Hive: Blood & Honey

  1. Hive: Blood & Honey
  2. 1.0 Hive Origin
    1. 2.0 Geography
      1. 2.1 The Comb
        1. 2.1.1 Summary
        2. 2.1.2 Cells
        3. 2.1.3 Octants
        4. 2.1.4 Core
    2. 3.0 Religion, Spirituality and Culture
      1. 3.1 The Brood Mother
      2. 3.2 Morality (Chaos Vs. Order)
      3. 3.3 Physiology, Psychology and Pneumology
  3. Hive Glossary
  4. Hive Race Taxonomy
  5. Hive Arthropod Taxonomical Compendium
    1. SUBPHYLUM: Hexapoda
      1. CLASS: Insecta
        1. ORDER: Archaeognatha (Jumping Bristletails)
        2. ORDER: Zygentoma (Silverfish, Fishmoths, Firebrats)
        3. ORDER: Ephemeroptera (Mayflies)
        4. ORDER: Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
          1. INFRAORDER: Anisoptera (Dragonflies)
          2. INFRAORDER: Zygoptera (Damselflies)
        5. ORDER: Zoraptera (Angel Insects)
        6. ORDER: Dermaptera (Earwigs)
        7. ORDER: Plecoptera (Stoneflies)
        8. ORDER: Mantodea (Mantises)
        9. ORDER: Blattodea (Cockroaches & Termites)
          1. INFRAORDER: Blattaria (Cockroaches)
          2. INFRAORDER: Isoptera (Termites)
        10. ORDER: Grylloblattodea (Ice-Crawlers)
        11. ORDER: Mantophasmatodea (Gladiators)
        12. ORDER: Phasmatodea (Stick Insects, Stick-Bugs)
          1. FAMILY: Phylliidae (Leaf Insects)
        13. ORDER: Embioptera (Web-Spinners)
        14. ORDER: Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Locusts, Crickets)
          1. SUBORDER: Caelifera (Grasshoppers)
            1. FAMILY: Acrididae (Locusts)
          2. SUBORDER: Ensifera (Crickets)
        15. ORDER: Psocodea (Lice, Bark Lice, Book Lice)
        16. ORDER: Hemiptera (True Bugs)
          1. SUPERFAMILY: Cicadoidea (Cicadas)
          2. SUPERFAMILY: Aphidoidea (Aphids)
          3. INTRAORDER: Fulgoromorpha (Planthoppers)
          4. FAMILY: Cicadellidae (Leafhoppers)
          5. FAMILY: Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)
          6. FAMILY: Cimicidae (Bed Bugs)
          7. SUPERFAMILY: Pentatomoidea
            1. FAMILY: Acanthosomatidae (Shield Bugs)
            2. FAMILY: Cydnidae (Burrowing Bugs)
            3. FAMILY: Pentatomidae (Stink Bugs)
            4. FAMILY: Scutelleridae (Jewel Bugs)
            5. FAMILY: Tessaratomidae (Giant Shield Bugs)
            6. FAMILY: Thyreocoridae (Ebony Bugs)
        17. ORDER: Thysanoptera (Thrips)
        18. ORDER: Hymenoptera (Sawflies, Wasps, Bees, Ants)
          1. SUBORDER: Symphyta (Sawflies)
          2. FAMILY: Siricidae (Horntail)
          3. FAMILY: Vespidae (Yellowjackets & Hornets)
          4. CLADE: Anthophila (Bees)
          5. FAMILY: Formicidae (Ants)
        19. ORDER: Strepsiptera (Twisted-Wing Parasites)
        20. ORDER: Coleoptera (Beetles)
          1. FAMILY: Staphylinidae (Rove Beetles)
          2. FAMILY: Scarabaeoidea (Scarabs & Stag Beetles)
