Lore in Hollow Knight is an overview of the game's plot. The story of Hollow Knight is like a puzzle where it can be pieced through different aspects of the game such as cutscenes, dialogues, lore tablets and entries that are placed in the Hunter's Journal for each enemy and boss that The Knight encounters. Players will have a better understanding of the story once they have as much as possible encountered and unlocked events in the game. Below is a brief overview of the history of Hollow Knight.
Hollow Knight Lore
Before Hallownest existed, the land of the insects was split into tribes of intelligent beings - the moths who worshipped The Radiance, plant-like beings in Greenpath who worshipped Unn, the mantises, the mushrooms, and the spiders. As time passed, a Wyrm traveled to the land of Kingdom's Edge and later on died and evolved into the Pale King who decided to build the kingdom of Hallownest. The Pale King ruled the kingdom by uplifting unintelligent bugs, convincing and persuading them to join him - this leads the tribes such as the Moths to abandon The Radiance, and eventually brought treaties with the rest of the tribe.
At some point, the kingdom of Hallownest rose to its success, but later on, was invaded by The Radiance who was filled with revenge. By doing so, The Radiance attacked and invaded the dreams of all the bugs who had weak minds that were filled with hope and desires resulting in their transformation into its feral forms.
Eventually, the Pale King along with his queen wanted to put a stop towards The Radiance madness by creating vessels made from their own flesh and void within its hearts. This gave the Pale King an advantage by choosing one of the vessels to become the Hollow Knight - this vessel was then used as an instrument to seal The Radiance within it and was locked inside a vault called the Black Egg.
However, the Pale King sensed it needed enough protection, so the King appointed three bugs as the Dreamers from stopping anyone from making its way towards the Black Egg, Monomon who was a mentor within the kingdom of Hallownest, Lurien who was the guardian of the City of Tears, and Herra Queen of Deepnest. Herra Queen then made a bargain with the King, where he had to give up their child, Hornet, in exchange for protecting the Black Egg. Even with enough protection and being The Radiance sealed, its shell eventually cracked and The Radiance began to leak out and corrupted the minds and bodies of the inhabitants of Hallownest, resulting with the Kingdom going into stasis.
The story begins with our protagonist, The Knight arriving in Dirtmouth, and begins its journey through Hallownest by uncovering the forgotten kingdom's darkest secrets. Will you be able to rebuild and save the once prosperous kingdom? Or will it fall under The Radiance's corruption and completely filling the depths of Hallownest with the infected?
The Knight |
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The Knight in Hollow Knight is the main protagonist that players will take control of.
The Knight
The Knight was born a Vessel to the higher beings The Pale King and The White Lady - it is shown in the Birthplace Cutscene that the Knight fell back into the Abyss right after it was sealed.
Hornet mentions in the City of Tears that the Knight is born from two voids whereas one being the Void that the Knight was within them, and the other is the area outside of Hallownest. The time that the Knight has spent in the area has caused the Knight to lose its memories.
Hornet also states that once the Knight obtains a Void Heart and gains back its memories, they will have the power to unify the Void under their own will.
At the start of the game, the Knight starts off with an Old Nail and the ability to heal themselves with the use of Soul and as you dive deep in to the game, the Knight will be given access to new spells, powers, abilities, items, and upgrades that can be used to aid The Knight throughout its bizarre journey.
The Knight Health and Soul
Health Mask
The Health of the Knight is represented as masks that are shown on the upper-left corner of the screen. At the start of the game, The Knight starts off with 5 masks and can be obtained by finding Mask Shards. Players can use 4 Mask Shards in order to craft 1 new Health Mask - The Knight can hold up to a maximum number of 9 Health Masks. The Knight loses its health by taking damage from enemies or environmental hazards. Health can be regained by either resting at a Bench or by using Focus.
Lifeblood Mask
Lifeblood Masks are temporary masks that cannot be healed or replenished when using Focus - these are granted by Lifeseeds and specific Charms. Lifeblood Masks will disappear once you rest at a bench, while Lifeblood Masks granted by Charms will tend to regenerate.
SOUL
SOUL is characterized as a circular mask that is found to the left, right next to the Health Masks. SOUL is used by The Knight to cast Spells such as Focus. Damaging enemies using the Nail is the primary source of regaining SOUL.
The Knight Equipment and Abilities
Nail
The Nail is The Knight's main weapon where it is swung offensively in any direction towards spikes, enemies or certain environmental objects - it is also The Knight's main tool used for traversing the depths of Hallownest. As you progress throughout the game, players can choose to upgrade The Nail and learn Nail Arts from Nailmasters to unlock devastating moves.
Charms
Charms are special items that can be acquired through completing quests, by finding certain charms through the environment or by purchasing it from Merchants. Charms provide certain enhancements that can be equipped to enhance The Knight's power and overall effectiveness in battle and survivability - this includes an increase of health, reduction of healing times, and many more.
