One common impulse of many players new to roleplaying is the desire to create cross-breed characters who demonstrate all the cool abilities of both their parent species. Unfortunately, such creations are usually the result of a power-gamer's desire to create an 'ultra-character' with several special powers, and as such the realistic chances, and roleplaying potentials are often overlooked.

This article explains why cross-breed characters are extremely rare, which races/species can cross-propagate, and just what the likely result of such unions would be.

Why Cross-Breeds are so Rare
Perhaps the most obvious, but overlooked factor is simple attraction. Generally speaking, people find creatures that are radically different from their own quite unattractive. A Kang is likely to regard a man as flat-faced, skinny, blunt-toothed and hideously pale. Likewise, a human being probably regards a Kang as dog-faced and freakish. Do you find orangutans attractive?

Even in cases where shared characteristics may make another race attractive to a character (such as the cuteness of a Gnomekin, or beauty of a Muse) there is little guarantee the feelings would be reciprocated.

Another factor is biology. Even assuming that a Jaka and Ariane found each other sexually attractive, their genetics are simply too incompatible to produce off-spring. Taking a real-world example, two dogs could successfully breed, but a cat and a dog couldn't, despite the fact that both are furred, quadrupedal, placental mammals. Even seemingly similar creatures, such as Ariane and Man are incapable of producing offspring, despite sharing numerous physical characteristics. Man and orangutan are similar, but a union would not be fruitful. Even in cases where biological compatibility is perfect, their is still no guarantee both characters will find the other attractive.

Culture is yet another factor. Many of the less cosmopolitan and open cultures are at least partially xenophobic or bigoted, with community members being taught that outsiders are untrustworthy/disgusting/stupid/violent/heretical and so on. Sadly, few individuals break out of this social conditioning from birth, so they almost never look favourably on people from other cultures. Even those few who are enlightened enough to avoid this prejudice may find that the ostracism and social pressure they would face if they found an outsider attractive is more than enough to discourage them from even considering it.

Even if a culture is open-minded, they still tend to favour people of their own culture. Our world is a prime example, for many cultures exist side-by-side, freely interact, and can move about the world fairly freely, but even so, most white people marry white people from their own country and so on.

Isolation also plays a large part in restricting cross-breeds in Talislanta. Some races just about never meet outsiders at all.

Ultimately, Talislanta has more than enough diversity of race and culture already, without trying to blend many more. GMs should ensure that if such characters are suggested, the full ramifications are understood, and it isn't just an attempt by the player to create a more powerful character. Remember, cross-breed characters will likely face some prejudice in their lives, ranging from the teasing of children, to violent attacks by bigoted adults.

Finally, cross-cultural sexual affairs are fairly well known in open-minded cosmopolitan areas (such as Zandir and Cymril), but seldom result in children because birth-control is widely available.

Who Can Interbreed?
The races of Men can interbreed and produce off-spring. In all truth, the 'races' of Man are best considered 'cultures', and it's the culture and profession, much more than any innate physical ability, that determines how character turns out.

Likewise, the races of Aeriad (Blue and Green) can interbreed, but the chicks take after their mother.

The Races of Man
Aamanian
Arimite
Batrean
Cymrilian
Dhuna
Djaffir
Dracartan
Farad
Gao (although not all
Hadjin
Kasmiran
Mandalan
Mangar
Marukan
Oceanian
Phantasian
Pharesian
Quan
Rahastran
Sarista
Thaecian
Xanadasian
Yitek
Zandir

Aamanian
Descended from the same Phaedran ancestry as the Zandir, the Aamanians are perhaps the least likely culture of Men to consider cross-cultural relationships. In their zeal for racial and religious purity, they are vehemently hateful, bigoted and xenophobic against all outsiders.

Arimite
Most people find the dour and moody Arimites to be an unattractive culture, not given to love. For their part, the Arimites can be overly suspicious of strangers, but do have a marked weakness (among the males) for attractive female consorts and slaves (such as Batreans). Ultimately though, only the wealthy Arimites can afford such concubines.

