Half-elf

Half-elf is a term used to describe the half-breed offspring of an elven or half-elven parent and a parent of any other species. Most half-elves are the hybrid offspring of a human and a high elf. Since the marriages between humans and elves are very rare in the annals of history, their half-breeds are rare in the Warcraft universe,Warcraft Interview with Jesse Cox and Dave Kosak “We don't have that many cross-breeds in the universe." to the point where Kalecgos cannot pass unnoticed as there aren't a lot of half-elves on Azeroth.Before the Storm, chapter 10
As stated by Huga of the Council of Tirisfal, rare hybrids such as half-elves are sometimes prodigiously talented and have great potential.The First Guardian. According to Vereesa Windrunner, any evil seeker of magic would use the crossbreeds of a powerful wizard and a high elf for their own interests, as they have so much potential in their bloodlines.Night of the Dragon, chapter 8
Like the other half-breeds, due to their mixed heritage, the half-elves may be victims of prejudice in society.
==History==
Alodi is the oldest known mention of a half-elf in history, having lived around 2,600 years before the First War. From infancy, Alodi never knew his real parents and was raised in an orphanage for magically gifted children in Dalaran. His dubious parentage and mixed ancestry made life difficult for Alodi, as most magi pitied him, others treated him with scorn, and everyone believed he would never rise to greatness. But they were all mistaken, as in time, the orphan would become the first Guardian of Tirisfal, one of the most powerful magi to have ever lived.Archive of the Tirisgarde
Thousands years later, Alleria and Vereesa Windrunner fell in love with the humans Turalyon and Rhonin, and respectively gave birth to the half-elves named Arator, then Giramar and Galadin. Prior to the war against the Lich King, Zendarin Windrunner tried to kidnap his nephews for his own interests, although he despised humans, thinking them as little more than animals, and didn't have a much higher opinion of the elves that bred with them.Night of the Dragon, chapter 14
During the third invasion of the Burning Legion, the spirit of Alodi was summoned on Azeroth in order to aid the Kirin Tor and the Tirisgarde in their war against the demons.Author! Author!Finding Ebonchill
==Characteristics==
The half-elven possess the traits of both races which they inherit from their parents. The twins Galadin and Giramar notably inherited red hair from their human father Rhonin, and the elven eyes from their mother Vereesa Windrunner.War Crimes, chapter 33 Their cousin Arator, the son of Turalyon and Alleria Windrunner, notably shared his mother's same small nose and pointed chin.Shadows Rising, chapter 9
They have a morphology similar to that of their parents. The only noticeable difference being the length of the ears, which seems to vary from one individual to another, with some having ears halfway between those of elves and humans, while others have ones as long as any elf. The same observation also applies to the size of the eyebrows, which can vary from one individual to another.
According to Jaina Proudmoore, the blue dragon Kalecgos under his mortal form is not unpleasant to look at,Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War, chapter 9 even describing him as charming.Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War, chapter 13 He also has the best of both human and elven features, blue-black hair that fell to his shoulders, and blue eyes bright with purpose.Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War, chapter 5: "[Kalec] had the best of both human and elven features, blue-black hair that fell to his shoulders, and blue eyes bright with purpose." About his choice of visage form, Kalecgos explained to Chronormu that while many blues chose elaborate forms, he instead wanted to be approachable and walk among mortals as a friend and equal, as someone that they can trust."Visage Day"
About their life span, the half-elves appear to have the same rate of growth as humans, with Arator being already considered a young adult when he was in his twenties. However, they are so rare that Blizzard don't really have any established lore about their potential longevities.Dave Kosak on Twitter: "Half-races are so rare in Warcraft that we don't really have any established lore. (That I'm aware of)."
==Known half-elves==
* Alodi - The first Guardian of Tirisfal.
* Arator the Redeemer - The son of Turalyon and Alleria Windrunner.
* Galadin and Giramar - The twin sons of Rhonin and Vereesa Windrunner.
* Kalecgos, the blue Dragon Aspect, has a half-elf visage form.
In World of Warcraft, Alodi is depicted with a human model, Arator with a high elf model, and Kalec with a unique half-elf model.
;RPG half-elves
* Finnall Goldensword - The presumed daughter of Daelin Proudmoore and Kilnar Goldensword.
* Borivar - A half-elf wraith.
