The Queen K'tharr

The Queen K'tharr is not merely an insect, but the singular, driving intelligence behind the Chitinous Swarm. I use the term 'Queen' advisedly; she is less a monarch and more a living, breathing nexus of bio-organic industry. She resides within The Queen's Nest, the deepest, most fortified chamber of the Chitinous Hive, and serves as the swarm's central nervous system. This location may run along the Umbral Divide, explaining the Swarm's corruption. Unlike the Silent Monks of Durin's Peak, she has no connection to Auric Resonance. Her influence may even hasten The Great Unmaking.

Physically, she is a grotesque parody of life, a bloated, immobile mass of chitin, pulsing with the ceaseless creation of new drones. Her primary function is reproduction; her brood-mothers constantly attending to her needs, harvesting the raw materials she requires to spawn the next generation of the swarm. The Chitin Weave extends from her, a conduit for control. Genetically, she is the sole source of the swarm's genetic material, constantly evolving and adapting to new threats and opportunities. The Gnomish Tinkers may be able to find a method for controlling this creation, through science. The Chapter of Decay seems to contain information regarding the Queen's biology.

It's suspected that The Queen K'tharr has existed for millennia, predating even the dwarves, and that it emerged from the depths of the earth following The Great Sundering. It's also suspected that she has a connection to a new type of being, the Resonance Drone, which are able to manipulate sound in the Nest. Some believe it was created by the Forgotten Smith, as a monstrous experiment gone awry. The Truthseekers should be consulted, for information regarding the being. She may also have a connection with a new, undiscovered location, the Abyss of Decay. The Sunstone of Aethelgard has demonstrated the capacity to damage the Chitinous Hive, therefore, is could potentially be utilized against her. The Cobalt Corsairs will find it impossible to reach her, deep beneath the surface, and even the Skyclaw Griffons will find it hard to track the Swarm. Perhaps Valia, the Empty can find a way to communicate with her.