Alien Hives

Alien Hives
Setting:	Grimdark Future
Games:	Grimdark Future, Grimdark Future: Firefight, Grimdark Future: Warfleets, Grimdark Future: Star Quest
Species:	Alien

The Alien Hives are a faction of aliens using biotechnology, and is made up of a variety of sub-species which come from the remote frontiers of the galaxy, striving to find their niche in Sirius.

When they first arrived, they were viewed as monstrous invaders, but after a long war of extermination, breakthroughs in communication lead to a fragile peace. Now, the Hives must come to terms with the legacy of the long war and decide how they are to adapt.

Background Story

Born on the fertile but unstable world known as Ar’khenos, the Alien Hives are made up of the species that specialised to survive the constant cycle of extinction on their world. This cycle would only find its end as an entity which they came to know as the Mother developed a way to transmit her memories into the various species of the Ar’khenos.

These species lived together in harmony under her guidance for thousands of years in a period known as the Everbloom.This changed suddenly when the Mother died; the traumatic details of the event have largely been lost to time, but before she died, she gave the species of Ark’henos a final gift: seven massive creatures capable of travelling through space, each bearing one of her genetic offspring. These space-faring creatures came to be known as Hiveships, and her offspring were known as the Children.

Hivers travelled throughout the Frontier,seeking a world where one of the Children could flourish and grow to take the place of their lost Mother, but with little success. After centuries of failed efforts beyond the edge of charted space, their hopes were rekindled with the distant Radiance Cascade, which echoed the Mother’s dying cries in their ancestral memories. Many Hiveships set out for the Sirius Sector. Their arrival set off a series of conflicts with the factions there known as the First Contact Wars, as communication proved difficult and many assumed the Hives were hostile because of their alien appearance and nature. The Hivers soon were locked into a war of extermination with the various species of Sirius, which only concluded when the DAO Union discovered a means to communicate.

Peace provided its own challenges for the Alien Hives, as they soon found themselves confronted with several alien ideas and values that challenged the structure of their society. They strive to stand on equal footing with the other species of the Sirius Sector, protect their migratory routes and defend their seeded worlds. Some in the lower castes now demand new rights, undermining the harmonious working of their Hiveships, while certain Hive Lords still wage a long war against all the species of Sirius, fearing that the corrupting influence of outsiders might ultimately destroy their way of life completely.

How will your Hive adapt?

History

Origins and Evolution

The Alien Hives evolved on a world rich in biological diversity but lacking usable metals. This limitation led them to develop a civilization based on bioengineering and psychic abilities rather than conventional technology. Over time, they diversified into distinct subspecies, each specialized for a specific role within a rigid caste system, led by the apex predators of their society, the Hive Lords.

Their technological approach focused on genetic manipulation and psychic capabilities, allowing them to modify not only their own biology but also that of native creatures. They believed these adaptations brought them closer to perfect harmony with their environment. One of their most remarkable achievements was the creation of living ships, bioengineered creatures capable of interstellar travel, designed to store atmosphere and nutrients to sustain their crews during long voyages. These vessels were not mere transports but mobile homes for many Hives, some of whom never set foot on a planet.

Arrival in the Sirius Sector

After spreading across the Frontier, the Alien Hives reached the Sirius Sector, where their presence immediately sparked conflict. Their radically different appearance and behavior led many local factions to perceive them as non-sentient threats. The initial inability to communicate escalated into a war of extermination, with humans, elves, orcs, and other races attacking the Hives, viewing their migrations as destructive invasions.

The turning point came when the DAO Union managed to tune into their psychic frequencies and establish contact with a Hive Lord. This breakthrough allowed for negotiations, revealing that the Hives were not mere predators but a civilization with its own logic of survival. However, peace brought new challenges: some lower castes began questioning their place in the hierarchy, influenced by Sirius' individualistic societies, while certain Hive Lords rejected all interaction, fearing that cultural contamination would destroy their way of life.

Though some clans adjusted their migratory routes to avoid inhabited planets, others insisted on their right to gather resources, even by force. Today, the Alien Hives remain an enigma in Sirius: a civilization that sees the universe as an itinerant ecosystem, perpetually at odds with those who divide it into borders and permanent colonies.

