The Topology of Insectopia
What in the world?
As the line of black scaled bodies marched on through the trunk of the tree, a minuscule ray of light pierced through its bark. The young ant dropped its load, left its marching comrades and walked towards the light. As he peeked through the Trunks bark, the light grew brighter. The ant’s jaw dropped. It never saw the outside in its entire life. The leaves were massive, twice as thick as he was high and over a hundred times as long. They were attached to gigantic wooden branches, filled with lights and life. For the first time in his life, the little ant gazed upon the fabled Western Hill City.
In the eyes of its inhabitants, the world of insectopia is the massive, incomprehenisibly large body of the Nature Spirit, the Ancient Ent: Spiritus Ligno, Ligno for short
In the eyes of The Watchers, as well as some other supernatural beings, the world consists of a massive tree, rooted in the universe. The tree is surrounded by deserts, which are surrounded by swamplands and oceans toxic to most, if not all living things.
Wide world
Insectoids live everywhere in and around this tree, if the conditions allow for it. formicoids live in its branches, roots and inside the trunk. In the forests (formed by parasitic plants) live califera and other insectoids. The necrite castle is built inside the tree's center root. It's inhabitants attacking all creatures in the root systems.
In the center of the treetop, the Royal Hexagon is situated. Other hives can be found on the branches.
Dangerous world
The world extends endlessly above and below ground, but as you go further, your surroundings will become uninhabitable. If you go far up, the air becomes too thin to breathe. Nobody even knows what happens when you go too far up or down. Nobody knows what lies in the wastes surrounding the world. The worlds mysteries gave birth to a rich history of Insectopian explorers, looking for the edges of the known universe. Those explorers never returned. The expansive urges of its citizens were suppressed by the Royal Hexagon once the Insectopians discovered the worlds curse.
Those who leave the worlds shelter will lose the worlds blessing
The High world
The High world is divided into many branches, the size of kingdoms and governed by different hives. In the center of the high world, where the 5 main branches meet, the Royal Hexagon governs the treetops. The Royal Hexagon used to unite the 6 main hives of the world, but currently, it is more than that. The Royal Hexagon governs the Treetop, and has quit the bit of power inside the Trunk as well. Inside of the Royal Hexagon, almost every major kingdom is represented. The Bull Ants, Mantis Orchids, every vespoid kingdom and even the beetlefolk is represented.
When one would climb higher along the branches of the world. The air would grow noticeably thinner. Great lung capacity and flying skills are definitely required. Not much is known about the highest treetops, but most Insectoids agree on two things. The avians live in the highest treetops, and there is at least one Bugmade structure, because it is there where the winged knights take their pilgrimage.
The Dark world
The world extends below ground at least as far as above. The Main Root continues on and on through the increasingly dense soil. Deep down, where no sane Insectopian dares venture, The Great Wurm lingers, devouring the roots of the tree and making massive corridors inside of it.
Living down in the world’s root system requires strength, as the pressure of descent makes it harder to move around freely. This is the main reason why necrites, chilopodians and formicoids live down there. Other races that can be found in the depths are roaches, spiders and muscans. Roaches because they are able to adapt their body to the extreme pressure, and spiders and muscans out of worship for their deities.
Rarely do the creatures of the dark meet the daylight, as the burden of ascending is a tenfold of the burden of descending. The reason for this burden is unknown.
The Universe
The deserts, swamplands and oceans surrounding the tree are generally called The Universe.
In the desert, sandstorms rage and constantly transform the landscape. The sand is so thin most insectoids can barely walk on it. For many of them, swimming beneath it would be the better option, for the desert is hot and home to many dangers. Yet the scions have learned to survive in the desert, and some of them live there in nomadic tribes.
It is rumored that a gate to the shadow realm, as well as many other magical structures can be found in the deserts of the universe.
The swamps are damp and constantly foggy. They are hard to navigate, and have made many an insectoid insane. Not much is known about the swamps. But in old wives tales the swamp is portrayed as a place for restless souls.
The only things known about the oceans are that they exist and that no insect can survive there. Scholars assume the oceans are endless.
