Half Elves

Half Elves are the results of a union between Elves and Humans. Elves cannot create cross breeds with any other race natural to Zemla.

Half Elves are usually the children of a High Elven woman and a human man. High Elves experience a form of wonderlust called "oblivisui" around age 100 that lasts usually about 50 years. Males generally take this time to become spiritual or study magic while travelling alone or with groups of non-elves. Females often visit foreign courts and take non-elven lovers. The half elf children are raised by the court or if unwanted, in orphanages in the human cities. The children are rarly taken back to elven society, as they usually become adults before their mother is ready to go back.

Lady Domina, formerly of the court of Summun, explained it thus, "I had no time to bond with the the child, I hardly had time to realize I was pregnant before the hideous screaming infant was thrust into my arms. Luckily there was a wet nurse who took him from me and I was able to heal from the birthing. By the time I was ready to take my child back, he was already eating solid foods and taking his first steps. The wet nurse begged me to leave him with her, she was so attached to the brat. Of course I left him. His father wrote me and told me that he arranged a marriage to a merchant's daughter and they must have great grandchildren by now, where I have only just married my first husband and am expecting our first child."

Half Elves are regarded as mostly human by elves, and mostly elves by humans. It is rare that a half elf finds employment outside of service, though usually service in nice homes and courts. Half Elves also experience oblivisui, though much earlier in their lives, generally from age 20 to age 40.