Apocrypha

Apocrypha are wasp-like hive demons, viewed as heretical and disgusting by other demons, due to their percieved cosmic nature. Apocrypha work in profane hives, large, co-ordinated, self-sustaining collections of hundreds of different apocrypha. Apocryphal hives are formed from an apodominus, the queen of any given hive; often, these hives are formed inside an Infernal Behemoth, in the remote corners of their vast insides that are mostly uninhabited. This allows the hive to benefit from the blessings that the behemoth gives to their kin.

Not only do apocrypha often directly antagonise other demons, but their very way of being is opposed to the divine chaos which all demons seek to emulate; they work together, under a form of hierarchy that extends beyond the Mantis Lords, but they still leech off of the blessings of the Infernal Behemoths in which their hives form. Because of this, and since most demons will never actually see anything from the cosmos itself, their hatred for order is often let out onto the apocrypha, which are seen as the closest thing.

Despite the general view of the apocrypha, they are still demons, and they are still chaotic. The order which is perceived from the outside only comes from the absolute tyranny of the apodomini, and the innate fear of them which is deliberately bred into every newborn of the hive, to a degree which not even the Mantis Lords can contest. Given the chance to let loose, an apocrypha will be just as wild as any other demon, but to do so, they would have to know, without a doubt, that their apodominus was dead.

Apocaper

An apocaper's role in the hive is as a general worker, doing basic errands like carrying things around, gathering food from non-combative sources, and other things like that. At least, that's what they do in view of most of the hive. When out of view of the others, they are always scheming about ways to subtly undermine or bring a bit of chaos back into the hives, as, unlike most apocrypha, their low-down position in the hierarchy gives them a lot of freedom away from the prying eyes of the apodominus. They will often play down their intellect in front of others, making crude jokes and bumbling around; in reality, they can have entire messaging networks across their hives, striking precision blows against it and crumbling them down from the inside. The way of the smart apocaper is that of organised chaos; lighting the fuse in a sulphur mine; knocking off the crown with a falling boulder; burning down the castle with a meteor swarm. The apocapers are the downfall of many a hive, the topplers of kings.