It all gets started when his grandfather suggests to James, a young man on the verge of graduating high school, that he check out the following advertisement for a job.
“Magic! Real Magic! Ever wanted to learn? We require someone with intelligence and a disciplined mind. Those well versed in fantasy novels and role playing games a plus. May need to travel.”
Sounded like the perfect job for a veteran role-player and avid fantasy reader. James had no idea he’d be whisked to another world, completely cut off from friends and family. Arriving in a meadow in the middle of a forest, he’s greeted by a creature not entirely human. He was then told three things:
Magic works here…
Don’t try to go home…
Get to the village of Trendle…
Then the creature vanished.
Which way was Trendle? Where was he? What might inhabit the forest that will seek his ruination? These were but a few of the questions needing to be unraveled.
Alone with only his wits and knowledge gleaned from hundreds of books and dungeon campaigns, he started out just trying to survive. He soon learned that one mistake, one lapse in judgment could mean his death.
Not long after arriving, he made the acquaintance of Miko, a street-wise kid who quickly became his friend and companion. Little did he know that the strength within this child from the streets of Bearn, a strength that would be tested again and again as they waded through battle after battle, delved in hidden passages deep beneath the earth, and faced off against an the might of an Empire, would be invaluable in the trials ahead.
The Unsuspecting Mage is the first book of The Morcyth Saga, a seven book epic fantasy adventure. It follows James as he seeks first to master the art of magic then to uncover the reason why he had been brought to this strange new world where armies are on the move and gods meddle in the affairs of men.
Dungeon Crawler Adventures
For those who enjoy dungeon exploration
without all the buildup or wrapup.
Fans of his previous works, especially The Broken Key, will discover Underground to be full of excitement and surprises. First in a series of books written for the pure fun of adventuring, Underground takes the reader along as four strangers overcome obstacles such as ingenious traps, perilous encounters, and mysteries to boggle the mind.
The Broken Key Trilogy
(See below for details on how to get a free eBook copy of
Book One: Shepherd’s Quest)
Four comrades set out to recover the segments of a key which they believe will unlock the King's Horde, rumored to hold great wealth. Written in the style of an RPG game, with spells, scrolls, potions, Guilds, and dungeon exploration fraught with traps and other dangers.
Ring of the Or’tux
In many stories you hear how ‘The Chosen One’ appeared to save the day. Every wonder what would happen if the one doing the choosing bungled the job?
In Ring of the Or’tux, that’s exactly what happens. Hunter was on his way to a Three Stooges’ marathon when in mid-step, he went from the lobby of a movie theater to a charred tangle of stone and timber that once had been a place of worship. From there it only gets worse for the hapless Chosen One. First, an attempt to flee those he initially encounters (who by the way are the ones he was sent there to save), lands him into the merciless clutches of an invading army (those whom he was supposed to defeat).
The Adventurer’s Guild
(See below for details on how to get a free eBook copy of
Book One: Jaikus and Reneeke Join the Guild)
Jaikus and Reneeke are ordinary lads whose dream in life is to become a member of The Adventurer's Guild. But to become a member, one must be able to lay claim to an Adventure, and not just any adventure. To qualify, an Adventure must entail the following:
1-Have some element of risk to life and limb
2-Successfully concluded. If the point of the Adventure was to recover a stolen silver candelabra, then you better have that candelabra in hand when all is said and done.
3-A reward must be given. For what good is an Adventure if you don't get paid for your troubles?
Jaikus and Reneeke soon realize that becoming members in the renowned Guild is harder than they thought. For Adventures posted as Unresolved at the Guild, are usually the ones with the most risk.
However, when they hear of a party of experienced Guild members that are about to set out and are in need of Springers, they quickly volunteer only to discover to their dismay that a Springer's job is to "Spring the trap."
If they survive, membership in the Guild is assured.
Free eBooks
So readers can decide if Brian S. Pratt is a writer that they will enjoy without spending their hard-earned money, the first book in 3 of Brian S. Pratt’s most popular series’ are being offered for free. This way, if his style and storytelling are not what you are looking for, all you are out is time. Worst case scenario, you get three, full-length free eBooks of fantasy adventure for your trouble.
The Free copies are only offered as eBooks. You can download your complimentary copies from your favorite online retailer. If for some reason your online retailer does not have them priced as free, you can go to Smashwords.com and download any and all eBook formats including, but not limited to, Kindle, Nook, ePub, Apple, etc.
