Halflings, sometimes called Hobbits and in Elder Speech Pherian, are one of the non-human races and, despite the name, are actually a distinct race and not mixed, like half-elves.
Unlike gnomes and dwarves, with whom they share the best relations, halflings do not have a traditional homeland exclusively ruled and inhabited by their kind. Instead, they reside within human territories of the Northern Kingdoms, where they often face prejudice, as well as in the Nilfgaardian Empire and the valleys of Mahakam.
History[]
Halflings arrived on the Continent during the Conjunction of the Spheres. At that time, established societies of other Elder Races and humans already existed, and given their relatively small numbers, many halflings chose to assimilate into these communities.[4]
Over centuries of living among other races, halflings became well integrated into society. They formed small communities within cities, where they became indispensable by creating thriving businesses and offering a variety of products and services, particularly in cooking and tailoring. In rural areas, they established large farms and engaged in milling, beekeeping, and livestock farming, activities in which they demonstrated a natural aptitude.[4]
During the Northern Wars in the 13th century, some halflings joined the Scoia'tael and took up arms against humans.
Characteristics[]
Appearance[]
All halflings are chubby and rather short, standing between two and four feet tall,[1] and their big feet are covered with curly hair up to the shins. Because of this, they do not usually wear any shoes.[2] Their hair varies from a chestnut brown to blonde or red even and is said to be as curly as ram's fleece.[5]
Their clothing is usually modest, pleasant and neat, in bright and pastel colors,[6] with pistachio-green seemingly being one of their favorites.[2][7]
Halflings are also immune to majority of magic, including the beautifying glamour cosmetic which, to the great sorrow of hobbit girls, has no effect on them whatsoever.[8]
Personality[]
Generally speaking, halflings are a peaceful and calm rustic folk, more interested in the comforts of home than adventures and warfare. They deal mainly with agriculture and as such are mostly farmers, stockbreeders and merchants.[2] Their large farms, like Hirundum near Gors Velen in Temeria, often provide food not only for local halflings but also for the entire surrounding region.[5] Indeed, their passion for food and drinks is well known and their cuisine includes delicacies like roast goose in pear sauce.[9]
It would seem that they are an easy prey for various thugs or slave hunters, but nothing could be further from the truth. When the need arises, halflings display exceptional agility, incredible speed, and talent at throwing all sorts of missiles unerringly. Some halflings joined the Scoia'tael guerrilla bands during the Second Northern War.[10]
Notable halflings[]
For a full list of halflings, see Category:Halflings.
Part-halflings or mistaken for a halfling[]
Trivia[]
- They are almost entirely based on J.R.R. Tolkien's Hobbits. This is made obvious by Andrzej Sapkowski actually using the collocation "hobbit girls" twice in The Lady of the Lake. They, or similar races like Kenders, often appear in the fantasy genre.
- In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, one of the random lines said by halflings is "Don't dare call me Bagginson!". This is a funny allusion to Bilbo Baggins, the protagonist of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit.
Gallery[]
