Djefa Hives: Styxus
London is known for many things, and depending on who you ask that list may or may not include the labyrinthine network of sewers and subterranean rivers running beneath the sprawling metropolis. Many ambitious urban explorers have ventured within in the pursuit of the thrill of discovery (or maybe just bragging rights), but to this day perhaps the most peculiar find of London’s underground has yet to be discovered by mankind. And for good reason: there’s only one entrance, and it changes every few decades. In an alleyway behind a pub near Sloane Park, there is a door. It is an inconspicuous door by all accounts, and if you were to ask the occupants of adjacent properties where it leads they would likely tell you, in one way or another, that they do not know. An old storage room, maybe, or perhaps a cellar that’s long since been filled in. It’s locked and always has been, and we’ve all got better things to do than go snooping about in places we oughtn’t. But if, perhaps, you were given a key to this door, then you would soon discover exactly how wrong these unsuspecting denizens are.
The London Hive is connected to a number of ancient tunnelways that weave throughout the underground, most of which have been carved out of the raw earth by hand- and from the looks of it, many centuries ago. These tunnelways begin in many inconspicuous locations like old cellars, abandoned warehouses, and even a the back rooms of few residences or shops owned by Londonfolk of a particular persuasion.
They all lead to one place, however, and that place is called Styxus. Though not one of the world’s major hives, Styxus is one of its oldest and most established. An exact date of origin is not on record, though it is known to have first grown significantly in population around 200 AD. Because its origins are so heavily intertwined with the Roman conquest of Britain, it maintains a decor that is very reminiscent of the Empire’s style and culture. As it goes with most hives, the foreign influence of ancient Rome (and more recently India) mesh with their Egyptian heritage resulting in a bizarre cultural fusion all its own. The hive’s population has waxed and waned over the past two millennia, though it seems to entertain a comfortable seventy or so djefa on average. Styxus is built within a small network of subterranean caves carved into the earth by the converging of a few underground streams. While it does run closely adjacent to several tunnels belonging to the city’s vast sewer system, it does not directly intersect.
Styxus is a diamond in the rough, existing in stark contrast to the dingy and eerie darkness of London’s sewers. A vast warmed pool in the style of a traditional Roman bath serves as the center point of the hive, surrounded by stepped limestone and Doric columns carved directly from the earth. Braziers and sconces of a decidedly antique appeal heavily encircle every chamber within, granting more than enough light to see even so far below the surface. Adjacent rooms are few in number and relatively small in comparison, though comfortably so. Most sport a fire pit at the center to provide ample heat for basking, furthered by the extensive assortment of cushions and silks strewn about the floor. It is in these splinter chambers that most of the decor can be found, usually lining the walls and edges of the rooms so as to allow plenty of open space for sleep and relaxation. The duat-ib of Styxus can be found even further below the main chambers, and as it usually goes with duat-ib it is considerably less homey. It is a fairly large chamber, only slightly smaller than the hive’s central bath, and when empty looks more like an antiquated cistern than a pit of murder- with no thanks to the elaborately carved Corinthian columns supporting its ceiling. A closer inspection will reveal the shallow water within to be tinged brown and red with the old blood of djefa children consumed by their siblings, the walls lined with an equally grotesque assortment of bones. A few small openings are carved into the upper walls of the duat-ib to allow for spectators; like the rest of the hive, they are lavishly decorated and furnished for comfort. Styxus is largely devoid of any modern appliances; being deep underground allows them to maintain a cool temperature naturally, and the addition of fire pits gives them further control over desired warmth. Aside from the sparing iPod or Nintendo DS (and a small number of electrical outlets and charge cables that are regularly fought over by younger djefa), it remains mostly free of modern technology. This is not necessarily by design- it is just how most djefa choose to live within their hives.
Styxus is governed by four hive elders, the eldest two of which originally founded the hive nearly two thousand years ago.
