Hole, a dark, decaying, and disordered neighborhood where the powerful prey on the weak and death is common, is almost appropriate of its name. It is a domain that is distinct from law and ethics, and it serves as a testing ground for the magical users who control it. The residents of Hole are regarded as little more than insects by the magic users, who are a race at the pinnacle of their civilization. The defenseless Hole inhabitants are murdered, maimed, and subjected to experimentation on a regular basis in the hallways of Hole's hospital. With unfettered access to and from the cesspool and little resistance to their control, the magic users look invincible to most—with the exception of a few.