Periapt [Survival in the world of a Cursed CRPG, Progression, Crafting, LitRPG] (ON HIATUS UNTIL PART III FINISHED)

Return to Periapt had been an internet rumor, a creepypasta about a cursed computer game hidden on an old CD-ROM that could be found in the strangest of places. The game was about explorers on a wild continent of magic beasts, wagon trains, and deadly trails. They said it felt real, and that if you played long enough, it would actually be real. Hollis Hood knew it was no mere rumor. He knew why people called it cursed and about the oath that let you leave your world behind. He knew all this because when he was a kid, he played the game, and when it offered him an escape from his life, he said no. It was a choice that haunted him for fifteen years. After a long search, he found another copy. This time, he was prepared. He trained, planned, and shaped his life around the chance he once abandoned. He followed the cursed game's lead all the way to Periapt, prepared to protect the settlers as they headed into its wild interior. But he arrived at the starting town to find it abandoned and plagued by a fog that consumes all that are caught in its wake. What he didn't foresee was that the adventure did not wait for him. Sure, he arrived prepared, but he also arrived far too late. What to Expect:  >Dark Fantasy LitRPG inspired by classic 90s CRPGs and dungeon crawlers  >A power system where magic comes from plants, beasts, and ecosystems  >Animal bonding with consequences. Animals and plants are companions, magical resources, and meals  >Meaningful progression through creature bonds, body augmentation, and crafting  >Grim frontier survival with 1800s-era tech and creeping horror  >Structured arcs with real conclusions, not endless filler If you like slow-burn power growth, dangerous worlds that don’t forgive mistakes, and progression earned through hard choices, Periapt is waiting.