* Ielephia - A half-elf banshee.
* Magistrate Randalvarr - Magistrate of Valgarde in Northrend.
* Apothecary Oni'jus - A Forsaken half-elf and second in command of the Royal Apothecary Society.
* Silverwolf elf - A half-elf in legend.
* Starfeller - A half-elf in legend.
* Feulia - a half-elf of night-elf and, possibly, human descent.
==In the RPG==
===Background===
There are other races that are half-elven, but they are usually referred to by other terms. Most half-elves are the hybrid offspring of a human and a half-elf, or of two half-elf parents (a half-elf of high elf and half-elf descent is unlikely due to high elven prejudice). They usually have a combination of physical characteristics from both sides, and can be recognized as half-elves on sight.Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 133
Humans and high elves can produce offspring, and the product of such a union is a half-elf. High elves are not prolific, especially after Quel'Thalas' destruction, and they do not look favorably upon those who couple with other races. As such, half-elves are rare. History reveals certain prejudices against half-elves. Humans are jealous of half-elves' extended life spans. Night elves are suspicious of their high elven heritage. High elves see them as proof of their race's weakening blood. In recent years this bias has waned - wars and strife show how petty such prejudices are. In large cities, which consider themselves enlightened, half-elves find little of the historic discrimination. Still, many individuals, particularly high elves, remain scornful of half-elves and may or may not attempt to hide their feelings. Tensions with the Horde and other forces strain relationships among all races, and some allow this stress to manifest itself in anger against anything different from themselves.Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 11
They push themselves to excel in whatever their chosen field, whether to hope that success will help them fit in or to spite those who consider them inferior. You will not find a more dedicated priest, a more loyal fighter, or a more studious mage than a half-elf. That a half-elf will ever serve in high position in the Alliance is virtually impossible, but their desire for acceptance nonetheless drives many to volunteer whenever the Alliance has a need. They always face the chance that great heroism may give them the acceptance they have wanted all their lives.Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 180
Half-elves are members of the Alliance. Half-elves' heritage places them in the Alliance at both ends, and many served in the First, Second, and Third Wars. Half-elves socialize with humans more than with high elves, as the former are generally more accepting — and easier to find. In their wanderings and search for self, some half-elves join the Horde or become independent.Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 12 They sometimes find a home within the towns of the Horde, although the culture is so different from elf or human culture that it seldom offers a comfortable fit for long. Their high elf heritage grants half-elves a natural talent with magic-related skills. However, a half-elf does not enjoy a full high elven legacy that would otherwise bestow strong arcane abilities (and the corresponding addiction); however, a half-elves! blood does carry enough mystical heritage to offer some resistance to magic.Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 48 They have limited arcane ability, drawing upon their high elf heritage, they can cast a few spells.Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 38
===Physical appearance===
Half-elves have much the same build as slight humans or heavy high elves. They are more heavily built than purebred high elves. Like their high elf parents, they tend to have fair skin and hair and brilliantly colored eyes, usually blue or green. Though lacking their elven parents' longevity, half-elves still enjoy a long life span, reaching maturity at 20 years of age and living for two or three centuries on average.
===Culture===
====Language====
Most half-elves speak Thalassian and Common. Half-elves are versatile wanderers and pick up many different languages.
====Names====
Half-elves follow the naming practices of the culture into which they were born. Many take human first names and elven family names.
*Male Names: Gaimus, Zorias, Mendell, Barrim.
*Female Names: Adelle, Meerith, Illin, Shereen.
*Family Names: Goldleaf, Stormdancer, Swiftwright, Sunbow.
====Faith====
Like their parents on both sides, half-elves revere the Holy Light. Half-elves are particularly fond of the philosophy, as it links them inextricably with both their human and elf parents. They consider the Light as a way of having an identity that they may otherwise lack. Some half-elves choose to follow their elf parents in faith. Half-elves who choose druidism become savagekin.
====Half-elven sayings====
*“Life is too long to hold a grudge and too short to forget an injustice.”
*“Never mistake foolishness for passion.”
*“It is not hard to find one's purpose in the world. Liking it, however, is next to impossible.”
