Half-Elf

Guild advisor Tal Remar was already awake when the morning passed through the intricate latticework screen that blocked his view of the provincial capital. As he dressed, the young regent read the various reports that scattered his desk. Barbarians were raiding caravans to the far east, and the insipid chamberlain was again demanding that taxes be lowered in three territories.

 He casually scooped up a healthy portion of exquisite fruit that overflowed from the bowl that sat on the desk. He ignored the human serving girl who quietly came out of the dark corner in which she was standing and cleaned up the mess that he left behind. Time to meet with his uncle, a representative from the elf nations.

 After sitting through an hour of rigorously polite greetings and another hour of his uncle’s assessment of the current diplomatic crisis, Tal Remar finally had a chance to speak. “It seems to me, honored uncle, that you’re expecting the humans to exhibit more patience than they’ve shown,” Tal said. “You can wait decades to get the answer you want from the king, but your human counterparts will be dead and gone before that happens. That’s why you think they’re pressing the issue. They just want it resolved before they reach their dotage.”

  Tal and his uncle spoke for another hour, sharing anecdotes about the madcap speed of human affairs, then the elf departed to his embassy while Tal returned to his office. Turning to his service girl, he exclaimed, “Why does diplomacy always take so long? I spent the whole morning in a conversation that could have taken five minutes!” The serving girl shrugged as Tal said, “How frustrating. Perhaps the gentlemen’s dueling club will provide more fast-paced diversions this afternoon.”

Central to half-elf psychology is the drive to bring disparate characteristics together. Half-elves are natural uniters and mediators. The desire for synthesis and unity is strong in a half-elf, whether he is trying to broker an agreement with a bitter rival or attempting to reconcile his elf and human heritages. 

Age Confusion in Childhood

Half-elves lead difficult childhoods, regardless of whom they were raised with. A half-elf brought up among humans ages both physically and emotionally slower than his peers. While he may appear to be mature in body, a “teenage” half-elf may still retain the worldview of a much younger child.

 That difference puts his parents or other caregivers in a dilemma: With whom does a half-elf child play and learn? If placed with his chronological peers, he’ll be the smallest and most immature among them—and the gap will grow wider with each passing year. On the other hand, raising a half-elf child with his developmental peers means an achingly slow trip through childhood. From the half-elf’s perspective, human friend after human friend matures quickly while the half-elf remains stuck in place. For one or the other of these reasons, a half-elf child often withdraws from the world, seeking solitude where he can.

Quiet Exterior, Inner Turmoil

Once a half-elf survives his lengthy childhood and adolescence, he emerges much more serene and poised than those of many other races—at least on the surface. Half-elves move with a fluid grace and have an intuitive knack for seeing the beauty in the everyday world. Like elves, half-elves tend to be patient and take a long-term view of the future. They are relatively unruffled by minor setbacks, realizing that such difficulties mean little in the long run. Half-elves show more of an interest in song, poetry, and art than most humans. In a community that respects bards, artists, or musicians, this affinity can be a half-elf’s ticket to social acceptance.

 But in the half-elf’s heart and mind, it’s a different story. Human ambition and adaptability is in a constant tug-of-war with the elf’s patience and reverence for tradition. A halfelf truly reaches adulthood when he comes to some sort of accommodation with both halves of his nature. And when that happens, the half-elf starts looking for other things to mend, synthesize, and reunite.

The Foreigner Mentality

To a human observer, the typical half-elf retains the aloofness elves are known for. As a result, many humans consider half-elves to be almost as haughty as elves. Some half-elves who live among humans try to refute this attitude by taking pains to demonstrate how laid back and approachable they are. Those half-elves who succeed in making humans comfortable in their presence find that their eloquence helps them make their way in society.

 Half-elves have a hard time convincing elves to treat them with respect. Most elves regard half-elves as stocky, clumsy, and lacking in the nuance and subtlety that elves prize. Unless he is unusually bright and observant, a half-elf always seems a little slower than usual among elves and may be treated as slightly inferior. If tensions are high between elves and humans, half-elves are often treated even worse, sometimes seen as tainted or cursed.