Spells
Spells are skills that the Knight can use that deals with magical attacks as well as replenishing The Knight's health, this can be first acquired from the Snail Shaman. Each spell can also be upgraded to a more potent version by locating hidden rooms throughout Hallownest - Spells are activated by using SOUL from the Knight's Soul Meter. This includes spells like Focus, Vengeful Spirit, and more.
Abilities
Abilities are skills that The Knight acquires throughout the game, certain abilities provide The Knight an easier and effective way of traversing Hallownest's terrain and as well as engaging enemies in combat - this includes Mothwing Cloak, Monarch Wings, and more.
The Knight Gallery
Hollow Knight Merchants
Charm Lover Salubra
"Ooooooooooooohhhhhhh, you surprised me! Hello, hello! Come in, sweetling! Come in and make yourself at home."
Iselda
"Come to buy a map have you? Its really my husband you should be dealing with, but what a surprise! He's headed down below."
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Little Fool
"Aha! Another warrior finds their way to our fair Colosseum. Ours is the final destination for all seeking trials of intense and deadly combat."
Millibelle the Banker
"Hello there dearie. I was about to close up shop and run, till you came along. I provide a banking service if you're interested."
Nailsmith
"After a Nailsmith are you? Well, you've found one. I'm not much for talk, but if its a nail that needs repair then you've come to the right bug."
Relic Seeker Lemm
"Aye Aye. Come searching for rare items, have you? Well, hands off! This collection is mine and I won't be selling to grubby little wanderers."
Steel Soul Jinn
" Jinn, has only many small, shiny things... useless to Jinn, but will trade for wonderful gift."
The Last Stag
"Greetings, little one! It's been an age since I last heard the ringing of a station bell. It echoed down the stagways and called me to you."
Hollow Knight Nailmasters
Nailmaster Mato
"Hm? Ah, well met! Yes, I thought I could sense the aura of a fierce warrior approaching."
Hollow Knight Quest NPCs
Grey Mourner
"Ahhhh.... Me'hon. This world. This cruel, sinful world. Why does che' wake? Why does che' persist?"
Hollow Knight Wanderers and Other NPCs
Cornifer
"I'm a cartographer by trade, and I'm working on mapping this area right now. Would you like to buy a copy of my work so far?"
Elderbug
"Ho there, traveller. I'm afraid there's only me left to offer welcome. Our town's fallen quiet you see."
Mask Maker
"Is it mask or face upon the creature? In Hallownest, a difficult thing it can be to decipher."
Moss Prophet
"Oooohhh radiant being, we are blessed. Your rays touch us. Your warmth fills us. Hallownest is born again, united in your blazing image. Oohhh..."
Snail Shaman
"Oho! Who is that creeping out of the darkness? My, you're looking grim! A strange, empty face and a wicked looking weapon!"
The Hunter
"Tiny squib... You approach fearless. Are you a hunter like me? Do you feel the urge inside, to stalk, to kill, to understand?"
The White Lady
"Oh! One arrives. Far it walks to find me. Did it seek my aid? Or did the path carry it by chance to so pertinant a place?"
Tiso
"Pale thing. You wear that nail with ease. If you're in search of combat, you'll find no great warriors in this decaying burrow."
Willoh
"Oh! Come in search of treats, have you? I chanced upon a unique little fungus growing right above us."
Hollow Knight Grimm Troupe NPCs
Nymm
"Ah. Hello! Hello! I'm new around these parts, so it's marvellous to see so friendly a face, in such a sad town."
Hollow Knight Godmaster NPCs
Hollow Knight Enemies
Bosses are characterized in the game as Enemies that have a higher amount of health and does more damage, unlike the normal enemies that wander around the map. These Bosses are special and important since some are needed to be defeated in order to progress through the main game, to complete a Quest or to clear an area, while some drop important Items. Below is a list of the known Bosses along with its alternate versions, Warrior Dreams, and bosses that have been added in DLCs.
Hollow Knight Bosses
Hollow Knight DLC Bosses
Hollow Knight Warrior Dreams
Warrior Dreams in Hollow Knight are unique bosses that The Knight can locate and challenge by using the Dream Nail. Eliminating a Warrior Dream will grant you a large amount of Essence as a reward - Dream Nailing a Warrior Dream will automatically start the battle. Dream Warriors are scattered around the map, and purchasing a Warrior's Grave Pin from Iselda will allow you to locate the area of a Warrior Dream via the Map.
AnonymousThis lore explanation needs a spelling, grammar, and clarity check. It also leaves much to be desired.
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- Anonymous
well the whole "No cost too great" thing explains the dead vessels/children
- Anonymous
i thought the bugs didn't have intelligence before the pale king took over?
- Anonymous
what about all of the dead children in the abyss from the pale king and white lady
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I don't thing Hornet was referring to whatever happened to the knight outside of the kingdom, she was likely making some reference to the Pale King.
- Anonymous
didn't the Pail King give bugs intelligence or higher thought and the Radiance wanted a mindless kingdom? the bugs didn't have intelligence
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