Half-Elf

Overview
Half-elves are the offspring of elves and another race, though never an orc. Combining traits of both parents, half-elves usually have a unique combination of physical features that is more slender and more elegant than their non-elven parent. However, what marks the race of half-elves the most is their relationship with time. Maturing and aging at completely different rates than anyone around them, half-elves are adolescents among children and adults, adults among children and elderly, and elderly among adults and immortals. In the best case, a half-elf's parents love them but can never understand them, and any understanding they find in relationship with peers will end quickly as either they or their peers outgrow each other. Eternally too old and too young, half-elves learn quickly that their lives and perspective must be malleable in order for them to find acceptance. This grants them a wide variety of experiences in order to build a modular identity that can adapt to various situations, as well as an ability to empathize with nearly anyone. Some do reject this, choosing to live alone or solely with other half-elves, but doing so requires an uncommon level of self-sufficiency and willpower.

Mechanics

 * Ability Score Modifiers: Half-elf characters gain a +2 bonus to one ability score of their choice at creation to represent their varied nature.
 * Type: Half-elves are humanoid creatures with the elf subtype, as well as a subtype matching their non-elven parent.
 * Size: Half-elves are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
 * Base Speed: Half-elves have a base speed of 30 feet.
 * Languages: Half-elves begin play speaking Common and Elven. Half-elves with high Intelligence scores can choose any languages they want (except secret languages, such as Druidic).

Defense Racial Traits

 * Elven Immunities: Half-elves are immune to magic sleep effects and gain a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells and effects.

Feat and Skill Racial Traits

 * Adaptability: Half-elves receive Skill Focus as a bonus feat at 1st level.
 * Keen Senses: Half-elves receive a +2 racial bonus on Perception checks.

Sense Racial Traits

 * Low-Light Vision: Half-elves can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.

Other Racial Traits

 * Elf Blood: Half-elves count as both elves and the race of their non-elven parent for any effect related to race.
 * Multitalented: Half-elves choose two favored classes at first level and gain +1 hit point or +1 skill point whenever they take a level in either one of those classes.

Society
Half-elves are not known to form settlements on their own and thus must do their best to integrate into mixed society, dealing with their isolation all the while. Due to their adaptability, half-elves are almost as likely to be found in any walk of life as any other, save for occupations that allow them to take advantage of their varied experiences and talent for empathy like diplomats, counselors, merchants, and mediators. The connections made in these roles serve them well and allow for them to gain access to different jobs without necessarily meeting the prerequisites. Instead, half-elves improvise, combining as much relevant experience as possible with learning as they go. Despite skills in many areas, stereotypes of half-elves are rife in societies across the world and make the rare upwards social mobility even more difficult. As such, half-elves who have authority of their own are guaranteed to be exponentially more experienced and able, proportional to the amount of power they hold.

Religion
Most half-elves at least pay lip service to Ketar Mozog and Pahala Kadam's Apparition, whose peace-bringing aims and civilized social interactions form a structure within which they function best. In the case of half-elves who fall into pessimism or cynicism due to their treatment, they most often turn to Alessandra Juntoso or Nothing Left of Quibatus, to wither races with shorter lifespans or directly seize control of their own lives. Due to the various pressures that life puts on half-elves, there's a fairly even spread of other gods followed among them except for Masik and Zhihao Jin, who are usually blamed for the odd aging and maturing rates of the race and condemned.

Relations
Half-elves find almost every standard and stereotype, even when positive, to add another layer of alienation to their interpersonal relationships. They are treated similarly to either elves or the race of their other parent, whichever is worse in any individual's view.