 Because of their mixed heritage, half-elves never truly feel as though they belong to one race or the other. Among both humans and elves, the half-elf adopts the persona of the courteous foreigner: He speaks your language and wants to respectfully partake of your customs. He’s knowledgeable and fascinating, but you’re unlikely to forget that he’s from somewhere else.

 This foreigner mentality means that few half-elves are shocked when they encounter a new and unusual culture. Those half-elves who embrace civilization become true cosmopolitans, sampling everything that life has to offer. Their human blood gives them a zest for life, while their elf side lets them appreciate it all the more.

Faced with trying to reconcile their presence in two societies that don’t quite mesh, half-elves sometimes adopt more than a foreigner’s mentality. They adopt a foreigner’s lifestyle, wandering between places where either they can hide their lineage in anonymity or where an individual’s heritage doesn’t matter as much as it does in other locales.

 Half-elves generally adopt a middle position between the energetic lifestyle of humans and the languid way of life of the elves. Doing this is another way the half-elf reconciles their dual nature, but this compromising posture also sets them apart from the lifestyle and the outlook of both their parents.

Leisure

Thanks to their long life span (compared to that of humans), half-elves have the freedom to experiment with countless forms of amusement over the years. Most turn to the arts to fi nd comfort, and in so doing they become collectors of fi ne works, creating magnifi cent exhibitions that combine multiple media from different cultures.

  Like elves, half-elves tend to focus intently on one discipline and adhere to it or follow it exceedingly well. A half-elf who collects rare porcelain, for example, will not be content until he can fi nd every single piece manufactured by a particular famous crafter. Wandering half-elves are content to collect ephemeral objects, such as poems, songs, and works of music—items that can be carried along anywhere.

 Half-elves also share the elves’ willingness to devote years to a topic just to see if they are suited for it. A human might blanch at the prospect of spending five years training to be a painter, then deciding against the effort and putting down the paintbrush forever. But half-elves have longer life spans and thus are inclined to spend more time pursuing such diversions. 

 Half-elves enjoy many of the same entertainment forms that humans do. They like carousing and gambling, but they fi nd the pleasures of such diversions all too fleeting. Half-elves also get a great deal of pleasure from the same leisure pursuits that elves enjoy, as long as they can muster the patience for the leisurely pace and esoteric manner that elves bring to their playing of games and their performance of dramas and songs. Half-elves raised by elves are particularly fond of elven amusements, and they long for the elegance and beauty of elven leisure activities once they’ve been confronted with the harsh ugliness that occurs outside their home realms.

 Half-elves shy away from the blood sports that members of human cultures participate in, especially those that involve animals, such as bear baiting, cockfighting, and dog fights. Most even fi nd sport hunting to be distasteful, seeing it as disrespectful of the natural order of things and a waste of precious resources. (Hunting for the sake of subsistence or survival is part of the natural order and is widely accepted or at least tolerated by half-elves.) Gladiatorial combat is also viewed with disfavor, since many half-elves cannot understand why humans tolerate violence for the enrichment of gamblers and the amusement of the jaded.

 Because of their natural inclination toward magic as well as their penchant for social skills, many half-elf wizards and sorcerers use their magic to become performers, blending arcane power and personal persuasion to deliver spectacular entertainment. While they are not as inherently talented at such activities as Gnomes, half-elves produce subtle, thought-provoking displays of magical artistry that can inspire the masses. Most of these magical artists prefer to tailor their shows to the tastes of the audience, as opposed to creating a repertoire of amusements and diversions that they never deviate from, using the Investigation skill to find out what are the hottest trends or which themes have not yet been explored in front of the current crowd. Generally, a DC 20 Gather Information check enables a performer to learn enough about a potential audience to get a +2 circumstance bonus on a subsequent Perform check. 

