Homebrew Halfling, Nars (Mouseling) Species Details

 

"I quite prefer adventures come to me, thank you very much. I prefer the dirt and dust and muck stay where it is and not carry it about with me. Besides, I would miss entirely too many brunches if I went on some adventure. No, far better I stay with my books and papers and be a consultant instead." — Timon the Sage

A mouseling is Small and Practical, preferring a life where adventures happen to other people. They are fond of keeping clean (both themselves and their environment) and of regular meals. That said, mouseling adventurers ARE known - and tend to be rogues due to their enjoyment of quietly moving through their environment and their agile hands.

There are few who hate mouselings. They make poor slaves, terrible soldiers, and are well known for being honest folk. Even their rogues are astonishingly straightforward and without much in the way of guile. Height tends around three feet. They are inclined to be stout, weighing between 40 and 45 pounds.

Mouselings are a race with short fine fur covering their bodies, the coloration of which ranges from brown (common) to pure black or white. Those whose fur is either all-white or all-black are considered marked by the gods for some destiny.  Eye color ranges, with yellow or brown being common but a few are known for gold or green eyes. Mouseling clothing tends to be practical and durable, but with ornate embroidery and colorful patches that proclaim various accomplishments or affiliations on the part of the mouseling in question. 

Mouselings are fond of mechanisms, particularly those that involve clockwork and automate mundane or common tasks. A mouseling farm is likely built in such a way that irrigation is done with a minimum amount of effort. A mouseling town or village most likely spouts several windmills and waterwheels.

Mixed Communities 

Mouselings are quite often found in large cities, where they bump elbows with taller and smaller races with equal chances. They will find a niche and insert themselves into it with such ease that unless one was paying close attention, neighbors might not notice for several months that the mouseling hadn't always been there. 

 

Grooming

Grooming and personal appearance is very important to a mouseling, but they have learned and come to accept that other races are not so inclined. Still, they are likely to mention it at some point and offer to "tidy up" a companion's appearance. Perhaps a bit of embroidery on that drab vest? Or perhaps a good shave?

AFFABLE AND POSITIVE

Mouselings try to get along with everyone else and are loath to make sweeping generalizations—especially negative ones.

Dwarves. “Love the beard. Have you considered a nice conditioner?”

Elves. “There are many kinds of elves. Some are beautiful, some are not. You just have to accept that the face they show you may not be the real one.”

Humans. “ The Elder Race is rare and a bit of a 'grab bag'. The Emperor Mannin was quite a good fellow, never wanted the job but did a great job of it nonetheless. His companion, Sir Potato. He was about as bad as bad can get.”

Reptine. "Both the issith and the sa'thik are a bit of an enigma. They're just enough like us in some regards that we can get along. They're sufficiently different though that they can be completely alien from time to time. Best not to take anything they say too harshly, it's just the way they are."

Exploring Opportunities

Mouselings usually set out on the adventurer’s path to defend their communities, support their friends, or explore a wide and wonder-filled world. For them, adventuring is less a career than an opportunity or sometimes a necessity.

Mouseling Names

Mouseling names are short and usually have a descriptive name given afterwards, and finally a family name. If a mouseling is part of a community dominated by another race, they will usually use the naming conventions of that race as part of their fitting in.

Male Names:  Andrew, Ash, Benjamir, Calin, Corrin, Endemin, Falkis, Finn, Gundar, Jenris, Jon, Lincoln, Lylar, Merrict, Milo, Osbi, Perrin, Reed, Redfur, Wellingham

Female Names: Airi, Brene, Catherine, Cordaine, Endamiir, Jillian, Kate, Lakshi, Linada, Merlinda, Nenda, Pacifica, Portia, Seraphina, Shaena, Trym, Vani, Verna

Family Names:  (Kingdom) Brightfur, Cleareye, Defthand, Eyebright, Fargather, Goldfur, Ninewhisker, Quickhand, Teagather, Wellbringer, Wheaton, Zephyr

Subrace

All mouselings descend from a single group of refugees from the First Age of Man, therefore there are no notable subraces. Some consider the long-tails versus short-tails to be subraces but they are otherwise the same.

Halfling, Nars (Mouseling) Traits

Mouselings all tend to have the same basic characteristics.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2.

Age

A mouseling reaches adulthood at the age of 15 and generally lives to sixty or seventy years.

Alignment

Most mouselings are lawful good. As a rule, they are good-hearted and kind, hate to see others in pain, and have no tolerance for oppression. They are also very orderly and traditional, leaning heavily on the support of their community and the comfort of their old ways.

Size

Mouselings average about 3 feet tall and weigh about 45 pounds. Your size is Small but you tend to be fairly hefty.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Lucky

When you roll a 1 on the d20 for an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll.

Brave

You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common (Comyn) and are non-fluent in another language unless specified. There is no specific mouseling language, but as most mouselings are avid readers they will be familiar enough with another language to be able to read and write it. Quite a few have large collections of books and maps in other languages, as a good book and hot cup of tea is considered a very good evening indeed in most mouseling societies.