The race of Halflings is mostly thought of as a peaceable, well-meaning, honest and sociable. This, at least, is the common view, and it is a view readily encouraged by the sight of rosy cheeked, well-fed Halfling faces and broad Halfling smiles. Such are Nature’s gifts to that race. However, even amongst this tolerant and easy-going people there is the odd proverbial rotten apple that spoils an otherwise toothsome batch. In this case the rotten apple goes by the name of Lumpin Croop and the batch in question is known as Croop’s Fighting Cocks. Lumpin Croop was born in the northern Moot, in a backward village, on the wrong side of the river. His mother was the blacksmith’s daughter and his father an itinerant carrot salesman. Unfortunately, Lumpin’s father choked to death on a horseshoe sometime before he was born. The Halfling’s childhood was not a happy one. His grandparents resented and disliked him, and could never forgive their daughter for her unwise liaison. Lumpin’s bright orange hair was a painful reminder of his parentage. Young Lumpin was forced to work long hours in the family forge. His grandfather set him to arduous and demeaning tasks such as poking the fire and straightening horseshoes. His mother suffered greatly from the unremitting disapproval of her parents. She became distraught and took to the bottle. Not surprisingly Lumpin ran away from home as soon as he could. By this time he had already fallen into a life of pick-pocketing and bunk-artistry. These were talents doubtlessly inherited from his father along with his passion for root vegetables. Lumpin Croop became a poacher. His extraordinarily acute night vision proved a great advantage on dark, moonless evenings. Lumpin soon learned to support himself from the surrounding farms and estates. This was an annoyance to the many gamekeepers who found their game stocks and reputations plummeting fast. One day Lumpin happened to visit the Old Pig and Bucket, a shady hostelry in the otherwise attractive village of Beggar’s End. The inn’s landlord, Raggo Barrelgut, had been an eager buyer of poached rabbit in the past. On this occasion, however, rabbit pie was noticeably absent from the menu. Instead, the snug was brimming with angry gamekeepers led by the notoriously crazed Ned Hamfist. The gamekeepers were all armed with cudgels. Raggo was hiding in a corner looking embarrassed and a bit frightened. Anticipating a sound beating, Lumpin immediately launched into a long and complicated story. Once he had begun he soon found himself spinning a yarn of excitement, treasure and vast banquets waiting to be had in the lands over the mountains. The gamekeepers were taken aback by the young poacher’s tirade and soon put all thoughts of vengeance aside. Eagerly they found themselves signing up to join Lumpin in his bright and exciting quest to the land of Tilea. Ned Hamfist bought drinks to toast their bold venture and some bright spark came up with a name for their band – Lumpin Croop’s Fighting Cocks.