Halflings are a small people (reaching rarely above 3' high) who have lived quietly in Cambria for
many years. They are the only race other than humans who are considered citizens of Cambria. Legend
has that a halfling delegation went to the court of King Egbert, the fourth ruler of Cambria, when
he was drawing up the rights of citizenship. He was greatly taken with the halflings and their
leader, Banco, became one of his counsellors. King Egbert indeed declared that he would know his
worth as a king 'if a halfling can safely walk down the street in every village and town in Cambria
knowing he is protected by the King's Law'.
Halflings are both curious and jovial and can eat and drink prodigious amounts for their size. They
have nimble fingers which make them excellent at many crafts. Since the time of King Egbert it has
been the custom of the great lords of the land to have at least one halfling servant and like
Banco these have often ended up as close confidants of their lords (or ladies).
Halflings are also excellent farmers although few of the old halfling farming villages are now left as
the curiosity of young halflings has led to many leaving for the larger towns and cities. It is
estimated that halflings represent 2-3% of the overall population of Cambria.
It is not known where halflings originated but their old tales seem to indicate they lived
in Sambia in the
Great Darkness and moved north when other
races migrated to that region from the south, preferring the company of elves, dwarves and
especially humans. This is born out by their earliest farming settlements being just to
the north of
Ragenport