War in Heaven

War in Heaven
K'lax Civil War
Date: 29 March 2466 - present
Location: Xathul Xon
Result: Ongoing
Belligerents
Tupii-K'lax brood	Zkaii brood
Commanders and leaders
Za'Akaix'Gist K'lax	Za'Akaix'Xeru K'lax
Strength
Unknown	Unkown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

For the news article arc page, see War in Heaven Arc.

The Tupii-Zkaii War, also known as the K’lax Civil War, K’lak’iek (“K’lax War”), or the War in Heaven, is an ongoing armed conflict between Queen Tupii and Queen Zkaii of the K’lax Hive. Unlike traditional armed conflicts, the K’lax Civil War utilizes Vaurca Virtual Reality technology extensively for combat. The main battleground is an intermediary realm known as Xathul Xon or The Crucible, located in the Interstice connecting both queens’ domains.

The War in Heaven is fundamentally a succession war. Queen Tupii, leader of the ancient K’lax brood, claims to be the rightful heiress to the K’lax throne. This marks a historical crisis as it is the first recorded Vaurca succession war.

Background

Shortly before the Vaurca Exodus from Sedantis, a fire erupted within High Queen Mother K’lax’s chambers in the Tata’kree’xt. This shameful tragedy resulted in the deaths of K’lax, her guards, and the destruction of several Cephalons. To maintain stability, the K’lax kept this event a closely guarded secret, concealing the truth, especially from the Zo’ra Hive. However, news of K’lax’s death spread quickly. Mother K’lax’s remains and the damaged Cephalons were taken aboard the Kloxa’xia, and significant efforts were made to recover lost data from the burnt neural sockets. Ultimately, reconstruction attempts proved futile, resulting in the permanent loss of vital information.

Queen Zkaii—a pivotal figure in the development of modern Virtual Reality—refused to acknowledge Mother K’lax’s death. During the Exodus, Zkaii founded the Mother Dream religion, perpetuating the belief that High Queen K’lax remained alive. Although considered eccentric, Zkaii’s skill, closeness to Mother K’lax, and leadership positioned her as a likely candidate for the next High Queen. Following initial contact with the Unathi, the K’lax Hive received a fiefdom in what is now known as Tret, with Zkaii becoming its first Overlord. This decision was marked alongside Zkaii’s official coronation as High Queen.

The old K’lax brood faced neglect even before Zkaii’s ascent, their once-central position in the Hive declining. However, this situation worsened significantly following her rise to power, with their treatment deteriorating to a state akin to that of the queenless. Many Vaurca, who believed the original brood deserved respect, viewed this as deeply unjust due to its historical significance. This tension was aggravated by the stance of many K’lax brood Breeders who openly preferred allegiance to the Zo’ra Hive over their new Unathi overlords. While the rest of the K’lax Hive adapted to their circumstances, the K’lax brood defiantly refused to acknowledge their changing status. Zkaii, upholding her denial of Mother K’lax’s death, remained deliberately neutral on the matter. To acknowledge the old brood’s plight would be a tacit admission of Mother K’lax’s demise.

During the first gathering of the new Court of Queens in Caprice, the K’lax Hive faced significant pressure to resolve the issue of the old K’lax brood. Under scrutiny, they were forced to select a formal representative for the neglected brood. This resulted in the election of Ta’Akaix’Tupii’maxk’rekxak K’lax, a former confidante of Mother K’lax, as the new brood Queen. Notably, this marked a departure from tradition, as Vaurca broods typically dissolved or faded following the death of their Queen.

Since her election, Queen Tupii has been known for stepping up in many of the Hive’s affairs. She has taken a leadership role in various matters, including Tret’s colonization and meeting the high demand of Vaurca Warriors in Izweski’s ranks. This, in turn, has led Tupii to become the de facto face of the Hive, overshadowing the less charismatic Zkaii.

Brood Relations

It has been widely reported that High Queen Zkaii was never keen on Tupii. Shortly after Tupii’s coronation, Zkaii denied any interviews with Moghresian media. The suspicions were confirmed on November 29, 2463, when the Hivenet Watch recorded High Queen Zkaii openly stating that Tupii was “the wrong choice” in a royal channel of Hivenet. This finding was reported in various tabloid newspapers across Moghes but was ultimately deemed of little interest.

