Half-elf

Walking in two worlds but truly belonging to neither, some say half-elves combine the best qualities of their elven and human parents: the curiosity, inventiveness and ambition of humans tempered by refined elvish senses, artistic tastes and a love of nature. Some half-elves live among humans, set apart by their emotional and physical differences, watching friends and loved ones age while time barely touches them; fewer reside with their elf ancestors, growing restless as they reach adulthood in the timeless elven realms, while their peers continue to live as children. But the majority, unable to fit into either society, choose lives of solitary wandering, or join with other misfits and outcasts in whatever fanciful activities capture their interest, not the least of which is the adventuring life.

To humans, half-elves look like elves and, to elves, they look human. In height, they’re on par with both parents, though they’re neither as slender as elves nor as broad as humans. Like elves, men are generally only slightly taller and heavier than women, though males may have facial hair, and sometimes even grow beards to mask their elven ancestry. Half-elf coloration and features lie somewhere between their human and elf parents, and thus show a variety even more pronounced than that found among either race.

Having no lands of their own, although they are welcome in human cities and somewhat less so in elven domains, half-elves can be found in almost any realm of Faerûn, though they are uncommon enough that one might live for years without meeting another. In large cities where humans and elves frequently interact, half-elves might be numerous enough to form small communities of their own, as they enjoy the company of those who truly understand what it is to live between these two worlds, but they are more likely to be scattered as isolated misfits amongst populations of all races.

Like elves, half-elves are driven by the wanderlust and desire for new knowledge that comes from longevity. Some prefer to avoid company altogether, wandering the wilds in search of discovery, points of interest and adventures, visiting civilization only rarely. In contrast, a few embed themselves into the thick of society, putting their social skills and the respect usually given to elves by other races to use.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Half-elves use either human or elven naming conventions. As if to emphasise that they don’t fit completely in to either society, half-elves raised among humans are often given elven names, and those raised among elves often take human names.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Common, Elvish

Generics

Lifespan

200 years

Average Height

5'0" - 7'0" [4'9" +2d8]

Average Weight

100 - 180 lbs [110 + 2d4 x HeightRoll]