The Tiv Sul Reaches

It began in Keld. The ancient civilization and empire that once rivaled mighty Bengion close to three thousand years prior stretched across terrain ranging from Ri'am in the north to Nephysis and Tamarem in the south east and south. Their wars against Bengion for control of the canyons and cliffsides of Ibris were legendary but their destruction was sudden. Somewhere within the depths of the old capital of Ramag, the first of the spawn was summoned. Vescavor demons, rightfully reviled and despised, the children of Deskari, son of Pazuzu. Within a fortnight through fell tactics it is believed that over five thousand such swarms were summoned, and the results utterly destroyed the empire of Keld.
Yet, the demonic host could not unify, each vying for power in their struggle against one another. Their summoner, and progenitor, Elder Hayat, considered the last of the great Kelden councilors, ascended into some form of power for their service, and had no further role in the affairs of their kin. Deskari it is said thought to have the swarm ally with his father Pazuzu to sweep through the Forgotten Lands, briefly occupying a mesa known as the Titan's Hive on their path south before being halted at the entrance to the southern jungles. Rivals used the invasion to stab the swarm's leadership in the back, resulting in a civil war that likely saved much of Mana Jalqabaa. The winner of this eventual conflict was in fact not a servant of a demonic host at all, but of an infernal lord. An ally of Geryon, and infernal duke of Hell known as Arbeyach. His servants mutated to serve the infernal wishes of the hells, becoming a race now known as the Tosculi.
Today five hives exist within the reaches, formed from the remains of Kelden cities and risen high into the air. The hives are hollow, hexagonal, made from limestone, dust, sinue and venom, climbing high into the sky as a mockery for nearby territories. Each of these hives possesses a queen, who instructs their children in a hive-mind to perform their bidding. It is said that the herald of Arbeyach himself stays in one of the great hives at a time, including the original hive of Ramag. Also noteworthy is the dread conjurer Hayat, who still is rumored to live among their infernal children. The Tosculi resemble giant wasps the size of humanoids, with insectoid heads, wings to fly short distances, and multiple limbs. They are fond of raids into nearby territories to abduct travelers alive to use as incubators for the hive-queen's new subjects.
Efforts from multiple bands of warriors around Mana Jalqabaa, led by a group of dissidents and traitors of the hive-mind have thus far kept the disorganized forces of the reaches contained, but that may soon change. Within the high domes of the reaches settlements, the queen's have gathered in chorus to discuss the state of their collective. The swarm has grown in size and power since the great bloodletting of years past. The time may soon be to put aside old envies and grudges to take the continent by swarm. They speak of the great feast. They speak of the great retaliation against the Thri-Kreen traitors who have betrayed their queen. They speak of a swarm to annihilate all life on Celasper.

Structure

The great hives are ruled by a queen, who controls their lesser workers and soldiers through a hive-mind. Those who break away from the royalty, soldier, worker mentality are considered Thri-Kreen. These dissidents are blessed with psionic power and typically flee the hive less they be killed.

Territories

Ramag: The greatest hive within Tiv-Sul and the capital of the long dead nation of Keld. The cities districts are divided by great hives to the glory of the Hive-Queen Telki, Mistress of the Battlefield. A small number of gnoll traders also live within Ramag, primarily to barter trade for goods the hive cannot produce or acquire itself.
Bahima Azar: The battle for Bahima has only recently ended, with the Gnolls of the City of Lions finally retreating close to a hundred years prior. The hive has pressed its advantage into the beehive, in what is likely the first true assault into Nephysian territory. A great Ice Devil Loqutous serves as herald and consort of the Queen Zhurkezzik, and her terrain is said to sit upon an unstable gateway into the fifth plane of hell.
Corpsehive: Built onto as massive mesa cliffface horizontally, Corspehive was composed from the bodies of many of the people of Keld who were welded to create the foundation for the nightmare necropolis. Queen Rektizzok stands as leader of Corpsehive, and is rumored to worship Zyphus the lord of death, in opposition to mighty Arbeyach.
Dreadweed: Westernmost of the hives of Tiv-Sul, Dreadweed's muddy domes are filled with a spikey sharp cactus like substance that may be abyssal in origin that gives the city its name. Iknik serves as Hive-Queen of Dreadweed, and has a personal fondness for raiding nearby mines of Xorns living underneath the reaches.
Chimney: The southernmost hive is also the smallest, built less than fifty years ago by the hive-queen Kazsivoq, who escaped the slaughter of her mother Telki and escaped with a group of soldiers to found her own hive. She is most in favor of unification, believing that only together can they ensure the stability of their hives. Other balk at her suggestions of allegiance. They note that by far the most Thri-Kreen traitors emerge from her domain.

As vast as any ocean

Alternative Names

The Hive-Lords

Training Level

Elite

Veterancy Level

Veteran

Demonym

The Swarm

Government System

Monarchy, Absolute

Power Structure

Federation

Economic System

Palace economy

Location

The Forgotten Lands

Neighboring Nations

• Ri'am

Related Ethnicities

• Thri-Kreen