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Hello everybody Jorphdan here the PH is silent.
Welcome one and all, for today’s lecture on Forgotten Realms history revolves around
the Halfling.
History does not record exactly when halflings first appeared on Toril, but it was around
the same time as Dwarves, Elves, and Giants.
They first appeared south of Shaar, and few halflings were seen in the early years until
a great civil war occured within the Halfling tribes which spread them out further into
Faerun.
Halflings are short.
They stand somewhere around 3 feet tall and weigh about 30-35 lbs.
They very much resemble humans but with smaller proportions than a typical human adult.
Halfling men can’t grow facial hair except for sideburns which is why you don’t see
a lot of bearded halflings.
Their lifespan is a bit longer than your average human living into their 150s.
Halflings are fun!
They are joyful and friendly.
They are said to appear deceptively harmless, often beyond the notice of enemies.
Nobody seems to think a Halfling would pose much of a threat, but with their cunning personalities
those people would be wrong.
Halflings live in the now, taking in pleasures around them they focus on where they are and
whom they are with.
Some Halflings become adventurers but in reality they are content to stay home.
Which I find odd because I read that most Halflings are nomadic, and never stay in the
same place longer than 6-8 months.
Halflings love clothing, food, drink, and are enthusiastic collectors.
Many of their most beloved items are those won through skill and daring.
They aren’t much for wearing jewelry but they would love to sit down with you and go
through their collection of rings they won in a game of chance.
There are three major types of halflings within the Forgotten Realms.
The Lightfoot halfling, the strongheart halfling, and the ghostwise halfling.
These sub races of halfling were once various tribes that lived in Luiren and the surrounding
areas.
At the time this was unsettled wilderness and the three nomadic tribes defended their
woodlands against intruders.
However!
Corruption set in around -100 DR when an evil spirit entered the forest.
A ghostwise halfling cleric named Desva started worshiping the evil deity Malar.
Desva became leader of the ghostwise tribe and led them into darkness.
Glorifying violence and bloodshed the ghostwise halflings became feral hunters killing everything.
They painted their faces as skulls and some of them even learned how to take the shape
of werewolves.
Lluirwood, the forest just north of Luiren was chaos and bloodshed until -68 DR when
another halfling named Chand became the warchief for his people.
He struck an alliance with the tribes and united the Strongheart and Lightfoot clans.
They fought back against Desva and the Ghostwise halflings that worshiped Malar.
For three years the war raged until Chand defeated Desva in -65 DR.
This time was known as the Ghostwars.
The remaining ghostwise halflings, of which there were not many left, were exiled from
the forest but those who turned their back on Desva and Malar were allowed to stay.
Many left and settled in Chondalwood, taking an oath to never speak until they had atoned
for their savagery.
They have since reconciled their sins but the Ghostwise Halfling still don’t talk
much, being very careful with their words when they do speak.
The Halflings started farming, and cultivated the land around Lluirwood creating a great
Halfling empire in Luiren.
Predominantly stronghearts live here but a few lightfoots and even some ghostwise halflings
have made their way back to Luiren.
These halflings became farmers, and crafts folk, even some merchants as Luiren grew.
It was after the Ghostwars that many Halflings left the area and settled west in Faerun.
Choosing to live in cities populated by Dwarves and Men, finding new homes for themselves.
Ghostwise halflings today are often barbarians, rogues, druids, rangers, and even clerics.
All halflings have a wanderlust but Ghostwise Halflings keep their nomadic lifestyle within
the borders of the Chondalwood forest.
Many Ghostwise Halflings do not have relations with other humanoid races unless necessary.
They avoid others, experts at hiding within the forest.
Lightfoot halflings are the small folk that Faerun is more familiar with it.
They are the most numerous and well traveled of the halfling subraces.
After the Ghostwars a large chunk of the lightfoot halflings left Luiren, they were horrified
what Chand and the stronghearts had done despite the problems the Ghostwise halflings were
causing.
You’ll find lightfoot halflings often take up the profession of rogue or bard in their
travels.
They adopt the culture of the people they are with, there are those who live among humans,
and those who live with other halflings.
Since the spellplague the kingdom of Luiren sunk into the Great Sea.
Making Amn the nation with the greatest concentrations of Halflings.
They became successful merchants, and craftsmen within Amn.
However during the Sundering the waters receded and many halflings have started populting
their home of Luiren again.
Finally the strongheart halflings.
They are native to Luiren and have remained in their homeland after the Ghostwars.
Before the wars the stronghearts were very nomadic like the lightfoots but after the
conflict their lifestyle shifted.
The stronghearts became very solidified in their community and their land.
They realize they must be able to defend their homeland at a moments notice.
Gnolls, and terrible beasts lurk in the woods surrounding Luiren.
The strongheart halflings have learned from bitter experience that it’s best to be prepared.
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Earlier I said I’d like to run a dwarf only campaign, now I’d really love a halfling
only campaign.
Maybe set your game during the Ghostwars and have a group of halflings sent by Chand to
sabotage the Ghostwise tribe allowing victory during the war.
That’s part of the fun of the Forgotten Realms is going back and playing or recreating
those older battles.
I hope you enjoyed this look at Halflings and the Ghostwars.
If you did give it a thumbs up, and subscribe for more videos.
I release new ones every Wednesday.
I’ll see you again in the next one!