Andrew, Alex, Lilith, Freddy, and Grant awaken on the edge of Maplewood, but this isn’t the game they remember. Pain is real. The bodies they inhabit aren’t their own. And magic isn’t just a stat, it's real. As they struggle to understand this strange new world, something catastrophic shakes the very fabric of reality… and forces them to question not just where they are, but who they’ve become.

The heroes awaken on the edges of the golden Auraglow Forest, staring out at the quaint village of Maplewood. The game feels too real, right down to the wind and the ground beneath their feet. They're still being watched by millions via livestream… or so Dr. Hale says. When they take on their first "quest" from Farmer Jeb, an encounter with idle kobolds and floating quest banners, it all seems like clever parody.

That is, until they discover the cellar beneath the Golden Goose Inn… and what lies beyond it.

At DragonCon 2025, attendees gather for the exclusive beta launch of World of Zumundo, the most immersive virtual fantasy game ever created. Among the attendees are five unsuspecting individuals: Grant, Lilith, Alexandar, Andrew, and Freddy, chosen to play as part of the Luminary Order faction. After stepping into the VR pods, the line between simulation and reality begins to blur.

And when the players open their eyes in the world of Zumundo… they don’t realize they’ve already left their world behind.