Half - elf Half - elves , as usually defined , are humanoid s 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 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 . Pairings of elves and other races exist , though they are rare . Zhai , for instance , is a half - elf , half - drow . However , by the common definition individuals such as she are thought of as mixed race more often than as half - elf , due to drow being eladrin . However , supremacists tend to view such people as being corrupted in comparison to the standard strains of elf which are commonly documented and acknowledged . Ecology . Physical characteristics . Half elves stand roughly around 5 ' 5 " – 6 ' 2 " ( 1 . 65 – 1 . 88 meters ) , making them only slightly shorter overall than humans and weigh in at 130 – 190 lbs ( 59 – 86 kg ) , 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 . 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 they were raised among . 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 . Abilities . 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 . Psychology . 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 due to 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 . 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 possess a genuine sense of wanderlust , moving from place to place in a way that makes them very natural adventurers . However , whenever a half - elf returns to a place they ' ve already been , they hunt down old friends and renew relations . Though many half - elves are beloved by members of other races , not all half - elves are born to a loving human - elf couple . This 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 they themselves would not face , and putting themselves at risk while inspiring even more devout loyalty . Culture . Half - elves have no culture to call their own , although the culture of Aglarond may be said to be " half - elven " given the large influence of half - elves on the nation . Generally speaking half - elves represent the culture they were born into , though many half - elves wander from their homes , becoming truly cosmopolitan individuals . As a result many half - elves lack a " true " accent or even a consistent cultural outlook and a common name for pidgins in Faerûn is “ the tongue of a half - elf . ” Homelands . Half - elves , being half - breeds , have no true homelands , though half - elves are common in some regions , such as in Aglarond , Gulthandor , the Dalelands , or Luruar . In the not - too - distant past , half - elves were also common in Cormyr and the High Forest , before their mass migration northwards following the Spellplague . In these regions there are highly concentrated populations of half - elves , particularly so in Aglarond , which is the only country where half - elves have become the majority .