Lord Pious Skor

Lord Pious Skor was a high-ranking noble of Hive. Introduced, and narrating, in the Prologue and following Interludes, Skor was a noble chosen by Hive Queen Ves Per to be bethrothed to a Prince of Neo in an interplanetary political marriage to create a permanent bond between the planets. Prideful and pragmatic, Skor was dutifully loyal to his planet and its faith, and as a steadfast supporter of his Queen, sought to inoculate the people of Izanaーand then Neoーinto the cult. But he gets more when he bargained for when he becomes infatuated with his bride-to-be's sister.

Early Life
Before he was Pious Skor, he was simply Skor, and he was poor. His family had lived through the Grim Ages, where there had been little of anything, and though Ves Per had newly conquered Hive and thus begun its revival, the benefits had yet to reach his family. He was the oldest of eight children, and resented his family for having any more than he, for he was barely able to eat when he had been an only child.

Ves Per
He is unwaveringly devoted to his Queen, who respects him in turn. Once she may have pitied him, but his efforts in life have spared him such a shameful existence as being pitied by her. Skor does not take disrespect towards her lightly, nor is he easily impressed by anybody other than her. His feelings towards her are somewhere between devout worshipper and eager son, desperate for maternal attention and affection.

Pious Lep
Lep is one of the Hive sent alongside him on his travel to Neo. They are on decent terms, as is most people of Hive, though he at times doubts if their faith is as true as his.