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.