Arts & Crafts

Half-elves have an inherent propensity for creating beautiful works of art. They have their elf blood to thank for granting them a keen eye for seeing the majesty and subtlety of the natural world and the refinement to appreciate it, while their human side gives them the energy and drive to create with amazing speed and devotion. Some do this for fame and wealth, while others create art for its own sake, helping to provide an outlet for other frustrations they might have or just simply to while away the years. Half-elf artists have a long enough life span to be prolific, tempered with a human sense of urgency so they don’t linger overlong on a single project.

 While half-elf artisans have mastered almost all artistic endeavors, most become true masters at music, poetry, song, or dance—especially if they grew up among the elves. Those with a magical bent have learned how to mix their talents for song and visual art with the power of the occult to create truly amazing works.

 Humans find half-elf bards particularly enjoyable, since they add a sense of refinement and a deep knowledge of many subjects to their works. In general, human audiences respond well to half-elves because they have the exotic mystery of Elves but are grounded in human experience. Viewing the performance or the artistry of a half-elf is a way for humans to experience an elf’s perspective without having to fully embrace it. Critics have noted, however, that the art of half-elves tends to possess a twinge of melancholy and longing that is difficult to articulate, which can either be an added dimension or a negative trait, depending on the person doing the viewing.

 Elves tend to either love or hate art produced by halfelves. Some elves find half-elf artwork work refreshing, bold, and innovative, containing elements that are lacking in the art of their people. Another camp finds half-elf art crude, distasteful, and lacking in subtlety as a result of human influence. A half-elf artist trying to impress elves may cave in to the demands of his audience and “toe the line,” or he may refuse to compromise, seeing such negative opinions as less than visionary.

 Half-elf artisans show just as much pride and skill in their work as any other talented artist. Thanks to the race’s long-term perspective, items produced by half-elves are built to last the ages (something that dwarves begrudgingly admire), but are also designed with aesthetics in mind. A half-elf’s patience may frustrate a human customer who needs a particular item made in a hurry. On the other hand, elves may not appreciate half-elf craftsmanship, seeing it as rushed to completion. Art forms for which creation time isn’t an issue, such as improvised music, get high marks from elves.

 Like elves, half-elves prefer working with natural mediums—wood, stone, and bark, as well as softer items, such as cloth and paper. Half-elf craftsfolk are not known for working with metals, although some of those who were trained as blacksmiths among humans can produce elegant works that incorporate fluid, natural forms.

Technology & Magic

Because of the elf blood flowing in their veins, most halfelves find connecting with arcane magic to be both easy and natural. Many half-elves become powerful wizards or sorcerers, especially those who were trained among other elves. Half-elves who were raised among humans are noted for being adaptable and more accepting of new ideas and magical forms.

 Like elves, half-elves have a deep connection with the natural world and are more able than members of many other races to see the interrelation between life forms and forces in nature. When confronted with a problem that cannot be solved through mundane means, a half-elf is inclined to try to solve it through magical means or by taking a radically different approach. Elves marvel at how a half-elf can come up with what they see as a clearly elven innovation, while humans at the same time are quick to attribute the new idea to human skill and versatility.

 Half-elf wizards are known to outnumber half-elf sorcerers, primarily because of the propensity for those of elf blood to intuitively understand the methods and forms of wizardry. Half-elf wizards can attain incredible power and demonstrate great diversity, thanks to their extended life spans (compared to those of humans), their understanding of the natural world, and their innovative, “outside the box” thinking. Half-elves are more common among the enrollees of human-dominated wizard schools than among the schools of the elves, mainly because humans are more willing to take chances and experiment than elves are. Still, half-elves bring new insights and innovations to elven magic, which despite thousands of years of use still does not provide all the answers.

 Wizardry appeals to half-elves for another reason: it’s a good synthesis between their two heritages. A half-elf wizard is satisfi ed whenever he can combine ancient elf lore with cutting-edge human research.

 Half-elf sorcerers, although not as common as wizards, appear with a frequency that gets notice among the arcane community. In many ways, these sorcerers are at the top of their profession, because sorcerers are naturally charismatic and half-elves are naturally personable. If human sorcerers are noted for their flamboyant, almost theatrical demeanor, half-elves are just as intriguing because of their more muted, yet intoxicatingly exotic auras and personalities. 