Neb-Aurelia is an ancient djefa Matriarch hailing from the first hive to exist outside of Egypt, belonging to the center of the Roman Empire (at the time) on the Italian peninsula. She has never visited her species’ ancestral homeland, but this seems to have no impact on her ability to lead her people. Or rather, this is what she would claim. Aurelia is notably manipulative and clever, both of which served as major assets in her climb to power- given how tiny she is, it was certainly not a feat of physical strength. Her mother was among the small band of djefa who originally founded the hive, and in a rare eschewing of tradition Aurelia became a hive elder before reaching Matriarchy by toppling her mother from power when Styxus began to grow in earnest. Known to maintain the facade of the kind and nurturing mother, Aurelia is quick to prove two-faced should a djefa of her hive cross her, though always with a coo in her throat and a sweet simper on her lips. Her trigger finger is itchy where executions are concerned, perhaps unsettlingly so in recent decades, though thankfully the other elders of Styxus keep her bloodlust in check. Nebet-Ima is the last remaining founder of Styxus. Unlike Aurelia and her mother, she was born of Egypt- Thebes, specifically, around one thousand years prior to the Roman occupation of Britain. In her youth she was given to wanderer’s tendencies, but since following Roman conquest to the Isles she has settled considerably. She does not have the cruel streak of Aurelia or the vivacity of Baraat, but what she lacks in passion she makes up for with cold dedication. Nearly three thousand years on this planet, most of which have been spent on the gloomy British Isles, have dulled the pleasure she takes from...well, most things. She approaches her status as a hive elder with the vaguely begrudging attitude of someone attending to a duty that must be carried out regardless of personal interest. Her attitude regarding hive politics is vaguely aloof, especially in comparison to her fellow elders. When a task needs to be carried out, however, she will see that it is done. It may take her a while, but hers is a method that is steady, constant, is unwavering. She is a cold and unstoppable juggernaut and the hive knows it; if Ima needs something done, you had best get out of the way.
Baraat is the newest addition to Styxus’ council of elders, having been inducted only four decades ago. She hails from the major hive near New Delhi (though New Delhi was not yet in existence when she was born there), having come to London in the mid-1870s during the British occupation of India. Though it was not her intention to stay at the time, she soon sound found herself entangled in a love affair with a local djefa named Sekh, and was thus allowed herself to be taken into Styxus’ fold. Though Baraat is nearly as old as Ima, she is as close to her opposite as possible. She is loud and vivacious, ever-driven to enjoy her life to its fullest despite having been in existence for three millennia. She is known for her love of worldly pleasures and a generosity that is surprisingly uncharacteristic for a djefa. Many djefa of Styxus regardless of age make a point of bringing her a gift (or several) when returning for hotep, and in return Baraat often grants them favors of some kind or another- or a clutch, if they’re exceptionally lucky. It would seem that she is still elated with her recent promotion to hive elder, too, as she tends to run wild with the power given to her. This is something of a point of contention between herself and Ima; Baraat is wont to bend or even outright break djefa law and tradition in order to further her own purposes, the most outstanding example of this being her frequent disregard for the birthing roster by knocking up any matriarch that brings her a particularly stunning tribute. It only happens once every five years (give or take), but this has nonetheless stirred Ima and Aurelia's ire. Furthermore, her penchant for ignoring issues that do not directly benefit her have caused tension among the other elders as well, though her favor with the hive’s population has kept her in power...for now.
Sekh is the youngest of Styxus’ elder council; she is barely one thousand years old, and has only been a Matriarch for around two hundred of those. She was born and raised in Styxus, leading the comfortable life that comes with being the daughter of an existing elder. Her promotion came immediately following the death of her mother, who had been one of the hive’s founders as well as elder from its creation until the time of her death in the late 1700s. From a very young age, Sekh was very vocally involved in hive politics. She is and always has been a driven leader, approaching politics from what many describe as a more practical middle ground; she favors a fusion of both ancient djefa tradition and evolving with the times. While most djefa tend to have some degree of a bad temper, Sekh is known for her level-headedness even in the most dire of circumstances. In fact, she is so committed to her work as an elder that she has not even allowed herself the time to breed. Her lack of a brood has stirred some wariness among the hive’s population, though many younger djefa don’t find it particularly upsetting one way or the other.
Sekh’s romantic involvement with Baraat is suspected to be a large part of the latter’s rise to power, and this combined with her young age has kindled feelings of ill will from Ima and Aurelia. They usually do not outwardly show their dislike for her, but the way in which the three interact is tense enough to make the dissonance public knowledge (at least to anyone who pays the politics of Styxus any mind). For the most part Sekh does not let the disapproval of her fellow elders get in the way of her work, though she is beginning to bend a bit under their pressure on her to bear at least one clutch. Though she does want to consummate her relationship with Baraat, she knows that having to take fifteen years to raise her children will give Ima and Aurelia a significant amount of control over the hive- more than she would be comfortable with. For now, she holds off.