Petyr

http://www.npr.org/2013/05/26/186438562/first-listen-thundercat-apocalypse

I will come around more come 3.0, but even then, the Guardian of the Harvest knows that poor ol' Pete has a lot on his plate irl. I'll try to make a semi-quasi-constant appearance.

Pat Metheny is quite the boss. Pretty sure he just won a Grammy too... not all of his stuff has that same vibe, but I enjoy all of it.

The entire album reminds me of sitting around a warm inn on a rainy night, drinking ale with friends. 

I dig the bees.

MC Name:

drplat

Duty you'd like to apply for:

Terraforming/Honey-beeing in the halfling area.

Concepts:

I want to work on the halfling land, be it building burrows or simply developing the landscape. Whatever lore permits. I have some plans regarding the confidential image you showed me. You know ;).

Other works:

95% of Branborough/The Vale

Some dungeons and Easter Eggs scattered throughout Asulon.

As well as:

Do you have teamspeak?: (Microphone not required.)

Yes

This treatise is to be used as a guide for whenever a master architect is not present.

Most burrows will have between three and five rooms. This is typically two large rooms and one bed room, perhaps adding a storage room or, in exceptional cases, another large room. A room is qualified as large if the surface area of the floor is greater than or equal to twenty four meters squared.

Standard rooms include:

Bedroom (always)

Living Room (always)

-typically the fireplace goes to this room

Entry Room/Hallway (typically)

Eating Room/Party Room (sometimes)

Separate storage room (sometimes)

A standard four-room burrow will consist of two large rooms (entry room and living room) and two small rooms (storage and bedroom).

Carefully consider the placement of doors, windows, and fireplace before construction begins.

Walls should be made of wooden planks stacked two meters high upon some sort of sturdy log.

Darkwood and standard planks are preferable.

The floors should always be covered by a thin layer of wooden planks or some sort of wool carpet.

Ceilings should be layered inward from the walls as such (depending on the shape of the room):

After construction, burrows should be covered by a layer of dirt, as to be made inconspicuous and natural-looking. Plant flowers and tall-grass after all dirt is placed.

Some notes:

Small basements are okay, but a basement too large will collapse the burrow from lack of support.

Experimentation should of course occur; no two burrows should be identical, and each burrow must be built to the needs of the particular halfling.

Sometimes it is wise to build into the ground a bit, as to avoid too large of a hill and too much similarity between burrows.

Different rooms can be different elevations, connected by a stairwell.

Cutting wooden planks in half allows for very inventive ceiling shapes, adding to the overall cozy factor.

*The author of this treatise may later edit it if the need for advice of a greater detail comes up.*

[[Aye, massive farms are quite pleasing to the eye. Frankly, instead of one large Branborough, I'd rather two small connected villages. Halflings simply aren't the type to all crowd into one spot, so I'd rather slowly create a new settlement so we can preserve the village atmosphere.]]

[[if your plans and whatnot don't involve tearing up things that already exist, I'd be willing to listen.]]

[[i loled at the first sentence.]]

[[How did they get to the Vale? If they used the boat like some orcs, then you should ignore all roleplay they attempt.]]

I think the boat should go. My reasonings for this are ;

Back in Aegis , Dunwood was a very exclusive place. People genuinly didnt really know how to find it and I loved it like that. At the start of Asulon , when I really got into Halflings , it was the same. It was almost like a test , you had to find Branborough and I always thought that finding the true home of the Halflings was the first step in proving yourself in order to get a burrow [ I also still believe people should have to really prove themselves for a burrow , but that's getting off topic ;) ] , since only true halflings could find it.

Yes , it brings more halflings since it's easier to get to , but I still think the boat should only be there for festivals and during times when it is not a festival , the boat is shut completely, like 100% impossible to board. Our main recruitment times for getting halflings were usually meant to be at festivals anyway , when we show off how good it is to be a halfling and give numerous reasons for playing one.

Lastly , Halflings arent born travellers they are quite content when they reach their true home , Branborough. They shouldnt really want to go out and explore everything , for they keep themselves , to themselves. Or that's how I always percieved it.

One last thing about putting signs up. You can put up all the signs you want about the boat being far to small to support orcs or people in full armour , but it does not mean they will choose to read any of them.

