Hives, The (World Guide, Disease) (Patreon)

Hives, The

Hives, in xenoexperience parlance, is a 'disease' endemic to rowa hive environments. Caused by the sheer volume of particulate liquid rowa organic liquids in the stale hive air, the hives progress through several distinct stages prior to reaching the point where its effects begin to cascade toward an inevitable, thoroughly buggy, conclusion. The condition is easily avoidable, however, and tends to only affect those who are either careless, or actually seeking it out for the sake of rolling the dice on its often quite random results.

Anyone who might be psychically effected by the transformative powers of rowa 'bug juice' will begin to feel the effects of the hives after spending at least an hour within the confines of a rowa hive. The initial effects are slightly intoxicating, reducing inhibitions and helping one feel a bit more comfortable with the idea of spending time within such a foul, smelly environment. After another hour or so, this effect is enhanced, and an an interest in exploring deeper into the hive develops.

The hives won't progress much further unless one remains within the hive for about 2 days without interruption. This is usually more than long enough for the rowa to convince one to imbibe their bug juice for a much quicker, more direct, and more predictable transformation. Sometimes, however, the rowa are amused by the desires of their guests, and allow them to experience the full course of the hives.

After about 5 days within a hive, an urge to denude comes over one, and the first signs of physical change appear. Patches of skin become firm and leathery, like the grub-like carapace of many rowa. These patches slowly expand over the next few hours, usually leaving the head for last. This eventually results in full transformation to some random lesser rowaform servant creature.

Progression of the hives can be stopped at any point by leaving the hive, but cannot be reversed once transformation has begun. The only way out of the partially transformed state, is to return to a hive environment, and allow the condition to take its full course. While the results may be disgusting, they're almost always preferable to remaining in a chaotic sort of partially altered state.

A short term, 30-36 day duration vaccination against the hives exists, and is typically used by anyone traveling to the exotic, incomparably alien rowa homeworlds. Being that visitors are almost always required to let themselves be transformed into lesser rowaform at the conclusion of their business, it seems like a rather pointless waste. According to experts, however, enjoying the sheer alien wonder of rowa culture and hive architecture requires a clear mind, free of such inconvenience as the hives.