Similar incidents followed, including rumors by high-clearance Surrogates of both broods. On May 4, 2465, Jason Schmidt of the vaurphobic website, Vaurca Updates Online, posted an article titled “Trouble in Virtual Paradise: When Izweski’s Allies Clash.” Schmidt’s article provided insider information on the Zkaii and Tupii’s broods, alongside speculation on the Unathite economy if both factions were at war. However, the questionable reputation of Vaurca Updates Online led to the dismissal of Schmidt’s report.

Important Figures

General Za’Akaix’Gist K’lax

General Gist, originally hatched around 27,488 BCE as a K’lax brood Warrior, exemplified an early strategic mind even before the advent of Virtual Reality training. Gist’s interest in K’lax leadership, particularly in the ancient Queen Neiim, fueled its rapid rise through the ranks. Augmented to become a Vaurca Marshal, Gist’s enhanced ability to predict complex outcomes provided significant tactical advantages against the Lii’dra. Gist played a crucial role in the Fiery Years of the Lii’dramachy, notably commanding early K’lax Warform prototypes at the Battle of Kan’koor and successfully repelling the Lii’dra from the region.

After its death in 27,465 BCE, Gist was posthumously awarded the Xakat’kl’atan rank. Its strategic contributions faded into relative obscurity during the post-Lii’dramachy recovery until the Hive Renaissance, where Gist’s role in thwarting the Warladies regained notoriety. Though unverified, legend holds that Gist was banished to the Interstice, becoming a proponent of strategic finesse over brute force. Some speculate this ostracization was due to Zo’rane disapproval of Gist’s views. Gist’s survival following the death of Mother K’lax and the loss of her Cephalons is a subject of debate, with rumors suggesting a corrupted Gist was later recovered and sanitized. Enemies of the general use this to discredit Gist’s current actions, labeling it lobotomized or “Viax Gist.” However, there is no basis for these beliefs, and Gist was likely deep in the Interstice when the realm of Mother K’lax was forever lost.

During the Exodus, Gist actively supported Tupii’s bid to become Queen of the K’lax brood, leveraging the reach of Virtual Reality for her campaign. It was later resleeved in 2464 in a less-augmented Myrmidon-like form, resembling Warriors of ancient. It also served as Tupii’s master-at-arms. This, alongside positive portrayal in Sinta Articles, boosted Gist’s popularity with the Unathi. At the time of its death, Gist was one of the most famous Warriors in the K’lax Hive.

Gist was recalled to Virtual Reality, where Tupii chose it as her general-in-chief for the K’lak’iek. While Gist’s unparalleled experience in real-world warfare provides a tactical edge, it is not known for conventional Virtual Reality combat prowess. Rather, Gist intends to transform the virtual battlefield into a labyrinth of complexity. It favors strategies that rely on meticulous planning, deception, and manipulating the very fabric of the Aether itself, forcing enemies to adapt or be overwhelmed.

Exemplar Za’Akaix’Xeru K’lax

Exemplar Xeru is often regarded as the first K’lax Warrior to have converted to the Mother Dream faith. Alongside Ka’Akaix’Vhixok K’lax, Xeru is regarded as one of the key figures of the emerging religion and the very first Mother Dream missionary. Eventually, Xeru was promoted to the rank of Exemplar and is believed to have already climbed out of simulation with Mother K’lax herself, only returning to preach the faith.

Little is known about Xeru in life. It is speculated that it died shortly before the Exodus and was not known for its combat abilities. However, Exemplar Xeru grew to believe that the best way to escape the nested simulations is to challenge Virtual Reality with what it calls “the mirrored body.” This mirrored body is an avatar trained to become strong enough to rip the veil of the Aether with its claws. Unbeknownst to the rest of the Hive, but with the full knowledge and likely support of Queen Zkaii, Xeru created a Mirrored Vanguard capable of making, breaking, and reshaping Virtual Reality.

Xeru’s mirrored body is a disturbing testament to its obsession: not merely an avatar within the Aether, but a grotesque attempt to manifest an impossible form. Witnesses describe Exemplar Xeru as a topological paradox—a shifting, contorting shape that defies conventional geometry. Its body seems to fold into itself, creating warped connections and violating the very concept of inside and outside. The strain of rendering this illogical form is so extreme that even powerful Cephalons struggle, distorting Xeru’s movements into a glitched and disjointed spectacle. Enemies may mock this disorienting display as sluggishness or taunt the Exemplar as “Sleepy Xeru,” but they fundamentally misunderstand the profound violation of reality Xeru embodies.

