“Cripple” Ross and misfortune were kin, close as a shadow on a sunless day. Yet, in Ross' eyes, the fellowship was a curse, a malignant growth he wished to excise. On numerous occasions, it had wronged him, and in its final act of malevolence, it robbed from him the gift of a lengthy life. 'Unjustly', Ross would often grumble.

In a grand play of destiny, however, Ross finds himself thrust into a mysterious Victorian-era magical world teeming with dark secrets, ancient and powerful relics, potions, secret societies, and aberrations defying all sense of logic. A fool's paradise...

Presented with a favorable second spin at life, Ross becomes optimistic, however he would soon discover that things are not as simple as they seem...

Note: I have this story posted on RoyalRoad under the username Reed Riddles.