Halfling

Halflings share an interesting societal structure - they are divided up into clans, all of them nomadic. Some of the clans are pony-and-wagon, land based nomads, while the others are sailors. Halfling clans mingle freely, with much cultural exchange, and many halflings are both competent sailors and comfortable with horses.

A halfling sailing ship is a thing of beauty and utility, carrying more sailors and food than a comparable-sized human ship. The so-called "Halfling Navy", a collection of aquatic nomads and merchant ships, pretty much rules the Sea of Shadows, outnumbering ships of other peoples approximately 5:1. While halflings don't, as a rule, seek out combat and warfare, the average halfling ship carries approximately twice the personnel complement of ships sailed by larger races. A halfling boarding action would be straight-up terrifying.

Socially, halflings do not believe in permanent marriages, preferring to follow their hearts as the mood strikes them. They live with much joy and laughter, music and dance.

Halfling Naming Conventions

Halflings typically take Clan names, with a natural-world feature or something their parents saw as an omen as a first name. Examples are Tumbling River of the Two Ponies Clan, or Circling Gulls of the Three Red Sails Clan. Clan names aren't really permanent; it's more a designation of which clan you've been riding or sailing with lately. There is one halfling master record keeper (called the Nokela, or Name Keeper) who maintains a list of all halflings living and dead. No name may be given to more than one living halfling; all halfling babies are named at a Ceremony at their annual Summer Gathering.

Halflings are available as noted in the Player's Handbook.