In selecting a general-in-chief for the K’lak’iek conflict, High Queen Zkaii made a decisive choice: Exemplar Xeru. This fervent zealot embodies Zkaii’s will, possessing a potent combination of unwavering faith and a mastery of Virtual Reality. Xeru’s fanatical pursuit of transcending Cephalon limitations poses a unique and dangerous challenge to General Gist. Its unsettling abilities and unwavering devotion make it a formidable adversary.

Xathul Xon

The Xathul Xon, also known as The Crucible, is a realm within Virtual Reality. Currently, documentation about The Crucible is limited. It is believed to have been commissioned to Ka’Akaix’Ced K’lax of the Zkaii brood, per Vaurca war traditions. If the current supposition is correct, this custom dictates that following a formal declaration of war (presumably initiated by Queen Tupii), the opposing leader (High Queen Zkaii) has the right to select and shape the battleground to their advantage. Traditionally, the declaring faction dispatches Workers to scout the chosen area prior to battle. Currently, reports from Tupii’s scouting party on The Crucible’s specific nature remain confidential to those directly involved in the conflict.

It is presumed that deaths experienced within the Xathul Xon result in a true form of death known as voiding. The first logs unraveled after the war’s initiation indicate that participating Warriors face the peril of permanent death, a rare consequence within Vaurca culture. This departure from typical Virtual Reality combat, where death carries less severe consequences, raises questions about the potential repercussions of The Crucible on the future of vaurkind.

Timeline

March 2466

Tensions between the Zkaii and Tupii broods reached a breaking point in March 2466. Public conflict erupted following a series of accusations and counter-accusations published in the Biesellite newspaper, Caprice Sun. While these allegations served as the immediate catalyst for war, simmering grievances and power struggles between the two broods had likely been escalating privately for some time. The true reasons behind this rift may be deeply rooted in the history of the K’lax Hive.

Following Vaurca war traditions, the declaration of war was likely done between March 20 and March 25, 2466, privately. The construction of the Xathul Xon was finished in the following days, seizing the time dilation of Virtual Reality to perfect the realm in what could be perceived as years inside.

On March 23, 2466, the Hivenet Watch issued a report to the Eye of the Hegemon, the Izweski Hegemony’s intelligence service, detailing a finding uncovered as part of their ongoing project to decipher Vaurca Virtual Reality. During a test within Queen Tupii’s realm, analysts encountered what they believed to be a message from the recently deceased General Gist. The message’s cryptic nature led some strategists to speculate about a potential surprise attack by the K’lax Hive against the Hegemony. Following this incident, the K’lax Hive remained under close surveillance.

On March 26, reporter Emily Kaplan, known for her interview with Queen Tupii, announced her departure from the Caprice Sun via Chirper. A day later, Editor-in-Chief Melissa Wahlberg posted a resignation letter to the newspaper’s website. These departures are speculated to be linked to the publication’s coverage fueling a feud between Queen Tupii and Queen Zkaii. This coverage, promoting conflict between two broods within the Court of Queens, potentially undermined the Court’s mission to foster Vaurca collaboration.

Emily's chirp of her departure from the Caprice Sun.

On March 29, 2466, at approximately 10:43 p.m., Mendell City Time, Chirper user @klaxgamer466 reported that the subrealms of the K’lax Hive had crashed[1]. This chirp was followed by many other K’lax users sharing a similar experience, with some claiming that the Queen’s realms were lagging as well. At the time, it was thought to be a hiccup in the Virtual Reality servers of the K’lax Hive.

Circa 11:03 p.m., the official Hivenet Watch Chirper account reported an “ongoing conflict” in K’laxian realms[2]. This was followed by a thread confirming armed conflict had erupted within these realms on March 30, 2466, at approximately 1:05 a.m.[3] Queen Zkaii and Queen Tupii were confirmed to be involved. No other parties were reported to be aware of or participating in the conflict.

Rumors of the Xathul Xon’s existence quickly spread among K’lax Chirper users, prompting K’lax Hive authorities to confirm its existence on the Hivenet. However, no further details were released regarding the realm’s specific nature, the parameters of the conflict, or its broader purpose.

Virtual Reality Report Findings

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  Virtual Reality Report Cover Sheet

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  Virtual Reality Report Memorandum 1

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  Virtual Reality Report Memorandum 2

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  Virtual Reality Report Findings