Races of Wild

CHAPTER 2HALFLINGS52Illus. by S. Wood & E. Fiegenschuhcoordinates both the grieving and the celebration parts ofthe ceremony and lights the funeral pyre.YONDALLAGreater Goddess (Lawful Good)Yondalla is the mother of all halflings and thecreator of their race. Her titles include theProtector and Provider, the NurturingMatriarch, and the Blessed One. Sheprotects the race and epitomizes home,harmony, plenty, and happiness. She hasa darker aspect known as Dallah Thaun(see below), who is known only amonghalflings. Yondalla is described on page 108of the Player’s Handbook.The Blessed One appears as a beautiful,proud, blond-haired halfling, garbed in green andbrown and carrying a short sword and shield.Portfolio: Halflings, explorers.Domains: Good, Law, Protection.Cleric Training: A cleric of Yondalla trains newfollowers by borrowing a wagon from a halflingcaravan, then taking the would-be clerics awayfrom their families for a month or two. The clericand his disciples wander the back roads of the land, seekingsights that none of the pilgrims—teacher and studentsalike—have ever seen before.Quests: The safety of the halfling people is Yondalla’sfirst concern, but she is also eagerto chart new territory for halflingcaravans to visit. Her followers actas guards and guides for caravans andtrading companies, capture the raiders thatplague the highways, and lead expeditionsto unexplored lands.Prayers: Yondalla’s prayers are modelsof understatement. A prayer for healingmight begin “I am in such fine health,yet . . .” and a prayer for intercessionmight begin “A minor annoyancehas been visited upon me . . .”Temples: Yondalla’s templesare gathering places for theotherwise seminomadic halflingpopulation. They are storehousesof food, weapons, and everythingelse needed to equip a caravan for along journey. The clerics at a templecan always be counted upon to helpa halfling in need—and her nonhalflingfriends as well, providedthat they seem trustworthy.Rites: Yondalla’s rites centeron family and community. Weddingsfeature particularly elaborate and joyous ceremonies, becausetying two souls together for life is so rare in the halfling race.Holy symbolof YondallaDallah Thaunand YondallaWhen a halfling caravan pulls into a town near harvest time,Yondalla’s worshipers generally hold a festival called thePageant of the First Fruit.Herald and Allies: Yondalla uses a trumpetarchon with 18 Hit Dice that resembles a halfling asher herald. Her allies are hound archons, astraldevas, and planetars.Favored Weapon: Short sword.DALLAH THAUNIntermediate Goddess (ChaoticNeutral)Dallah Thaun, the Lady of Mystery, isthe dark aspect of Yondalla. Physically splitoff from Yondalla when she created the halflingrace, Dallah Thaun is worshiped both as a deity inher own right and also as part of Yondalla. Anyonewho worships one goddess worships both, and prayersto one are heard by both. Each goddess knows everythingthe other knows and is privy to the other’s plans. Sincethey both work toward the same goal—the benefitof the halfling race—they do not quibble over oneanother’s methods. Instead, the two goddesses utilizeeach other’s strengths and compensate for eachother’s weaknesses.For example, when someone evil harms a greatnumber of halflings, Yondalla’s followers nurture thesurvivors while Dallah Thaun’s seek vengeance.Likewise, the Blessed One provides herpeople with food, comfort, and healing,while the Lady of Mystery helps themfind wealth. Should any dirty work needto be done, it falls under Dallah Thaun’spurview, and Dallah Thaun is said to receivethe souls of dead halflings and guidethem to their final reward.There is no inherent evil in accumulatingwealth; indeed, a nest egg forone’s golden years, when a hard-workinghalfling can no longer work as hard, is anecessity. How one gains this wealth isanother matter. The Lady of Mysterydoes not condone killing or even harmingothers for money, but relieving theoverly wealthy of a portion of their burdenis quite acceptable. In fact, any method thatharms no one is fine with Dallah Thaun, solong as the perpetrator doesn’t get caught.Secrets, guile, lies, half-truths,flattery, intrigue, manipulation,and all things done by stealth arethe purview of Dallah Thaun.“Don’t get caught” is her credo,and the lesson that she passes along toall her worshipers. Dallah Thaun also serves as an avengerfor any wrongs done to her people.