Half-Elves

"Sometimes, the distance seems unimaginable, but just as often I feel as if I'm trapped between them."

Habitual travelers, Elves are frequent visitors to the settlements of other races. Too long lived for their own mental health, some would say, they often live detached from their own longevity, bringing them closer to their short-lived neighbors. Humans, in particular, tend to be drawn to these Fey-like wanderers. The exotic wonder of magic, their slender features, and what would many unashamedly call their beauty all hold a distinct appeal. At the same time, Humans do not stray too far from what Elves would consider attractive, in both body and mind, with their imagination and artistry sometimes winning over even the most hesitant among them. Whether the reasons are mutual or of a darker nature, the fact is that carnal relations between Humans and Elves are far from unheard of, and thanks to the heritage of man, these relations can often bear children. And while they may be made with the best or worst of intentions or be entirely accidental, but only few of such couples are truly prepared for the consequences. Their age puts them at odds with both of their parents, and their relative uniqueness easily attracts more attention than either. A Half-elf's live can be fraught with unreasonable expectations, as if assuming they can show all the best traits of both races, or considerable prejudice from the opposite. Ultimately, their lives are as varied as the circumstances that bring them into being in the first place.

Racial Modifiers

Characteristics: Half-Elves gain a +1 bonus to two characteristics of the player's choice.
Resourceful: Half-Elves may take a 1 CP discount on any of the following Advantages: Aptitude in a Subject, Aptitude in a Field, Jack of All Trades, Natural Learner, Natural Learner (Field), or Increased Natural Bonus. This may allow them to take the Advantage for free, but they may only use this discount once no matter how many of the relevant advantages are acquired.
Dual Dispositions (Magic): While they do not always have the ability like their Elven ancestors, Half-Elves that acquire The Gift or Incomplete Gift hold a strong aptitude for magic tempered by their Human aptitude for creativity and learning. They increase their Level of Learning for magic by 1, are treated as having the Opposite Magic Advantage in regards to Essence and Illusion, and gain 20 ML more than their Intelligence would imply. If their class is of the Mystic archetype, this increases to 30 ML.
Dual Dispositions (Psychic): On the other hand, Half-Elves that acquire Access to One Psychic Discipline or Free Access to Any Psychic Discipline benefit from a portion of their Human connections to this force. They gain 1 additional Psychic Point at first level, or 2 if their class is of the Psychic archetype.
Misfavored: Half-Elves that gain the benefits of neither of their Dual Dispositions find themselves especially driven to prove themselves in other ways. They may gain a +1 bonus to two additional characteristics of the player's choice.
Sleepless: Half-Elves require half as much sleep as Humans. They cannot take the Deep Sleeper disadvantage.

Basic Information

Genetics and Reproduction

Half-Elves are capable of breeding true with each other or occasionally with Humans or Elves. These 'quarter-Elves' or 'quarter-Humans' do not have particularly distinct traits, and are rare besides, especially in the latter case. The birth of a Half-Elf typically results in considerably less strain upon an Elven mother than bearing a fullblooded Elf would, but can be a foreign and risky experience for a Human mother, resulting in death more frequently than normal birth due to the added supernatural strain.

Genetic Ancestor(s)