Less a city than a giant bazaar, the Hivemarket rests along the eastern foot of Mount Ka. Here, merchants of all races and nations meet to trade without the taxes or influence of any particular city or ruler. The market itself is half above ground and half in an ancient tunnel network that appears to have formed naturally from the volcano’s prehistoric lava f lows. Through the marketplace swim the incorporeal ghost-things called khulan. Largeheaded and glossy-eyed, with two arms and bodies that trail away to nothing, these silent guardians protect the markets and keep them independent, doing nothing to affect even the most heinous trade or business deal but immediately descending in a ghostly pack on those who attempt to secure influence over the market via force or violence.

The city is divided into sub-markets — which have some specializations, and quirks — the largest of which are:
Sun Market
Sky Market
Dusk Market
Dawn Market
Night Market

Some of the Akiton humans come here from villages and towns to try to make it big. Most were born here, and grow up with the strange life. Some are brought in by ship, escaped slaves, shanghaied sailors, sailors that miss their ship, slaves that didn’t sell and were released, and people just dumped to make room for cargo. Most other races arrive by ship, or by portal. There are quite a few portals about, although most are not in the Hive market itself