Shirelings

Shirelings are well accepted amongst most races and make loyal friends and competent adventurers. To most people, Shirelings prefer to live a simple farm life. They drink a lot, smoke a lot, and relax even more. This is an image which Shirelings cultivate and take great pride in.

These diminutive fellows reside in homes they call “Burrows”.

Always fond of food and drink, these chaps are warm and inviting. However, an evildoer should not be surprised when his Shireling victim slips a dagger between his ribs or renders him to dust with a Fiery Devastation spell!

One of the youngest races, they are a moderately long-lived race. It is not uncommon for a Shireling to live up to 130 years.

Makeup Requirements

Shirelings have fur on the tops of their feet. (Shoes that look like feet are acceptable)

Men often have mutton chop beards, and handlebar mustaches (Though these are not required)

Costuming for a Shireling tends to be simple peasant, farmer and commoner styles which show their rustic natures. Twill and homespun cloth items tend to be the most common fabrics for Shirelings. Plate armor is rare to say the least.

Population

18 per 100 players in the game.

Profession Information

Preferred Professions: Rogue

Forbidden Professions: All Champions, Knights & Duelists

Preferred Magic: Heart

Forbidden Magic: None

Affinities

Weapon: None

Magic: Hearth

Production: Brewing & Winemaking

Skill Information

Special Skills: Resist Disease (Up to 5 times)

Special Masteries: None

Inherent Advantages:

Dexterous hands give the Shireling an advantage when dealing with locks and traps; as such, they can purchase the Disarm Traps and Pick Locks skills at half skill point cost, rounded up. They also gain +2 Weapon Damage with Thrown weapons.

Shirelings have a love of food that goes beyond just the dinner table. Thus, they may purchase the Craft skills of Cooking and Farming at half cost, rounded up.

Shirelings great love of drink makes them excellent wine makers and brewers and thus they may learn Apprentice, Journeyman, Master and Grand Master Vinting and Brewing at -1 skill points

Inherent Disadvantages:

Because of their small size, Shirelings suffer a penalty of -5 hit points from their profession’s maximum hit points.

They may not purchase the Fortify or Master Fortify skills.

They furthermore are prevented from purchasing any of the following skills: Two-Handed Blunt, Two-Handed Bladed, & Two-Handed Cleaving.

They also may not purchase the Nobility Skill

This lack of a martial background also prevents a Shireling character from ever learning any of the Weapon Master skills.

Lastly, Shirelings may not learn Shield Use:Tower or Shield Use: Master.

Primer

Do you have a love of all the simpler things in life? Good food, a pipe, a book, and a comfy armchair to relax in by the fire? You might be a Shireling! The information that follows is a short synopsis of the racial packet for the loveable Shireling race. Further information can be found in the full racial packet, but this is a good baseline to assist in general knowledge beyond mechanics. Shirelings are plain creatures, with a love of all the simple pleasures in life. While they tend to be on the lazier side, they are not afraid of hard work, if it means harder play later. The idea of a comfortable and simple life is something that they have worked hard to develop, and those Shirelings who do not strive for simplicity are seen as “queer.” That being said, they are nimble and dexterous, and should they desire, can be effective with their hands, and thus make good tinkerers, crafters, and even rogues.

History

Shirelings are one of the Youngest races to come from the Spark. They started appearing the same time as their distant cousins, the Gnomes, and were only around a short time before the Humans. They were around for, and participated in the wars with Entropy and the undead, and despite their small stature and peaceful nature, fought bravely and adeptly in those times of danger and terror. During their “Wandering Days,” the time after leaving the Old Kingdom,  Shirelings demonstrated an easiness to adapt to the environments they visited and adopted the customs and languages of the peoples they were in contact with, but never truly felt the culture was fit to them. In the Shires, they had settled with a closed and comfort-loving lifestyle; they were fond of an unadventurous life of farming, eating, smoking pipe-weed, socializing and merrymaking.

Aging

Even though they are one of the Youngest races, Shirelings are a moderately long-lived race. It is not uncommon for a Shireling to live up to 130 years. Shirelings are considered to "come of age" on their 33rd birthday. This is a time of great celebration and many suitable aged Shirelings travel great distances to visit other Shires for this special occasion. Once a Shireling reaches around age 70, they are considered middle-aged. There are many important birthdays in a Shirelings life, but the two most important are when one comes of age at 33 and then later when one reaches 100.


Everyday Life and Family

Shirelings tend to value their family (close and extended) above most things. As a result of this, Shirelings are never far from a Shire for long. Besides, they would never let it be known that they missed a party or important life event. That being said, social stigma can extend through family, and if one Shireling is considered queer, it is not uncommon for the entire family to be seen as queer. So missing too many events or parties can even lead to your own family treating you differently.

As social creatures, most Shirelings do not travel alone, even from Shire to Shire, or nearby markets. They may travel short times with non Shirelings, but the urge to be among their own and return to a Shire doesn’t let them wander long.

Young Shirelings rarely leave the Shire they are born in until they are considered old enough to travel, unless going with family.

Shirelings prefer to live fairly simply. They will use the gadgets and gizmos of their tinkering cousins but nowhere to the degree and with as much enthusiasm as they do. Example: shirelings still till their land with a pony drawn till. 