The Free eBooks available are:
(click on the title to preview the first three chapters)
The Unsuspecting Mage of The Morcyth Saga
Shepherd’s Quest of The Broken Key Trilogy
Jaikus and Reneeke Join the Guild of The Adventurer’s Guild
The Unsuspecting Mage preview
Click here for series description
One
_______________________
Having your nose in a book may be a great way to spend your spare time unless you do it to the exclusion of everything else. You get up, grab a book, then read until night comes when you’re forced to put it down for sleep. Oh sure, you have the occasional interruptions in the pattern like eating and school but such things must be tolerated. James Reese was a young man in his senior year of high school who did just that. Unless something of dire importance demanded his attention, he would be found lying upon his bed deep within a current, favorite book. He saw nothing wrong with spending every available moment reading.
Reading to him was grand adventure, offering new ideas and kept him out of trouble. His main interest was fantasy-adventure books, though he did dabble in an occasional sci-fi so as not to get burnt out with fantastical worlds. Every book he ever read filled shelves which lined his walls. Now pushing over five hundred titles, it was the one thing he took the most pride in.
An obtrusive knock brought him back from the middle of a particularly exciting battle. “James,” came his grandmother’s voice from the other side, “breakfast is almost ready. Get ready or you are going to be late for school.”
Unable to continue, he read another three paragraphs until reaching a break, then carefully inserted a well-worn bookmark and placed the book gingerly on his nightstand. He’s read it before. Many of his books have been read several times over the years, and most were still in very good condition. Those who knew him best believed that he cared more for his books than for anything else. There were times when he thought they might be right. Some of his friends kidded him when they saw him deep within a book he had read before.
“Don’t you ever get tired of reading the same book over and over?”
James just grinned and shook his head. “Nope.” Then he invariably asked, “I suppose you haven’t ever watched the same movie more than once?” Having made his point, they left him alone.
He grabbed a shirt and a pair of jeans from off the floor that didn’t look too dirty and got dressed. After slipping on his shoes, he slung his ever-present backpack over his shoulder and left the room.
The mouth-watering aroma of scrambled eggs, bacon and biscuits filled the house. His grandmother was busy in the kit
chen where she put the finishing touches on breakfast. “Have a seat. It will be ready in a minute.” His grandparents raised him for the past five years, ever since his parents were killed by a drunk driver.
At the table, his grandfather read the morning paper. So intent was he on an article that he failed to notice his grandson taking his place at the table. James had some trepidation about disturbing his grandfather. For the last few months, his grandfather had been encouraging him to find a job. Almost daily, he pointed out ads in the paper that he felt James might be interested in.
It was his senior year and the summer was almost upon him. He knew he needed to make some decisions about his future but had never been that great when trying new things. Some called him antisocial; he thought of himself as merely non-social. He didn’t hate being around others, he just preferred time to himself with his books.
The noise of James setting his backpack on the floor drew his grandfather’s attention. James silently groaned as his grandfather leaned over to show him what was sure to be another ad that more than likely would fail to be of interest. It turned out to be anything but.
Local Teen Missing
Seth Randle, a teen from Haveston, was reported missing when he failed to return home Wednesday evening. The police have issued an Amber Alert and teams of volunteers are busy combing the local area. Thus far they have been unsuccessful. He was last seen on Wednesday afternoon on his way home from Haveston High School where he is currently enrolled as a senior. If you have any information please call 911…
“Isn’t he one of your classmates?”
“Yes, but I don’t know him very well. He’s on the football team and is well liked by everyone. Hope he’s okay.”
Further conversation was forestalled by the emergence of his grandmother from the kitchen bearing a platter filled with eggs and bacon in one hand, and a pan that held a dozen biscuits in the other. James eagerly took charge of the biscuits and deftly transferred one to his plate then set the warm pan on the table. He helped himself to a big portion of his grandmother’s blackberry jam. It won 2nd place at the county fair last year; old Widow Jones took 1st place. His grandmother claimed that Widow Jones put too much sweetener in her jams and that is why she won every year. About to take a bite, he heard her say, “James, let’s say grace first.” She had that look in her eye. He gave her a sheepish grin, and set the biscuit on his plate, folded his hands and bowed his head for prayer.
His grandfather prayed. “Dear Lord, please bless this food to our good, watch over us and guide us. And please help James find a job! In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
“Leave the boy alone, John,” his wife chided as she placed her napkin in her lap. “He’ll find one when the good Lord is ready.” She turned her attention to James. “Make sure to find one that you will be happy with. There is nothing worse than spending your life at a job that is dull and lifeless. One should come along when the time is right. Now hurry and eat or you will be late for school again.”
He stuffed his mouth with eggs and bacon. “I better eat on the run, then.” He tucked several biscuits in a napkin and placed them in the top of his backpack. Her biscuits, especially when warm, were hard to resist. “Thanks for another award winning breakfast,” he said before he gave her a peck on the cheek, and then headed for the back door.
