Half-Elf

Elves have long drawn the covetous gazes of other races. Their generous lifespans, magical affinity, and inherent grace each contribute to the admiration or bitter envy of their neighbors. Of all their traits, however, none so entrance their human associates as their beauty. Since the two races first came into contact with each other, humans have held up elves as models of physical perfection, seeing in these fair folk idealized versions of themselves. For their part, many elves find humans attractive despite their comparatively barbaric ways, and are drawn to the passion and impetuosity with which members of the younger race play out their brief lives.
Sometimes this mutual infatuation leads to romantic relationships. Though usually short-lived, even by human standards, such trysts may lead to the birth of half-elves, a race descended from two cultures yet inheritor of neither. Half-elves can breed with one another, but even these “pureblood” half-elves tend to be viewed as bastards by humans and elves alike. Caught between destiny and derision, half-elves often view themselves as the middle children of the world.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Half-elves stand taller than humans but shorter than elves. They inherit the lean build and comely features of their elven lineage, but their skin color is normally dictated by their human side. While half-elves retain the pointed ears of elves, theirs are more rounded and less pronounced. Their eyes tend to be human-like in shape, but feature an exotic range of colors from amber or violet to emerald green and deep blue. This pattern changes for half-elves of drow descent, however. Such elves are almost unfailingly marked with the white or silver hair of the drow parent, and more often than not have dusky gray skin that takes on a purplish or bluish tinge in the right light, while their eye color usually favors that of the human parent.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Half-elf names derive from both human and elven origin, but they have developed into something completely separate from their cultural origins.

Major Organizations

Two main groups have tremendous power within half-elf communities.

• House Lyrandar holds the Mark of Storm; thus, half-elves run both the powerful Windwrights Guild and the Raincallers Guild. Together these guilds dominate shipping, travel, and agriculture.
• House Medani is less influential in politics, but it commands the business of personal protection due to the Mark of Detection it bears. The house members’ sterling reputations and stalwart guardianship have earned them many friends in high places.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Elf
• Human

Related Organizations

• Sela's Path

Related Ethnicities

• Khoravar

• Ability Score Modifiers: Half-elf characters gain a +2 bonus to one ability score of their choice at creation to represent their varied nature.
• Type: Half-elves are humanoid creatures with both the human and the elf subtypes.
• Size: Half-elves are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
• Base Speed: Half-elves have a base speed of 30 feet.
• Languages: Half-elves begin play speaking Common and Elven. Half-elves with high Intelligence scores can choose any languages they want (except secret languages, such as Druidic). See the Linguistics skill page for more information about these languages.
• Elven Immunities: Half-elves are immune to magic sleep effects and gain a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells and effects.
• Adaptability: Half-elves receive Skill Focus as a bonus feat at 1st level.
• Keen Senses: Half-elves receive a +2 racial bonus on Perception checks.
• Low-Light Vision: Half-elves can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.
• Elf Blood: Half-elves count as both elves and humans for any effect related to race.
• Multitalented: Half-elves choose two favored classes at first level and gain +1 hit point or +1 skill point whenever they take a level in either one of those classes.