I think it works a lot like this place -- you know, magical kidnapping.

One second I'm on that beach, the next I'm in some old, black and white town, and this lady is telling me I'm in the house of Heimdall because I'm so loyal and that if I ever want to go home, I need to help save Asgard from the Norse Apocalypse, which is like the regular Apocalypse, but Norse.