          3. FAMILY: Hydrophiloidea (Water Scavenger Beetles)
          4. FAMILY: Lampyridae (Fireflies & Lightning Bugs)
        21. ORDER: Raphidioptera (Snakeflies)
        22. ORDER: Megaloptera (Alderflies, Dobsonflies, Fishflies)
        23. ORDER: Neuroptera (Net-Winged Insects)
        24. ORDER: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
        25. ORDER: Trichoptera (Caddisfly)
        26. ORDER: Diptera (Flies)
        27. ORDER: Mecoptera (Scorpionflies)
        28. ORDER: Siphonaptera (Fleas)
      2. CLASS: Entognatha
        1. ORDER: Collembola (Springtails)
        2. ORDER: Diplura (Diplurans)
        3. ORDER: Protura (Coneheads)
    2. SUBPHYLUM: Chelicerata
      1. CLASS: Xiphosura
        1. ORDER: Xiphosurida (Horseshoe Crabs)
      2. CLASS: Arachnida (Arachnids)
        1. ORDER: Opilioacariformes (Mites)
        2. ORDER: Ixodida (Ticks)
        3. ORDER: Holothyrida (Mites)
        4. ORDER: Mesostigmata (Mites)
        5. ORDER: Trombidiformes (Mites)
        6. ORDER: Oribatida (Beetle Mites)
        7. ORDER: Endeostigmata (Mites)
        8. ORDER: Amblypygi (Whip Spiders)
        9. ORDER: Araneae (Spiders)
        10. ORDER: Palpigradi (Microwhip Scorpions)
        11. ORDER: Ricinulei (Hooded Tickspiders)
        12. ORDER: Schizomida (Sprickets)
        13. ORDER: Uropygi (Vinegaroons)
        14. ORDER: Opiliones (Harvestmen, Daddy Longlegs)
        15. ORDER: Pseudoscorpionida (False Scorpions)
        16. ORDER: Scorpiones (True Scorpions)
        17. ORDER: Solifugae (Sun Spiders, Wind Scorpions)
    3. SUBPHYLUM: Myriapoda
      1. CLASS: Chilopoda (Centipedes)
        1. ORDER: Scutigeromorpha (House Centipedes)
        2. ORDER: Lithobiomorpha (Stone Centipedes)
        3. ORDER: Craterostigmomorpha (Centipedes)
        4. ORDER: Scolopendromorpha (Tropical Centipedes)
        5. ORDER: Geophilomorpha (Soil Centipedes)
      2. CLASS: Diplopoda (Millipedes)
        1. ORDER: Polyxenida (Bristly Millipedes)
        2. ORDER: Glomeridesmida (Slug Millipedes)
        3. ORDER: Glomerida (Northern Pill Millipedes)
        4. ORDER: Sphaerotheriida (Giant Pill Millipedes)
        5. ORDER: Polyzoniida (Millipedes)
        6. ORDER: Siphonocryptida (Millipedes)
        7. ORDER: Siphonophorida (Millipedes)
        8. ORDER: Julida (Millipedes)
        9. ORDER: Siphoniulida (Millipedes)
        10. ORDER: Spirobolida (Round-Backed Millipedes)
        11. ORDER: Spirostreptida (Millipedes)
        12. ORDER: Polydesmida (Flat-Backed Millipedes)
        13. ORDER: Callipodida (Millipedes)
        14. ORDER: Chordeumatida (Sausage Millipedes)
        15. ORDER: Stemmiulida (Millipedes)
      3. CLASS: Pauropoda
        1. ORDER: Hexamerocerata
        2. ORDER: Tetramerocerata
      4. CLASS: Symphyla
        1. ORDER: Scolopendrellida (Garden Centipedes)
        2. ORDER: Scutigerellida

