Races of Wild

CHAPTER 1ELVESGiants search in vain forAlarin and Alain28Illus. by D. Crabapplehere, little elf!” they roared as they charged the bush intowhich Alain had vanished.Suddenly, an arrow pierced the male giant’s leg. “I’m overhere, you big oafs!” shouted Alarin from his position on theother side of the trail. The giants turned and charged towardAlarin, who had quickly ducked back into the concealingbrush. Meanwhile, Alain, who had moved farther away whilethe giants were distracted, let fly an arrow at the female. “Don’tyou have eyes? I’m over here!” he shouted.Back and forth the two giants charged, taking arrowsfrom both twins and roaring in frustration as their quarrykept popping up first on one side and then the other. Thetwo brothers led the giants on a zigzag path back towardthe trail that their patrol had taken, making as much noiseas possible.The patrol leader soon heard the commotion and wentto investigate. When he saw the two giants being baited bythe twins and realized where they were heading, he rushedback to his unit and told the elves to begin gathering brushto conceal a large, natural sinkhole near the bottom of arocky hill. Working quickly, they covered the sinkholewell enough that even their own people might not realizeit was there. Then the elves hid themselves behind the treesand waited.The twins harried the giants closer and closer to the trap.When they came within sight of the patrol, the leader calledout a signal using a birdcall. Alain and Alarin understood andguided the giants toward the hidden sinkhole. As planned,the female giant stepped squarely on the concealing brushand toppled into the sinkhole. The male, however, teeteredprecariously on the edge. Eager to finish the job, Alain leapedforward and pushed the giant hard, knocking him into thepit. Unfortunately, the giant managed to grab Alain and draghim in as well.Thinking quickly, Alarin stepped to the edge of the pitand let fly an arrow. Screaming in rage, the giant droppedAlain and reached for his quarry. Alain sprang to the otherend of the pit and was helped to safety by his comrades.When the two giants got to their feet, they towered well overthe edge of the pit, but the elves were ready. Firing volley aftervolley of arrows, they kept their distance from the giants,who could not pursue them until they climbed out of thesinkhole. By the time they did, the elves’ deadly arrows hadalready nearly finished them. The giants fell only a few feetfrom the pit, arrows protruding from almost every part oftheir bodies.The twins were hailed for their bravery in saving the townfrom the giants and for their quick thinking in leading themonstrous foes to the other elves. Alain and Alarin honedtheir skills still further in the watch before striking out ontheir own as adventurers.Adventure Hook: Now a wizard of some power, Maevestill holds a grudge against her cousins, who achieved fameand fortune in their adventuring careers before retiring toshare the rulership of their town. The two have recentlyfostered their niece in the household of a human king withwhom they hope to cement an alliance, and his son has cometo foster with the elves. Maeve directly or indirectly hires thePCs to “rescue the elf princess held captive by the humans