A Halfling's Guide to Properness

[TakeMeT0TheFae 970]

While properness has always been a big part of Halfling culture it has never, to my knowledge, been fully written out to make it easier for newcomers to understand, which is where this guide comes in.  I’ve noticed overtime that there are certain areas that seem to confuse people, so I simply wish to clarify.

What is Properness

Properness is the code of ethics that most Halflings do their best to uphold and much of our culture centers around.  It determines how we interact with the world around us and creates opportunities for us to RP in a way that differs from many other communities on the server.  While some things may seem silly or like they are simply there to control Halfling RP that is simply not the case, these rules help curate a unique culture that helps separate us from others on the server and offers us ways to RP that don’t feel like simply playing tiny humans.  The rules listed below help to create unique scenarios and offer players a way to think outside the box in how they approach things while also serving to push narratives forward when conflict arises due to it.

 

The Code

There is really not much that goes into being a proper Halfling, really just a set of 5 different rules that have been a part of Halfling culture for years now.  However, there are also some things that start to border on improperness even if they are not explicitly so.

 

Hard-Lines

• Locks are to be avoided at all costs, both on storage containers and doors.  Halflings are community driven, and by not locking our things we show our trust for our neighbors.  Instead, many Halflings will opt to hide their valuables in hidden rooms or secret areas they have created.

  • The one exception to this is the storage burrow, being the community storage area where the entire village keeps their goods it is allowed to be locked with a key given out to all villagers.  This is simply done to keep outsiders out of our things.

  • While donation locks are technically okay as they allow players to see inside chests, they should still try to be avoided.  Hiding your things has always been a large part of our culture and thinking of ways to do so is a fun part of RP that many players enjoy.

 

• Biggun weapons are not to be used under any circumstances.  These include things such as: swords, daggers, spears, pikes, etc.  Instead Halflings have opted to use mostly farming equipment in their battles, with the shovel being the most popular; however, things like hoes, trowels, kitchen equipment, rolling pins, and other various things that can be found around almost any house can be used.

  • The use of biggun weapons is often seen as a cowardly or selfish act amongst proper Halflings, viewed as a sign of weakness as the person wielding a sword or dagger does not trust in themselves and their community to work together to overcome challenges.

 

• Mina is not to be used, instead trade for things you need.  Halflings are descended from Dwarves and as such are prone to the curse of greed that the Dwarves have.  In an effort to avoid this curse Halflings have opted to shun the use of mina or currency in general, instead trading the various crafts that Halflings are known for like culinary goods and crops.

  • Though we shun currency to avoid the curse of greed this often manifests in the form of gluttony, most Halflings being prone to gorge themselves on pleasurable activities like eating, drinking, and smoking.

 

• Halflings are to never wear shoes, and this is usually even followed by Impropers as well.  This is largely due to Halfling’s feet having evolved to a point that shoes physically hurt the Halfling.  Even if wearing multiple pairs of socks, the use of shoes will cause Halflings physical pain as we simply are not built to wear them.

  • Wearing socks by themselves however is not considered Improper even if they are often quite uncomfortable due to our copious amounts of foot-hair. Some Halflings opt to wear them during the winter or when visiting cold climates to keep warm.

 

• Voidal magics are to be shunned by Halflings.  This rule has come and gone throughout Halfling history; however, at the current point in time these arts are considered improper by the Halfling populace due to constant harassment and violence from the mage community.  The violence combined with the common belief voidal magics hurt nature itself have caused Halflings to turn their back on them, shunning those who partake in these activities. 

  • Other magics like Druidry, Shamanism, Golemancy, alchemy, etc are okay however.  Voidal magics being the only ones that are looked down upon.

 

Things that Border on Being Improper but are Technically Okay

• The use of armor.  While armor itself is not deemed improper, many Halflings look down on the use of it as it symbolizes looking for conflict in many people's eyes.

 

• Being violent.  Halflings value peace, violent people threaten this peace.  Many Halflings will do their best to at least hear out those they disagree with, even if they have strongly held beliefs.  This is not to say that Halflings will not fight to protect what they have, but they will often seek out alternatives to conflict if they are available.

 

• Adventuring.  It is no secret that a lot of Halfling RP is centered around slice-of-life.  We value our home and our community, and while people are allowed to travel about and visit other places most of us are home-bodies and tend to stay close to the village.

 

Roleplaying an Improper Halfling

Now, just because these rules exist does not necessarily mean everyone follows them… and that’s okay!  While some of these rules are put into the law, not all of them are considered ‘illegal’ and as such Impropers are able to exist within the village.  Impropers bring conflict to the community and conflict helps to drive RP forward, a well rounded village needs both Propers and Impropers to be an interesting place.  However, with playing someone who goes against these traditions comes the knowledge that if found out the Improper will face all sorts of consequences from those around them. 

 

As such, many Impropers will operate in secret, forming groups amongst themselves and working underground to push their own agenda.  Most impropers will do their best to hide their improperness until they deem the time right; afterall, the chances of you getting into leadership as an Improper is extremely low and you won’t be able to push the Improper agenda forward without having some sort of say in how the village is run.  It is very common for Impropers to keep this a secret and make friends with the villagers before trying to sway opinions in their direction subtly and overtime.

 

Consequences of Being Improper

While a village needs both Improper and Proper Halflings to be a dynamic place this does not mean that there will not be pushback in RP for playing one.  If it is revealed that one is not following the traditions there is a plethora of things that could end up happening.

 

The first and most common is social rejection, many Halflings refusing to invite those they deem improper to their gatherings, parties, or events.  Essentially being dead in the eyes of the main populace.  With this comes another aspect, harassment.  While Halflings are not violent people and will likely not simply choose to fight those they disagree with in a duel, they will see to it that those they do not agree with don’t know a day of peace until they repent their ways.  Pranks are extremely common with people simply doing what they can to make Impropers uncomfortable and very aware of the peoples displeasure with them.  Eggings, vandalism, theft, and a plethora of other things are to be expected.

 

Another thing that is very commonplace is the lack of any social mobility.  In order to rise through the ranks of Halfling culture one must be seen as trying to uphold the values of the people, Impropers do not do this and as such many will refuse to support them in their goals unless something dramatic happens. 

 

Lastly there is always the chance of being banished from the village.  While this is the least common consequence some of these rules are enshrined in our laws and continuing to break them openly can result in the character being removed from Halfling society entirely.  This is another reason many Impropers will choose to keep their ways secret for as long as possible.

 

 

In the end play your character however you want; this guide is simply here to help clarify the rules of properness and explain what could come from breaking these rules to prevent confusion in the community.

[satin 7600]

[Knighttonight 25]

[NotEvilAtAll 10906]

Great guide!

[Britannicvs 2508]

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Spoiler

neat

 

[Royal Peasant 462]

Roylan G Sirame  tilted his head as he hears the lists of 'rules' that needs to be in place for a halfling. "No wearing shoes...no mina, just trade....hating voidals. My! It makes halflings sound like mini Ame! No wonder they get along with them so well."  He voiced with a warm laugh.