1.0 Hive Origin

Hive is a world where arthropod-human hybrids exist. Sometime around the sixth mass-extinction, the stirring of the eldritch entity that comprises Hive's geology (the Brood Mother) uncapped the cells that constitute its organic structure. With the ensuing chaos and dispersal of populations, the arthropods became the first to adapt, developing increasingly potent pheromones that assisted in such routine activities as: finding food and mates, aggregating to take advantage of food resources, protecting sites of oviposition, and escaping predation. It has been found that pheromones may convey different signals when presented in combinations or concentrations.

pheromone
/ˈfɛrəməʊn/
noun ZOOLOGY
plural noun: pheromones
a chemical substance produced and released into the environment by an animal, especially a mammal or an insect, affecting the behaviour or physiology of others of its species.

2.0 Geography

2.1 The Comb

2.1.1 Summary

honeycomb
/ˈhʌnɪkəʊm/
noun
noun: honeycomb; plural noun: honeycombs;

A honeycomb is a mass of hexagonal prismatic cells built from beeswax by honey bees in their nests to contain their brood (eggs, larvae, and pupae) and stores of honey and pollen.

multicellular organism
/ˌmʌltɪˈsɛljʊlə ˈɔːɡənɪz(ə)m/
noun
noun: multicellular organism; plural noun: multicellular organism;

Multicellular organism, an organism composed of many cells, which are to varying degrees integrated and independent. The development of multicellular organisms is accompanied by cellular specialization and division of labour; cells become efficient in one process and are dependent upon other cells for the necessities of life.

Sociocultural Animation

The world of Hive with its chaotic cellular structure is conceived in Hive culture as the living entity "the Brood Mother", similar to "Mother Nature" - all descriptors of geological and topographical phenomena are thematically consistent with organic animation.

What is The Comb?

The fabric of reality inside Hive is called "The Comb", and is also known as the flesh of the Brood Mother. Hive is not a spherical globe. Instead, it is an odd and misshapen structure of hexagonal prismatic cells numbering in the millions or billions. Each cell is a different space-time dimension. Cells are not uniform in shape, and there are some larger and smaller cells. Cells do not always follow logical adjacency, and if you accidentally pass through the wax of a cell, you may end up in another entire octant. Hive spins centrifugally, meaning it has its own center axis.

2.1.2 Cells

What are the dimensions of cells like?

The spatial dimensions of cells are extremely varied. In terms of spatial dimensions, some may span multiple continents and include navigable seas and skies, while others are the size of a broom closet. The only thing you can be sure of is that the perimeter boundary of the cell will be in the shape of a hexagonal prism.

What are the environments of cells like?

It is important to note that the environment of cells is extremely varied. They vary in landmasses, plate tectonics, glaciers (if any), physiographic regions, elevations, air currents, air pressure, ocean circulation, temperature, precipitation, atmospheres, climate, weather patterns, rivers, wetlands and biomes. Not all cells are terrestrial or aquatic, and may be comprised entirely of gas, of which you will immediately fall through.

What are nerves?

One of the more abstract phenomena in Hive, but always something to be cautious of. A nerve is a cause and effect unique to a cell. For example, you do/don't do X and Y happens. Say, you stare at the color red for exactly 11.3 minutes then spit on a rose, and so your feet swap. Wanna get kinky? If you don't have sex within two hours of arriving in the cell, you'll go bald. The cells in the eight octants either don't have nerves or they are well-documented. However, cells deeper into the The Comb can have entire lists of nerves. Falling victim to this phenomena is colloquially referred to as "striking a nerve".

Then, are the spatial dimensions and environments of cells at least constant?

Depends, but in general exercise caution. The cells in the eight octants are generally constant, and the expected changes in environment have logic and recurrency to them, such as seasons. However, the deeper you go into The Comb, the less this is true. A cell may one day be the size of a small house and filled entirely with volcanic magna. The next, it's an arctic tundra that stretches miles.

What are the outside perimeters of cells like?

The outside perimeter of cells, the "wax" separating them, is a spatial-temporal boundary. You'll know when you've hit a boundary, as you will experience a sluggish sensation of movement, like trying to wade through a viscous liquid.

