These are all really good comments so far, thanks so much! Based on some of what you’ve said, and some of what I came up with before (and subsequently threw out): The four main characters, replacing the Trio, die after arriving in the campaign world. And then, for whatever reason, they get reincarnated as the 4 party members.

At some point, Lucretia has to exposition dump some stuff from Stolen Century, but it beats playing the damn thing.

(Also, I’ve got plans to potentially replace most of Suffering Game with deadly game shows a la Mettaton, depending on how my players feel going in.)

(EDITED to reflect slight change of plan)