Council of Queens

The Council of Queens is composed of eleven Queens, one from every major settlement. This council determines the future of Telea, manages disputes between Hives, navigates trade deals, and deliberates on many more issues. The greatest issue of concern is currently the Spider Alliance and the threat of war with them.

History

The Council originally only included the True Bee Queens of: Megachilidae, The Umbral Hive, Honeywell, Melliferan, Svirepyy Roy and Titan's Hand. These six Hives formed after they had all suffered from an extended period of revolution to calm the masses and restore stability under a better form of governing. After the formation of the Council, each of these cities began to flourish to unprecedented levels.
During the Medved Scourge, Megachilidae Hive was decimated and its people were no longer able to participate in the Council. During the Teleans' campaign against the Medved The Timberland and New Formica requested to join the council and offered to join their war effort in return for a seat. These Hives did not have True Queens as their residents live solitary lives rather than communal ones, and instead elected Workers as ambassadors for their respective Hives. However, these ambassadors were still given the title of "Queen". Thanks to the Carpenters and the Miners (as they are colloquially known) the Medved were defeated and the council grew to encompass seven Hives.
Soon after the Medved defeat, Bumblebuzz requested a seat on the council as they were the only major settlement in Apidae who were not included in the council. Many of the Queens were against Bumblebuzz's inclusion due to their refusal to assist the other Hives during the Medved Scourge. However, others understood that their inclusion would only serve to empower everyone, and tried to convince the others that Bumblebuzz could be a boon to all Hives. It took almost a year of deliberation but eventually they became the eighth member of the council.
When the Teleans began exploring the rest of the World, they discovered the neighbouring continent: Vespa. They met with the Wasps and realised that their culture bore remarkable similarities to their own. The Wasps treated the Bees with minor hostility and a general air of distrust. Due to this, tensions remained high between the two continents until the council decided to incorporate the two major Hives (Vespula and Crabro) into the council. The Queens of these Hives accepted the offer, making the council ten members strong.
The most recent Hive to join the council has been Pilgrim's Rest. This Hive was originally constructed as a city that was tailor-made for Telea's intergalactic neighbours, but ever since The Split it has predominantly become a refuge for the spacefaring Yilvykians whose home was taken from them. Soon after The Split, Pilgrim's Rest became the eleventh member of the council due to the massive spike in population.

Queens

The following are the current members of the Council of Queens based on which Hive they represent:

• The Timberland Queen - Queen Thicket
• The Umbral Queen - Queen Onyx
• Queen of Bumblebuzz - Queen Fluff
• Honeywell's Queen - Catherine the Great Queen
• The Melliferan Queen - Queen Cowen
• Queen of Svirepyy Roy - Queen Tsarina
• The New Formican Queen - Queen Solen
• Queen Titan - Queen Ella
• Queen Vespula - The Foundress
• Queen Crabro - Queen Mandrina II
• The Pilgrim's Queen - Queen Maximilian

The following refers to the internal political structure of True Bee Queen Hives. Every five years a Queen is elected from a pool of young, fertile Worker Bees. For the next five years they mate with fertile Drones to sustain and grow the population of their Hive. It is important to know that when discussing this aspect of Telean culture and their lifecycle that they do not receive any pleasure from intercourse and rearing children is not seen as a momentous event. A Queen's brood takes her name as their surname; e.g. all Teleans who were birthed by Queen Cowen would take Cowen as their last name (Teleans who are not from True Bee Hives do not have surnames). After these five years they transition into a period of education where they are taught how to lead the members of their Hive to the best of their ability. This period of learning is completed after five years, wherein they graduate and join their Hive's inner circle of Queens.
Queens in the inner circle generally have a responsibility to the Bees that they birthed, though they deliberate on matters relating to all members of the Hive as well. When they first join the inner circle they are given the title of Sixth Queen, and every five years they take over the position of their predecessor (e.g. Sixth Queen to Fifth Queen to Fourth Queen etc.), until they reach the position of First Queen. The First Queens are the ones that are the members of the Council of Queens. Alternatively, the Queens of The Timberland, New Formica, and Pilgrim's Rest are democratically elected as ambassadors who serve a five year term, and the processes taken by the Wasp Queens are unknown.
When referring to a Queen, it is customary to either call them by their official title or using Queen as an honorific that is then proceeded by their name. For example the Queen of Titan's Hand would commonly be referred to as either Queen Titan or Queen Ella. To speak a Queen's name without their honorific is a great disrespect in most kingdoms unless given a personal sanction from the Queen themselves. This rule does not apply to Queens from The Timberland, New Formica or Pilgrim's Rest; all of whom do not mind being called by their regular names. Additionally, the Vespulan Queen cannot be called by her name as nobody knows it.

Type

Alliance, Cultural

Controlled Territories

• Bumblebuzz
• Crabro
• Honeywell
• Melliferan
• New Formica
• Pilgrim's Rest
• Svirepyy Roy
• Telea
• The Timberland
• The Umbral Hive
• Titan's Hand
• Vespula

Notable Members

• Cowen
• Maximilian
• Tsarina

Related Species

• Teleans