What halfling ethnicities are there in Nirmathas? Looking at the ethnicities mentioned in the Lost Omens Character Guide, they only seem to cover a handful of halfling populations across Golarion. So now that I'm making a character from Nirmathas (who later moved to Andoran), I have no idea what ethnicity might be most regionally appropriate.
Chelaxian halfling could work, since Nirmathas was part of it at one point. A lot of halflings in Golarion seem to more or less follow the cultures around them, maybe the ones in the Character Guide are the exceptions to that and that's why they don't cover all the places halflings are common?
Chelaxian halfling could work, since Nirmathas was part of it at one point. A lot of halflings in Golarion seem to more or less follow the cultures around them, maybe the ones in the Character Guide are the exceptions to that and that's why they don't cover all the places halflings are common?
So is it PC to use human ethnicities when referring to some halflings then?
A Kellid halfling or an Ulfen halfling, for example?
If so, what impact might that have on mechanics? Could I take a feat requiring a human ethnicity if I had the Cultural Adaptability or Adopted Ancestry (human) feat or something similar?
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The options for halflings in the Lost Omens Character Guide are:
- Chelaxians from Cheliax,
- Jarics from the Barrier Wall mountains of northern Garund,
- Mihrinis from Iobaria,
- Othobans from New Thassilon north of Varisia,
- Song’o from the Mwangi Expanse, and
- Uhlams from the Verduran Forest in Andoran and Taldor.
While halfing adventurers could travel any distance, a halfling culture in Nirmathas would be made of immigrants from nearby nations. Cheliax is nearest; in fact, Noirmathas and Molthune were once part of Cheliax. Andoran is second nearest. The other halfing cultures are too far away to have a significant influence.
The PF1 Pathfinder Player Companion: Halflings of Golarion has nothing about halflings in Nirmathas, but it does have a paragraph about halflings in Molthune:
Molthune: Halfling slaves in Molthune were not freed when the country separated from Cheliax, but their lot drastically improved. The new laws on slave ownership allow most halfling slaves to enjoy a comfortable life so long as they work hard, and they may eventually gain freedom and citizenship. Some slaves circumvent part of this process and join the military without their masters’ knowledge; once the paperwork goes through, the slave belongs to the military and ( just like any other person) becomes a citizen—and free—after 5 years of service. Slave-owners who know the proper legal channels can be compensated for this loss, though most don’t bother with the bureaucracy. Most free Molthuni halflings live and work in one of the many farms and ranches, proudly seeing themselves as essential laborers who keep the country independent and prosperous.
Pathfinder Adventure Path #115: Trail of the Hunted has a gazetteer on the Nesmian Plans in southwester Nirmathas.
Low hills and rocky outcroppings offer clever residents some protection or camouflage, sometimes sheltering surprisingly large hidden communities in caves or forgotten complexes for months at a time. Halfling residents of the plains—many of them escaped slaves from Cheliax to the south—are especially gifted in these concealment tactics, and collections of halfling ranches often spring up around otherwise concealed features or ruins to which the country folk can flee.
It also mentions small villages of humans and halflings along the Deepcut River. Much further south along the Inkwater River is the Dawdlefoot Ranch This sheep ranch was founded by the grandmother of the current halfling residents after she escaped slavery in Cheliax and is secretly an endpoint for the Bellflower Network.
In contrast, Phaendar, a large trading village on the north end of the plains lists its population as 398 (305 humans, 32 half-orcs, 21 dwarves, 17 half-elves, 28 other). My entire adventuring party in Trail of the Hunted falls in that "28 other," including the halfing party member who escaped slavery in Nidal.Pathfinder Adventure Path #116: Fangs of War says that the Chernasardo Rangers, legendary protectors of Nirmnathas who live in the Chernasardo region of the Fangwood forest, includes halflings. The party mets one halfling Chernasardo Ranger, Cirieo Thessaddin, male halfling ranger (skirmisher) 5. Or you can look at my own version of him at Cirieo Thessaddin, Summoner Playtest. He came from a ranching family on the Nesmian Plains.
Pathfinder Adventure Path #117: Assault on Longshadow says nothing about halflings in the Hollow Hills region of Nirmathas, north of the Nesmian Plains and west of the Fangwood. However, it lists the population of the city of Longshadow on the south of the Hollow Hills as 4,000 (3,223 humans, 615 halflings, 138 dwarves, 24 other). Having more halflings than dwarves is significant, because that the dwarves have many mining villages in those hills. One halfing is named, Meriam Kems, regional scout (LG female halfling bard 4/ranger 3) who likes to greet travelers at the local adventurers' tavern. In my campaign I gave Meriam Kems a day job as a bookkkeeper at the Graygallow Iron Foundry. My players are trying match her romantically with Cirieo Thessaddin.
The PF1 Pathfinder Campaing Setting: Lands of Conflict about Molthune and Nirmathas has nothing to say about halfling culture. It names Architect Zoria Spirneff (LG female halfling expert 3/ wizard 5) in the capital city Canorate of Moltune and lists halfling populations. Tamran, the capital of Nirmathas, has population 9,730 (7,600 humans, 1,500 half-elves, 450 halflings, 180 other) and Crowstump, a large northern riverport in Nirmathas, has population 3,200 (2,700 humans, 200 elves, 100 dwarves, 100 halflings, 100 other).
For a halfling character from Nirmathas who moved to Andoran, someone from a sheep ranch in the Nesmian Plains would be most likely. This person would have grown up as a farmhand but have a few relatives or neighbors who were once slaves in Cheliax. The second most likely background would be a city dweller working in an urban job such as craftsman.
A halfling from Nirmathas would have a Chelaxian ethnic appearance, or maybe a mix between Chelaxian and Uhlams. They could qualify for the halfling ancestry feats that require Chelaxian or Uhlam ethnicity at the GM's discretion.
Chelaxian halfling could work, since Nirmathas was part of it at one point. A lot of halflings in Golarion seem to more or less follow the cultures around them, maybe the ones in the Character Guide are the exceptions to that and that's why they don't cover all the places halflings are common?So is it PC to use human ethnicities when referring to some halflings then?
A Kellid halfling or an Ulfen halfling, for example?
If so, what impact might that have on mechanics? Could I take a feat requiring a human ethnicity if I had the Cultural Adaptability or Adopted Ancestry (human) feat or something similar?
A halfing growing up in a Kellid or Ulfen culture in Nirmathas would be very rare. Those cultures don't have a foothold in Nirmathas. A halfling from Longshadow could be strongly influenced by dwarven culture and a halfling from Tamran could be strongly influenced by human culture. But they would have to be dwarven or human cultures found in Nirmathas.