The Half-Elven Conflict
Every race except for humans has some guidelines or traits which must be included in how they are
roleplayed. For half-elves, there is one thing: the conflict between the need for acceptance and the need for
independence.
How do These Conflicts Sway Half-Elven Personalities?
All half-elves have a strong need for acceptance, born of their upbringing. As a bastard offspring of
conflicting cultures, it is extremely difficult if not impossible for a half-elf to be accepted anywhere.
Humans see a half-elf as a product of the untrustworthy filth that is an elf, and elves see half-elves as weak
and tribeless; and half-elves have no culture of their own.
To make things worse, most half-elves have
little or no support from their parents. They are typically the result of violence - whether it be rape, or
prejudice upon those that care for them. All of this, combined with a genetic predisposition, makes
half-elves desperately strive for acceptance and identity - particularly from humans and elves. Half-elves
are also obsessed with independence. Perhaps this is a reaction against the lack of acceptance they get
from society, or perhaps it is simply the nature of half-elves; but they tend to go to any lengths to do
everything for themselves. What this means can vary from individual to individual, but it is common for
half-elves to learn to hunt and prepare their own foods, to sleep and travel apart from others, to conduct
trade alone, and otherwise just to distance themselves from people and from society as much as possible.
The problem is that these two things conflict with one another.
They are opposite urges - one driving a half-elf towards society, and one away; yet they both exist within
the half-elven psyche. In real life, many people do conflict their need for independence with their need for
acceptance, but for a half-elf, this conflict is of large proportions. What this creates is a vicious circle of
behavior for the half-elf. Being unable to work well in a group, the half-elf goes out on their own,
stepping away from society and seeking independence. Often this can cause trouble, as the half-elf refuses
to turn to others for help, and often sticks their head out into danger in a desperate attempt to prove
independence. But they will stick with it, and with dedication and patience, they will complete the tasks
and hopefully live through the trials set before them. But with the short-term goal met, the need for
acceptance will kick in. The half-elf will return to society, fresh with the tales and fruits of their labor. At
this point, they will do anything to make others appreciate what they have done.
Buying drinks, exaggerating, lying, parading around and doing anything for an audience. For some time
this will continue, as the half-elf seeks acceptance from whatever audience they have found... but before
long, that need for independence will settle in again. If their audience (or society in general) accepts the
half-elf, respects their deeds, or otherwise welcomes them, this will be perceived as an insult to his
independence. Sometimes anger will set in. Although they strive for this acceptance, they cannot accept it
once it is given, so this forces the half-elf back out alone on their journey. On the other hand, if the half-elf
is ridiculed, ignored, or turned away, all the worse! This just proves that they do not need others. They
may be hurt, and they may be angry, but they will still turn away and back into independence... and so the
cycle continues.
Because of this, half-elves will never be absolute loners. While they may spend a lot of their time away
from others, the need for acceptance will always become overwhelming and force them back among
society. But in the same way, a half-elf can never let themselves enjoy a life in society. Whether acceptance
or rejection is given, the half-elf will be forced away. In this way, the conflicting needs for acceptance and
independence work together to create an endless cycle that keeps a half-elf from ever feeling fulfilled.
The
way this conflict is played out in your character is up to independent interpretation. All half-elves are
individuals and have their upbringing and personalities affecting things as well. But you should be aware
of this conflict and work it into your character somehow. For some half-elves, it may be very much as
described, with cycles lasting for seasons... one season of independence, one season of acceptance, one
season of independence. For most, however, this is just an analogy of how the half-elf's mind works at all
times. The whole cycle can complete itself within the time of a single encounter, or sometimes it is not a
cycle at all, but simply chaotically warring motivations that exist constantly.
In general, this bizarre and self-destructive reaction to situations will be at its worst when the half-elf is
dealing with people who they identify with as "where I come from." If they know what tribe and what
family their parents belonged to, the half-elven nature could be absolutely unbearable when dealing with
them. Usually, a half-elf will not know this, however, and will simply identify with the reigning human
and elven cultures - the humans of whatever city he was born in, and the elven tribe(s) which they feel
most strongly connected to. While the half-elf's eternal conflict will be present in any situation, it will be
most pronounced in situations involving these peoples.
Finally, this cycle of independence and acceptance does not dictate the roles which a half-elf can have.
While most people easily identify the half-elf persona as a ranger-type character, it is equally applicable to
merchants, thieves, slaves, or just about anything else.
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