The Hive

Contains spoilers for Their Moon, third book of the Shadows Saga.

Nestled high up in the pine trees hung a light brown cone-shaped object. One small hole could be seen from the center, and a buzzing sound emitted from it before two giant wasps crawled out through the hole. Oliver narrowed his eyes. He had seen these nests in research books before, but he never thought to see one in person. While immune to any insect venom, Oliver had an advantage to being around them, even if their stingers were like red-hot thumbtacks driven into flesh.
Oliver had to get closer. A discovery like this in the US was amazing! Leaning his staff against a tree, the buzzing stopped. He took a breath and looked up at the tree. Now, how exactly was he going to climb up to it?

— Their Moon, book 3 of the Shadows Saga snippet

The hive is an ancient relic created by Vulyeva, Fate of Shadows, as depicted in the Tomb of Shadows. A continuous buzz emits from the hive as a nest of 1,500 murder hornet wasps live inside the hive with their queen. The hive is known to teleport around the forest once per day, hooking itself to a new tree branch until the "Chosen One" comes across it. The hive also requires attunement via the "Chosen One." It takes a week to care for the queen murder hornet and earn her trust. Until attuned, the hive will remain precisely where it was found to make it easier on the Chosen One. The attunement is complete upon the queen murder hornet stinging the Chosen One, and the sting does not hurt. This also concludes that the holder is immune to the murder hornets' poison.

by Yasunori Koide (Wikimedia)

The hive can change size depending on its use. When first found, it is in its active state, but it can revert to a miniaturized form when not in use, letting it lie dormant. To enlarge the hive, it takes an action and requires the holder to be an Entomancer. The hive is considered active and can be used as a ranged weapon when enlarged. The hornets can be released once per turn as a bonus action, unless otherwise stated, like being prone.
Once the hornets are released, they form a large cloud for 30 feet and can travel up to 60 feet away from the holder. The hive is stuck in its active state until the hornets return and the holder uses a bonus action to revert the hive into its dormant state. If the target ends, starts, or enters the cloud of hornets on their turn, they take 8d6+4 poison damage. The poison lasts for three rounds if the target can escape the cloud, resulting in 2d6+4 poison damage.
The hive is known to be weak to cold and fire damage, taking double the damage when hit with either type. If the hive reaches 0 hit points or all the hornets, including the queen, have died, the hive blackens and turns to ash.

History

by NUMBER7isBEST (Wikimedia)

The hive is an ancient relic connected to murder hornets and was designed 2,000 years ago by Vulyeva to give to the Chosen One. This would imbed the Chosen One with godlike powers when the world has lost all hope, as despicted in the stained glass murals located in the Tomb of Shadows. Each mural depicted one of seven outcomes, each similar to the Seven Trials of the Fates. On the second stained glass mural is a depiction of a dark haired maie with eyes like fire and wolf ears and tail holding the hive in his hands with a foresty background.

Table of Contents

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by maxgrafix (Pixabay)

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Titles/Nicknames

The Nest

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Quick Facts

Type:

Wondrous Item

Current Location:

Forest of Jarisi

Current Holder:

Oliver McKinney (in Their Moon, book 3 of the Shadows Saga)

Attunement:

Yes, to the Chosen One

Rarity:

Legendary

Dimensions:

Height: 1'3" (38.1 cm)
Width: 11" (27.94 cm)

Materials:

Paper‑like material made from chewed wood fibers mixed with saliva (technically known as “wasp spit”)

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Properties

Dormant State

• The holder gains +1 Dexterity when carrying the hive.
• For one minute, a enemy target has disadvantage on attacks and damage rolls.

Awakened State

• The hive grants a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls.
• A target stung by murder hornets takes an additional 1d6 necrotic damage.

Exalted State

• The bonus to attack and damage rolls increase to +4. Additionally, the necrotic damage dealt increases to 2d6 .
• The holder is granted advantage on attack and damage rolls, along with ability checks once per day.
• The hive buzzes with excitement if the holder has advantage against a target. Once per turn, if the target is attacked by murder hornets, the target takes an additional 4d6 necrotic damage.