Alan Bates is single, seldom in employment (or training), behind on his bills and addicted to online games, in particular Earth Myth. In Earth Myth, players participate in a fantasy recreation of epochal events in Earth history. Alan has just started a temporary job when, late one night, he's woken by a call, a girl claiming to be an NPC (non-playable character) from Earth Myth.
Sivitya is a door witch. She's been hired to defend the house of Akalito, a level seven magister, from the dangers of the forest of Eald Widu. Unexpectedly she materialises in the real world with the message: House Batezz is in danger, and turns Alan Bates' world upside down.
Alan Bates suspects this is a prank while Sivitya must work out if Alan Bates really is Akalito. Together they must figure out what is real, what can be done and what they mean to each other. Ultimately they must face a challenge beyond them and somehow survive.