Government And/Politics

Shirelings do not care much for laws and government beyond interpersonal, and thus were not present for the treaty or any of its proceedings. They were content to trust in the ones involved, and were excited for new land to travel, and eventually settle. Now, while part of the duchy their shire is in, they do not have to adhere to the policies and laws of that duchy. They are left to self-govern and do as they please, so long as they help provide some form of a tax, usually in the form of crops or pipe-weed, which is a shireling cultivation. This grants them protection by the military, and shirelings are free to join should they choose, though most do not care about government or politics, and do not like someone over them commanding them or controlling their actions. They will, however, form militia and deputize, should the need arise, but are not fond of the idea, and due to their quiet nature, often go unnoticed by those with nefarious intent. In general, they are considered to be upstanding citizens, and are regarded very kindly. 


Governing in each shire is usually an Elder council, where the oldest member of each family in the Shire is chosen to represent, and issues are brought to a vote in a democratic fashion, where the Chief, the elected head of the entire Shire, makes the final decision in the case of a tie. The Chief is also responsible for forming the militia should the need arise. 




Special Occasions and Traditions

Shirelings will find any excuse to have a party, and once a month, the entire Shire throws a party known as a Feastival. Missing a Feastival without a proper reason causes a very large uproar, and you will be the talk of the Shire, though a desire to miss the Feastival is as rare as a Shireling with shaved feet, as there is more food and ale and merriment than any other party around. 
For birthdays it is customary to give everyone that comes to your party a present.

Other special celebrations for Shirelings include Name Day, Wedding, Anniversary, Birthday, Death Day, Coming of Age, Century Day, Any big Firsts, such as first feet hair, steps, words, drink, pipe, or anything they can make a cause to celebrate. 
Never give a Shireling a fruit upside down. It is an omen that says the person giving the fruit wishes for the person receiving the fruit’s roots to grow upside down and dry out.


A Shireling is always dressed nicely, and thus will always have on a vest, a corset, an apron, or suspenders, and weather permitting, a nice overcoat. While most Shireling dress is very similar, Shires from different Duchy’s tend to take on different cultural aspects of their land. That being said, you will always see very plain clothing from Shirelings; homespun, organic fabrics, very earthy colors, and simple styles. Breeches or capris are bottoms for males, as long pants get caught in their foot hair. Females generally wear skirts, sometimes multiple layered, but also can be seen wearing the bottoms of their male counterparts. It is considered a social faux pas to ever be without a pipe and handkerchief.

Shirelings are very polite and sociable creatures, and will often be the first to introduce themselves, and like to make friends with everyone they meet.


Shirelings have a sort of reverence towards the ancient races, as over time, Shireling history has included them less and less, so they seem mysterious and elegant.



Hearth magic is the most common magic for Shirelings, as the idea of warmth, comfort, and home is very engrained in them, and Hearth Arts relies on, and bolsters those aspects. The idea of necromancy is so foul and awful to Shirelings because they have seen its effects firsthand, and it goes against the warmth of home and hearth, and so you will never see a Shireling use it.
 


Shirelings, if able, have 11 meals per day:

1. Coffee
2. Breakfast
3. 2nd Breakfast
4. Elevenses
5. Lunch/Luncheon/Mid Meal
6. Sweets
7. Afternoon Tea
8. Beer and Pretzels
9. Supper
10. Dinner
11. Dessert  

Locations

Shires are often located near rivers or flowing streams of water, where land is fertile for growing crops, mainly pipe-weed, a Shireling cultivation that has grown popular in the kingdoms. The biggest shires are located in Aldierman, The Queenslands, Berowick, and Valenwood. Edomere has too many boats, which Shirelings are not fond of due to their attachment to the earth, and Durenmyr is too hot for the pleasant and comfortable climate Shirelings enjoy. Sudomir has too harsh of a government and lifestyle for the Shirelings to enjoy, and the threat of Orc invasion is vastly unappealing for a people who enjoy lazing about without concern for the outside world.

Drawbacks and Flaws

Due to their smaller size, Shirelings are not known to be great warriors, and tend to fall to more dexterous trades and weapons. They also are not as sturdy or tough as others, due to their lifestyle, so they are not able to take as many hits, and are generally not as strong. Additionally, weapons are not prevalent and thus martial training and comprehension is rare, at best.

A Shireling is always polite and mannerly, to a flaw. They are always the first to introduce themselves, and greet strangers like friends. This may lead to uncomfortable situations when a Shireling goes above their station unknowingly, or approaches someone who seems friendly from a distance, but may not be so to the shireling.

Costuming

A Shireling is always dressed nicely, and thus will always have on a vest, a corset, an apron, or suspenders, and weather permitting, a nice overcoat. While most Shireling dress is very similar, Shires from different Duchy’s tend to take on different cultural aspects of their land. That being said, you will always see very plain clothing from Shirelings; homespun, organic fabrics, very earthy colors, and simple styles. Breeches or capris are bottoms for males, as long pants get caught in their foot hair. Females generally wear skirts, sometimes multiple layered, but also can be seen wearing the bottoms of their male counterparts. It is considered a social faux pas to ever be without a pipe and handkerchief.

A shireling will never be seen in platemail, as it is too heavy and unwieldy to move around in. Leathers are preferred for those who wear armor, but even that is rare, as many do not have a need, or simply run from danger. It also tends to clash with their usual, plain attire, and thus is not worn.