Colonies were already well established across the solar system when VRN Industries discovered the Cenote. It was in a temple carved into the rock beneath the dark side of the Moon, built by unknown hands aeons ago. When the massive capstone was lifted, below was a pool of liquid water; though cold, much warmer than the frigid, airless surroundings. Drone submarines were lost while descending, a mystery solved by the first brave or foolhardy divers; somewhere in the depths of that huge, endless well, gravity shrinks and then reverses. What was down is now up, and continuing in that direction, the diver emerges from another Cenote in a much stranger place.

The Construct consists of three hollow worlds nested inside each other; although each is spinning on a different axis at a different rate, this is not enough to account for the Earth-like gravity experienced on the inner surfaces of the three spheres.

The innermost sphere surrounds something like a tiny star and is constantly bathed in sunlight. This is a hot and dusty land, barely habitable beyond the river valleys and oases. The structure of this sphere is incomplete, with vast, irregular holes in its surface that look down upon the middle sphere and let the sunlight through.

The middle sphere is of a temperate climate, with fields and forests, mountains and oceans; day occurs when one of the massive holes in the inner sphere moves overhead, but day and night cycles are variable due to the different speeds and rotations of the two spheres. The night sky is the outer surface of the inner sphere, smooth but carved with vast, softly-glowing runes. The middle sphere is also riddled with enormous holes, which look down upon the outer sphere.

The outer sphere is a cold land of perpetual winter and long nights; day only occurs when the holes in the first two spheres align, otherwise this sphere exists in a gloomy twilight, lit by the runes of the night ‘sky’. The outer sphere also has holes in its surface, but these look only onto a black void.

The outer surface of the construct resembles that of the inner spheres, but is a bleak, airless place. Each sphere is tens of kilometres thick, riddled with caverns and dungeons and mines; for not only is there breathable air and vegetation in the Construct, but sentient beings. Alongside the apparently human inhabitants there are races and creatures seemingly inspired by the mythologies of Earth, many of which possess powers that can only be described as magical. It is evident that many civilisations have risen and fallen, leaving numerous dilapidated temples and ruins; there are numerous kingdoms, some of which clash with each other, while others dwell in isolation.

VRN Industries are intent on exploring and exploiting this impossible construction, trying to understand who built it and how, and attempting to harness the power of its magic. The Cenote is large enough that, appropriately packaged, military vehicles and equipment can be shipped through. VRN have established forward operating bases and are continuing to map the Construct and spread their influence.

There are many stories to be told beyond the Cenote…

Invaders: VRN operatives are strangers in a strange land; they may be tasked with exploring regions of the Construct and investigating ancient ruins, they might be employed to negotiate with native inhabitants or influence their behaviour, or they might be sent on military missions to destroy hostile forces and retrieve magical artefacts. What if there is more than one way into the Construct, and another corporation unlocks it?

Inhabitants: The natives of the Construct have always had to contend with brutal warlords, diabolical sorcerers, orcs and goblins, the undead, and mighty dragons, but now a technological force is thrown into the mix. What happens when the king becomes a puppet ruler for VRN? When a despot receives their backing to quell a region, or they arm orc tribes in the mountains? What happens when VRN seizes a mine from the dwarves or bulldozes an elven forest?

Insurrection: What if forces from within the Construct seize control of the Cenote, or find other exits? What happens when an era of space colonisation is invaded by necromancers and gargoyles and wraiths?