In 1.0 there were pretty stark physical differences between the two flavors of Elezen. Duskwights had larger/longer ears and very different skin tones (some of them even slightly glowy in direct light, which was weird). Wildwoods were confined to shorter ears and more normal skin tones. 2.0 took this away with the slider thing. A present there are only two major physical differences between the two tribes. Duskwights have very accute and sensitive hearing, and are have been known to be a little sensitive to bright light. WW on the other hand developed very keen eyesight. Think"Legolas, what do your elf eyes see?" The only other physical difference is an aesthetic one. WW can have earclasps, DW can have the face tatoos. No, we have no idea of the cultural significance of these things yet.
Most RPers I have seen have rolled this over. I have seen more than one WW accused of having DW blood over their longer ears, this sometimes results in super neat RP responses (akin to telling a Hyur they have Sea Wolf blood). The same has also been true and said of DW with shorter ears.Â
With that said, they all used to be one group of Elezen. Elezen as a whole were the first race to come to Eorzea, and came from the north. This happened so long ago that Elezen were often mistaken for having originated on Eorzea. There was no split between the two tribes (culturaly or physically) until the fall of Gelmorra. In fact, all Duskwights trace back to Gelmorra and were scattered when the Elementals and the WW sacked it. DWs did not originate anywhere else, but they did spread to other places (House Dzemael for example, is a Great Houste of Ishgard and a DW lineage).
Long story short, as far as passing. If WW and DWs can be accused of having their opposites blood in their veins, one can probably totally pass. As far as species, this is a more mystical or strange thing. All elezen are elezen. DW elezen are a whacky quirk originating from one specific place and one specific time. Also, they were not living underground near long enough to completely adapt to it. They exist because long ago, Elementals were dicks (and still are). Or, in fantasy trope translation, a wizard did it. Yar.
Most RPers I have seen have rolled this over. I have seen more than one WW accused of having DW blood over their longer ears, this sometimes results in super neat RP responses (akin to telling a Hyur they have Sea Wolf blood). The same has also been true and said of DW with shorter ears.Â
With that said, they all used to be one group of Elezen. Elezen as a whole were the first race to come to Eorzea, and came from the north. This happened so long ago that Elezen were often mistaken for having originated on Eorzea. There was no split between the two tribes (culturaly or physically) until the fall of Gelmorra. In fact, all Duskwights trace back to Gelmorra and were scattered when the Elementals and the WW sacked it. DWs did not originate anywhere else, but they did spread to other places (House Dzemael for example, is a Great Houste of Ishgard and a DW lineage).
Long story short, as far as passing. If WW and DWs can be accused of having their opposites blood in their veins, one can probably totally pass. As far as species, this is a more mystical or strange thing. All elezen are elezen. DW elezen are a whacky quirk originating from one specific place and one specific time. Also, they were not living underground near long enough to completely adapt to it. They exist because long ago, Elementals were dicks (and still are). Or, in fantasy trope translation, a wizard did it. Yar.