Races of Wild

names sometimes double the last consonant and add an“-a” (thus, Furgren becomes Furgrenna). If you don’t like aparticular combination, try adding an “a,” “i,” or “y” betweenthe name fragments, or add “-en” or “-enna” to the end. Notevery combination of name fragments will sound right; if youcan’t make a particular name work, try to create one with asimilar meaning.The definitions for halfling names sometimes end up beingno more than a list of pleasant things. Calopee might mean“cheese and riddles” and still be a well-respected halflingname. Of course, it might also mean “the timeless quest”—orit might mean both. Halflings enjoy playing with their names’definitions and might decide to change a definition just toconfuse a friend or member of another race.Earned names are descriptors or titles given to individualsafter some important or heroic event. Although these nameswere once given in the halflings’ native tongue, they arenow usually in the Common tongue due to the influence ofhuman culture. A halfling character might acquire an earnedname during game play or start the game with an earnedname. An earned name can be randomly determined byrolling twice on Table 2–3, or you can choose one to matcha character’s personality.HALFLING CARAVANSAND TOWNSMost halflings spend their lives wandering from place toplace, with lengthy stops wherever they find pleasure andprofit. Most of this traveling is done by wagon in caravans,but some is by boat.A campsite is chosen based on the length of the proposedstay. A site for a one-night stay should be defensible, have asizable clear space for wagons, and provide some water andgrazing for the animals. It should also be free of obviouspredators and preferably out of sight of hostile forces suchas orc bands. In addition to the above, a site for a longer stayrequires a good water source, abundant hunting, wood forfires and for wagons, and plenty of wild roots and berriesfor gathering. Halflings rarely worry about replanting whatthey have taken; they simply move on when resources runlow and trust to nature to replenish the land over time.Selection of a site for a permanent settlement is somethingof a serendipitous process because it depends largely on thecharity of those who own the land. Defense, water, wood,food, and grazing lands are all desirable, but halflings learnto make do with the lands to which they receive rights. Thebest lands have not only the basic resources but also rawmaterials for various crafts.A permanent halfling settlement is described below asboth a reference for DMs looking to design their own andas a location for use in a campaign that features halflings.HALFLING ECONOMYWithin a halfling community, most commerce is done on abarter system; halflings do not like to carry large amounts ofmoney in their wagons, feeling this makes them attractivetargets to bandits. Since most halfling caravans operatelike extended families anyway (and some are, when theclans are closely related), this system comes naturally toits members.However, halflings do regularly trade with outsiders, andthey do accumulate money. On rare occasions, halflingswithin the same caravan may pay one another in money forgoods or services, but such transactions are frowned upon.Money is usually reserved for commerce with outsiders.Halflings sell their goods and services and accumulatecash reserves to tap when needed. They deposit most oftheir cash with a “banker,” a settled halfling either in alarge human city or in a permanent halfling town. Thoughsome bankers use or invest money in a depositor’s absence,most leave it buried, hidden, or safely cached on theirproperty, knowing that the depositor can ask for all of itat a moment’s notice.Halfling communities do not mint any coins of their own,though they do sometimes melt down recognizable treasureand form it into jewelry or gold bars. Halflings know the valueof all other cultures’ currency, and bankers can change onecurrency to another for a small fee.EXAMPLE SETTLEMENT:FANTA’S MEADOWFanta’s Meadow is situated on a forty-acre piece of meadowlandadjoining several farms in a rural area populatedby humans. A stream cuts through the southern half of themeadow, providing water for the crops the halflings chooseto grow and for their orchards. The soil is rich, and aboutone-fourth of the land is naturally wooded. A rocky ridgestretches along the northern side of the property.The town was named for the halfling clan leader whonegotiated its use. The land was deeded to the halflings inperpetuity by a grateful human wizard for whom the halflingsdid a great favor.The business section of Fanta’s Meadow consists of twolong, rambling, two-story buildings that stretch for a quartermileand more on either side of a wide main street. Thesestructures house a number of shops, all of which connectwith one another. A customer can literally walk throughtwo dozen shops without leaving the shelter of the building.Crafting areas, such as forges and ovens, often extendoutdoors, behind the row of shops. The proprietor of eachshop can fence goods related to his or her craft.Toward the south end of town is an immense open areawhere caravans can park. At either end of this area are tavernsthat have a few rooms for rent.The ridge on the north side of town contains numerous burrowshollowed out from the stone and secured with woodendoors. A few of the townspeople live in these undergroundhomes, but most live in rooms above their shops. Most ofthese burrows belong to traveling halflings who come hereto stay during seasons of inclement weather. The typicalburrow consists of a kitchen, a living room, a family room,CHAPTER 2HALFLINGS61