Paul Stamets has become fascinated with legends surrounding magical fungi that appear to influence life, death, and decay. Through his Sage background, he has learned of an abandoned research outpost where a mycologist once catalogued rare fungal species before mysteriously disappearing.

The expedition's goal is not to recover the legendary cordyceps itself, but to search the ruins for journals, preserved specimens, maps, and any clues pointing toward its existence. The outpost has long since been reclaimed by nature, and whatever now inhabits it has had years to evolve alongside the strange fungi.