 Divine magic does not come as naturally to half-elves, but there are numerous examples of a half-elf picking up the banner of a particular deity’s cause. Half-elf clerics typically worship nature-oriented deities, such as Corellon Larethian, Ehlonna, and, in rarer circumstances, Obad-Hai. Half-elves raised among humans have been known to worship almost any of the human deities, especially Pelor, Fharlanghn, and Olidammara.

 Particularly rebellious half-elves worship a deity associated with whatever society they aren’t part of (Corellon Larethian among humans and Ehlonna among elves, for example). Many half-elf clerics try to reconcile human and elf religious beliefs by choosing no deity at all, but instead selecting domains compatible with both human and elf goals. 

 Half-elf druids are much more common than half-elf clerics, mainly due to the connection that all half-elves have to the natural world. Human and elf societies sometimes force half-elves to live on their own in the deep forests of the world, where they come to feel the power, majesty, and danger that the wilderness offers. Half-elf druids usually have a more positive attitude toward elves than toward humans, since elves show much more respect for plants and animals than humans do. 

 Technology is often diffi cult for half-elves to grasp. If raised among elves, a half-elf views mechanical devices with a suspicious, scornful eye, seeing them as a blight upon the natural world. Among humans, a half-elf may be more inclined to tinker with technology, or at least acknowledge its existence, but few instances exist when half-elves have fully embraced technology. Half-elves understand that technology has a great potential for making life easier for those who use it, but they seem to subconsciously overlook its relevance to their daily lives, regarding it as yet another “weapon” that can be abused in the future by those who don’t appreciate how technology ought to be used.

 That said, some half-elves buck the stereotype and study the fl edgling sciences of technology with the same zeal that half-elf artists and bards study song, painting, and dance. Again, blessed with a longer life span than humans, half-elves who study or design items of technology can produce amazing creations. Like anything else they create, technological devices manufactured by half-elves are often a wonderful blend of practicality and beauty. Artisans often attempt to create objects of technology that not only function properly, but have little impact on the surrounding terrain. 

In general, half-elves see war as a necessary evil that should be confronted promptly in order to get it over with. A half-elf at war strives to combine Human efficiency with elven grace. The result, embodied in a half-elf who is properly trained and equipped for war, is a combatant with an austere fighting style that wastes no movement and dispassionately dispatches foe after foe.

 Half-elves learn martial techniques and receive training in whatever military traditions are prominent in their home society. Elves are trained from an early age (relatively speaking) in how to handle a blade and a bow; most halfelves receive the same training. The techniques of the Elves emphasize quick, darting moves, rapid swordplay, and hit-and-run tactics that take advantage of their keen senses, quickness, and reaction time. While half-elves are not as dexterous as full-blooded Elves, they do their best to emulate these tactics.

 Half-elves who are a part of an Elves army are generally relegated to the front ranks, where their hardier nature and their greater bulk (compared to Elves) allows them to stay in the fight longer, while their more nimble kinfolk pepper foes with arrows and strike from the flanks. Halfelves may resent this treatment, seeing themselves thought of as tainted half-breeds that are pressed into service in the most dangerous area of the battlefield.

Most dangerous area of the battlefield. If raised among Humans, a half-elf learns the tactics of warfare common in that society. It should be noted, however, that even if a Human society’s view on combat emphasizes brute force and blunt attacks, a half-elf still retains the gracefulness derived from his Elvishblood. If half-elves are common in a Human-dominated army, they fi nd their niche in roles that use quick strikes and stealth—scouts, skirmishers, and snipers.

 Half-elf spellcasters, particularly sorcerers, emulate the same hit-and-run tactics, but using a barrage of spells rather than arrows. Half-elf spellcasters in the employ of Elves make extensive use of sleep spells and enchantments, which they can employ without fear of affecting themselves or their comrades.

