Half-Elves

Basic Information

Anatomy

Half-elves resemble humans with almond-shaped eyes, slightly pointed ears, and slightly distended features. Most "pureblooded" half-elves just keep to this pattern of appearance, but half-elves born from an elven and a human parent occasionally have mismatched features like one rounded ear and one long pointed ear, blotches of dusky skin, or even legs of two different lengths. These half-elves are often referred to as mismatches, bastard elves, or even more derogatory terms, as their heritage is often very hard to hide.

Genetics and Reproduction

Half-elves are often considered to be the offspring of an elf and a human, but actually most half-elves are 'purebloods'- descendants of elven/human pairings and lineages stretching back generations. Although many elves, especially newly immigrated ones from Beshabha, view all half-elves as 'bastards', many half-elves actually have family lines that trace back a few hundred years (a short time for an elf, perhaps, but significant for a human.) Although genetic crossbreeds, something about the magic of Korthos or the mutability of humans leads to half-elves almost always being able to breed true.

Growth Rate & Stages

Half-elves grow a little bit slower than humans do, and live a bit longer, but generally reach maturity in their mid-to-late teens. Due to their slowed growth compared to their human peers, half-elves in human communities often feel left behind or out of place.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Although not as alien and effervescent as full-blooded elves, half-elves have the features of their elven ancestors like high cheekbones, pupiless eyes, and pointed ears.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Half-elves can be found just about anywhere humans or elves can be found, but are especially common on southern Aborea and northern Beshabha.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Half-elves have much better senses of hearing and sight than their human ancestors, and they often inherit the strength of seeing in the dark or low-light that their elven ancestors possess. The combination of elven and human heritage also makes half-elves particular skilled magic-users.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Although following naming traditions of the areas they live in, half-elves often have a bit of flair about their own names and those of their children. Half-elves born to a line of half-elves often have pride connected to their family lineage, whereas those born to different-race parents rarely identify strongly with a family name, as they feel very out of place among their families.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Most half-elves raised in elven or half-elven communities speak Elven, but rarely do they learn languages other than Common when in human communities- at least at a young age. Half-elves do have a natural talent for learning languages, something about the plasticity of their minds allowing them to pick up linguistic skills in their travels and studies very easily. There is no "half-elven" language, perhaps due to their natural skill for languages or their mixed heritage, but some families of half-elves operate on their own specialized dialects or accents of Elven.

History

Almost as long as there have been humans on Aborea there have been humans falling in love with the elven settlers there. Although some humans and some half-elves exist on Beshabha, Aborea is truly the land of the half-elves. Complex family lines date back and many half-elves claim aristocratic and quite influential lineage in Aborea. Much more common than their elven ancestors are on Aborea, half-elves have been important in the foundation of many of the nations in Aborea and are quite a common and successful race of people. Some small communities of half-elves can be found in eastern Beshabha as well, in the Settaran grasslands, children of wild elves and humans in those areas.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Elves
• Humans

Origin/Ancestry

Elven, Human

Lifespan

Half-elves generally live a bit longer than humans, on average living until between 90 and 110 years old.

Average Height

Similar to humans, although slightly taller on average.

Average Weight

Half-elves have no particular trends in weight.