(Predominantly Neutral with leans towards Neutral Good and Lawful Neutral)
Government: Vinehearth Borough is governed by a council of mystics who are selected by the eldest members of the clan. The Vinehearth council oversees all matters in the borough though their primary concern is adjudicating punishment for crimes, providing spiritual direction, and coordinating with the other boroughs. The council members are not held in any higher esteem than the rest of the villagers, and the elders still have final say in any decisions that are made.
Economy: The Vinehearth economy resides primarily in natural items and subsistence farm foodstuffs. Among the island, their villagers are often sought out as carpenters and farmers. Over the generations they have cultivated a small forest of ironwood and have developed secrets to growing particularly rare herbs that are valuable for cooking and magic alike. Their primary import is meat and books from the other islands, many Vinehearth halflings are voraciously curious about lore.
Religion/Spirituality: Vinehearth halflings worship the spirits of the island and nature itself. They believe that they were born from the land and when they die they will return there. Protective spirits watch over their villages and most settlements have some kind of regular religious ceremony, usually in the form of tribute and worship. Vinehearth halflings follow a philosophy of curious enlightenment, seeking to discover all things and to find the best possible way to accomplish a task before setting to do it.
Lifestyle: Settlements of the Vinehearth are usually comprised of a mixture of wooden structures and partially subterranean mound homes. Most Vinehearth halflings remain outdoors for the whole day, so the home is simply a place of shelter and protection. Villagers are typically tested at a young age to determine what role they would best serve for the village and then apprenticed to an elder in that field. A small percentage of their population is sent out on specific lore-gathering missions to the other islands for the sole purpose of learning.
Diplomacy: Vinehearth halflings are always moderately annoyed with their Boldsky cousins, but love them just the same. Their voice on the Whitefang Tribunal is usually the most heeded and they are the fiercest force for keeping the island neutral to the outside world. As a result they are sometimes seen as bowing to foreign demands, especially with the recent increase in scrutiny over halfling privateering. The Vinehearth community currently has a lore trading pact with Crystal Isle.
Military/Defense: Though not entirely pacifists, the Vinehearth Borough does not train a formal army. Instead each of their villagers serve in a rotating militia/hunting force tasked with hunting wild animals and defending their settlements from other dangers. They are known for using ironwood spears in combat and are almost always reinforced with nature-based magic.
Variants: Vinehearth halflings have the following racial variants:
- -2 strength, +2 dexterity, +2 wisdom. Vinehearth halflings are nimble and intuitive, but their slight stature makes them weaker than other races.
- Willed: Vinehearth halflings receive a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against charm & compulsion effects. This replaces the Fearless racial trait.
- Natural Insight: Vinehearth halflings receive a +2 racial bonus to survival and handle animal checks. This replaces the sure-footed racial trait.
- Weapon Familiarity: Vinehearth halflings are proficient with spears and treat any weapon with the word “halfling” in its name as a martial weapon. This replaces halfling standard weapon familiarity.
Prominent Figures:
- Elder Reene Greenglove (N Druid): The current eldest member of Vinehearth and their voice on the Whitefang Tribunal. She is wise and reserved, and speaks with the authority of a mighty ruler.
- Horrance Plainrunner (NG Ranger): A prominent ironwood crafter in Vinehearth. He is trusted by all and is a member of the ruling council.
- Alve Minnisk (LE Rogue/Fighter): The head of the Vinehearth merchants in Halfer’s Cove. He is fiercely loyal to his people.