Half-elves are a minor[1] spacefaring race in the Spelljammer campaign setting, and can be selected as a player character race.[2][3][4]
"Elves, half-elves - what's the difference?"
- Scro soldier on racial diversity.[5]
Overview[]
Half-elves are the offspring of human and elven parents. While often a source of shame in groundling communities, half-elves are far more common in wildspace than anywhere else. Mixed relationships are relatively common, possibly as a result of the presence of the Elven Imperial Navy and other spacefaring elven nations in wildspace. Half-elves often find that their mixed heritage means very little in more cosmopolitan communities, such as the Rock of Bral.[3][2]
Description[]
Half-elves are a handsome folk, mixing the best features of both parent races, though they strongly resemble their elven parent. Half-elves are able to mingle with either race, being only slightly taller and somewhat stockier than most elves. They have an average life span of 160 years.
Half-elves do not have a language of their own, and typically speak the common trade tongue as well as elven. Their extensive contact with other races has exposed them to various languages, including gnome, halfling, goblin, hobgoblin, orc, and gnoll.
Half-elves are resistant to sleep and all charm-related spells, and can see in the dark up to 60-feet. They have have the innate ability to detect concealed doors and have an easier time discovering hidden doors.[4][3]
Personality[]
In general, half-elves have the curiosity, inventiveness, and ambition of their human parent and the refined senses, love of nature, and artistic tastes of their elven parent.[4]
Combat[]
Half-elves are excellent fighters, though they do have a tendency to indulge in acts of life-threatening bravado. A half-elf will often challenge the most formidable opponent in a group of attackers or volunteer for the most dangerous missions. Half-elves excel at close combat, favouring long swords and daggers, while many also carry a long bow. They prefer wearing chain mail when it is available. Unlike other elven races, half-elves can be skilled horsemen.[3]
Society[]
Half-elves do not form communities of their own; rather, they can be found living in both elven and human communities. Half-elves generally face mixed reactions, ranging from intrigued fascination to outright bigotry; though it must be said that the more extreme reactions are usually found among less cosmopolitan groundling societies.[4] Due to the insular nature of the Imperial Fleet, and elven societies in general, most half-elves are brought up in human communities in wildspace, and often join the same organizations that humans do.
Notable Half-elves[]
- Djan Alantri of Crescent was a navigator who signed on with Teldin Moore, the Cloakmaster.[6]
- Tiendor Alian was one of Prince Andru of Bral's closest friends and advisors.[7]
- Blackheart was the paramour of the corsair Dagger Iceblood, and served as ship's mage on the the Strike's deathspider.[8]
- Dorin of Aglarond, from Toril in Realmspace, was a trusted advisor to Brindor, first king of Aglarond, before becoming the hateful vampiric ruler of Darkspace.[9]
- Elana was the primary helmsman on the pirate hammership, Rampage.[10]
- Elmandar was the proprietor of Elmandar's Starcharts and the most prominent astronomer on the Rock of Bral.[11]
- Kiria Evensong was the proprietor of the Royal Theatrical Company on the Rock of Bral.[12]
- Ned Fairmorn was the captain of the galleon, Starbright.[13]
- Geva of the Red Hills was a corsair and served as second-in-command and first mate of the the Strike's deathspider.[8]
- Hectate Kir was a navigator and companion of Teldin Moore, the Cloakmaster, who was forced to reveal that he was a bionoid when he rescued Teldin from an illithid ship.[14]
- Carryl Landis was the Harbormaster of the Freeport of Ceres, an asteroid community located in the Grinder in Greyspace.[15]
- Eril Leafsong was married to Rowena Leafsong and was captain of the dragonfly Freebooter.[16]
- Leratan was a member of the Tenth Pit and captain of the tradesman, Night Passage.[17]
- Tareo Mosantas was heir to the noble House Mosantas of Bral and leader of the local chapter of the Pragmatic Order of Thought.[18]
- Fleck Pitor was a member of the Sentinels and primary helmsman on the octopus ship, Swift Justice.[19]
- "Raven" was the co-owner and proprietor of the Barre Sinister, a disreputable tavern located on a tiny asteroid.[20]
- Stony Sixfingers was a master thief and leader of the Thieves Guild operating in Merchant's Row, the spelljamming port of Palanthus on Krynn in Krynnspace.[21]
- Sylvie was the head navigator and primary helmsman on the hammership, Probe.[22]
- Dorin Twostar was the captain of the pirate wasp ship, the Wasp.[23]
- Trelestina Waymouth was one of the founders of the Free Traders Group.[24]
Signature Spelljammers[]
None. Half-elves generally favor those spelljammer designs used by the communities they were brought up in.