If we lock the boat and make it completely impossible to use without the key and only gave the key to those who have walked there the first time, we could have a win-win scenario. If you do the work, you get it easy next time

(( I agree with keeping the Salty Salmon.

Daeon - The reason Orcs aren't supposed to come is because of their weight. The Salty Salmon is much too small for a band of Orcs to row their way all the way to one of the Southernmost civilizations, the Halflings.

We could always warn against bandits, but since they might be humans, Elves, and whatnot, they would have the ability to sneak on the boat.

We DO need a sign that says, "This boat is much too small to support an Orc's weight." I believe. ))

Well right now no one is supposed to be using the boat in RP. It's not a terrible crime if you are a halfling, but when we encountered some orcs despite the fact that I boarded up the sides of the boat and took away the walking plank at the other end, that's not cool.

One solution might be to have a locked door on the other side (as well as ensuring that it is 100% impossible to jump and get through).

"I love the idea on two conditions:

One, that th'pen will not be near me burrow!

Two, that I don't have t'do any o'the work!"

"It's not that no one can find a home, it's that they be too impatient to wait fer both the Elders' permission s'well as the quantity o'materials needed to build more homes!"

"Aye, a small cavern under yer burrow isn't the end of the world, but if it gets too expansive, the dirt will collapse! Cave-ins are no fun, eh."

"If there be any work requests and you cannot find me, just drop a letter in me mailbox right outside me burrow, eh."

"I'm not an elder, mister, but it'll mean that the halflins who 'ave earned a home won't be at a loss, eh."

Hobbs uses some crusty green ink he found in a chest to scribble out a note on the town board:

My fellow villagers,

I've taken the position of the town Burrower. I may be fairly new to Branborough, but I've been burrowing since I was a wee lad. I was an apprentice to John Tookbody, the nephew of Kip Took, the teacher of Petyr in the art of the burrow. I've since graduated from my apprenticeship and have begun my own work, the latest piece being the reconstruction of Brandybuck Burrow in our very own Vale.

If you need a burrow constructed, contact me (assuming you've already got the Elders' permission.) Likewise, if you simply need a home improvement such as a circularafication of a roof, a leaky patch, an added room or fireplace, or anything else involving burrow-work, feel free to ask me.

Sincerely, Hobbs Hardfoot Brandybuck, Burrower

A History of Halflings - by Petyr Brandybuck

Preface ::

As is common knowledge, the origins of the halfling race reside began with couples consisting of a human and a dwarf. Nowadays, the halflings have distinct traits of their own, practically unmistakable when compared with the modern counterparts of their progenitors. The purpose of this book is to educate the populace about the culture and history of the halflings. The information in this book has been preserved either in ruins, in literature, or in folklore.::

Chapter 1 - Beginnings - Years 0-300::

Though there are many conflicting accounts regarding the creation and following years of Aegis, most records agree that the race of humans and that of dwarves most likely had contact before Year 50. And, as when any two cultures collide, so do their blood, and so at some point in time, humans began to mate with dwarves. We can trace some traits back to this point, such as brewing and farming talents, but as we will see, other generic halfling traits developed over time. ::

Indeed, it is hard to pinpoint the first halfling. After researching animal breeding as well as magical oddities, I would propose that, intially, the children of a dwarf/human couple would not be classified as a halfling. You see, it would make much more sense if halflings were a height in between that of a dwarf and human, but instead, they are actually shorter! This would indicate that, some time in the past, a great outer influence caused the future children of these mixed couples to have this odd height. ::

It is reasonable to conclude that halflings as we know them today were present by Year 300, based on folklore and literary records. ::

Chapter 2 - Early Developments - Years 300-600 ::

A combination of small stature and inherant greed drove some of the first halflings to thievery, a very viable profession for nimble hands in the cities. They gained a reputation for being mischievous and devious, and thus gained little respect for their brewing or farming prowess. There was some prejudice against them, no doubt; never once in history or literature does one hear of a heroic or powerful halfling. To say that they were suppressed would be incorrect, but people did find them a thing to be "tolerated". ::

Over time, of course, most halflings developed a sort of fear of violence and arguments, reducing the number of thieves. As well, most halflings moved to Oren to escape the war-mongering attitude of the dwarves. This is estimated to have taken place over the time span of Years 400-600 The humans were little better, though. And, over time, halflings began to move to more rural areas, escaping those that would persecute them. Small communities on the very border of human cities were formed, and there halflings began to develop customs to cheer them up. Indeed, good food and good times seemed to become the goal of every halfling. ::

