Interracial

Aserra's human races and elemental races share a common genetic base and are mostly capable of reproducing with each other. Only Asath and Eain'Idayn are completely incapable of reproducing with races other than their own due to their composite nature. Mariel, while similar to the Asath, are able to reproduce with other races due to their once-in-a-lifetime ability to transform into a bipedal form. Interracial individuals are generally rare as most races tend to keep to themselves sexually and romantically, but there are some exceptions to this rule. The Shaolaon, Ery'Idyan, Ur'Idayn, and Fayl'Idayn have highly hybridized origins, and the Forsaken Land is home to a large population of human and Danaij hybrids.

Interracial offspring may possess some magic and special abilities from their parent races, and certain traits will remain prominent in them, marking them as different to both races. Other traits may be blended, such as ear shape and lifespan differences. In many places, interracial individuals often feel out of place and are sometimes ostracized for their differences.

The term “half-elf” is often erroneously applied to many interracial individuals, as the term “elf” has been assigned to many of Aserra’s Idayn and Nafod races by humans. The concept of elves originates with a race of fae that was known to live alongside the gods. The Idayn bore a resemblance to the elves which some humans were already familiar with, and the term became wide-spread. Some Idayn simply accept this and shrug it off, but none of the races have made much of a campaign to teach humans to address them properly. In societies where the “elf” term is widely used, the word is applied to anyone with tapered ears and no other distinguishing features. As a result, “half-elf” is commonly used and adopted by mixed race individuals.

In many of Aserra's societies, hybrids can face hardship and struggle to find a place in either culture. Even if they are accepted socially, they may still feel out of place, or must deal with the realities of living longer or shorter lifespans than those they love.

Combinations

The basic traits of each race that impacts hybridization are defined in the following entries, as well as the likelihood and potential circumstances of each.

• Human Races
  • Half-Human
  • Half-Iengi
  • Half-Kiar
  • Half-Kuzo
• Elemental Races
  • Half-Zaedyn
  • Half-Mariel
  • Half-Brech'mar
  • Half-Ochae'nafod
  • Half-Dra'nafod
  • Half-Idayn
  • Half-Shaolaon
  • Half-Ery'Idayn
  • Half-Aeul'Idayn
  • Half-Fayl'Idayn
  • Half-Oir'Idayn
  • Half-Ur'Idayn
  • Half-Danaij
  • Half-Danaij'vai

Physical Traits

Interracial offspring take traits from both their parents’ races. The elemental races all have long, tapered ears while humans, kiar, and iengi all have small, rounded ears, and the kuzo have large, pointed flap-like ears. Typically, when an individual of an elemental race reproduces with a human, the offspring will have the long, tapered ears which are halved in length from their elemental parent. These ears may be altered surgically to allow the child to fit into human society better, but without modern anesthesia, antibiotics, or a competent surgeon, some parents may not be willing to subject their child to this procedure if they feel the risks outweigh the benefit of fitting in.

Heterochromia Iridium, or eyes of two different colors, may commonly occur amongst interracial offspring, especially between human and elemental races. Full heterochromia is a rare genetic abnormality that occurs in humans from time to time (and sometimes linked to genetic ailments).

Magical Abilities

The elemental races are the only ones with an inherent magic system. Some individuals of other races may have their own unique abilities or a capacity for higher spiritual strength that makes them more adept at using magic; traits which can be genetic and passed on to their interracial offspring. In the case of elemental races, the interracial child will only inherit elementalism if born to a mother of the elemental race. When a woman of one of these races becomes pregnant, her offspring is automatically incarnated with the soul of the same elemental spirit, regardless of racial purity. However, while they may have the correct soul for elementalism, human blood often makes the ability harder to access and control, so they will rarely measure up to their full-blooded peers.

Lifespan

The races of Aserra have widely varied lifespans ranging from a thousand years in the case of the Dra’nafod and Idayn to the nearly 100 year lifespan of humans, and the mere 30 year lifespan of the kiar. Typically, the potential lifespan of an interracial child falls somewhere in between the lifespans of their parent races. This longer lifespan often further ostracizes hybrids as adults as they can outlive potential lovers, spouses, and perhaps even their own children.