{"title":"Jay Krauss","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"lighting-the-forge-hardcover","title":"Lighting the Forge - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHe didn't log in to be a Hero, or go on a grand adventure. He logged in to survive.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn the brink of death, a burned-out late-thirty-something is offered one last chance at life through experimental early access to a full-dive VRMMO. The price is simple: he can't log out. When the system sends him into the world years before launch, he becomes something no developer planned for: a seemingly permanent inhabitant, living inside the game long before players arrive.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile future adventurers dream of fame and leaderboards, he chooses a quieter path. He claims land in the mountains, learns the patient craft of blacksmithing, mines deep veins of ore, and finally builds a life with his hands instead of slowly dying behind a desk.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor a long while, the world is his alone. He carves out the beginnings of a life for himself, begrudgingly makes a few friends, and finds a purpose.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThen players begin to appear. To the first of their number, he's just a strange NPC with skills that shouldn't exist yet. He doesn't correct them. He would very much like to just be left alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUnfortunately, the world has other plans.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50101841756383,"sku":"9798992323771","price":43.18,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/cU7Eg5Bkri9798992323771.webp?v=1781075743"}],"url":"https:\/\/blackandbarhe.com\/collections\/jay-krauss.oembed","provider":"Black \u0026 Barhe Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}