First appearance: S2E9 — Bees — Rosa v Veronica · watch it on YouTube
The bee farm is the Grandmaster’s venture into “nature philanthropic efforts”: an apiary staffed by two former champions who walked out of the arena and straight into a new career. It supplies the honey for the Dread Fortress’s honey mead. It is also where a woman who forgot she once loved a box now works, and where at least one of its keepers is nursing a grudge.
Description
No one has described where the farm sits or what it looks like. What is known is that it keeps bees and makes honey. That honey goes into the Fortress’s honey mead, and the Grandmaster recommends it for allergies, since local honey is good for them.
Even the job title caused a debate. Veronica preferred “apiarist.” The Arbiter offered “beekeeper” and then explained the trade his own way:
The Arbiter: “You plant the bees in the soil and in the spring you harvest them out.”
The Grandmaster settled the matter in favour of “bee farmer.” In her view it was the better name, because “when you pick up the zombies, it’s more like farming them.”
History
Bees (S2E9)
The farm began at the end of the Deathmatch between Rosa and Veronica. Both champions were still dressed for the occasion. Veronica wore a beehive suit (“that lasts for eight hours, baby”) and Rosa wore a bee costume, which she called “our couple’s Halloween costume.” The Grandmaster praised them as “great takers of bees” and made them an offer:
The Grandmaster: “Here in the Dread Fortress, we look for personality. We look for fit. I’ve been wanting to expand my nature philanthropic efforts. Perhaps the two of you can start my bee farm.”
Rosa took it gladly: “I would love to be your bee farmer.” Veronica agreed too: “I have nothing else going on… Also, Gerald’s here.”
The Arbiter made sure that last reason did not last. His eyes glowed with a faint silver shimmer, and Veronica saw her memories of Gerald one last time: the two of them running on the sands in slow motion, the touch of hands, “all the good times with Gerald over the last, you know, hour or so.” Then the memories faded, and so did the tattoo of Gerald’s name. He left her just enough to know that he had taken something from her. His parting words were “I’ll see you around the bee farm,” and he shot off into the sky on his wings. Rosa was indignant that he had left “with no see you on the bee farm.” Veronica only said, “Mic drop!”
The Grandmaster closed the show by presenting “our champions turned bee farmers” to the Acolytes: “I give you! And bees!” In Dried Blood afterwards, Veronica made it clear she had not settled into a quiet life with the hives. “The Arbiter’s got some shit coming to him,” she said. “This is my villain origin story… See you on the bee farm.” The Grandmaster pictured “New Girl hijinks, pranks back and forth.”
Filicide (S2E10)
The farm came up again in Dried Blood after the Deathmatch between Glassy and Thornabub, in S2E10 — Filicide — Glassy v Thornabub. The Arbiter mentioned Gerald’s lost love in passing. “He had a girlfriend,” he explained. “She was in the Deathmatch a little while back. She rubbed me the wrong way.” He added, “She works on our bee farm now, but I modified her memory so she doesn’t remember him.” His only explanation was that he “didn’t care for the way that she talked to me.”
Pub Brawl (S2E16)
The farm’s honey reached the arena in the tavern fight between Broose Scorchtail and Dewdrop Grizzlebee. Broose hoisted a jug and chugged it, tapping “me little foot.” The Arbiter announced, “That’s honey straight from our bee farm… We use it in our honey mead.” The Grandmaster boasted, “We have two of the best bee farmers that are out there.”
Battle for the Crown Round 1 (S2E18)
When the Arbiter blew a portal through the wall to begin S2E18 · Battle for the Crown Round 1 · Team Grandmaster (Toddleheim & Veronica) v Team Arbiter (Ralzamon & …, one of the champions fighting for the Grandmaster was introduced simply as “Veronica, the Bee Farmer” (“you remember her from the Bee Farm”). She fought alongside Toddleheim against the Arbiter’s general, Ralzamon, and Glub Glub the Glorious.
Notable Figures
- Veronica: one of the two founding bee farmers, whose memories of Gerald the Arbiter wiped. She calls what happened to her a “villain origin story.”
- Rosa: the other founding bee farmer, who took the job gladly.
- Grandmaster Elusia Skypiercer: owner and founder of the farm, and its keenest advocate.
- The Arbiter: serves the farm’s honey at the Fortress and stole Veronica’s memories of Gerald.
- Gerald: Veronica’s forgotten love.