Deep Halfling
a.k.a. Stout Halfling
At some point in their racial history, some of the surface-dwelling halflings allowed their curiosity to lead them into the depths of the Underdark. Some of those who ventured into the caverns deeper into the realm eventually decided to stay. Forming small communities, primarily among the dwarves, these halflings were changed over time by the circumstances of their new home. Though they retained their essential halfling nature, they took on some of the characteristics of their dwarven hosts.
After many generations, Deep Halflings have a culture that is a reflection of both their surface ancestors and their dwarven neighbors. However, just as many dwarves make their living on Tellene’s surface, Deep Halflings have begun to recognize the benefits of spending time above ground. Deep Halflings are also not immune to the wanderlust to which most halflings are prone, and while exploration of the surface world isn't without its hazards, it is far less dangerous than the lightless tunnels below. Even the legendary Halfling Luck is put to the test in the lands of the Underdark.
Personality
The most industrious of halflings, a Deep Halfling can accomplish a great deal of work in a short time. They make doughty soldiers, and their vision gives them a great advantage in night-fighting. They are skilled swimmers and boatmen and have used small, slender canoes with great effect in night attacks against larger vessels.
Deep Halflings favor sturdy garb, commonly made of well-cured leather. They prefer practicality to appearance, and thus the members of a community tend to dress with an almost drab sameness. However, a Deep Halfling will try to make a point of having a brightly colored outfit of exotic material (such as cotton, wool, or silk), for use on special occasions. They often wear boots, which are really more like thick moccasins that offer good protection from the rocky unground terrain so typically under their feet.
Physical Description
Deep halflings are shorter and stockier than the more common Lightfoot Halfling averaging an inch or two below 3' in height. They have ruddy complexions, with sandy to dark brown hair, which tend to be on the light side, with blonds and sandy reds prevailing and their eyes are blue, grey, green or hazel.
A typical Deep Halfling weighs half again as much as the average Lightfoot much stockier indeed. This bulk is not at all fat, however - Deep Halflings are more muscular than any other halflings. Their favorite entertainment tends to be overcoming their kin in the wrestling contests.
Deep Halflings tend to blush easily when pleased or embarrassed and flush bright red when angry. Unlike Hairfoot and Tallfellows, male Deep Halflings can grow some facial hair, although not full beards. Moustaches are rare, and the few able to grow them are often inordinately proud of their accomplishment.
With a typical life expectancy of more than 130 years, Stouts are not considered adults until they reach 30 years of age. The eldest of the race have been known to exceed two centuries in age.
Relations
These halflings tend to segregate themselves from human society more than the Lightfoot Halfling, preferring the company of dwarves. Deep Halflings and Hill Dwarves mix very readily, and their communities will often be located near to each other. Military and defensive alliances between the two races are common, and prosperous trading is also the norm.
Alignment
Deep Halflings do not tend toward any single alignment. Due to their exposure to dwarven culture, Deep Halflings are slightly more likely to be of a lawful alignment than surface halflings, but their impulsive nature still tends to make such a firm outlook rare among the small folk.
Deep Halfling Lands
Deep Halfling villages will generally be in hilly or rocky regions near good fishing waters and well-watered fields. Their communities are similar to those of Hill Dwarves, they usually contain many burrow homes and very few surface cottages.They are the only halflings with any affinity to mining, but they are quite good at it and will often develop a bustling business from the excavation of minerals. Deep Halflings can also be skilled jewelers, stone-masons, builders, smiths, boatmen, and carvers. They are lackluster farmers at best, except where mushrooms are concerned, and as merchants they excel primarily at selling the products of the above trades.
Preferring underground habitation more than any other halfling sub-race, a Deep Halfling will typically live in a fully-excavated burrow. He or she will have several round, shuttered windows placed in a few walls to let in light and air, but the overall place will be cooler, darker, and somewhat damper than a Hairfoot home.
Religion
Deep Halfling favor worship of the True, The Speaker of the Word, and the Founder. The True teachings resonate with many Deep Halflings, even those who dedicate their lives to another god. Among Halfling of evil alignment, the most corrupting are The Corruptor, who plays upon envy, and the Dark one.
Languages
In addition to their own language, many Deep Halflings also speak the Merchant Tongue, Dwarven, Gnome, Goblin, and Orcish. Deep halflings are not as common as their cousins, the Hairfoot, but they are nonetheless a populous and widespread sub-race in Tellene.
Adventurers
Most Deep Halflings are peaceful and quiet and want nothing more than to be left alone to enjoy good food and a good smoke. There are, however, a small number of Deep Halflings who find life with the clan intolerably boring. These Deep Halflings develop a taste for adventure and leave the clan behind, often for roguish pursuits. Since these Halflings are the ones most often encountered in Tellene, it is perhaps no coincidence that halflings as a whole have gotten a reputation as light-fingered sneaks.