Appendix[]
External Links[]
- Half-elf article at the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.
- Half-elf article at the Dark Sun Wiki, a wiki for the Dark Sun campaign setting.
- Half-elf article at the Chronicles of Astinus, a wiki for the Dragonlance campaign setting.
- Half-elf article at the Eberron Wiki, a wiki for the Eberron campaign setting.
- Half-elf article at Greyhawkonline.com, a wiki for the Greyhawk campaign setting.
- Half-elf article at the Dungeons and Dragons Lore Wiki, a wiki for official Dungeons & Dragons content from every edition.
- Half-elf article at the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition Wiki, a wiki for official Dungeons & Dragons content from 2nd edition AD&D.
References[]
- ↑ Jeff Grubb. AD&D Adventures in Space; Lorebook of the Void, TSR, Inc., 1989, Major and Minor Races side bar (pp.50, 52 and 54)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Richard Baker, SJR5 Rock of Bral, 1992, (TSR Inc), Player Character Races on the Rock of Bral section, Part 4: Adventuring in Bral, page 87
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Rick Swan, Bill Connors, Troy Denning, Bruce Nesmith, James M. Ward, Steve Winter, MC4 Monstrous Compendium Dragonlance Appendix, 1990, (TSR Inc.), Elf, Half entry
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 David "Zeb" Cook, Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised), 1989, 1995, (TSR Inc.), ISBN: 0-7869-0329-5, Half-Elves section, chapter 2: PC Races, pages 30-31
- ↑ Nicky Rea and Wes Nicholson, SJR8 Space Lairs, 1993, (TSR Inc.), sidebar, page 28
- ↑ Nigel Findley, The Cloakmaster Cycle, The Broken Sphere, 1993, (TSR Inc.), pages 32-35 (first appearance)
- ↑ Richard Baker, SJR5 Rock of Bral, 1992, (TSR Inc), Part 2: A House Divided, pages 23-24
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Jean Rabe, SJR7 Krynnspace, 1993, (TSR Inc.), Spacefaring Companies' chapter, page 75
- ↑ J. Paul LaFountain, SJA3 Crystal Spheres, 1990, (TSR Inc.), Non-Player Characters chapter, page 4
- ↑ Nigel D. Findley, SJA2 Skull & Crossbows, 1990, (TSR Inc.), Cain, chapter 5: Rewards and Revenge, page 62
- ↑ Richard Baker, SJR5 Rock of Bral, 1992, (TSR Inc), Part 3: A City Among the Stars, page 52
- ↑ Richard Baker, SJR5 Rock of Bral, 1992, (TSR Inc), Part 3: A City Among the Stars, page 47
- ↑ Nicky Rea, Wes Nicholson, SJR8 Space Lairs, 1993, (TSR Inc.), Join Us chapter, pages 29-32
- ↑ Elaine Cunningham, The Cloakmaster Cycle, The Radiant Dragon, 1992, (TSR Inc.), pages 32-34 (first appearance)
- ↑ Nigel D. Findley, SJR6 Greyspace, 1992, (TSR Inc.), Important NPCs section, The Grinder chapter, page 32
- ↑ Nigel D. Findley, SJA2 Skull & Crossbows, 1990, (TSR Inc.), Parasite!, chapter 4: Monsters of the Void, pages 54-57
- ↑ Nigel D. Findley, SJA2 Skull & Crossbows, 1990, (TSR Inc.), X, chapter 5: Rewards and Revenge, pages 58-59
- ↑ Richard Baker, SJR5 Rock of Bral, 1992, (TSR Inc), Part 2: A House Divided, page 26
- ↑ Nigel D. Findley, SJR6 Greyspace, 1992, (TSR Inc.), Spacefaring Companies, page 80
- ↑ Nigel D. Findley, SJA2 Skull & Crossbows, 1990, (TSR Inc.), Cain, chapter 5: Rewards and Revenge, pages 60-61
- ↑ Jean Rabe, SJR7 Krynnspace, 1993, (TSR Inc.), Important NPCs' section, Krynn chapter, pages 35-36
- ↑ Nigel Findley, The Cloakmaster Cycle, Into the Void, 1991, (TSR Inc.), page 51 (first appearance)
- ↑ Nigel D. Findley, SJA2 Skull & Crossbows, 1990, (TSR Inc.), Small Package Trade, chapter 1: Pirates & Corsairs, page 12
- ↑ Nigel D. Findley, SJR6 Greyspace, 1992, (TSR Inc.), Spacefaring Companies, page 78