Halruaan (ethnicity)

The Halruaans were an ethnic group of humans who made up the vast majority of the population of Halruaa and Nimbral. They also composed a tiny percentage of the population of Lapaliiya and the Shaar.

Description
Most Halruaans were lovers of magic, especially arcane magic. In fact, Halruaans had the strongest magic tradition of any of the human races of Faerûn. Even the poorest commoner could cast simple spells, and it was considered a mark of honor and prestige to excel in the arcane arts.

Halruaans tended to be a happy lot, and enjoyed treating each other with all kinds of pleasantries. In contrast, they were often very suspicious of foreigners with anxieties about having their magical secrets stolen. They rarely desired to travel far from their homes.

The Crinti were openly disliked by most Halruaans.

The average Halruaan was wealthy, and they cared very much about appearances, dressing in flashy, colorful, flamboyant garb and employed magic in their everyday lives, such as for transportation. Similarly, they were keen on exotic pets.

Education and literacy were extremely important to a Halruaan.

Language
Most Halruaans spoke the Halruaan language, a dialect of the Netherese languages, and used the Draconic script. The wizards among them generally learned many other languages, especially dead and magical ones.

Religion
For the most part, the Halruaan people had abandoned the gods of the Netherese and taken up the worship of the gods of magic from the Faerûnian pantheon&mdash;primarily Mystra (the majority ) and Azuth (one in six persons ) but also Savras and Velsharoon. The Halruaans of Nimbral primarily worshiped Leira before the Time of Troubles, when Leira was killed.

The daily worship of a typical Halruaan would involve prayers to Mystra requesting the protection of the Weave.

History
The Halruaans were the result of an intermingling of refugees from Netheril, led by the archmage Raumark, and the Lapal people, who were also the predecessors of the Tashalans. The Lapal were simple farmers and fishers when the Netherese refugees arrived. The Lapal taught the Netherese how to work the land, and the refugees taught the Lapal the magic arts. The two groups had merged within only three generations.

The Halruaan people split into two major groups near the end of the second century DR. The group worshiping Leira emigrated from Halruaa and settled Nimbral.

Notable Halruaans

 * Daltim Flamefist
 * Harlakh Doroaver