The Lore of Inter-breeding

[Talonk]

It would be cool if we got some NPC's that are mixed race but then the cry for make them playable would happen and yoshi-p already says no to new races.

[SannaR]

Well part of it is that until the Sorrow of Werlyt happened even in game people said oh Garlean halfbreeds don't have the Garlean third eye. Then we learn Severa is half Garlean and has a Garlean third eye. There is some bit of compatibility thrown in earlier sections of the story where part of the reason why there isn't more inter racial children is that some of the races seem to not be able to produce offspring. Or at least babies that ended up being born. Then there's the whole being with someone not of your own race taboo to the point many lovers don't stay together long enough for a child to begotten.

[thegreatonemal]

Well part of it is that until the Sorrow of Werlyt happened even in game people said oh Garlean halfbreeds don't have the Garlean third eye. Then we learn Severa is half Garlean and has a Garlean third eye. There is some bit of compatibility thrown in earlier sections of the story where part of the reason why there isn't more inter racial children is that some of the races seem to not be able to produce offspring. Or at least babies that ended up being born. Then there's the whole being with someone not of your own race taboo to the point many lovers don't stay together long enough for a child to begotten.

Nothing in the game ever suggests that there is trouble having kids between races. That's just something players have come up with to explain why we don't see the kids instead of the obvious devs don't feel like making more models.

[RyuDragnier]

Well part of it is that until the Sorrow of Werlyt happened even in game people said oh Garlean halfbreeds don't have the Garlean third eye. Then we learn Severa is half Garlean and has a Garlean third eye. There is some bit of compatibility thrown in earlier sections of the story where part of the reason why there isn't more inter racial children is that some of the races seem to not be able to produce offspring. Or at least babies that ended up being born. Then there's the whole being with someone not of your own race taboo to the point many lovers don't stay together long enough for a child to begotten.

I still think the "only purebloods can have the third eye" was a lie told to make the Garlean people feel special, and prove their superiority to themselves. If those "savages" weren't inferior, they'd have a third eye, wouldn't they?

[Wyssahtyn]

Nothing in the game ever suggests that there is trouble having kids between races. That's just something players have come up with to explain why we don't see the kids instead of the obvious devs don't feel like making more models.

2014 Las Vegas Fanfest Camate-Fernehalwes Interview:
Q: “Are there any folklore stories involving cross-racial relationships? Especially between Hyur and Elezen? And then, what do Roegadyn-Lalafell children look like? What is the fatality rate for such a union?”

Fernehalwes: “... As for the Roegadyn-Lalafell one, I mean, you know… First of all, logistically, how are you going to… I mean, I’m sure there’s fan art out there on the net. You can take a jaguar and a lion in a lab and do that. But the thing is, it doesn’t happen in nature, because some things shouldn’t happen in nature. But it could. I’m just saying, some things shouldn’t happen but that’s not saying it can’t. It can.”

the issue is more of a wailord on skitty sort of deal than some biological incompatibility like the other person implies. or to use non-pokemon meme example, chihuahua on great dane; they're unlikely to physically mate due to size difference.

[True-to-Caesar]

I do hope you were not thinking of lalafells

I still think the "only purebloods can have the third eye" was a lie told to make the Garlean people feel special, and prove their superiority to themselves. If those "savages" weren't inferior, they'd have a third eye, wouldn't they?

Well it’s implied the only half garlean we meet in the game didn’t have a third eye at all despite his mother trying to cut out a pimple. So as far as we know it is indeed a unique racial trait. Like Roegadyns and their blocky noses, or elezens and their elf ears.

[MikkoAkure]

I do hope you were not thinking of lalafells



Well it’s implied the only half garlean we meet in the game didn’t have a third eye at all despite his mother trying to cut out a pimple. So as far as we know it is indeed a unique racial trait. Like Roegadyns and their blocky noses, or elezens and their elf ears.

Not sure how far you are into the game, but there’s a few more half-Garleans later on and 1 of them has a third-eye that black instead of white.

[True-to-Caesar]

Not sure how far you are into the game, but there’s a few more half-Garleans later on and 1 of them has a third-eye that black instead of white.

Haven’t done Sorrow of Werlyt yet (guess you’re talking about the female hyur). So I can’t say much about it.

[Haprimac]

Somewhat related, but I thought I'd share some concepts I did for elezen+miqo'te children for me and a friend's roleplay characters couple of years back.

[Enkidoh]

2014 Las Vegas Fanfest Camate-Fernehalwes Interview:
Q: “Are there any folklore stories involving cross-racial relationships? Especially between Hyur and Elezen? And then, what do Roegadyn-Lalafell children look like? What is the fatality rate for such a union?”

Fernehalwes: “... As for the Roegadyn-Lalafell one, I mean, you know… First of all, logistically, how are you going to… I mean, I’m sure there’s fan art out there on the net. You can take a jaguar and a lion in a lab and do that. But the thing is, it doesn’t happen in nature, because some things shouldn’t happen in nature. But it could. I’m just saying, some things shouldn’t happen but that’s not saying it can’t. It can.”

the issue is more of a wailord on skitty sort of deal than some biological incompatibility like the other person implies. or to use non-pokemon meme example, chihuahua on great dane; they're unlikely to physically mate due to size difference.

Even before then, Ferne explained about the difficulty in mixed race unions producing offspring and that if it does happen, its very rare - on this very forum in fact:

Can different races crossbreed?

Answer: Yes, but it is rare...and often difficult due to cultural differences, etc. which is why you don't see it often. The lore team has informed me that there will be future quests/events that touch on this and other issues, such as love and marriage.

Of course that was done way back in 2011 when ARR was early in development and 1.0 was still active and operating, so like much of EW's plot points there might have been some changes in the lore behind the scenes in regard to this that we don't know about, but my gil is still on that still being canon.

So, having had two citations straight from the head of localization (and one of the main lore writers), it's pretty conclusive that mixed racial children in Hydaelyn/the Source (and by extension, the Shards as well) is actually very rare - anything else is just headcanon at best and players making things from whole cloth at worst.