The outside perimeters of cells are deceptive. Say, for example, you are hiking. You have reached the top of a mountain. Looking down, you can see a sprawling stretch of valleys and hills that go all the way to the horizon. However, walking forward, you feel the sensation of breaching the wax. If you continue to walk, you will eventually experience your sensory perceptions warping around you - sight, smells, sound, taste, tactile, pain, balance, body awareness, temperature - until you either emerge in another cell or get stuck and die.

How do you travel between cells?

Weak, weathered or broken wax can be more easily travelled through, though you will still experience viscous movement. The easiest and most effective form of travel between cells are called veins, which are spatial-temporal tunnels that go between cells. Veins are not always adjacent, and some veins may take you to another octant in Hive. Or, at your peril, deeper into The Comb.

When travelling between cells, the most important thing to note is spatial-temporal currents. Some veins have no current, and you are free to turn back at any point. Others will send you hurtling at light-speed towards another cell with no chance to even react. If you are moving with the current, it will be hard to go against the current if you choose to turn back at any point in your journey, including once you've arrived at your cellular destination. Some veins may take mere minutes to pass through depending on cell proximity, and others hundreds of years if there's no strong current assisting you.

Accidents happens, and sometimes sentient entities will unwittingly stumble across a vein with a strong current, which will result in their immediate transportation to another cell. A vein could be lurking behind your closet door. That said, it's rare, like a meteorite landing on your head in our world. But, rare never means impossible. These veins are immediately cordoned off and made forbidden grounds.

This is because veins clear and clog with wax with varied unpredictability. Stable veins (usually those between adjacent cells or other cells in the eight octants) are sometimes expanded on and equipped with train tracks by the Coleopterans, who are always looking to expand their Silk Network railroad system. Other veins may have weird clearing-clogging behaviors, but will consistently clear at certain time intervals, such as every four months or every couple hundred years.

Do cells have logical adjacency?

Again, reference how deep you are into The Comb. Cells in the eight octants may be what are called cell clusters, which are several adjacent cells with consistently similar environments. Even in the eight octants, this isn't exactly common. One cell may be a vibrant rainforest, and the next one a desert completely devoid of life.

Can the wax between cells be broken down completely?

Yes. This either happens naturally when the wax between cells becomes too weak, weathered or eroded or artificially through the intervention of Hive's sentient entities. Concentrated attacks on weak points like veins can cause premature collapse. The consequence of two cells merging is dependent on the chaos inherent to location in The Comb, as well as deviancy between the cellular environments. An ordered cellular merge may be akin to a earthquake ranging from weak to strong, while a chaotic cellular merge is just shy of apocalyptic.

Do populations stay within a single cell?

No. Not only do the sentient entities of Hive travel between cells via veins, they also build their populations and civilizations in cell clusters sometimes. Arthropoid races can be distinguished into heterogenous demographics and homogenous demographics. In heterogenous demographics, they mingle, populate and build civilizations with other races. In homogenous demographics, they monopolize cells and actively detain, deport or dispose of other races.

2.1.3 Octants

The habitable regions of Hive, corresponding to the eight cardinal directions. From the core region of Hive, imagine eight extending lines like a pinwheel. Draw those lines across the surface, and you end up with eight wedge-shaped octants.

2.1.4 Core

The prismatic cells towards the surface of Hive are not as chaotic as the ones deeper inside The Comb. The habitable regions of Hive are the Octants, and known veins leading towards the Core Cells are forbidden entry. Entities who accidentally stumble into the core cells are never heard from again.

3.0 Religion, Spirituality and Culture

3.1 The Brood Mother

The Brood Mother is absolute. It exists as a matriarchal and dominant force, and unlike true religion the existence of the Brood Mother (though it has a tendency to be personified wrongly by different races) is unquestionable.

See, the Brood Mother works a bit like an multi-celled organism. It may not be intelligent, but it is certainly alive. Its primordial womb is what creates the chaos of Hive's cells.

