I've once been explained that Ghastria was first featured in an RPGA tournament module and that it would be from that module the hate of kenders/halfling by Ghastrians comes from. I do not know the details, but Quote the Raven #20, a ravenloft netzine, expended on the idea that there was once a mistway between Sithicus and Ghastria, through which the Ghastrian may have come into contact with the sinister kenders of the land of specters. The mistway would have collapsed during the Grand Conjonction, but the fear sure remained. (Sithican kenders are not a threat to take lightly).