Batrean
It is difficult to imagine that the lovely females and ugly, brutish males are related, let along of the race of Man, but such is the case.
The males are unlikely to find a female partner beyond those of their own who are forced by the Imrians to breed with them. In truth, the males have little interest in female companionship, sexual or otherwise.
The same cannot be said of the female Batreans. Sold as slaves throughout much of Talislanta, many find themselves concubines to wealthy men. While they almost all attempt (and a few succeed) to win their freedom, it is not unusual for them to bear their master's child.
Sadly, the children of these unions can be tragic indeed, for the Batrean gene is largely dominant. This means that a male child will likely be hideous and dim-witted, probably killed or abandoned by a horrified father. The female children on the other hand, take after their mother, inheriting a measure of beauty, but not the Batrean pheromone. The pheromone only runs in the pure Batrean line.

Cymrilian
As devoted (and open-minded) cosmopolitans in a center of trade, the Cymrilians are among the most likely to have a dalliance with a member of another culture. Even so, cross-breed children are unusual, not least because of the proliferation of magical contraceptives.

Dhuna
Of the same ancestry as the Sarista, the Dhuna are extremely unlikely to find a mate beyond the Werewood covens. Living isolated lives, they rarely come into contact with outsiders (except the Sarista) and are often subject to bigotry and fear when they do.
While Sarista and Dhuna couplings are not uncommon, the children (of which a disturbing number are twins) are raised in either one culture or the other, not both, and become just another Gypsy or Witch.

Djaffir
As wanderers and traders, it might be expected that Djaffir cross-cultural romance is common. This is far from the truth. The Djaffir are cultural purists, and have little interest in romance beyond their own culture. They frown severely on such occurrences if they do occur, especially if such a union bore a child. In addition, the Djaffir fear foreign magical influence too much to ever completely trust an outsider.

Dracartan
As a religious and fairly stratified culture, the Dracartans have an unspoken taboo against pairing with foreigners. This is adhered to quite strictly, for although tolerant of foreigners, they still think of themselves more as a community of Jamba's chosen than as an individual.

Farad
Strongly influenced by money and greed, male and female Farad alike often keep slaves and consorts, but are careful to use contraception as they believe themselves inherently superior to the foreigners. Cross-breed children are typically abandoned or killed, because they are a stain to the Farad, and an additional financial burden they would rather not have. Farad marriages are arranged to cement relations between trading families and only produce children to strengthen these bonds and create suitable heirs.

Gao
Descended from the prisoners of the Phaedran penal colony, the largest percentage of Gao (80%) are physically identical to the Zandir and Aamanians. However, over the centuries, Gao has become a haven for thieves, escaped slaves and dissidents. While these immigrants are largely Zandir, with a few defrocked Aamanians, there are a number of free Batreans, and a smattering of others. Of course, other freed slaves such as Ahazu and Sawila are found there, but they can't interbreed with Men and produce offspring.
Due to this polyglot of culture and race, cross-breeds are quite common on Gao, and nearly all take to the sea-faring and swash-buckling lifestyle.

Hadjin
Haughty and arrogant in the extreme, the Hadjin look down upon other cultures and races with complete disdain. They refuse to touch foreigners, let alone breed with them.

Kasmiran
Regarded as ugly, miserly, stunted and miserable, the Kasmirans simply do not attract mates outside of their own culture, and prefer it that way. They could barely trust an outsider not to have an eye on their wealth, or to understand their frugal ways. In addition, the Kasmirans are racially puritanical to some degree, whoever unspoken.

Mandalan
The open-minded and spiritual Mandalans make no judgement or taboo on cross-cultural romance, believing in freedom above all things. Despite this, Mandalan cross-breeds are rare, if only because few meet foreigners sufficiently enlightened enough for them to feel completely comfortable.
Sadly, the few Mandalan cross-breeds that do exist are almost entirely the result of forced intercourse with a Quan master or mistress. The resulting children are raised as slaves in the master's household, but are taught by their Mandalan parent. They largely resemble Mandalans, save that their skin has a slightly darker golden hue.

Mangar
The Mangar are a ruthless band, not above raping any female captives they may acquire. Even sadder, such captives are often killed outright afterwards, so cross-breeds are rare. There are a small number of cross-breed children on Mangar, but they are treated harshly, acting as slaves and whores for the Mangar. Obviously, they may never leave the island, and are typically of mixed Zandir blood. As a result they appear as dirty and dishevelled, with dark golden skin and brown eyes.

