe refuses them.The second level of formalization is true marriage. Marriagesare much rarer than handfastings and cannot occurbetween members of the same clan. Most marriages occurmuch later in life than handfastings, after the lovers havehad a chance to live together as a handfasted couple andbecome certain of their love. Some couples never take thisstep at all, content to remain handfasted for their entire lives.A marriage is conducted by a cleric and sparks a week ofcelebration in the entire community. Most married couplesalready have wagons, but those who do not receive themfrom the community, just as handfasted couples do. A newlymarried couple is showered with gifts, and both husbandand wife are instantly accorded the position of elders withinthe community.The primary difference between a wedding and a handfastingis that a wedding is for life. The halflings involved maynot dissolve the union, and any attempts to separate or strayresult in the expulsion of the guilty party or parties from thecommunity. Thus, marriage occurs only between halflingswho are quite certain of their ability to weather the storms ofa relationship. Though true marriages occasionally go sour,the parties usually learn to resolve their differences and livetogether in (relative) harmony.ReproductionHalflings reach maturity at the age of 20, and both genders arecapable of reproduction for approximately 40 years thereafter.The gestation period is seven months, a little shorter than thatof a human. Female halflings rarely give up working, adventuring,or pursuing their usual activities while pregnant, atleast until the last month or so. Halflings with infants orvery young children often choose to halt their roaming fora few seasons, picking a good camp or a permanent halflingsettlement (or even a human town) until the youngsters area little older. Not all roaming halflings do this, though; somefamilies never leave their caravans.Halflings are adept at avoiding trouble, and halflings withsmall children especially so. Despite the perils of disease,weather, monsters, and orc raids, roughly eight in ten childrenreach maturity.HALFLINGS AT WARHalflings rarely declare war on others—after all, winningmight mean becoming tied down with property. In the sameway, having no lands and few goods of their own means thathalflings have little need to defend their belongings. No onestarts a war just to take a few dozen wagons, though otherraces may fight long and bloody conflicts over pieces of landthat are often quite small. Having little to lose and no interestin a permanent home frees a halfling to enjoy life in waysthat other races can never appreciate.Halflings are certainly not pacifists, however, and oftenfind work as mercenaries in the wars of others. Their smallsize and aptitude for sneaking makes them excellent scouts,and their high Dexterity and racial bonus with thrownweapons makes them valuable in units employing rangedweapons. Though halflings have no fear of melee combat,they are prudent enough to avoid it when possible. Halflinginfantry units are rare, though halfling cavalry can be surprisinglyeffective due to the halflings’ aptitude with animals andtheir penchant for doing the unexpected on the battlefield.All halflings learn to use slings and javelins well before theyreach maturity. Many also learn how to use short swords andthrowing axes, as well as certain exotic halfling weapons suchas skiprocks and war slings. A halfling’s first line of defense isusually a ranged weapon. Should an enemy get close enoughfor melee combat, the longsword or short sword is the mostcommon choice.DEATHThe much-vaunted halfling fearlessness extends even todeath. Most halflings view death as simply the next greatadventure. Though they do not court it, they take no pains toavoid risk, nor do they resort to necromancy or other magicalmeans to stave off death.CHAPTER 2HALFLINGS45