Muzancab Hive

Basic Information

Anatomy

The actual composition of a muzancab hive consists of a million or so insects packed in tightly against each other, protected by an outer shell of fetid mucus that makes the "skin" of the hive. The exact shape the hive takes within this shell is variable, however bipedal, heavy-set forms are the most common. 
The hive consists of hundreds of different species of insects, each designed and operating with a specific specialized task ranging from producing muscus, digestion, muscular articulation, and more. The species work in concert with each other, directed and controlled by the gestalt psychic mind of the hive.

Biological Traits

The consciousness of a Muzancab Hive exists in the form of a psychic link between the millions of symbiotic species that make up the hive. This powerful psychic connection can be flexed and extended, with many hives demonstrating an ability to link this consciousness with other hives, and even non-gestalt species to communicate or even assault the mental facilities.

Genetics and Reproduction

The individual species within the hive all reproduce through various means, but new hives are only formed in rare circumstances when the age of the hive creates a large enough dissonance in the hive's psychic mind that it threatens the harmony of the gestalt consciousness. 
To protect the hive, a large section of the hive with splinter away and be discarded, leaving behind a squirming mass of polyp that has been unceremoniously ripped from the comfort of the hive. This new polyp is unlikely to survive, but in the event that the polyp is able to remain stable it can reconnect into a new consciousness - thus creating a new "hive" 
This process, called "budding" is reported to be very traumatic for the new hive.

Ecology and Habitats

Muzancab Hives tend to prefer environments with high humidity and plenty of organic matter for the hive to subsist on. Because of this, they are often found in wetlands, swamps, and rainforests - however the hive's ability to adapt means they can found in surprisingly locations.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

While most hives rely on front-facing optically aligned organisms to achieve traditional vision, the insectoid species that consist of the hive all display varying levels of sensory perception - permitting the hive to effectively "see" around itself in a full radius. 
Other hives may deploy even more specialized insectoids to achieve further perception. Flying "scout" insectoids can relay information back to the hive while tremor-sensing insectoids in the hive's base can sense vibrations in the ground.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

The individual hive rarely gives itself a proper name - instead distinguishing the hive as "us" and "we" and anything not a part of the hives as "them". The individual nature of the hives also means that direct interaction between two separate hives is rare enough to not demand complicated naming conventions - leaving most Muzancab to simply introduce themselves as "Hive" to any non-muzancab species they may encounter. 
When pressed for a name beyond "Hive", the individual "personality" expressed by the culture of the hivemind itself plays the biggest role in the naming convention, with "Compound", "The Great Hum", and "Green" all given as names by different Muzancab over the years.

Average Technological Level

Individual hives take to technology at different levels, with the most common Muzancab Hives eschewing all but the most basic technology in favour of the raw utility of scavage. Muzancab have been known to learn crafts and trades in rare circumstances, however as a general rule to species values solitude and freedom far too much to engage with non-hive species for any extended period of time.

Common Dress Code

Muzancab rarely, if ever wear clothing when in their natural environment. In situations where they need to interact with cultured species or venture into a settlement, the hive will typically produce, steal, or purchase clothing to drape over their frame in an attempt to hide their nature (more so out of a desire for privacy and a version to the attention their species brings over any sense of modesty).

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Muzancab are solitary and territorial, are rarely have any need or desire to interact socially with other species. Still, some hives are anomalies and circumstance can provoke a hive to turn to other species to support and supplement them in whatever their goal may be at a time. 
Muzancab are not social creatures (at least outside of their hive) and any sense of friendship or compassion from a hive is likely projection from the receiving species. In truth most hives see little difference between an alvain, a human, or the wild boar they consumed the morning prior. In each of those cases, the other species is simply "not the hive" and in many ways they are seen as an inferior form of life.

Origin/Ancestry

Insectoid Gestalt Conciousness

Lifespan

Immortal

Average Height

various greatly

Average Weight

various greatly

Average Length

various greatly