3.2 Morality (Chaos Vs. Order)

The concepts of sin and virtue do not exist in Hive, only chaos and order.

The two formal schools of philosophy subscribed to by insect races, though both are referred to as "Orders". The anthropomorphizing and humanization of the Brood Mother in Hive culture often leads to the attribution of all-too-human ethos, ethics and logos to the eldritch entity.

Assumption Philosophy
The Brood Mother exists in a state of chaos. This state of chaos is causing anguish, pain and sorrow to the Brood Mother. Order. In order to appease the mind and health of the Brood Mother, insect races that prescribe to this school of thought will try and assign an order to the natural world. This is usually in the form of government and law, which is variable between individual races.
The Brood Mother exists in a state of chaos. This chaos is the ultimate intent of the Brood Mother, and should continue to be nurtured. Proponants of this philosophy that anarchy and chaos is in and of itself a kind of world order. As such, they will continue to promote chaos and such, believing it to be the will of the Brood Mother.

3.3 Physiology, Psychology and Pneumology

The Trinity of Hive is the Body, Mind and Soul. All are inextricably linked, but serve different functions in the construction of what can be defined as a sentient entity.

Hive Glossary

Hive Race Taxonomy

Hive Arthropod Taxonomical Compendium

Compendium Disclaimer

Below the Order level, I have chosen to outline each race at the level they are ideologically significant in difference. I cannot fully list out each taxon due to the limitations of Rentry and headings. For ease of navigation and understanding, I've listed the "sociality taxon" which is the taxon distinction at which the race socially clusters.

SUBPHYLUM: Hexapoda

CLASS: Insecta

ORDER: Archaeognatha (Jumping Bristletails)

ORDER: Zygentoma (Silverfish, Fishmoths, Firebrats)

ORDER: Ephemeroptera (Mayflies)

ORDER: Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)

INFRAORDER: Anisoptera (Dragonflies)
INFRAORDER: Zygoptera (Damselflies)

ORDER: Zoraptera (Angel Insects)

ORDER: Dermaptera (Earwigs)

ORDER: Plecoptera (Stoneflies)

ORDER: Mantodea (Mantises)

ORDER: Blattodea (Cockroaches & Termites)

INFRAORDER: Blattaria (Cockroaches)
INFRAORDER: Isoptera (Termites)

ORDER: Grylloblattodea (Ice-Crawlers)

ORDER: Mantophasmatodea (Gladiators)

ORDER: Phasmatodea (Stick Insects, Stick-Bugs)

FAMILY: Phylliidae (Leaf Insects)

ORDER: Embioptera (Web-Spinners)

ORDER: Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Locusts, Crickets)

SUBORDER: Caelifera (Grasshoppers)
FAMILY: Acrididae (Locusts)
SUBORDER: Ensifera (Crickets)

ORDER: Psocodea (Lice, Bark Lice, Book Lice)

ORDER: Hemiptera (True Bugs)

SUPERFAMILY: Cicadoidea (Cicadas)
SUPERFAMILY: Aphidoidea (Aphids)
INTRAORDER: Fulgoromorpha (Planthoppers)
FAMILY: Cicadellidae (Leafhoppers)
FAMILY: Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)
FAMILY: Cimicidae (Bed Bugs)
SUPERFAMILY: Pentatomoidea
FAMILY: Acanthosomatidae (Shield Bugs)
FAMILY: Cydnidae (Burrowing Bugs)
FAMILY: Pentatomidae (Stink Bugs)
FAMILY: Scutelleridae (Jewel Bugs)
FAMILY: Tessaratomidae (Giant Shield Bugs)
FAMILY: Thyreocoridae (Ebony Bugs)

ORDER: Thysanoptera (Thrips)

ORDER: Hymenoptera (Sawflies, Wasps, Bees, Ants)