Marukan
The dejected and down-trodden Marukan people are generally too miserable, fatalistic ans sickly-looking to attract outside interest, and for their part are generally too busy wallowing in self-pity and superstition to regard strangers with anything other than envy or suspicion. After all, that foreigner could all too easily be a luck-stealing mage.

Oceanian
Oceanian cross-breeds are almost unheard of, not least because they are isolated and refuse to ever set foot on dry land. In addition the Oceanians are wary of outsiders.

Phantasian
The Phantasian are a dying people, their numbers small and dwindling. In addition, few ever leave Cabal Magicus save for the Dream Merchants and mercenary Guardians. These two factors make Phantasian cross-breeds rare, although they themselves have no real taboo against cross-cultural romance. Obviously, those that occur are usually with the cultures that form their main customer base, most notably the Zandir and Cymrilians.

Pharesian
Perhaps surprising given their cynical outlook, Pharesians are among the most likely to form a cross-cultural relationship. This is largely due to their wide travels and individuality, but such relations are usually brief affairs, before the Pharesian moves on again.
It's not unusual, for a male Pharesian to have several children of which he is unaware and will likely never see, so these children will be raised as a member of their mother's culture. Female Pharesians on the other hand, raise the children that they bear as a peddler, and teach them their traditions.

Quan
See 'Mandalan' above, but note that the same treatment applies to those children they have by other consorts such as Batreans.

Rahastran
Almost identical to the Pharesians (see above), but the children always take after the Rahastran parent.

Sarista
While open to cross-cultural romance and sexual liaisons, the Sarista are racial purists, preferring to keep their blood-line 'pure'. However, they do raise children they rescued from other cultures, but those children cannot produce offspring with a Sarista without there being severe repercussions, including ostracism. Also, see 'Dhuna' above.

Thaecian
The Thaecians are decadent hedonists, and attach no stigma to cross-cultural relationships, especially if they seem exotic or interesting. However, they practise birth-control (not least because they find the entire birthing process too distracting from their pursuits) and are fairly isolated.

Xanadasian
The Savants abstain from sex, and live isolated lives.

Yitek
The Yitek are entirely too morbid for nearly everyone, and have little interest in outsiders, especially those that can't stomach a good discussion about corpses, death etc. on a constant basis. The Yitek find they have very little in common with outsiders, so tend to stick to their own.

Zandir
Zandir cross-breed children are fairly common, as the Zandir are an open-minded, hot-blooded and libidinous lot. Their ardent passion means they tend to forget birth-control as often or not, sadly relying on abortion or abandonment if a child is unwanted. The children themselves attract much interest due to their exotic looks, and obviously grow up as members of Zandir society.

What Will the Child be Like?
The child's personality depends largely upon their up-bringing, what environment they were raised in, and how they were treated. The racial archetypes (especially in the cultures of Man) merely represent the typical mindset of someone raised in that culture.
Likewise, the attributes of any human character are determined as much by their upbringing and profession as any innate genetic traits, and are unlikely to vary much from those of a typical member of that culture. Ultimately, a half-Phantasian/half-Zandir child who was raised as a Zandir, and trained as a Duellist will have the Zandir mindset, and temperament, as well as the Duellists skills and attributes. For all intents and purposes they are 'Zandir' albeit taller and slenderer than most of their colleagues, and with skin and hair of a lighter hue. Simply averaging attributes is unacceptable, because the results are unrealistic. Even in cases where a child is raised equally both parents, and subjected to both cultural influences, they will naturally tend to favour one over the other. They may have a few skills taught by the other parent, but would have their others reduced because of their broader education. The GM should make sure all attributes and skills are well reasoned.

Skin, hair and eye colour tend to be a blend of the two parents, so a half-Zandir/half-Cymrilian child would have brown hair, brown skin, and hazel eyes. Likewise, unusual features tend to be present, but much less pronounced, so a half-Kasmiran child would have slightly wrinkled skin. This 'blending' is entirely in line with cross-cultural children in the real world, with half-black/half-white children having lighter brown skin, and so on.

Batreans - An Unusual Case
Half-Batrean children are a special case, primarily because the Batrean gene is so strong. A half-Batrean boy will inherit additional STR, but will be dim-witted and ugly, making them the butt of cruel jokes, bigotry, ostracism, and even death.

On the other hand, half-Batrean female children tend to be attractive, therefore having a slightly increased CHA, but do not have their mother's pheromone power.