Underhives

Underhives are a common feature in many fictional settings, particularly those with vast, vertically stratified cities or mega-structures. They represent the lower, often subterranean or neglected, levels of these colossal environments. Life in the underhive is typically characterized by poverty, crime, and a stark contrast to the upper echelons. Resources are scarce, and the environment is often depicted as polluted, dimly lit, and overcrowded.

Inhabitants of the underhive are usually the poorest and most marginalized populations, often living in squalor. Their societies are frequently tribal or gang-dominated, with survival being the primary concern. Technology, if present, is often scavenged, broken, or jury-rigged. Despite the harsh conditions, underhives can also be centers of unique subcultures, resilience, and hidden communities. They serve as a narrative device to explore themes of social inequality, class struggle, and the dark underbelly of utopian or dystopian societies. Access to the underhive is often restricted, making it a place of mystery and danger for outsiders.