Traverse The Fog

"You can’t choose your part to play. But a true performer commits anyway.”Cyrus is a photographer. A man who watches life happen through a lens, detached and adrift. So when a portal opens and reveals a fog-choked world of monsters, magic, and ruin, he doesn’t stop. He picks up his camera. He’s not a hero. Not brave. He won’t risk his life for strangers or willingly throw himself into battle. But this new world offers something the last one didn't: purpose. Even if that purpose lies buried in haunted cities, corrupted magic, and the slow unraveling of what remains of civilization. The fog is alive. The gods are dying. Cultists want to see the last cities fall. And the wraiths hunt what little light remains. All the while, Cyrus just wants to see life for what it is. Yet, the script demands a hero. And this hero is a man who transforms from one who lives life behind the lens of his camera to one who fights for it. *** I don't have novel comparisons, but I do have several media that have inspired me throughout the chapters. If any of these appeal to you, then feel free to give my novel a try: Dragon Age: Origins, Baldur's Gate, Arcanum, Dead Space, Silent Hill, SCP Universe, Lord Of The Mysteries, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Mistborn Series, Bastion, The Thing, some of David Lynch's work like Twin Peaks, The Color From Outer Space, Fear and Hunger, and Annihilation. *** No need to read, but there for those who want it. What to expect: *Pacing: Starts with small steps into large strides. I wanted to make a more 'realistic' start while highlighting special moments. Cyrus isn't some master mage, and it shows. *Reason for existence: Cyrus isn't just 'some guy' tossed into another world like so many other novels. There is a reason for it, and it's a major part of the story. *Evolving characters: Cyrus keeps to himself and cares little for others. But his experiences will impact him both positively and negatively until the very end and shape him. So will his companions and adversaries evolve. Some characters appear in certain ways in a couple of chapters, but would be different in others. Small steps. *Weak to strong mc. Feeling helpless and weak is a cornerstone of growth, and just being powerful all the time can get a bit stale. Cyrus has the potential to fail. And that's okay. *A blend of action, adventure, slice of life, and horror. Because life has a little bit of all of this.