“Don’t forget your lunch, it’s by the door.”
“Got it!” he hollered as he stuffed it in his backpack.
Once out the back door, he grabbed his bike, hopped on and quickly made his way down the road toward school. Haveston High wasn’t much more than a mile away and it only took him a few minutes to arrive.
Police cars, both marked and unmarked, were in and around the parking lot. Two officers stood amidst a group of students while three officious looking men in business attire entered the office.
He pulled into the bike rack, grabbed his chain and secured his bike. His best and only friend Dave arrived as he pushed the lock closed. He parked his bike in the adjacent slot.
“Hey, did you hear that Seth is missing?”
James glanced to his friend and nodded. “Yeah, I saw it in the paper this morning. Wonder what happened to him?” He spied a nearby policeman.
Approaching the officer, Dave asked, “What’s going on?”
“We’re questioning students about Seth Randle. His mother said he’s been missing since Wednesday evening. Would you boys know anything about it?”
“No,” replied James, who shook his head. “We barely knew him.”
“That’s right,” Dave added.
The officer handed each a card bearing pertinent contact information. “If you see or hear anything that might help us locate him, please call.”
“Sure.”
James glanced at the card. “If we hear anything we’ll be sure to let you know.”
Heading to class, they couldn’t help but wonder what happened to Seth.
The rest of the day, all anyone could talk of was Seth. They had an assembly before lunch where they were told the facts that surrounded his disappearance. Evidently, he had headed downtown after school and that was the last anyone had heard from him. They were given the standard lesson on strangers and what to do in emergencies, the basic “Don’t talk to strangers” lecture they had for years.
Lunchtime found James and Dave in their regular spot in the lunch room. Both were brown-bagging it but Dave was not very enthusiastic about his lunch. He produced a poorly wrapped sandwich. Turning to James, he held it up.
“How about a trade? My mystery meat for whatever your grandmother made?”
James removed a six inch homemade hoagie from his sack and smiled. “Not on your life, bud. My stomach isn’t that strong. Besides, after all these years of your mom’s infamous cooking, you should be used to it by now.”
Taking a bite, Dave replied, “I suppose so. No use in subjecting another to this stuff.”
Hearing a sigh from his friend, Dave looked over to see James looking at a small piece of paper.
“What’s the matter?”
“I thought I had gotten off easy this morning. You know how my grandfather always mentions jobs he thinks I would like?” When Dave nodded, he continued. “Well, instead of pressuring me about it this morning, he slipped one in with my lunch.” He gazed at the ad as he bit off a good-sized portion of his sandwich.
After another bite he said, “This one is at least interesting, if a little odd.”
“What do you mean?”
James offered him the ad. “Here, read it.”
Dave wiped his hands on his pants, and took the ad:
Magic! Real Magic! Ever wanted to learn?
We require someone with intelligence and a disciplined mind. Those well versed in fantasy novels and role playing games a plus. May need to travel. Only those of good character need apply. No appointment necessary. For preliminary interview, drop by at:
1616 Commercial Ave
Room 2334
Haveston, CA
“That is different, I’ll give you that,” affirmed Dave as he handed the ad back.
Putting it in his wallet, James asked, “What do you think?”
Pausing for a moment to think while he finished a mouthful of food, Dave replied, “Well, it is right down your alley. You have read more books than I could even hope to get through, and we play D&D every once in a while. Maybe you should look into it. You’ve always said you would like to travel and see the castles of England; maybe this will be your chance. It sounds like some traveling magician or something.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Maybe I’ll go down tomorrow and see what it’s about. If nothing else, it should please my grandfather and maybe get him off my back, at least for a day or two.” Taking another bite of his hoagie, James pondered the ad, thinking it might be worth looking into.
Pointing off to the right Dave said, “There’s Alyssa. You should go invite her to the dance next week. I know you have a thing for her.”
James
took a brief glance her way and sighed. “I haven’t quite worked up the nerve. I’ve tried twice, but my mouth gets all dry and I can’t find the words. I’m afraid I’ll look like an idiot.”
“You need to get out of that room of yours more. Stop spending so much time in there alone with your books and start living a little more in reality. She’s nice and I believe still available.”
“I know. Maybe I’ll ask her Monday.”
“If you ask her at all you mean.” Dave’s attempts to bring him out of his room met with very little success, but he kept trying.
Once they finished eating, the boys left the lunch room and made their way to the chess room where they spent the rest of their lunch break role playing. James usually ran the game since he enjoyed making the campaigns more than Dave did. Back in his bedroom he had a whole collection of campaigns that had never been played. He liked designing them more than playing them.
Jaikus and Reneeke Join the Guild Page 23