Half-elves

Since the two races first came into contact with each other, humans have held up elves as models of physical perfection, seeing in these fair folk idealized versions of themselves. For their part, many elves find humans attractive despite their comparatively barbaric ways, and are drawn to the passion and impetuosity with which members of the younger race play out their brief lives.
Sometimes this mutual infatuation leads to romantic relationships. Though usually short-lived, even by human standards, such trysts may lead to the birth of half-elves, a race descended from two cultures yet inheritor of neither. Half-elves can breed with one another, but even these “pureblood” half-elves tend to be viewed as bastards by humans and elves alike. Caught between destiny and derision, half-elves often view themselves as the middle children of the world.

Physical Description: Half-elves stand taller than humans but shorter than elves. They inherit the lean build and comely features of their elven lineage, but their skin color is normally dictated by their human side. While half-elves retain the pointed ears of elves, theirs are more rounded and less pronounced. Their eyes tend to be human-like in shape, but feature an exotic range of colors from amber or violet to emerald green and deep blue. This pattern changes for half-elves of drow descent, however. Such elves are almost unfailingly marked with the white or silver hair of the drow parent, and more often than not have dusky gray skin that takes on a purplish or bluish tinge in the right light, while their eye color usually favors that of the human parent.
Society: Half-elves are incredibly adaptable, capable of adjusting their mind-sets and talents to whatever societies they find themselves in. Half-elves welcomed by one side of their heritage often find themselves caught between cultures, as they are encouraged, cajoled, or even forced into taking on diplomatic responsibilities between human and elven kind. Many half-elves rise to the occasion of such service, seeing it as a chance to prove their worth to both races. Others, however, come to resent the pressures and presumptions foisted upon them by both races and turn any opportunity to broker power, make peace, or advance trade between humans and elves into an exercise in personal profit.
Relations: Half-elves understand loneliness, and know that character is often less a product of race than of life experience. As such, they are often open to friendships and alliances with other races, and less likely than most to rely on first impressions when forming opinions of new acquaintances. While many races join together to produce mixed offspring of notable power, such as half-orcs, half-dragons, and half-fiends, half-elves seem to have a unique position in the eyes of their progenitors and the rest of the world. Those humans who admire elvenkind see half-elves as a living link or bridge between the two races. But this attitude often foists unfair expectations and elevated standards upon half-elves, and quickly turns to derision when they do not live up to the grand destinies that others set for them. Additionally, those half-elves raised by or in the company of elves often have the human half of their parentage dubbed a mere obstacle, something to be overcome with proper immersion and schooling in the elven ways, and even the most well-meaning elven mentors often push their half-elven charges to reject a full half of themselves in order to “better” themselves.

Starting Ages

Adulthood	Intuitive	Self-Taught	Trained
20 years	+1d6 years (21 – 26 years)	+2d6 years (22 – 32 years)	+3d6 years (23 – 38 years)

Height and Weight

Gender	Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
Male	5 ft. 2 in.	+2d8 in. (5 ft. 4 in. – 6 ft. 6 in.)	100 lbs.	+(2d8×5 lbs.) (110 – 180 lbs.)
Female	5 ft. 0 in.	+2d8 in. (5 ft. 2 in. – 6 ft. 4 in.)	90 lbs.	+(2d8×5 lbs.) (100 – 170 lbs.)

Standard Racial Traits

• Ability Score Modifiers: Half-elf characters gain a +2 bonus to one ability score of their choice at creation to represent their varied nature.
• Type: Half-elves are humanoid creatures with both the human and the elf subtypes.
• Size: Half-elves are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
• Base Speed: Half-elves have a base speed of 30 feet.
• Languages: Half-elves begin play speaking Common and Elven. Half-elves with high Intelligence scores can choose any languages they want (except secret languages, such as Druidic). See the Linguistics skill page for more information about these languages.
• Elven Immunities: Half-elves are immune to magic sleep effects and gain a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells and effects.
• Adaptability: Half-elves receive Skill Focus as a bonus feat at 1st level.
• Keen Senses: Half-elves receive a +2 racial bonus on Perception checks.
• Low-Light Vision: Half-elves can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.

Other Racial Traits

• Elf Blood: Half-elves count as both elves and humans for any effect related to race.
• Multitalented: Half-elves choose two favored classes at first level and gain +1 hit point or +1 skill point whenever they take a level in either one of those classes.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Drow
• Elves
• Humans

Origin/Ancestry

Venterra Made