Fantasy Mainline

A new fully immersive game (like the Matrix but Fantasy) is launching and a Protestant denomination is sending Lance, a young missionary, into this new world. At the same time Wayne, a paraplegic inmate who found faith in prison, is given an opportunity to serve his sentence as an orc in the same game. One pastor connects the two men as they journey into Fantasy Mainline.

But the game owners know that faith is one of the major sources for wars and desire to harness this force to make their game more compelling. As Lance and Wayne overcome stereotypes and seek to lead a small flock of believers, they struggle with abusive limitations for players who refuse to choose an in game god. Their friends on the outside work diligently to see these restrictions lifted. But, when the game company is quick to reverse course when a civil lawsuit is filed they fear that something else, something more sinister, is afoot.

Having increased freedom to battle on in the game is a small victory, but when the game succeeds in making the Christians the target of the wrath of the other players, some of the band wish things could go back to the way they were. Despite the charity of the church to new and struggling players, strife intensifies and Lance, who is just out of seminary, doubts his early bravado as he is faced with shepherding a young flock constantly targeted by other religions.

As the lawsuit continues to lift restrictions that have been placed upon them and even allows them to form their own in game religion, the hatred of the other players is increased. The group is plagued for a time with those who abandon them or even those who turn heretic. Feeling they must do something significant for the other players as a service to Christ and to show love to their enemies, they decide to take down the high priest of the chaotic evil god Dajixian who is constantly sending raiding parties into all of the surrounding areas.

While planning this nearly suicidal mission, the church experiences deep joy as Lance continues to preach and lead his flock. "This is not our home" is their theme and "Jesus is Lord of this game" is their faith. So sharpening their swords and memorizing their spells, the small band of faithful set out across a discouraging swamp, battle through a terrifying forrest, and finally arrive at the temple of the evil God of Orcs.

Though the use of illusion spells, elemental magic, sneaky thief tricks, and good old strength of arm they enter the temple and face down the high priest, eventually defeating the twisted orc who the false god has named his spokesman.

As their victory is announced throughout the game system and players reconsider their hatred, Lance and his crew prepare for further adventures glorifying God in this new world.