Chapter 3 - Later Developments - Years 600-1200::

Halflings continued migrating farther and farther out of the city. It came to be that small communities of halflings were spread out in the vast plains surrounding Oren, with the halflings only revealing themselves occasionally to trade goods. Over time, the negative connotation towards halflings mostly disappated, but the halflings enjoyed their semi-solitary lifestyles. ::

The countryside is where the art of halfling brew and cooking truely matured into the art form that it is today. Indeed, the herbs and spices that could be found in the countryside of Oren had never been truely used to their full potential, and so halflings were the first to utilize them. Some of these herbs include the yellow wildflower, spice of apple, and fern dust. The ale, while very potent, began to develop more of a focus on flavor and aftertaste. This also was the case with halfling bread and cider. ::

It is important to note that there were still some halflings living in cities at this point (~Year 800). Most halflings were born of halfling/halfling, but some were still born of a human/dwarf couple. These halflings enjoyed a much easier life than their ancestors.::

Around this time in history, the number of halflings had indeed grown to a point where surnames were required to identify with, as previously, only single names were used. Names, both first and last, were usually one or two syllables. Notable surnames and houses that began at this time were the houses of Took and Brandybuck, founded by Tulkan and Grombadook, respectively. The Tooks had the traits of what might be called the quintessential halfling - friendly, yet shy, of average height and demeanor. The Brandybucks, however, were a tad more adventurous, with darker hair than most halflings. Each family lived in a single burrow hill, most of them in the general vicinity of another. These family hills were the closest thing to a town as had truely ever existed yet in halfling culture. ::

However, in around Year 1010, some families started to break apart from population pressures. Families like the Brandybucks eventually spread all througout the lands. ::

By around this time, halflings had been isolated enough that, not only did this unique culture of peace and merriment develop, but the halflings actually forgot or disbelieved in the creation stories and of Aenguls, Daemons, and God. Indeed, the halflings didn't really develop a totally obscure faith, but instead took on a quasi-religious outlook that revolved around the things they held dear: harvest and food, companionship, nature, and peace. No "gods" were ever named, nor was worship very common, but there was a common belief that, if a halfling betrayed his tight-knit community, that the harvest and the tranquility of life would be lost. ::

Chapter 4 - The Rise and Decline of the Village Era - Years 1200-1304

Around the year 1200, a small group of halflings, from both Took, Brandybuck, Goodbody, and other families, decided to form a self-sufficient community apart from the family burrows. They had decided to make it a collection of hills, hidden from society by the waters and hills surrounding it. This community eventually came to be named "Dunwood", and it remains the most notable halfling town to date. There are massive wheat fields and a beautiful, clean lake. This town was always notable for being quite territorial, for as the humans began to urbanize more and more, family burrows were abandoned, and Dunwood was one of the last retreats for the country-loving halflings. As word of the town's existence came to be, spread by the word of the Wandering Wizard, halflings from both cities and family hills came to try and gain a burrow here. The founders of Dunwood were initially very welcome, but soon, the onrush of want-to-be residents came to such a high number that it was impossible to distinguish which would be beneficial to the community. The aspect of companionship was always very emphasized, and as a later resident of the town, I can vouch for this fact. By the time that I moved to Dunwood, it was impossible to walk through the streets of Al'Khazar without being pestered for the town's semi-secret location. ::

Envious of the town, many halflings and non-halflings alike began making similar towns in the surrounding hills, a more known one by the name of Thistledown. ::

I am now qualified, at this point, to tell the history from a first-person perspective. Yes, for I arrived in Dunwood during a small population boom, when the town was thriving and more inhabitants came every day. The Elders of the town at the time were Kip Took, Len, Gimblo. I was first escorted to the town by Gimblo, who took Bell and I for a visit. And, as I mentioned earlier, we were pursued through the streets of Al'Khazar by nosy people! Gimblo turned a corner, snapped his finger, and suddenly Bell and I were in Dunwood (a trick I have yet to emulate perfectly). The smell of hot bread and ale wafted from the ale garden, and I could hear a halfling singing with a lyre in the distance. Indeed, it was truly the ideal place for a halfling. Indeed, soon, the whole town took a trip to Al'Khazar to pledge allegiance to the newly-kinged Edmund::

