The Emergent Apiaries

"...No, you heard it right. They use birds as well, but its a custom, you see? Simple superstition of a strange folk. What can I say, they like honey, they like bees, and they trust the spirits of nature more than technology. The birds tend to work better, though.

— Brillé investigator, beyond the wall

A Strange Fascination

The locals of Brillé that remain accessible to outsiders tell tales of wonders beyond their city walls, though most who know of the J'barri may find that those stories merely meet expectations. One such story is the use of honeybees to signal warnings throughout the local farms. With some apt flower placements, the flying insects reportedly work very well when warning neighbors of invasions, though the system has its fair share of issues. As these issues arise, which will be delved into, why continue using such a rudimentary system of notification? Legends state that Maut Tira, son of Tut Maut, had a strange fascination with the insects. While the J'barri leader would typically be considered a cold and unloving individual, he was recorded as having a sweet tooth for both honey and the creatures that made it. He respected their simple nature, noting that they "wake, do their work, and return home; Every bit of their duty is done with grace."

Tiira himself never used bees for anything other than the creation of honey (and occasional decorational collection), generations after would come to revere the creatures as well, given the pride leader had all but ordained them with spiritual significance. It seems that Tira's initial description of the bugs has evolved in the culture, taking shape to make them obedient guides to the farmers of Brillé's outer wall. Of course, the past of their significance is only rumor. Given the old history of the nation and the lack of communication with farmers from inside the walls, this could even be a recently strewn rumor, which serves as no other purpose than to keep children entertained. Other theories declare that their decadence and spiritual alignment was merely designed as a way to keep children from killing them, as they are prone to do. This negatively impacts crop yields and ensures that the farmer's little helpers can continue to do their job unfettered.

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System for Emergencies

The system by which the apiaries communicate is by covering the "emergent" bees in a fine powder of any particular color. Each color has its own meaning, and must be used only when that threat arises. Perhaps more impressively, is that each farmer has bred their hives to pollinate specific species of flower, with willingness to travel as far as 4 miles to find that species while ignoring others. Each farm usually has 2 plots of garden land, each with a breed of flower that matches their neighbor's bees. As a result, when the apiary is opened and the insects go to do their job, they deliver a message to their neighbors by displaying the powdered blue, red, or green hair on their backs.

Common Colors and Meaning

Blue

Blue powder would be dusted on the bees if the threat was considered "natural." This typically meant anything from wild herds of grazing bison eating up crops, a vengeful cheetah, or even a particularly bad flood approaching.

Red

Red powder always signifies a sapient threat, meaning raiders, robbery, or kidnapping. These threats are usually dealt with swiftly, and those who see a red bee are expected to go assist the farm that sent the signal.

Green

Green bees signify a positive but rare event. Perhaps a relative has unexpectedly returned from war or a priest from the inner walls has visited the area. Whatever the purpose, those who see a green bee may want to look out for good fortune nearby. Typically, when a farming season ends and a new queen is bred, all of the farmers' bees will be released with green powder in hopes of good fortune.

The Farmers' Celebration

At the end of every farming season, when the bees are released, the farmers will gather for a grand feast of fruits and meat. The green bees are said to dance in the firelight as the locals celebrate in dance and artistic displays. This festival is usually a long time coming, where any insiders may take part in games and prayer. Perhaps the biggest attraction is at the end of the night, when the farmers compete to see who has bred the largest of the new queens. After the reward goes out, each queen is subjected to the pollen of their neighbors flowers, ensuring their workers know where to go in the future.

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A Faulty System

While this system often works, it is in subsequent pollinations that problems arise. Some bees may not return home for days, leading the farmers to think another signal has been sent. Alternatively, the powder may not wash off in subsequent visits. Sometimes, should old layers not properly fade in time, new layers can grow overbearing and toxic to the bees. All of these issues have had their own technical solutions, such as ribbed holes on beehives to scrape off powder, but they still cause many embarrassing complications.

Other Information on Brille