Stoutfolk Races

Stoutfolk

Overview

The Stoutfolk come from a common, but very small, source. When they were first created, they spread themselves out. Some delved under the mountains, others took to the hills, while yet more collected into urban centers. As their cultures and languages separated, and as their bodies adapted to their environs, they each took on names in their local languages. They commonly refer to each other as ‘cousins’, and can still interbreed amongst themselves without issues and with humans with some issues. Offspring typically (but not always) take after their parent of the opposite gender. Don’t ask why, it just happens that way.

"The sharper the knife, the better the soup."

Lore

Halflings, or Hin as they call themselves, are also known by names like "good folk," "quick folk," and "sly folk." They resemble small humans, typically standing a little over half their size. Halflings usually have dark hair and eyes, with skin tones similar to humans. They have large, leathery-soled feet and typically go barefoot, showing a great interest in nature.

Halflings have lifespans slightly longer than humans, reaching adulthood in their early twenties and sometimes living into their 150s, though most live just over a hundred years. Their communities are small, tight-knit, and often near other races' settlements. They don't usually recognize kings or nobles, instead looking to family elders for guidance. This focus on family and practical optimism has preserved Halfling traditions for over a thousand years.

Halflings have a rich oral tradition, with a fondness for stories and legends. Their care in retelling these stories often means they preserve knowledge about ancient cultures and empires that others have forgotten.

Socially, Halflings can be overly familiar, often "borrowing" items without asking and inviting themselves to gatherings, especially where food is involved. However, they are generous in return, rarely minding when others do the same to them.

Quirks

Halflings generally go about barefoot, though this is less common among halflings with closer human relations.
Halfling society values good friends, good food, and a good garden.

Core Characteristics

Size: Small

Average Lifespan: 120 years

Physical Characteristics:

Large feet
Hairy feet
Rounded ears

"Wait, wait, this sounds official. Let me get my hat."

Lore

Gnomes, also known as the Forgotten Folk, are small humanoids known for their humor, curiosity, and engineering skills. Although they rarely influence history overtly, their crafty and magical nature often goes unnoticed by those in power.

Gnomes live long lives, often over three centuries, and sometimes up to five. They reach adulthood at forty but show signs of aging after a century, with graying hair and wrinkling skin, though they remain vigorous even in old age.

Gnomish culture values staying out of trouble and avoiding attention. Children's games involve stealth, and drawing attention is seen as impolite. Gnomish heroes are tricksters who use cunning over combat. This stems from their small size and the need to avoid larger predators or enemies like Orcs and Hobgoblins.

Gnomes love arts, pranks, and grand celebrations. Weddings last a week, and gnomes have a relaxed view of love. Gnomes value creativity, with everyone expected to engage in artistic or inventive pursuits by adulthood.

After merging with Dwarven society for protection from "Darklings," gnomes adopted the custom of wearing hats or head coverings during official duties. These hats can be upright and pointed or loose and floppy, depending on the gnome's status. Gnome teachers often remove their hats when offering personal opinions or critiques, then replace them to resume their official roles.

Quirks

Gnomes very often wear hats whenever in public or working. This is a reminder of representing their family, faction, or preforming some other official duty and gnomes tend to take their hats seriously.
Nearly every gnome dyes their hair, sometimes to natural but often to unnatural colors. The natural hair of a gnome is considered taboo, and even the parents of young children will dye their children's hair. Aiding a gnome in the dying process is considered one of if not the most intimate thing you can do in gnomish society.

Core Characteristics

Size: Small

Average Lifespan: 400 years

Physical Characteristics:

Slightly pointed ears
Longer noses
Exotic iris colours
Very commonly dyed hair
- A gnome’s “natural” hair colour is a closely guarded secret known only by close family and partners.

"Do your business, be respectable, and we will treat you the same."

Core Characteristics

Size: Small

Average Lifespan: 200 years

Physical Characteristics:

Stocky bodies.
Thick beard growth in both genders.
- Hair and beards are held up as the highest standards of beauty.
- Women in more frequent contact with other races tend to shave their beards down to sideburns.

Lore

Dwarves are numerous but rarely seen on the surface. Their vast underground kingdoms are connected by the Deep Roads, extensive highways beneath the earth. The Merchant Caste is the most common group of Dwarves traveling above ground. All Dwarves, regardless of caste, are trained in warfare to defend the Deep Roads from their underground keeps. While Dwarven merchants can be friendly, the Deep Roads themselves are hostile, and visitors are seldom welcomed unless they bring gifts for Dwarven Magistrates.

The Deep Roads offer direct routes across the land, bypassing lakes, streams, and mountains for hundreds of miles. However, they are not open to random visitors. Those who trespass often end up working in Dwarven mines to repay their debt, a task that can take seven years. Some never return, while others choose to leave after earning a place in Dwarven society. The harsh penalties for trespassing are due to scarce resources like clean water and food. Only those with official business and gifts of gold, gems, or silver can travel without fear of punishment. Even Dwarves pay a tax when traveling these roads, which is why only the wealthy Merchant Caste often travels.

Dwarven prisoners are paid for their labor, allowing them to repay their debt to society and leave as relatively wealthy individuals. Dwarves are traditionalists and exceptional craftsmen, stonemasons, smiths, and jewelers. They are also brewers, mushroom farmers, herdsmen, cooks, soldiers, and merchants. However, their rigid caste system and limited resources leave little room for deviation from these trades.

Among surface races, Dwarves find the most kinship with Humans. Many Human cultures and cities owe their inspiration and security to their industrious Dwarven neighbors. Dwarven kingdoms often assist each other and their neighbors in warfare, providing reliable alliances for pragmatic reasons.

In Dwarven society, the title of 'King' is temporary and translates to "the highest authority available." Their society is modular, meaning that if a gate or citadel is cut off from the capital by raiding Darklings (drow, goblins, orcs, and other Underdark dwellers), an acting Gate Warden from a different clan may take on the role of leadership.

Quirks

Dwarves are well known for their meticulous record keeping, particularly dates, business dealings, grudges and slights, or the deeds of individuals deemed either noteworthy or dishonorable.
Dwarves generally do not practice chattel slavery and frown on the practice as dishonorable. The maximum indenture any debtor can be held to - regardless of race - is seven years. Indebted individuals are typically respected as 'employees' and taught as trade apprentices.
Dwarves who have spent most of their lives underground often feel queasy when first looking up at the sky, with some having verbalized a fear they might fall upward into the 'great chasm' of the sky.
Dwarven Citadels are known as known as 'Crags'; such as the fallen 'Cragrimawfyl' in far North-Eastern Mhirdrun.