After many a year of drinking, story-telling, and visitor-shoveling, the town seemed to go into a cultural decline. The Elders grew a tad sickly, and so they appointed Owen Sturdyfoot II as the Mayor to help govern. However, even his efforts did not maintain the vitality of the town, as Brian left to become an Ascended, Biodoc passed away, Rusty moved to Al'Khazar, and Lilly was kidnapped. This decline occured in other towns, too, leaving an area surrounding Dunwood filled with empty hill-homes and the likes. I, too, left after a call from the Druids, though the years of countryside living would have a profound influence on me for my entire life. ::

Chapter 5 - Up to Modern Day - Years 1304-Present Day::

After many years, around 1340, I decided along with a few relatives to restore the popularity and culture of Dunwood, and so we hosted DunFest, a large festival with much merriment. There was drinking, dancing, singing, and the likes, of course. However, afterwards, it did not have the profound influence on the town population that I would have liked. And so, I went back to Malinor, only to try another festival later. Indeed, it appeared that our selective ways way long ago had a profound influence on the interest in the town, and so many gave up their hopes of moving and settled in the city. Many halflings have forgotten the joy of the simple and clean life, to my surprise. While I certainly traveled and was no typical halfling, the air off of Lake Dunwood in the early morn still stirs my soul like very little else does. ::

At the most recent DunFest, I did meet some fellows quite interested in culture, but none were halflings. I have tried to embrace the city-dwelling halflings with open arms, but very few have answered the call. ::

With the division of Oren, I as one of the only remaining Elders of the town decided to not immediately pledge our allegiance to either faction, instead remaining independent for some time. I did, however, set up a trade caravan of goods between Dunwood and Galahar, trying to make use of our overstocked wheat. ::

At the time of writing this, the state of the world grows dim as the Undead continue to win victory after victory. The future will surely deserve another tome of halfling history, perhaps more in depth, as this was merely a general overview. Hopefully this has been an informative and enjoyable read. ::

Petyr Brandybuck

I already have the ancient history (Aegis) written.

Name: Hobbs Hardfoot/Brandybuck

Occupation: Undecided

MC Username: drplat

Aye, this festival was far from perfect. Hopefully next festival, I can announce it earlier, and perhaps set up better travel methods like hiring a mage for a portal. I hope actual ale-crafting is fixed by then.

The tall ones are a rather odd type,

picking wheat before it is ripe,

and they love to fight wars

and loot all the stores,

and they're always lookin' to gripe!

"Oy, lads! Gather at the docks, and let's sing a few verses, eh," says Petyr. He grabs his lyre out of a chest and dusts it off. "This world lacks songs of it's own yet, songs and rhymes that future halflings will tell over and over, eh. Perhaps if ye sing a particularly clever bit, we'll have Lyra write it down and make a book or two! It doesn't have to be the straight limericks of Dunwood. But, of course, it must rhyme!" He begins to play and sing.

"It's said that a Brandybuck lad

is never found sulking or sad,

for the summers of the Vale

are hot and full of ale,

so the lasses go scantily clad!"

*Petyr sits down at the desk in his burrow, scribing a letter that will hopefully make its way to the War Uzg. It reads:*

To the leader of the orcs,

The short people of Branborough know of the pain in Salvus. Town members were present when they attacked you citizens, and we have travelled there in an effort to trade many a day. Dawn by all means should not be alive at this year; it is not natural; what is also not natural is the devastation that has occured to the land in and around Salvus. The druids, even with their base somewhere there, have not done anything, for the Order is but the umbra of a great organization of the past.

The Halflings of Branborough offer support in the form of food, pipeweed, coal, and what other goods are desired and can be supplied. This is in exchange for the following:

- The farms of Salvus shall be razed, and saplings shall be planted over them. These dreadful monstrosities have desecrated the land, and as a druid and a halfling, it is intolerable. They flood the market with diseased wheat and take no heed of the consequences of their actions.

- A peaceful alliance is formed between the Halflings and the War Uzg; the Orcs will come to the military aid of the halflings if there ever be a need, and the Halflings will pay tribute in the form of wheat.

Signed, Petyr Brandybuck, First of His Name, Thane of Branborough