 Because they wander so much and associate with so many other races, half-elves can be found in the ranks of other races’ armies as well. Half-elf mercenaries are common, drifting from country to country on the tides of war. More than a few half-elves have fought alongside gnomes, Halflings, or more exotic allies. Elves or Humans may balk at these alliances, but half-elves merely shrug and affirm that they are willing to fight for any group that accepts them for who they are. Dwarfs are the least likely race to employ half-elves, but some clans appreciate their value as scouts and skirmishers.

Due to their propensity for guerilla warfare, half-elves have trouble understanding the role of machines of war in combat and may underestimate their use and power.

Roleplaying Application: Consider your character’s attitude toward organized warfare. What major wars occurred during your character’s lifetime? Has she experienced war as a soldier or a civilian? Consider also how your character feels about soldiers who wage war for a living, and about monarchs who order others into battle from the safety of their royal fortresses.

Half-elves naturally sit astride two cultures: the inventive, ambitious societies of the humans, and the sedate, ancient communities of the elves. Within either society, half-elves make for themselves a sort of cultural compromise, blending the traditions of their dual heritage as best they can.

 In most cases, half-elves express their dual nature by fitting in when they can and incorporating the best aspects of both cultures when they can’t. They aren’t just trying to reconcile the two halves of their own psyche, they’re trying to harmonize and synthesize the members of any two groups who are estranged from each other. Halfelves raised among Humans—a majority of the race—act more like elves, demonstrating refinement and a love of the arts. When half-elves live among elves, they’re often the most ambitious, activist members of their communities. Half-elves thus form a bridge between human and elf cultures, offering both a familiar face and some exotic behavioral tendencies.

 One way in which half-elves emphasize their dual heritage is by taking a name that reflects the absent part of their ancestry. A half-elf among Humans often takes an Elves name, while one living with elves takes a name following the human custom. The resulting foreign-sounding name reminds both a half-elf and those around him that he and other halfelves stand a half-step apart from the rest of society

 A few half-elves live in small communities composed entirely of their fellow half-elves. Such communities often spring from racially segregated neighborhoods in teeming metropolises or large family settlements that grow into villages. When two half-elves breed, the progeny is another half-elf, so these communities can sustain themselves indefinitely. Half-elf communities generally follow human traditions and are located in Human lands. However, more xenophobic Elves societies might have settlements of exiled half-elves just outside their borders, and the members of a few half-elf communities reject both Human and Elves more in favor of developing an exotic culture unique to themselves.

Half-Elves & Other Races

Fitting in everywhere and yet never quite belonging, halfelves have interaction with other races that depends on understanding and compromise. Most half-elves do their best to fi t in well with whatever society they live in, but they are continually reminded of how different they are. A few half-elves resent the customs and traditions of their host society, but most embrace new experiences and try to relate them to something more familiar.

Dwarfs: Halfelves generally view Dwarves as inflexible and incapable of compromise, and they can’t understand why Dwarves can’t negotiate and experiment more. However, some aspects of Dwarf society appeal to half-elves. Dwarves are more understanding of the “long view” than Humans are, and they’re nowhere near as pretentious as Elves are.
 Dwarves, in turn, see half-elves as victims of bad breeding, with a heritage that encompasses both the Elves’ frivolity and the Humans’ arrogance. Dwarves have a hard time understanding the wanderlust that takes hold of many half-elves. Wise Dwarves know that half-elves make acceptable intermediaries between antagonistic bands of Dwarves and Elves, helping to foster a spirit of cooperation when a crisis threatens both races.

Elves: Half-elves have complex emotional reactions when it comes to their Elvish kin. If raised among elves, a half-elf often has to cope with the paternalistic attitude or outright condescension that comes from Elves who have disdain for the half-elf’s young chronological age. Many half-elves react to this treatment with jealousy and bitterness. Some try to overcompensate by acting as “mature” and “elflike” as possible, voraciously learning the intricacies of the culture to the best of their ability. Other half-elves never overcome their feelings of inferiority and end up abandoning their Elvish kin, regarding them with loathing and spite.
 Most half-elves strive for the middle ground, learning from and respecting their elf heritage while understanding that they will never truly belong to it. These individuals are usually filled with wanderlust, going off to explore the world but occasionally coming back to reconnect with the beautiful, serene lifestyle of the Elves.

