C'thur, Queen of Masques

C'thur, Queen of Masques

File:E361148d6f80614b6b77566d04033622.jpg

The High Queen is kept alive with skrellian technology, while ever more C'thur are born

Her brood is identified by scent and their exoskeleton color amongst C'thur.

Unbound of any type: (RGB 0, 35, 115)

(RGB 0, 35, 115)

Bound Warriors: (RGB 10,70, 100)

Bound Workers: (RGB 0, 40, 90)

High Queen of the C'thur, she is one of the oldest beings known to exist amongst the Vaurca and indeed the rest of the Orion Spur. C'thur has borne the C'thur hive since its inception, taking careful first steps with her brood in the then war-torn Sedantis during the closing of the Agricultural Revolution. The C'thur hive began as a birth vassal of the Zo'ra hive, being produced from the absorption of T'yat, another hive of conquest within the Zo'ra hive. With firm biological roots in both hives, history would think that the C'thur would be another nameless lesser hive, forgotten by all with the slow passage of time. This would have likely been the case if not for clever maneuvering by the high queen that saw the founding of the Court of Queens. However, the biggest contributor to their prominence would be the original Lii'dra and Zo'ra conflict, nearly 36000 years ago. Through their efforts in that conflict, the C'thur brought to arms hundreds of lesser hives that would otherwise be consumed by the Lii'dra assault. Their contribution as a unifying force to the Zo'ra was apparent, who rewarded the hive with independence contingent upon their continued diplomatic forays. C'thur succeeded in this and more, creating the modern power structure of hives that is known today through various mergers and vassaldoms. However, it is how they did so which garnered the name "Queen of Masques" amongst other hives for C’thur. Even before the Lii’dra-Zo’ra conflict, the C’thur hive was known for their ways of weaseling into the diplomatic web between hives. Almost comparable to crime syndicates, they’d offer their unique service to one, or both, of two conflicting hives - that service being their highly capable medical facilities. The C’thur would offer to tend to the hive’s wounded, or maintain their bound, provided the hive can pay for such a service afterwards. Unbeknownst to them, the C’thur would be demanding a lot - where other hives would help to maintain long term investments, the C’thur help solely for, in the simplest form, cash. Materials, goods, services - while not entirely uncommon, to demand only such was often unexpected - and expensive. Initially, the C’thur did not charge large amounts, slowly building their resources and numbers. Later on when they had both, it was not uncommon to suspect them of foul play - provoking hives to engage one another where a more peaceful resolution could have handled the conflict. Often they would target vassal hives whose purpose was mostly fulfilled by countless others of it’s kind - the type of hive no one would be in a dire rush to aid. Backed into a corner, they would accept the aid of the benevolent C’thur - not knowing the same aid was likely being provided to the other side. Effectively, the C’thur would weave their own wars, deciding the outcomes based on what got them the most, indebting hives through their aid. Whenever the C’thur themselves needed help, they’d have a horde of minor hives ready to back them up - just so they could work off their payment. Those who resisted often met the same horde.

C'thur herself was saved by skrellian science, being the victim of a repelled Lii'dra attack in transit to the Orion Spur. She lives on life support provided by Jargon scientists but it's considered common knowledge amongst the hive that she does not have much longer to live. The irony is not lost on many of C’thur’s brood. Many lament on how their old methods are being savagely used against them, almost forced to serve the Federation lest they risk C’thur’s plug being pulled. Regardless, from virtual reality, she reigns still, with her virtual construct depicting Na'tyut, the greatest city of her hive upon old Sedantis. Cited as an exact duplication, its multi-hued buildings stretch from floor to cavernous ceiling, bismuth masonry and architecture creating wondrous, alien formations in the caverns. Entire sections are devoted to temples of thought, smooth and pure rock decorated with an ever shifting mural of history and philosophy, even ranging to abstract concepts and ideas. Indeed, each one is unique, some containing crystal sculptures, raw formations of rock and stone, some with art produced by the highest creative minds. Vaurca not so engrossed in leisure activity often take on the roles of mentors for newly born Vaurca. Particularly successful Ka and Za achieve a sagely reverence that has newly born Vaurca scramble for the chance to receive their teachings, as with C’thur, knowledge is often the gateway to success.

Unlike all other hives, the C'thur have slowly been reducing their bound populations, in no small part to the influence of Jargon, but even with this attempt, the bound still comprise over half of the hives population. Ka and Za of C'thur's direct lineage are rare, as she has relegated most breeding duties to other Ta. Of the few that are spawned, they are often pressured into supervisory roles, with the other broods considering them naturally born to lead. Physical residences upon Diulszi are often built with Jargon supplied materials, in exchange, more and more of the hives workers have been drafted for employment throughout skrell space. In all matters of her brood, however, there is one overarching creed, "Show your best face to everyone you meet." Some C'thur of this brood have taken this literally, using skrellian expression masks to convey emotions.