Half-elf

Half-elves are humanoids born through the union of an elf and a human. Whether a half-elf is raised by their human parent or their elven parent, they often feel isolated and alone. Because they take around twenty years to reach adulthood, they mature quickly when raised by elves (who think they look like humans), making them feel like an outsider in either place. Most half-elves are descended from moon elves. Pairings of elves and other races also exist, though they are rare.
Half-elves stand roughly around 1.60-1.85m, making them only slightly shorter overall than humans, and weigh in at 59 to 86 kilograms, making them heavier than elves but still considerably lighter than humans. Like humans, half-elves have a wide variety of complexions, some of which are inherited from the elven half of their heritage, such as a tendency for metallic-hued skin and inhuman hair colors. For example, half-moon elves typically exhibit a pale, bluish tint around the ears and chin, while half-sun elves have a color more reminiscent of bronze, with hair of gold.
Unlike true Tel'Quessir, however, male half-elves are capable of growing facial hair and often do so to distinguish themselves, in part, from their elven parents. Half-elven ears are about the size of human ones, but like elves, they are pointed on the ends. Half-elves are also notably more durable and passionate than either elves or humans, a unique result of the two races' blending.
Half-elves usually adopt the dress and hairstyles of the culture among which they are raised. However, it is also fairly common for half-elves raised among humans to wear elven clothing in order to proudly display signs of their dual heritage. Regardless of what they wear, half-elves stand out in a crowd through the combination of physical distinctiveness and force of personality.
Half-elves mature at a slower rate than humans, and can live for over 180 years.
Half-elves gain an unusual blend of abilities from their two heritages. More durable and more innately charming than either humans or elves, half-elves lack the grace or wisdom of their elven parents, though they do have some of the versatility of their human ancestors. Half-elves have a natural ability to learn outside of their specialty, giving them a strength in adaptability. Half-elves, like their elven parents, work well with others and can lend some of their own skill to friends or allies.
Like their elven parents, half-elves are typically immune to the effects of the enchantment school of magic. Likewise, half-elves also inherit the ability to see keenly in low-light conditions, with little or no ill effect, and have enhanced senses of sight and hearing compared to their human brethren.
Half-elves, as a result of their unique heritage, exhibit a confidence and strength of personality uncommon amongst both humans and elves, a result of the blending between elven perceptiveness and human passion and drive. Half-elves are natural leaders and negotiators, and, perhaps because of their reality of living in two worlds, are unusually open-minded. Some half-elves manifest this leadership through confidence and bravery, but others are cordial and polite, manifesting their force of personality in a subtler but no less effective manner.
Like elves, half-elves are curious and inventive creatures, though this is coupled with the powerful ambition of their human parents. Half-elves also share a love of the natural world and art with their fey parents.
Half-elves, like their fey parents, are free-spirited and chaotic, with a distaste for overbearing rules and regulations. However, like humans, half-elves lean neither towards good nor evil, and while they value creativity and liberty like the Tel-quessir, half-elves lack the virtuous bent that moderated these tendencies in elves. As a result, half-elves can prove unreliable and unpredictable allies at times.
Half-elves generally like to be around others, the more diverse the better. Perhaps due to the circumstances of their birth, or to a simple drive towards diversity, half-elves are often found in large population centers where other races mingle freely. Half-elves naturally gather others around them, forming a large network of contacts that is both pleasing to their psyche and practical for other purposes. In spite of this love for forming connections, or perhaps because of it, half-elves rarely settle down for any length of time and possesse a genuine sense of wanderlust, moving from place to place in a way that make them very natural adventurers. However, whenever a half-elf returns to a place where they have already been, they hunt down old friends and renewed relations.
Half-elves typically get along well with elves and humans who are understanding of their heritage. Half-elves also enjoy the company of dwarves, gnomes, and halflings. Half-elves benefit in these relations from the fact they have the grace of an elf without the arrogance and the enthusiasm of a human without the latter race's common coarseness. Half-elves are less than entirely trusting, however, of half-orcs, with whom they share a human heritage but whose orcish ancestry is historically opposed to the fey heritage of a half-elf.
Half-elves often make excellent intermediaries between their two parent races, though often both sides suspect the half-elf of favoring one or the other. Where humans and elves are not on good terms, half-elves often find themselves caught in the middle. In particular, humans can come to view both half-elves and their parents with a degree of envy and fear, mistreating half-elves in places where contact between the two races is rare, an attitude to which half-elves often react by leaving civilization to take on a solitary existence in the wild. By contrast, in places such as Silverymoon, where racial relations are more amiable, a half-elf is rarely seen as an enemy or outsider.
Though many half-elves are beloved by members of other races, not all half-elves are born to a loving human–elf couple. Such a troubling past can affect half-elves in many ways, sometimes causing them to become bitter or feel burdened by the past. This leads them into conflict with members of other races, (who often expect half-elves to be friendly and joyful,) in turn putting undue pressure on troubled members of the race.
Ultimately, half-elves endure, both physically and socially. Admired and respected by others of all races, half-elves naturally inspire loyalty and return the fealty with deep friendship and a sense of responsibility. As such, half-elven leaders often lead from the front of a battle, preferring not to send friends or followers into danger that they themselves would not face and putting themselves at risk while inspiring even more devout loyalty.
Many half-elves are inexplicably drawn to the life of an adventurer, possessed by a sense of wanderlust and alienation that drives them into unusual careers.