Goliaths: Half-elves have a mildly positive attitude toward Goliaths. Although they are justifiably somewhat intimidated by the physical prowess of these humanoids, they can also see beneath the Goliaths’ primitive demeanor to find a rich culture and deep respect for the world in which the Goliaths live. Some half-elves are content to live among tribes of Goliaths, who view half-elves as only “short” rather than “of mixed blood.”

Gnomes: Half-elves have a favorable view toward Gnome, enjoying their spirit and zeal for life. Gnomes are generally quick to overlook a half-elf’s mixed heritage, regarding it as a nonissue. As long as the half-elf is friendly, helpful, and can take a joke, who cares who his parents were?
 Half-elves who leave the homes of their Elf or Human parents often find refuge in the small villages and warrens of the Gnomes, who welcome them with open arms. Halfelves enjoy the chance to join such a community, even if they must contend with stooping and crouching most of the time.

Half-orc: Half-elves show a marked disfavor toward Half-orc, at least partly because their parallel heritage hits uncomfortably close to home. Half-orc think that halfelves are too cowardly to make their own way in the world, and that they’re continually pretending to be something they aren’t. 

 Both Elves and Humans have serious conflicts with Orcs, so half-elves retain this sense of suspicion and distrust. In addition, the marked difference in the social refinement of the two races makes half-elves feel superior to Half-orcs. Many half-elves think that they got the best traits of both races, while Half-orcs received the worst.
A few half-elves overcome this prejudice and realize that they and Half-orcs have much in common. Both groups are stigmatized and distrusted, after all.

Halflings: Much like Gnomes, Halflings are good partners for half-elves because Halflings overlook the mixed-blood issue. Half-elves understand and appreciate the nomadic lifestyle of many Halflings, and some spend years traveling with a Halfling clan as it explores new territory. Relatively short and slender themselves, half-elves do not pay much attention to the unimposing stature of Halflings. Half-elves admire the traits that make Halflings experts at survival and capable of standing up to adversity with a grin.

Humans: Just as Humans have mixed views on half-elves, so do half-elves have widely varying opinions of Humans. A half-elf’s particular attitude toward humanity depends on the culture in which he was raised. If he was accepted into the culture, he’ll probably have a positive view toward Humans. If he was treated harshly, his attitude will be much more negative and resentful. Even a half-elf who is entirely accepting of Human society and customs can feel the difference between himself and his full-blooded Human kin. Half-elves admire humanity’s passion, drive, and sense of adventure, but they are dismayed by its shortsightedness, propensity for violence, and tendency toward xenophobia. Half-elves become impromptu ambassadors in Human lands (whether they want to or not) due to their natural social skills. They strive to smooth the ground between Humans and other races, if only so that they can continue to survive.

Half-Elf Language

Half-elves are naturally bilingual, speaking both Common and Elven, but their proficiency with Elven isn’t as perfect as that of an Elf. A bit of Human accent often creeps into a half-elf’s speech patterns, and any elf can notice a trace of half-Elven dialect in a half-elf speaker who utters more than a few sentences. It generally takes a DC 15 Deception check for a half-elf posing as an elf to mask his accent.

 Half-elves speak Common perfectly, and many have a love of the language that leads them to become accomplished orators or authors. Many half-elves take up the life of a bard, and the best among them speak Common better than a full-blooded Human. 

Half-Elf Settlements

Half-elves take pride in fitting into whatever community they find themselves in; as a result, segregated communities dominated by half-elves are rare. It’s much more common to find a half-elf cousin living with an elf family in a treetop village, or a half-elf minstrel plying his trade along a river route dotted with human towns.

 When half-elf communities exist, they tend to be very small, and they’re usually created at the behest of someone else. A human tyrant might move all the half-elf residents of a city into a ghetto neighborhood, or an elf community obsessed with “purity” might send all the half-elves in the area to exile at the edge of the forest. Occasionally, a persuasive half-elf manages to gather a crowd of half-elves into a community with promises of creating a home where all of them will truly fit in.