The Way Ahead

Fact one: Edwin Maxlin has fallen out of the sky and landed in a strange forest. Fact two: messages keep appearing in his line of vision, informing him that he has leveled up in various Skills—including some truly thrilling abilities such as Walking and Breathing. Fact three: this is most definitely not Earth. Now Edwin, one-time student of material physics, must make his way through an unknown world, collecting Skills, upgrading his Class, embarking on life Paths, and most importantly, staying alive.

Since being transported from Earth to an unknown world, Edwin Maxlin has endured angry dwarves, wandering birdfolk, and marauding bandits—and it hasn’t even been a year. So when the opportunity presents itself for him to get off the grid and figure out how to actually use his Skills, he jumps at the chance. But life in the wilderness of Joriah isn’t as straightforward as it might appear.

Like any good student of science, Edwin Maxlin knows there’s no better way to gain knowledge than through trial and error. But if his trials since being magically transported from Earth to the land of Joriah have taught him anything, it’s that he doesn’t have much room for error. Edwin has spent a year in the Verdant now, working with a strange, but seemingly benevolent, fey Inion to get a grasp on how skills, paths, and mana operate in his new home.

Ever since Edwin Maxlin literally fell out of the sky and landed in Joriah, life has been a little bit complicated. For one thing, he’s adapting to a new world that’s nothing like Earth. For another, he’s learning magic, leveling up skills, and adjusting his scientific knowledge to a whole new set of natural rules. Plus, he’s an outsider maneuvering the dangerous politics of an empire he knows zilch about. No wonder he hasn’t had much time to rest.

Life in Joriah isn’t exactly easy . . . especially since it’s only been two years since Edwin Maxlin fell out of the sky and crash-landed in this strange, magical world. Still, despite some near-fatal challenges, he’s managed to make pretty good use of his time. Drawing on his innate blend of curiosity and perseverance, he’s learned spellcasting, forged alliances, and even formed a motley crew of adventurers with whom to journey. Unfortunately, not all of Edwin’s exploits have been positive, and a particularly nasty blast from his past has unexpectedly reappeared.