Now while this is a post just to get the message board rolling - it is more than halfway serious.
Half-elves have a separate race – why is that? Do they form a unique genetic code? – unlikely. Are they so unusual as to require special rules? - not so in fact their rules are very similar to that of full elves. Are they so common as to merit generalization? – also not true, they are supposed to be very rare. And in BR, why do elf-human hybrids get a look-in when the Brecht-Rjurik, or Vos-Khinasi don’t? In fact, forget BR, I can’t see any good justification for even having a separate race for any half-breeds.
Any single child will not be half and half – they will ALWAYS favour one or the other parent, if only by a small margin. So much for nature, (even that of a fantastic bent) - on to nurture. A child’s upbringing is far more likely to influence their adult behaviour than their genetics – even a fully human child brought up in a elven culture would take on many elven traits. In BR, while a child with one elf parent is far less likely to be brought up in a human society than in an elven society, an isolated human parent (I’m considering single parent children here - a human elf pairing would almost certainly be found in an elven community) could be brought up as almost entirely human. (Such a child would have almost no way of learning any of the elven abilities).
Of course the role-playing stigma of being a half-breed will still exist for such, regardless of them being half-elf or Brecht/Anuirean, but any half-breed should for all practical terms be considered as wholly one or the other race (there is sufficient variation within races to account for the differences).
Why half-elf? Why isn’t it called half-human? And if there is going to be half-elf, why is there not half-dwarf? Are humans able to reproduce with elves but not dwarves? And while we are on the subject, what happens in the rare occasion that a dwarf and elf get it on? What do you call it then?
Well a Brecht/Anuirean would still be a full human, they’re just bred from two different cultures… each with different traits of course, but still human…
A Half-Elf is bred from two completely different races… And if you combined the genetic codes of each, they end up as a different race, not fully belonging too either race, and that alone is reason enough for them too be listed as a seperate race…
As for the name, Half-Elf sounds better then Half-Human. I doubt a Dwarf could mate with an elf… maybe a human… but you’d probably just call it a Half Dwarf… Human seems to be treated as the standard race in most respects.
Well, in fact I have noticed that at least once. We have two half-elves in our campaign. One does not favor either side and the other pretended he was just an elf. It didn’t surprise me however because he was also multiclass fighter magicuser and he pretended the fighter side of him never existed. However, why am I telling you all of this? My Lady Allessandra you already know!
There are those of use who are above race. For one reason or another. As a human/elf I have experienced prejudice from both humans and elves so my feelings toward both are relatively apathetic. I do have a sense of duty toward my queen of Arenwe, but as a member of the council of the UPofH I also have a duty to uphold the laws and provide for the common defence. I guess I don’t think of myself as human or elven. I think of myself only as Chioran, one small individual who has the privilege and responsibilty of being a regent in the UPofH. Having been a target of prejudice throughout my life I shun no one based on race. As an elven-human I do not consider myself an abomination, merely an unfortunate outcome of a fleeting love.
If only all people on Earth thought like you, the planet would be a better place.
Chioran, you are the one I was refering to when I said you don’t seem to favor either. It is Councilor now Lord Xerath that I was indicating acted as if he did not have any human in him.
When I first read Birthright I was pleased to see that the Sidhelien had a poor view of humans, after all it was the humans who pushed the elves back into the forests and allowed the goblins to reconquer parts of Cerilia.
I see the Sidhelien similar to the Melnibone of Michael Moorcocks’ Stormbringer stories. A proud and ancient race that ruled the continents for 10,000yrs and lost power to the upstart human kingdoms. The Melnibonean’s despise their enemies and see themselves above other races (except for Elric of course who brought about the destuction of his people).
Xenophobic and dangerous.
Sound familiar?
I prefer to call them Sidhelien as the word elf brings thoughts of farie dust and giddyness and does not do the Cerilian Sidhelien justice.
As if giddyness and farie dust are bad things… and the political correctness creeps into the world of D & D. I tend to think of love for nature and magic when I think of elves but to each its own.
Half-elves thus far are all but nonexistent in my campaign. I’ve taken the elven culture closer to drow. They are not purely as evil, but their hatrec for humans runs extremely deep. The prejudice has made the idea of half-breeds a mute point. Both races would much rather kill the other then mate.
Though Taurheivel has slowly moved towards the brink of civil war. The regent and a few of his advisors have tried to make peace with the humans of Talinie. Only time will tell what befalls their ancient culture…
Hey LG, I like your style. I agree with your view of the Sidhelien of Cerilia. What do they have to be happy about? Their lands were overrun by shortlived shortsighted squatters.
Throw a large festival, no thanks, I gotta get me some revenge, Gheallie Sidhe!!!
heh heh,
comes war! Race wars are not pleasant. I would like to believe there are humans and elves that see the disaster that comes from it and are working to bring the two sides together.
As far as no mating between the two sides that hate each other. There are examples from history that shows it really happens. Why then could it not happen in the Birthright world?
The reason humans and elves don’t breed in my campagin:
Except for rare cases elves hate humans above all other races (even goblins). Not for the typical reason that humans destroy Mother Nature but out of sheer racial hatred. The history of elves is different based on two points of view. From the elven point of view, they were created by a divine being who saw the beauty of the earth in its creation, and created beings to ensure that its beauty was preserved. They were created from the four basic elements of fire, earth, water and air. The elves were created from the substances of the earth to protect the earth.
From the human perspective (which is actually the truth, though the elves will not admit it…), elves were created by Azrai/Satan in an alternate form (2 Cor. 11:14 “But I am not surprised! Even Azrai/Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light.”). When Azrai/Satan was cast out of heaven and fell to earth he saw the great wonder of Gods creation and his perfect creation man. Though he succeeded in tempting man to eat the forbidden fruit he did not succeed in destroying mankind. At some point in time Azrai/Satan who could not create “life” (beings with souls) created elves from the elements of fire, earth, water, and air. He constantly subjected these “beings” to propaganda and lies to grow with in them hatred and prejudice against humans that would develop into war. Most humans view elves as “demonic” in nature, ironically elves view humans in much the same way. There are a few “good”; elves that have managed to somehow overcome their heritage of hate. Though they are exceedingly rare. Fhileraene, the Prince of Tuarhievel is one of the few. He has done much to convince many of his subjects, though he has slowly brought the realm to the brink of civil war on the issue. Most are hated by their fellow elves and are viewed as ultimate traitors who should be punished with death.
Basically its like trying to breed horses and cows… it results in, forgive the pun… hows.
Another interest elven trait (based on an idea of the late Bearcat): When an elf is slain their deaths are actually quite dramatic. When they are “killed” their bodies begin to breakdown into their original components. Their body becomes a pillar of dirt which turns to flames as the dirt burns is changes to water and finally the water rapidly evaporates leaving only their equipment behind as evidence of their existence. The entire process happens in a matter of seconds.
