PROLOGUE: Ohio. 1995. Tilly Evans is a teen girl nerd and lover of all things geeky — especially Dungeons and Dragons. Tilly’s older sister Agnes wants to be normal. Tilly tragically dies in a car accident, leaving behind a mysterious notebook.
SCENE 1: Seeking answers, Agnes takes Tilly’s notebook to Chuck Biggs, a teen Dungeon Master. Chuck knew Tilly in life and explains that Tilly’s notebook is an outline for an elaborate game of D&D.
SCENE 2: Agnes and her boyfriend Miles are going through Tilly’s things. After Miles leaves, Chuck appears. Agnes plays the game. Entering the fictional game world, she meets the game version of Tilly, a powerful paladin. Tilly introduces Agnes to her teammates: Lilith, a demon queen, and Kaliope, an elf. They embark upon the Quest for the Lost Soul of Athens.
SCENE 3: Tilly and Agnes venture into the cave of Orcus, who is a lazy, TV-obsessed slacker demon. It is revealed that the Lost Soul of Athens belongs to Tilly herself. Orcus admits that he was in possession of Tilly’s soul, but gave it to the enigmatic Tiamat. Orcus begrudgingly follows Tilly and Agnes.
SCENE 4: In the real world, Agnes’ best friend and colleague Vera pries into Agnes’ newfound hobby.
SCENE 5: With Tilly’s help, Agnes learns to play the game correctly. It is revealed that the Tiamat is a fearsome five-headed dragon, which the adventurers must slay to free Tilly’s soul. But first, they must face its three Great Guardians. The adventurers battle their way through the game.
SCENE 6: The adventurers encounter Farrah, a foul-mouthed and vicious Forest Faerie. Farrah reveals herself to be the first of the Great Guardians. An epic battle ensues. Tilly uses magic to secure victory.
SCENE 7: A misunderstanding leads Miles to the conclusion that Agnes is cheating on him with Chuck.
SCENE 8: In the game, Agnes discovers that Tilly and Lilith are more than friends. She learns that the real-life Tilly was a closeted lesbian. Agnes and Tilly are cornered by the wicked Succubi, Evil Tina and Evil Gabe, who brutalize and bully Tilly. After a traumatic confrontation, Tilly runs.
SCENE 9: Agnes meets a girl named Lily, who bears a striking resemblance to the in-game Lilith.
SCENE 10: An emotional Agnes wants to connect more with Tilly, but is reminded that Tilly is gone.
INTERMISSION
SCENE 11: Miles seeks Vera’s advice about Agnes.
SCENE 12: Agnes faces the second Great Guardian. At first, it is a Gelatinous Cube, but shifts into a doppelgänger of her boyfriend, Miles. Agnes successfully slays the doppelgänger.
SCENE 13: Agnes encounters the real-life versions of Evil Tina and Evil Gabe.
SCENE 14: Miles joins the game. Within moments, he is slain by Evil Tina and Evil Gabe. In the battle, Lilith is killed. Seeing Tilly in grief, Agnes demands that Lilith be revived. Chuck refuses to bend the rules of the game. Agnes, distraught, quits.
SCENE 15: Vera consoles Agnes. Agnes meets the real-life versions of Kaliope and Orcus, who - with Lilith - express their love for Tilly. Agnes, with renewed purpose, returns to the game.
SCENE 16: The adventurers slay the third Great Guardian, a Beholder. Agnes suddenly stands alone. She must face the Tiamat. After a fearsome battle, the dragon lies slain and Agnes is victorious. Tilly, her spirit renewed, congratulates Agnes on a good game.
