Numeria

The Numerians were one of three major star empires to rise following the collapse of the Arakeen. Unlike the dwarves or lokyths, the numerian species were able to maintain a presence on many worlds after their destruction at the hands of the Black Order. This was capable only by the numerian's mastery of elemental magics, and their unmatched knowledge of Deep Mountain.

Numerians are an exclusively subterranean arachnid species, carving out great networks of catacombs and caverns upon which they built their vast empires.

## Overview

Numerians are an arachnid species, possessing a semi-humanoid torso topped with an arachnid head, attached to a spider-like body. Numerians are divided into three distinct castes: worker, soldiers, and ruler.

Unlike the other two castes, workers do not possess a humanoid torso. They are full arachnid, and possess barely above animal intelligence. They are driven entirely by instinct and work for the greater good of the hive.

Soldiers vary in size from barely larger than a worker, to towering siege monstrosities. Soldiers are, as the name would suggest, the warriors of Numerian Hives. While they possess independent thought and vastly greater intelligence than workers, they are nevertheless guided by the ruling caste.

Rulers differ from the other two castes through several ways: chiefly, they exude a particular pheromone that ensures the complete obedience of all other castes. Second, rulers will exert individuality through several means, such as braiding of the hair, dying their chitin vibrant colors, or striking off on their own as adventurers. Despite the name, not all rulers are in charge. In a typical Numerian Hive, there exists a small ruling elite that resides at the top that direct all others in the hive. The pheromone glands of the offspring of the ruling elite are dormant until their sires perish. At which point they are able to take charge.

Many rulers will sire a great many offspring over their long lives, of which only a few will ever achieve a measure of power. These ruler-caste enjoy lives of excess and freedom unmatched in the hive. They care for nothing, want for nothing. Some argue that non-ruling progeny enjoy greater lives than that of their ruler counterparts.

## Society

Numerians are a vast and prolific race, spread across a great many planets, worldshards, and asteroids. Numerians are second only to demons in sheer numbers. As a result, numerian culture can vary wildly between the hives. Generally speaking, numerians possess a culture of excess not unlike that of the Arakeen. They are often obsessed with the accumulation of stuff; whether that be wealth, power, land, death, skill, and so on.

All hives function relatively the same way; the Queen-Lord is obeyed without question, as her pheromones are the strongest and most potent. It is from the Queen-Lord that all others are spawned. On occasion a hive may take in the numbers of allied, defeated, or conquered hives ─ though outsiders are never permitted to breed nor hold any positions of true authority.

Beneath the Queen-Lord are the Consorts. Consorts function as lieutenants in the event that the Queen-Lord dies, is away, or otherwise incapable of ruling. Consorts will rule until such a time that the Queen-Lord returns, recovers, or a new one is born. While the Queen-Lord wields absolute authority, it is her Consorts that carry out her directives. It is also the Consort's job to fertilize the eggs that will hatch into new warriors, workers, and rulers.

Consorts are expected to take up mates, which allow them to further their ruling-caste bloodlines, provide fresh genetic material for the hive, and supplement the production of workers and warriors. Each Consort is expected to maintain a standing army of warriors in times of conflict. In the event of a Queen-Lord's death, the oldest Consort will enter a pupation stage, from which a new Queen-Lord will emerge. She will take up the reigns of leading the hive, and a new Consort will be spawned in her stead.

Consorts are also expected to oversee all positions of power not related to the Queen-Lord. Virtually any job not taken by a worker is occupied by a Consort.

Loyalty schisms happen very rarely within numerian society, and civil wars are almost unheard of. Of course, it has been known to happen when a Queen-Lord unexpectedly dies, and the ruling Consorts attempt a power-grab. However these civil wars end very abruptly when a new Queen-Lord has hatched, as her pheromones quickly quell any rebellious or seditious thoughts.

Beneath the Consorts are the Princes; ruler-caste numerians with no job-title. They are free to live their lives as they wish with no responsibility beyond staying alive to replace any Consort that dies. It is Princes that are the most commonly found numerians outside of hives, as their desire for something more pushes them away from the hive and out into the universe at large.