Swarm Host

Swarm Hosts are creatures chosen by The Swarm to host members of the Swarm. It is a symbiotic relationship; the Swarm member has a place to rest and fulfill its purpose as a god of companionship and the host is provided with regeneration and immortality.

History

Formation

The first Swarm Host was The Forgotten Prophet, a creature whose true name has been forgotten. The Prophet’s species lack mouths and are born to reproduce and then die. The Prophet saw a vision of their own slow death of starvation and so set out to find a way to live forever. They eventually contacted The Swarm, who granted them immortality in exchange for a place among the Swarm. When the Prophet’s species died out while they didn’t age, they became lonely and The Swarm went searching for more Hosts to keep the Prophet company.

Temporary Separation

Mayvally, The Lepidopterist, is a Swarm Host dedicated to studying the Swarm and its fellow Hosts. Mayvally is also very afraid of living forever, so when it discovered that immortality is an effect of Hosting the Swarm, it decided to separate itself from the Swarm by any means possible. It eventually discovered a way to lock The Swarm away, separating them from not just Mayvally, but every Swarm Host. When Valrik, The Fool, discovered Mayvally’s plan they tried to stop Mayvally, but their conversation devolved into a physical fight. The Swarm, afraid of being imprisoned, fled from both Mayvally and Valrik, allowing the two to kill each other. Since then, The Swarm began leaving Hosts behind out of fear of being rejected again. Hosts separated from their Swarm members began to die until only the oldest and most trusted Hosts remained.

Return

The Swarm refrained from finding new hosts for a very long time until an Olagus named Ashaby, The Traveler, met the Forgotten Prophet and managed to convince both the Prophet and The Swarm to return from their self imposed exile and begin finding new hosts again.

Leader

The closest thing Swarm Hosts have to a leader is Ashaby, The Traveler. Ashaby is The Swarm’s main Host, where Swarm members without a Host or separate from their Host go. Ashaby also helps The Swarm find new Hosts on their travels. Before Ashaby, The Forgotten Prophet took this role.

Initiation

Swarm Hosts can be chosen by the Swarm at any time. The process starts when an unclaimed Swarm member picks a Host and finds its way into their body, slowly tethering itself to its Host’s body and soul. The Swarm member begins taking on physical traits of its Host as well. At this stage, the Host is both unaware of the Swarm member and does not have any of the benefits of being a Swarm Host. The Host can officially become a Swarm Host through their Swarm member emerging from their body, now with a personalized appearance and a full unbreakable connection to the Host. This most often happens when the Host is having a particularly emotionally impactful moment. The Swarm member can emerge either through an injury (usually a fatal one) or by creating its own opening. After revealing itself to its Host, the Swarm member goes back inside and lives inside its Host unless the Host calls it out.

Meeting Places

The Forgotten Fields

The Forgotten Fields are a place disconnected from other worlds and universes. It was originally created by The Swarm for the Forgotten Prophet but became home to a lot of Swarm Hosts over the years. Only creatures touched by The Swarm, active Hosts or not, can access the Forgotten Fields. After The Swarm retreated from most Hosts, the Fields were left in ruin; the Forgotten Prophet being the only remaining resident.

Ardach

Since The Swarm's return, many Hosts have gathered in the city of Ardach on Earth, led by Hazelcreek.

Activities

Swarm Hosts don't always know of each other's existence but when they do, they're known to keep tabs on one another, provide help, and occasionally gather together to discuss news. As a group, Swarm Hosts don’t have a universal goal. They simply exist.

Roles

Every member of the Swarm has a specific role; whether this role does not always need to benefit the whole but that is the intended purpose of them. Each role is unique and some Swarm Hosts refuse to call their fellow Hosts by their true names, instead choosing to adress them by their role name. Swarm Hosts are also known to introduce their role alongside their name and most take pride in their role. A Host's role is chosen by the Swarm by observing what a Host is most skilled at and enjoys.

Abilities/features

Regeneration (and immortality by extention)

While the Swarm member resides inside a fully realized Host, it constantly works to keep that Host in perfect condition, including healing injuries and preventing aging. If a Swarm member is separated from its Host, it stops being able to do this.

Communication

Swarm Hosts can communicate with other Swarm Hosts regardless of language through their shared connection to the Swarm. They can also communicate with the Swarm itself. A Host can always speak to their individual Swarm member, but another Host’s Swarm member might be more hesitant to speak.

Appearance

Largely, a Swarm Host’s appearance does not change after fully becoming a Host. The only change is their pupils changing from their natural shape into spirals.

Ghosts

Because of the way a Swarm Host is tied to the Swarm, even if a Host is physically separated from their Swarm member and is killed, their soul will persist separate from their body. These disembodied souls are unable to be seen, even by other Swarm Hosts, with the exception of other Swarm ghosts, Ashaby (The Traveler) and Bog (The Keeper). Ashaby, as the main Host, has a connection to every Swarm member and Host by extension. Bog’s role as the Keeper requires her to have a connection to every Swarm member permanently separated from their Host due to the Host’s body dying. Her and Ashaby are the only two Swarm Hosts aware of the ghosts and most of them stay with Bog.

Trivia

• Before I decided to call them "Swarm Hosts", their placeholder name was "The Lost".