Heredity

Half-elves are those born to one human and one elf parent or two half-elf parents. They share human and elf blood, and while they are usually born from a loving relationship, there are some born through instances of drunken revelry or rape. Due to their mixed blood, half-elves are not considered elves nor humans, which can be seen in their elongated but rounded ears or their slightly thinner frames than those of humans, though many half-elves versed in disguises can make themselves appear as either human or elf.

Commonalities

Half-elves have a bit of the senses and magical affinity that elves do, but not nearly as strong. They are still resistant to certain enchantments and can see easier than their human counterparts in the dark, though full-blooded elves exhibit these characteristics stronger than the half-elves. The half-bloods retain their elven heritage's love for beauty but couple that with the humans' ambition and curiosity, which can cause particular trouble for a half-elf who hears about some beautiful artwork or gardens that are off-limits to the general public. Other than their appreciation for the aesthetic, half-elves' desires can vary as much as their human counterparts'.

In Society

As half-elves are not considered elves by the elven population, they are not protected by the elves' anti-slavery decree for their race; hence, half-elves can be very rare and valuable slaves to those wanting more exotic and elegant workers. While most half-elves are loved by their parents, they are still viewed as outsiders and not welcome in the elven lands, and most humans have suspicions and unease about the half-bloods' elven side. Half-elves don't bear the same negative stereotypes as half-orcs, fortunately, allowing them to get rather nice jobs in some cases. While they're never as fully embraced in human societies as actual humans, they can get along with a few friends and tolerance if not trust from their neighbors.

Player Expectations

Players of half-elves should expect only mild suspicion from most other races, though elves will likely hold greater disdain for your character than any others as your character represents an abomination of the elven heritage. Humans will be slightly wary of a half-elf, but given enough time for the half-blood to prove itself, this worry will wane.