Carseld

Garret Nightglade grew up in the Halfling community of Carseld. (Carseld is a broad encompassing term for all the Halflings communities, villages and farms in a wide region, broadly analogous to an English county) Halflings lived in Carseld from the dawn of time. However, in recent years, there were small signs of decline. Births were exceptionally rare and always followed by a community wide celebration involving many days of drinking and feasting. There were clear signs of abandoned houses and unworked fields that suggested the community was shrinking year on year.

The Halflings of Carseld adopted a very organic approach to farming and life in general. Little was ever thrown away and the concept of waste was anathema to the culture. This extended to a generally harmonious relationship amongst the Halflings and such disputes as periodically arose were normally trivial in nature and settled by those involved over a pint of ale and a shared tobacco. The offer of tobacco was culturally regarded as a request to put a dispute behind you and move on. On the rare occasions that disputes couldn't be agreed between those directly involved, a town meeting was convened, and issues settled with a simple democracy. Once the town ruled, the outcome was always accepted and conflict never lingered. There was no instance of Halfling-Halfling murder in communal memory and the concept is alien and hard to grasp.

Six months ago, Carseld was attacked by goblins being driven by wraith-like evil things. The halflings were exterminated in ritual slaughter and nothing remains of them.