The Lost City of Tanaris

By Matt Whelan

In Adventure Quest, YOU decide how the story unfolds.

Who will YOU fight and who will YOU rescue?

Which weapon will YOU choose?

Which path will YOU take?

The choice is YOURS.

You are Finneas Swift

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arrowcroft Press
• Release date: Aug 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9781838475178

Matt Whelan

Matt Whelan grew up near Chester, North West England. At the age of ten, his father handed him a copy of The Lord of the Rings, which he spent the next two years reading (with the help of a dictionary). This kicked off a long-lasting love of the fantasy genre. Wanting to share this passion with his own children, he created an interactive fantasy adventure which was accessible to his six-year-old son and hence Adventure Quest was born. When not writing, he can be found spending time with his wife and two young children or throwing a ball for his dog Neo.

Book preview

THE LOST CITY OF TANARIS

Book 3: Adventure Quest

Matt Whelan

Copyright © 2021 M. K. Whelan

All rights reserved

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

First Edition

Cover design by: Ricky Gunawan

ISBN (paperback): 978-1-8384751-6-1

ISBN (ebook): 978-1-8384751-7-8

Published by Arrowcroft Press

This book is dedicated to my mother, Ann, who I am sure would have loved the fact that her son became an author.

PREFACE

Welcome, adventurer! This is your first step into a dangerous world of dragons, battles, sword-fighting and magic.

In each story, there are multiple ways to complete the quest. If you finish the adventure, feel free to go back and complete it a different way.

The choice is YOURS.

Each book contains a main quest and, for the mighty, a bonus quest. Can you complete both?

Be brave, adventurer, the challenge lies ahead.

INTRODUCTION

You are Finneas Swift, a daring explorer from the Baluma Coast.

You are miles from your home, exploring the land of Mardos in search of a historian named Jacob Mosley.

You and Jacob have been writing to one another for several months. He claims to have a map which shows the location of the ancient city of Tanaris, which has been lost for thousands of years.

Besides a bag of golden crowns, you own two important things: first, an ancient relic called the Earth Stone. It is a circular stone disc with three triangular holes in the back. Etched on the front of it are several strange symbols you do not recognise. People have tried to kill you to get this stone, so you do not doubt its importance.

Jacob believes, between his map and the Earth Stone, you could find, and gain access to, the lost city of Tanaris, in which vast treasures and mysterious artefacts are rumoured to be held.

Second is your trusty wooden quarterstaff; a perfectly balanced two-handed staff made of dark oak, which is practically unbreakable. You have been trained to fight with the staff by one of the great quarterstaff masters of the Baluma Coast – it also comes in handy on long walks.

But there is a problem. Jacob Mosley has informed you that the evil Baron von Elring, who rules these lands, also wants to find Tanaris and keep the ancient treasure for himself.

You must find Jacob Mosley, discover the ancient city of Tanaris, and find a way inside before the Baron and his henchmen can get there and steal the treasure for themselves.

Are you ready to take on this quest?

If yes, go to [1]

If no, close the book.

[1]

You have made it to the small town of Graycott, in Southern Mardos. It is a beaten-up, dusty place. The wooden buildings are falling apart and the people of the town walk around hurriedly, keeping their eyes looking down, as if frightened of what they might see.

You begin to wonder why Jacob Mosley would want to meet in such a place. You look at his letter once more:

Dear Finneas,

The time has come for us to meet in person.

On the last day of the next full moon, come to the town of Graycott in Mardos. In the middle of the town, there is an inn called the Black Hog. I will sit in the corner to the right-hand side of the fireplace.

Be careful, the Baron’s spies are everywhere. Make sure you exercise caution and try not to get noticed.

If I do not see you, I will assume the worst and I will leave this place forever.

Yours,

Jacob Mosley

You look around for the Black Hog Inn, but it is not on this street. You look up and see the full moon shining brilliantly against the night sky. You are still on time.

It would be quicker to ask a local how to find the inn, but you are not sure who you can trust in this town.

You see a weaselly looking man standing with his leg propped up against the wall of a building. He is looking around shiftily.

If you want to ask the man for directions to the Black Hog Inn, go to [34]

If you want to continue searching for the inn alone, go to [41]

[2]

You walk through the doorway with Jacob, who is carrying his short sword awkwardly.

You are greeted by more corridors in a similar style. Here and there water drips through cracks in the rock and you wonder how the city has survived for thousands of years underwater.

You ask Jacob what kind of treasure he thinks there will be.

Well, any artefacts we find will be precious, simply because they are thousands of years old. But, according to the ancient texts, the Tanarians hoarded vast amounts of gold coins, precious gems and rare metals. He lets out a sigh and smiles dreamily. I would love to get some for the museum.

As you round another corner, the corridor opens up into a wide room. On either side are rusty iron bars and gates, with a small room behind each one. There