SUBORDER: Symphyta (Sawflies)
FAMILY: Siricidae (Horntail)
FAMILY: Vespidae (Yellowjackets & Hornets)
CLADE: Anthophila (Bees)
FAMILY: Formicidae (Ants)

ORDER: Strepsiptera (Twisted-Wing Parasites)

ORDER: Coleoptera (Beetles)

FAMILY: Staphylinidae (Rove Beetles)
FAMILY: Scarabaeoidea (Scarabs & Stag Beetles)
FAMILY: Hydrophiloidea (Water Scavenger Beetles)
FAMILY: Lampyridae (Fireflies & Lightning Bugs)

ORDER: Raphidioptera (Snakeflies)

ORDER: Megaloptera (Alderflies, Dobsonflies, Fishflies)

ORDER: Neuroptera (Net-Winged Insects)

ORDER: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)

ORDER: Trichoptera (Caddisfly)

ORDER: Diptera (Flies)

ORDER: Mecoptera (Scorpionflies)

ORDER: Siphonaptera (Fleas)

CLASS: Entognatha

ORDER: Collembola (Springtails)

ORDER: Diplura (Diplurans)

ORDER: Protura (Coneheads)

SUBPHYLUM: Chelicerata

CLASS: Xiphosura

ORDER: Xiphosurida (Horseshoe Crabs)

CLASS: Arachnida (Arachnids)

ORDER: Opilioacariformes (Mites)

ORDER: Ixodida (Ticks)

ORDER: Holothyrida (Mites)

ORDER: Mesostigmata (Mites)

ORDER: Trombidiformes (Mites)

ORDER: Oribatida (Beetle Mites)

ORDER: Endeostigmata (Mites)

ORDER: Amblypygi (Whip Spiders)

ORDER: Araneae (Spiders)

ORDER: Palpigradi (Microwhip Scorpions)

ORDER: Ricinulei (Hooded Tickspiders)

ORDER: Schizomida (Sprickets)

ORDER: Uropygi (Vinegaroons)

ORDER: Opiliones (Harvestmen, Daddy Longlegs)

ORDER: Pseudoscorpionida (False Scorpions)

ORDER: Scorpiones (True Scorpions)

ORDER: Solifugae (Sun Spiders, Wind Scorpions)

SUBPHYLUM: Myriapoda

CLASS: Chilopoda (Centipedes)

ORDER: Scutigeromorpha (House Centipedes)

ORDER: Lithobiomorpha (Stone Centipedes)

ORDER: Craterostigmomorpha (Centipedes)

ORDER: Scolopendromorpha (Tropical Centipedes)

ORDER: Geophilomorpha (Soil Centipedes)

CLASS: Diplopoda (Millipedes)

ORDER: Polyxenida (Bristly Millipedes)

ORDER: Glomeridesmida (Slug Millipedes)

ORDER: Glomerida (Northern Pill Millipedes)

ORDER: Sphaerotheriida (Giant Pill Millipedes)

ORDER: Polyzoniida (Millipedes)

ORDER: Siphonocryptida (Millipedes)

ORDER: Siphonophorida (Millipedes)

ORDER: Julida (Millipedes)

ORDER: Siphoniulida (Millipedes)

ORDER: Spirobolida (Round-Backed Millipedes)

ORDER: Spirostreptida (Millipedes)

ORDER: Polydesmida (Flat-Backed Millipedes)

ORDER: Callipodida (Millipedes)

ORDER: Chordeumatida (Sausage Millipedes)

ORDER: Stemmiulida (Millipedes)

CLASS: Pauropoda

ORDER: Hexamerocerata

ORDER: Tetramerocerata

CLASS: Symphyla

ORDER: Scolopendrellida (Garden Centipedes)

ORDER: Scutigerellida

Edit Report
Pub: 22 Jun 2024 09:15 UTC
Edit: 22 Jun 2024 14:30 UTC
Views: 1660