The Races (Part 1)

Halflings:
A tribe of Nomadic Halflings rides sleek ponies on the wide plains. Living by a strict code of warrior honor, these Halfling barbarians are experts at mounted combat (including archery) and are fierce in battle. They are also incredibly attuned to the natural surroundings of their native plains. Over the years, the gradual encroachment of human settlers onto the plains has forced the Halflings closer to the eastern mountains, where the Troll kingdom blocks any further retreat. Caught between the trolls and the humans, the Halflings are facing drastic changes to their traditional lifestyle. Many turn to a life of adventure, either in the human deserts or on the borders of the troll kingdom. Others gather in the slums of Gnome cities, while some bands have been captured by the humans and sold into slavery.

Humans:
Humans are a fallen race. Thousands of years ago, a great human empire ruled the world. Tall human cities graced the land, blending naturally and beautifully into the forests. Graceful ships sailed the seas, spreading culture and conquering other lands. The other races, if they existed then, were all subservient to the human empire. But the fall of that great empire was also the fall of the human race. The great cities and provincial capitals were destroyed and their populace slaughtered. Humans in smaller towns and out-of-the-way places were driven from their homes and cut off from trade and communication. They gradually – over many generations – fell into a state of total savagery. Their descendants are barbarians in every sense of the word, ignorant of the ancient glories they possessed long ago.