Timeline

• 4712 BRC - The Everbloom Begins
• 952 BRC - Death of the Mother
• 0 - Radiance Cascade
• 105 ARC - The First Contact War Begins
• 114 ARC - Arrival In Sirius Sector
• 123 ARC - Communication Established with DAO Union

Society

Caste Structure

Alien Hives society operates as a perfectly synchronized superorganism, where each individual fulfills a specific role determined by their biology. At the top of this hierarchy are the Hive Lords, apex predators that combine strategic intelligence with powerful psychic abilities. These innate leaders do not govern through direct commands, but rather through instinctive impulses and shared consciousness fields that the entire Hive can perceive.

Beneath the Hive Lords operates a network of specialized castes that maintain society's functioning. The Bio-Engineers are perhaps the most vital, responsible for modifying and maintaining the organic technology that sustains their civilization. The Gatherers, in turn, are tasked with extracting and processing necessary resources during their migrations, working in perfect coordination.

The Defenders represent the warrior caste, creatures modified for combat whose strength lies in their group psychic connection. Finally, the Psychics act as communication nodes, amplifying and translating the Hive Lords' directives to ensure the entire swarm acts as a single entity.

Nomadism and Philosophy

For the Alien Hives, constant migration isn't merely a survival strategy, but a fundamental philosophical principle. They view their nomadic lifestyle as the only truly sustainable form of existence, starkly contrasting with the sedentary civilizations they encounter in Sirius.

This philosophy leads them to see themselves as cosmic gardeners, taking only what they need from each planet and allowing for natural regeneration. This perspective directly conflicts with factions like the Dwarf Guilds, known for their exhaustive mining operations, or human settlements that transform entire worlds to meet immediate needs.

Internal Conflicts

Prolonged exposure to the Sirius Sector has begun creating tensions within their traditionally cohesive society. Among the Reformists, composed mainly of psychics and gatherers who have interacted with other species, a movement has emerged questioning the rigidity of the caste system.

The Traditionalists, led by elder Hive Lords, view these ideas as an existential threat to their way of life. Meanwhile, some Isolationist Clans have chosen to sever all contact with the sector, retreating to the most remote regions of the Frontier in an attempt to preserve what they consider the purity of their civilization.

Living Technology

Unlike other species that rely on metals and circuits, the Alien Hives have developed completely organic technology. Their ships are colossal living beings capable of self-regeneration and adaptation to different space environments. These interstellar creatures not only transport their population but also produce necessary resources for the journey.

Their weaponry follows the same biological principle. From corrosive spore bombs to parasitic organisms designed to infiltrate enemy systems, each weapon is a living being modified for a specific purpose. Interface with this technology doesn't require mechanical controls, but rather occurs through psychic and chemical connections, creating perfect symbiosis between user and tool.

Relations with Sirius Sector Factions

The Alien Hives' relationship with the Sirius Sector remains complex and fraught with tension. While factions like the DAO Union see potential in mutually beneficial collaboration, other groups like the Havoc Brothers view them as either another resource to exploit or a threat to eradicate.

Their ability to adapt to this new environment will depend on whether they can maintain their collective identity while navigating a universe that values - and often fears - individuality. As one Human Defense Force analyst observed: "They're not mere invaders. They're a mirror reflecting our own civilization's contradictions."

Language

Those born in a Hive are assigned a clutch name along with any siblings they are born alongside (Drath, meaning Claw), followed by a number describing birth order (So the oldest child would be Drath Air, or Drath One). Names are usually considered gender neutral as the Hiver's language has little gender distinction since much of the reproductive process is managed through their Hiveship.

Hivers usually earn a nickname from either their clutchmates or others who they work closely with. Hivers will usually adopt one of these names as their formal forename once they enter adulthood.

Notable Hivers may take multiple names, and eventually drop their original clutchname and number. Hivers dropping their clutchname and number in favour of multiple forenames signifies independence from family and siblings. This is particularly common among higher casts of a Hive.

Example Names

[Arādheis] [Vothske] [Zā’ir] - [Nickname] [Clutch] [Number]

Leader Names

• Hūkherkh Re’akh Khnōsez
• Ikheis Trōsaith Kseth
• Nīserkh E’uthalk

Grunt Names

• Arādheis Vothske Zā’ir
• Vreidhoiv Sa’uth Khi
• Okhnareith Frithne Vaith

Note that characters are usually referred to by their first name (in italics).

