Cerindica

The circumstances of Cerindica's founding are unknown, though horrific legends abound. The Halfling communities in the Hive's vicinity regard the Cerindi with hatred and fear, and watchmen remain on constant alert for the sound of giant insect wings. The Cerindi worship the largest hive of giant bees ever discovered - a chasm cleaves Mount Hyron from root to peak, and its entirety is sealed with wax and detritus. Cerindica maintains its population through kidnapping and brainwashing Halflings taken in raids. The cult is vicious, militaristic, and has no patience for anything that does not benefit the Hive. Non-Halflings and even Halfling males are too large for the bees to lift comfortably - and so are at best regarded as annoyances, at worst useless cattle to be killed. Harming a bee is punishable by death in Cerindica, as is smoking - nicotine is lethal to insects. What little the cult cannot make, pillage, or harvest, it buys with gold and other plunder from a short list of trusted merchants. The Cult's sole export, Cerindi mead, is considered the best anywhere; however rumors about it taking its flavor from sentient blood have somewhat dampened sales.