Halvers
This race is known by many names. The Dwürden call them the Norkin (Gnor-kin), the Yrūn call them Halvers, and the people of Lōépōnye Noe refer to themselves as the Tōen Pōélo (i.e., Halflings) and the race as Ōéle (i.e., people). The Norkin are a Hybrid race believed to have resulted from Yrūn and Gnor cross-breeding. It is not believed that the first Halvers were the result of natural breeding for attempts to create new “first generations” have been unsuccessful. Such experiments have led experts to believe that either forgotten magics were involved, or that the stories are false. The fourth Ōéle sub-race (i.e., Tōen Mōéle) are believed to be a cross between the Gnor and Feyri.
There are four sub-races of the Tōen Pōélo.
- Nōéle Dōen (i.e., good friends)
- Nōéle Gōlo (i.e., warclub friends)
- Nōéle Ōdōen (i.e., odd friends)
- Tōen Mōéle (i.e., false strangers)
Physiology
Most Ōéle vary from four to four and a half feet tall, with the Mōele Tōen ranging from three to almost five feet. Their hands and feet are somewhat over-sized for their height when compared to Yrūni proportions. The Halver head is slightly angular, terminating in a compressed ovoid toward the back of the skull. Relative to their size, Halvers have larger eyes than Yrūn which also reflect light in otherwise dark areas (rf. tapetum lucidum).
Most Ōéle live almost twice as long as Yrūn (i.e., 120-150 years).
Psychology
Halvers are a very social race, loving to talk, gossip, listen, and spin tales. The joke that Ōéle love “small talk” has been told countless times, but is no less correct. There seems to be no subject that Halvers are not happy to discuss and bless with their many opinions. In addition, Halver memory is amazing when dealing with trivial matters. Two Halvers can sit and talk about nothing of substance for days, while keeping each other enthralled with their mastery of trivial tidbits. Halvers are entranced by family lineages and when seated with another Halver can often deduce how the two are related, or at the least find a common friend, or friend of a friend, or friend of a relative, ad nauseam.
Mentally, the Ōéle appear to be a very stable race. It is uncommon (unheard of?) to find a Halver in throes of mental illness. Mostly, members of the race are well-adjusted, pleasant, and slow to anger. The patience of the Halvers is impressive for what amounts to a Mortal Race. Typically, Halvers enjoy the simple pleasures of life: eating, drinking, and smoking. More than any other race, Halver cooking and brewing is considered he best in the world.
Culture
Throughout the World of Teréth End, Ōéle culture is centered around Family, Clan, and Kingdom. Family is very important to Halvers. Typical individuals recognize “immediate family” back three generations (i.e., 2nd cousins) and “extended family” two further generations (i.e., 3rd and 4th cousins). Ties between these Family members are generally close knit and strong. Beyond this family group, Halvers are bound by the ties of Clan. Clans are larger groups that contain a number of family groups usually tied to a single patriarch or matriarch. Ōéle Kingdoms typically consist of three or more clans which have worked together over the centuries. When a king or queen dies, his Clan carries his body to their traditional burial grounds. Following the interment and wake, representatives from the other Clans meet and a new leader is elected.
Ōéle appear throughout the world but typically settle in civilized areas. Like rats from a ship, an exodus of Ōéle suggests that an area is becoming dangerous or uncivilized.
Language
Although there is no racial language, many western Ōéle have adopted Nōenic (the language of Lōépōnye Nōe) as a common tongue. Due to the wide distances between Halver communities and native speakers of Nōenic, many variations of the language have emerged.
Magic
The Ōéle capacity for magic is similar to that of the Yrūn.
Nomenclature: Halver Dekàlic: Ōéle (race), Ōéli (pertaining to), Ōélyn (individual), Ōélyr (people)