Written and illustrated by Amy Lane
Written and illustrated by Amy Lane
1 1 Stories and rumours
One autumn morning in the town of Woodkeep, the town guard made an announcement in the main square.
n made e This is a public announcement!
Sir Wendel Steelsworn, the famous hero who slew the terrible red dragon …
... set forth on a quest to find the Legendary Lost Treasure three days ago and hasn’t returned.
He has therefore been declared lost.
2
Archie Coppercreek, a local writer, listened in …
Understandably this is a very concerning turn of events.
We’re looking for brave volunteers to go in search of him …
Anyone who’s not feeling brave should stay out of the woods until further notice.
…in The Sullen Woods.
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Why would Sir Wendel go into the woods?
To find the Legendary Lost Treasure!
Adventurers have been searching the woods for years. Some of them never return.
The ones that do come back speak of terrible things.
A fearsome fury who lures you into her moving hut with the smell of treats.
Like what?
A terrifying wolfman who sends his wolves to hunt you through the trees. 4
Oh, and then there are the ghosts … Ghosts!
They say they’re the spirits of adventurers who got lost in the woods.
They’ll lead you deeper and deeper into the woods until you’re lost forever.
Furies, wolfmen and ghosts! It sounds dangerous!
We adventurers live for danger! The glory!
The fame!
Whoever defeats the terrors of The Sullen Woods would be the greatest hero of the age!
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Sorry, Archie, but you might want to leave fighting furies, wolfmen and ghosts to someone with more experience.
But good luck to anyone brave enough to go!
If I don’t go, Sir Wendel will be lost forever. And I’ll have nothing to write about.
Like you?
Oh, absolutely not. If Sir Wendel couldn’t do it, then there’s no hope for any of us.
I’ve had lots of adventures!
Well, I’ve written about lots of adventures.
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2 2 The woods await
Archie’s adventure began. He made his way through the eerie fog, past towering trees, and over twisted roots.
Well so far, so good. I’ll write down everything that happens on my quest to find Sir Wendel. Adventuring is easier than I thought! These woods aren’t so bad …
He walked … And he walked …
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No sign of any furies or wolves. And thankfully no ghosts.
But I am getting kind of hungry, and the smell of baking isn’t helping. Wait, why can I smell baking?
No sign of Sir Wendel yet either, though.
8
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Oh no, it’s the fury’s moving hut!
Well, well …
She’ll stew me in a cauldron!
She’ll bake me in a pie!
What do we have here?
P-Please don’t eat me!
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Nonsense, I’m not going to eat you!
Y-You’re not?
That was quite the tumble you took there, young man. Come inside and we can get you fixed up.
You’ll be on your way in no time. You’ w a y
11
Sit yourself down over there.
Wow, your home is lovely. It’s so warm and cosy. It’s not what I was expecting …
It’s nice to have company, I don’t get many visitors out here in the woods. It can get quite lonely sometimes.
I’m a healer. I like to help any injured animals I come across in the woods.
Why do you stay out here then? All alone?
will grow.
12
The Sullen Woods is the only place my healing herbs