Half-Breeds

A half-elf woman - by ©Charlie Bowater

A half-breed is a person whose parents are of two separate species (Men and Mer). No record of half-breeds of Beastfolk exist, presumably due to the more primal physiology of the species which prevents them from fertilising or being fertilised by other species.

Social Status

There is a certain stigma that comes from being born a half-breed in Tamriel. They are considered unnatural—a person with no people or home, and thus no allegiances. Noble half-breeds may be viewed with more leniency in this respect, though there are cultural limits to turning one's cheek.

Half-breeds that look almost entirely like only one race are more easily able to find their way in society, unless their half-breed status were to be exposed, after which cultural stigma would catch up with them.

Offspring from the mating of seperate races of Men (e.g., Redguard and Breton) are not considered half-breeds, as they are instead described (like real life) by what they look like. However, some will disparagingly call them "mixed-race" or "half-breed" nonetheless. Scholars would only use the term to describe the offspring of seperate races of Mer (e.g., Altmer and Dunmer) or to describe the offspring of a union between a Man and a Mer (half-elves). However, even within such groupings there is a great deal of grey area, as races of Mer that are physiologically similar (Altmer, Chimer, and Ayleids) have historically been able to mate with one another without too much social stigma. However, it depends on the social circle a half-breed happens to find themselves in.

Physiology

The appearance of half-breeds is varied, though on average they take most of their appearance from their mother. This can range from passing entirely as a full-blooded member of their mother's race to bearing striking features from both parents' races.

Divine Half-Breeds

Some in Tamriel's history have claimed to have a divine parent, that is, that one of their parents were a god of some variety. While many have considered such claims to be nothing more than conjecture, metaphor, or simple lies, others would consider such people to be half-breeds in their own unique manner. It bears mentioning that in all of the recorded cases of claims of being a "divine" half-breed, the "half-breed" in question appeared identical to their mortal parent's race (e.g., Ayleid for an Ayleid parent, Breton for a Breton parent, etc), which conflicts with what is known of regular half breeds, which aquire a great deal of their physical appearance from their mother.

Known Half-Breeds

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