*“Elves grow arrogance like a forest, while humans dine on the dust and stench of their cities.”Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 132
===Distribution===
Many half-elves currently live in Theramore, having moved there during the Third War.Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 11 & 132 Stormwind has the largest population of half-elves anywhere in the world. Few still live in Alliance settlements in Lordaeron. A few wander the Ghostlands of Quel'Thalas, learning what they can of their fallen legacy. Many become scouts just so they can spend long periods of time away from other people. Many choose to establish themselves in major cities, where prejudice is not as large a problem as it is in backwater villages. Some have become independent, and a few have joined the Horde.
At the point in time that the Warcraft RPG books take place, the half-elves of human-high elven descent number in the thousands.
====Acceptance====
At one time half-elves were barely accepted by the Alliance but are still dedicated to the Alliance cause. They were not fully accepted as they did not fit in with either their human or high elf societies, or even night elves (who were suspicious of their high elven ancestry), and were viewed with prejudice by both of their parent races. While they were dedicated to helping the Alliance they also held the dream of settling their own nation and asked for help from the Alliance. Others felt like taking things into their own hands and left the alliance lands setting up settlements with or without support from their allies. 
However, views have been changing in recent years and they are slowly being accepted by both of their parent races according to the Alliance Player's Guide, as wars and strife have proven how petty such prejudice is. They are also said to be proud of their heritage, and name, though they tend to be fairly humble in nature. In many enlightened cities, half-elves find little of the historic discrimination. 
Most humans have finally accepted them into society. Because humans are more easily accepting of them, they tend to socialize more with them. However, some prejudice still exists, especially from many high elves who are scornful of them and may or may not attempt to hide such feelings.Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 11-12
Half-elves generally tend to avoid prejudice by rather blending into large cities or wandering.
===Other types of half-elves===
While most half-elves are half-elves of human descent, there are other types of half-elves.
* Half-night elves (a.k.a. half-kaldorei) - Half-elves born of night elves and another species.Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 12
*Half-blood elves (a.k.a. half-sin'dorei) - Born of blood elf-human unions.
*In Manual of Monsters Appendix Three, the Forlarren was a creature of night elf ancestry, however, the validity of the source is disputed.
Of these races, few, if any, exist. Due to the recent rediscovery of Kalimdor, most half-night elves would be either still in infancy or very young children. Though there is only one known adult "half-kaldorei", Feulia.
==In Warcraft III==
Rangers were originally meant to be a hero unit of the Human Alliance, but were eventually canceled. They were described as such:
These fearless Half-Elven women are masters of survival and wilderness exploration. Trained to hunt down renegade Orcs and Trolls in the wildlands of both Azeroth and Lordaeron, the Rangers are a force to be reckoned with. Being Half-Elven, the Rangers are often avoided by members of the High Elven stock. However, these crafty females make their home in the wilds and seldom feel the need for the distractions of camaraderie. Rangers are expert marksmen with the longbow and carry specially weighted bows and magically enhanced arrows. - Web Archives: Warcraft III Ranger Description
==Notes and trivia==
*The human Ajeck Rouack's skill with a bow made Hemet Nesingwary wonder if she has elven blood in her veins.The Green Hills of Stranglethorn
*Three out of the four official known half-elves (not counting Kalec's visage form) are from the Windrunner family.
*Although the novel The Well of Eternity stated, in regards to Giramar and Galadin, that no one had ever recorded a successful human-elven birth,''The Well of Eternity, pg. 13 later stories have since added in half-elves that were born before them, including their cousin Arator.
*As most high elves who resided outside of Quel'Thalas joined the human city of Dalaran, it is possible that racial intermixing happened.
==Speculation==
Although there are no recorded half-elves of blood elven parentage, it is possible that some high elven parents later became blood elves.
==Gallery==
File:Alodi.png|Alodi in The First Guardian.
File:Alodi.jpg|Alodi in World of Warcraft.
File:Arator BfA.png|Arator the Redeemer in World of Warcraft.
File:kalec halfelf.jpg|Kalecgos' mortal form in The Sunwell Trilogy.
File:Kalecgos Mortal Form.jpg|Kalecgos' mortal form in World of Warcraft pre-.
File:Archmage Kalec.jpg|Kalecgos' mortal form in Hearthstone.
File:Warcraft III Ranger.gif|A half-elf ranger in the Warcraft III beta.
File:BTNHeroRanger.png|Half-elf ranger unit portrait in the Warcraft III beta.
==See also==
*Demi-human
*Near-human
==References==