Hive

The Hive are an impossibly ancient race that battled humanity at the end of their Golden Age. They most prominently reside on the Moon, where they have burrowed deep within its lifeless core, carving out a kingdom for themselves. They have been silent and buried among many dark and terrible secrets, staying there for centuries while growing stronger. They serve as a reminder of the tremendous power that brought forth the Collapse.

Biography and Morphology
The Hive are an ancient, undead species that traverse the stars in ships that act like sarcophagi, which have kept them alive by some magical means for millennia. The Hive delve deep into a planetoid, unheeding of the damage they do in the process, crafting linked caverns and gothic-inspired columns. Their underground spaces are like a dungeon that has only recently been pulled up from too long underwater.

The Hive are intended to evoke a feeling of "undead royalty," and are a vaguely humanoid species with "dry, flaking skin encrusted with ancient armor." At least some Hive appear to have supernatural abilities, including the ability to hover or float and manipulate energy and electricity.

Geography
Hive are present on the Moon and have constructed a massive underground fortress humans call the Hellmouth. They can also be found in places in Old Russia, Earth, such as at the Skywatch, where they occasionally fight with the Fallen who also reside there.

Hierarchy
Hive may be categorized into several classes.

Thrall
Thralls are a basic class of Hive, brown in color and preferring melee attacks using their long fingers tipped with sharp claws and rush up close. They wear no armor other than ancient plates that appear to be encrusted into their bodies. They have no visible eyes and, in some places, their skin has rotted away to expose their bones.

Knight
Knights are large, armored Hive that wield enormous swords or large cannons that launch meteor-like attacks.

Acolyte
Acolytes are Hive foot soldiers and do the bulk of the combat. Formerly known as "Troopers," Acolytes appear to wear helmets with optical qualities and seem to lack the long fingers and sharp claws of their Thrall brethren, enabling them to wield energy- or plasma-based weapons.

Wizard
Wizards are regal, flying enemies that use ranged attacks. This class has elaborate ancient armor, wears a long, crumbling cloak, and appears to float in midair, using magic attacks against Guardians. Most of them have some sort of energy shields

Ogre
Ogres are massive Hive bosses that use powerful melee attacks and energy blasts to devastate their enemies.

Shrieker
Shriekers are a Hive class that closely resemble a Fallen Servitor with large armor plates protruding from it. The center is more of an energy-based "eye." It fires homing Void "missiles" in large sums. The name "Hive Shrieker" appeared briefly in a Destiny commercial.

Hive Sects
Currently, five sects within the Hive army exist. These include:

Blood of Oryx
The Blood of Oryx is a sect located on the Moon, and are believed to be the direct servants of the dark lord of the Hive. The name "Oryx" had appeared an overabundant amount of times in Hive rituals, warning the Guardians that it must not be ignored. Their signature color is purple.

Spawn of Crota
The Spawn of Crota is a sect located on the Moon, and are the heralds of a dark future, led by a long-forgotten king. Crota and his legions seek to confiscate and control the Moon. Their signature color is yellow.

The Hidden Swarm
The Hidden Swarm is a sect located on the Moon, and are designated as the Hive's outermost line of defense. Their main defense points are the various temples and shrines scattered across the vast Hive fortress. Their signature color is red.

The Scarlet Brood
The Scarlet Brood is a sect that is in Destiny that was revealed in a strategy guide. Unfortunately, no specific information is given about this group.

Venom of Oryx
The Venom of Oryx is a detachment that is in Destiny that was revealed in a strategy guide. Unfortunately, no specific information is given about this group.

Hive Bosses
The Hidden Swarm: Spawn of Crota: Blood of Oryx:
 * Kranox, the Graven
 * Gotra, Eir Spawn
 * Mormu, Xol Spawn
 * Vurok, Eir Spawn
 * Phogoth, the Untamed
 * Siphon Witches
 * Swarm Princes
 * Banuk, Ur Prince
 * Dakoor, Yul Prince
 * Garok, Xol Prince
 * Merok, Eir Prince
 * Telthor, Unborn
 * Sardok, Eye of Oryx

Battle Tactics and Technology
In battle, the Hive make use of ancient metallic armor, optical enhancements, and energy- or plasma-based weapons. Some Hive also use large, glowing, energy-based or energy-enhanced swords in battle. Some Hive additionally appear to have at least some abilities or powers similar to Guardian abilities, including the use of an energy-based melee attack and summoning electricity.

Trivia

 * The Hive are inspired by the classic undead from fantasy fiction.  Design themes for Hive include "mystery, darkness, evil, strength and militarism." Hive architecture generally is designed to have an "accentuated sense of scale, menace, and a hefty touch of the exotic without being too alien."
 * At the time of the Destiny reveal, Bungie had not yet named the species. As a result, until March 2013 these characters were publicly known only by the nickname "Space Zombies."