Half- or Half is a prefix attached to the offspring of races sharing a mixed ancestry. These are often called half-breeds (but this is considered derogatory, though can be used as a technical term). In the RPG, the term 'half' does not refer to percentages, but rather is just indication of a being's mixed-ancestry no matter how far removed from original source. Thus, for example the offspring of a half-elf who coupled with a human, would still be considered half elf.[1] This rule insures that in most circumstances that those of mixed ancestry are considered part of a wider race-category such as half-orc, half-elf, half-ogre, half-human (or share a combination of categories such as Half-orc/half-ogre), despite how removed they are from their original racial ancestors.
Another example is Rexxar who is considered to be both half-orc and half-ogre, though his father is also half-ogre, and his mother orc.[2]Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tagAlliance & Horde Compendium, pg ??</ref>[citation needed] Though percentage wise that would make Rexxar approximately 3/4ths orc and quarter-ogre.
In rare cases, an individual may be so far removed from one of their ancestral heritage, that they may be considered a full member of their parent's race. For example, Commodore Jessi Falrevere may have a hint of dwarven blood flowing in her veins.[3] This would suggest, that one of her parents was distantly related to dwarfs, but had enough human blood to be considered human, rather than a hypothetical 'half-dwarf'. This would suggest that although one of her ancestors may have been 'half-dwarf' over the generations as her ancestors mated back into human race, she herself was born human.
References
- ^ Alliance Player's Guide, pg 133
- ^ Cycle of Hatred, pg 100
- ^ Lands of Mystery, 181