Trivia

Notable Locations

• The Clearing - Heavily depopulated in the wake of the Radiance Cascade, this region of space is a place of peace and refuge for the newly arrived Hivers.
• The Charred Edge - Bordering the Eternal Dynasty, this region is marked by the worst devastation of the First Contact War.
• The Lush Expanse - Once almost inaccessible, wormholes in this region have stabilised; allowing the Alien Hives to be the first to colonise worlds here.
• The Foreign Confines - A populated border region where Hivers must rely on stealth and cunning in order to survive among the other species already established there.

Notable Hives

• Ikhanoz, The Sowers - Among the most prominent Hiveships in Sirius, Ikhanoz has spent decades turning polluted worlds into verdant paradises.
• Makhradontos, The Many Fangs - Having barely survived the ruthless violence of the First Contact War, Makhradontos Hivers have become focused more upon survival than seeding.
• Okhredoz, The Harvesters - Instead of seeding planets, Okhredoz Hivers seek out worlds and strip as many organic compounds as they can before moving on in order to strengthen themselves.
• Voithsor, The Shadowbloom - Migrating through contested regions, Hiveship Voithsor has adopted stealth as its survival strategy in the way it travels, seeds planets, and fights.
• Glathenez, The Mindvine - Feeling a deep connection to the Veil, Glathnez Hivers rely on psychic abilities more than most of their kind.
• Krosī’os, The Bitterbark - After getting infected by unknown parasites in Sirius, Krosī’os Hivers have a shortened life expectancy, but their poisons are considered particularly potent.
• Andarthēnoz, The Windswept - Moving quickly between systems and scouting planets with winged troops, and only lingering if the planet shows promise for seeding.
• Tsu’avagor, The Blind Flock - The Hive’s population is tightly controlled by the Hive Lords, who purge any defiant elements. Tsu’avagor Hivers are few in number but fanatically loyal and often quite large.

Notable Characters

• Druzhak Sarkh Vias (Edge of the Radiance) - An honourable Prime Warrior turned leader, concerned foremost with the survival of his people.
• Vradhez Sa’uth Dhrē (Edge of the Radiance) - A manipulative Snatcher Lord with potent psychic abilities. He seeks a brighter future for his people at any cost.
• Drekhor Vothske Thoir, “The Vengeful” (Alien Hives Faction Book) - A Hive Lord who famously led a furious charge against the Eternal Dynasty seeking revenge. Rumours persist that he continues his war of vengeance to this day.
• Snatcher Lord Nisuv Rezaith Zārē, “The Nectar Tongue” (Alien Hives Faction Book) - A Snatcher Lord who views cooperation as essential to the Hive’s prosperity, and an extension of the Mother’s teachings.
• Prime Troseis Loithn Khe, “The Gluttonous” (Alien Hives Faction Book) - A mutated but ingenious Prime Warrior, whose obsession with digestion led him to create a bio-weapon known as the Bileburner.
• Ksi’adoz, Ksaga Zā’oir, “The Murdering Darkness” (Alien Hives Faction Book) - Sporting a ragged cloak, this Shadow Hunter uses smoke and mists to disorient his enemies before striking.

Proverbs

• "The individual thinks, the Hive knows."
• "Why forge what can be bred?"
• "Pity the exile, deprived of the warm embrace of the Hive."
• "When one bleeds, all hurt."
• "The First Contact War was difficult, but at least we knew who to eat."

Miniatures

• OPR Alien Hives (Official)
• Tyranids (Warhammer 40K, Games Workshop)
• Deep Hive (Oshounaminis)
• Xenarids (Station Forge)
• Bugs (Puppetswar)
• Iron Hive (Maker's Cult)

For a detailed look for the different units see: Alien Hives Miniatures

Grimdark Future factions
Alien Hives - Battle Brothers - Blessed Sisters - Custodian Brothers - DAO Union - Dark Elf Raiders - Dwarf Guilds Elven Jesters - Eternal Dynasty - Gangs of New Eden - Goblin Reclaimers - Havoc Brothers - High Elf Fleets - Human Defense Force Human Inquisition - Infected Colonies - Jackals - Machine Cult - Orc Marauders - Prime Brothers - Ratmen Clans Rebel Guerrillas - Robot Legions - Saurian Starhost - Soul-Snatcher Cults - Titan Lords - Wormhole Daemons
Retired factions
Feudal Guard