Kobalos - Alphatian Halflings?
by Marc SaindonRather than recycle LOTR tropes with Alphatian Hin, perhaps one could tap into classical culture, and find a similar being, like the Kobaloi, who is mischievous and fond of Dionysus... they would enjoy wine instead of ale, and maybe the lesser known cultures of Bronze Age Asia Minor could serve as a inspiration, like Phrygia. Phrygian caps for example, would make them Greek-adjacent but different enough from the other Greek cultures in Mystara (Milenians, Mineans). It would also make them reminiscent of smurfs, which matches their shortness.
Phrygia
If the name Kobalos is too close to "Kobold" (and Goblin), perhaps Cabeiri can be used instead.
Cabeiri
(Image from: https://x.com/cosmicdangrzone/status/1537859897013940224)