H is for Half-Mage

Half-mages are either the strongest or the weakest people of a civilization.  To be a half-mage is to have either all of the strengths of a normal mage or all of the weaknesses.

One does not typically know that he or she is a half-mage until puberty.  At that point, either powers emerge or weaknesses become apparent.

It has been common throughout the centuries to send weakness half-mages on dangerous missions or have them fight each other to the death.  Power half-mages have typically been used as long-range soldiers, or in some cases front-line commanders with a considerable bodyguard.