Joel, like everyone else, is simply trying to survive. He is a simple man who likes his solitude but understands that in this world, going completely alone is almost certain death. Willing to do whatever it takes to survive, Joel will not shy away from confrontation, although hostile interactions are the last thing he is looking for. Joel has no family and has lost all friends and any semblance of stability that he ever knew. He is looking to get some of that back through establishing a home of his own once more and surviving just one more day. Joel found himself in Norway in late 2018 as an ex-pat from his life in America. He was quickly swept up into the chaos of the first outbreak but remained vigilant, following PLIKT guidelines. Traveling around, he found himself in Nyheim months before the next reports of outbreaks and the downfall of Oslo. Thinking that his best chance for survival lies within the walls of Nyheim, he accepted his status as "refugee". Unsure of how this new world will treat him, Joel moves forward with his life, one step at a time.