[spoilers] Hollow Knight (character) Lore.

[Zackmar]

So I have some questions about Hollow Knight's lore, regarding the Hollow Knight himself. I am referring to the one in the black egg, not the one you play as.

First off, I'm confused as to who he 'was'. Was he the king? Because the hunter's journals writes 'The old king of Hallownest' on the Hollow Knight's entry. If he was not the king, who was he? He looks nothing like the vessel that was chosen by the king in the dream sequence in the Abyss.

Also, I'm confused as to why he stabs himself in the fight with him. Is he realising that you're the new vessel that has come to replace him? Is it because he is in great pain and wants to end it all?

I'd be glad to see someone answer those, as I'm sure people figured it out by now.

[DeathSabr3]

It is the Vessel chosen in the dream sequence. But years of containing the infection, has caused it to warp into what we see now. It is losing strength, and the infection is seeping out, which is the main driving point of the game. MC was dubbed a failure by the king, being originally weaker than HK, but becomes a suitable replacement container throughout the game. I saw HK stabbing itself as the infection completely taking over momentarily, and trying to destroy HK in order to get out and take over completely, as the more it stabs itself, the more infection based abilities it uses in the fight.

[Zackmar]

Thanks a lot, that makes a lot of sense.

[bad]

DeathSabr3 is wrong. The old Hollow Knight was imperfect - the White Lady tells you exactly that. He was not hollow and that's why the Radiance could take over. That's why you - a truly hollow being - are supposed to replace him.

[Kein Zantezuken]

The Hunter's journal just indirectly addresses HK, he is not the King.

He does not look like a "baby" vessel because over the years he is fully grown. Why creations of void capable of maturing/growing - another good question.

He stabs himself because the part of him that still "him" (even though Vessels/Hollow Shells technically have no will or personality or gender, the Hollow Knight original has some kind of it, a imprint, an idea that given purpose to his life and existence and which also in the end made him weak as a Vessel to Radiance's influence) understands who you are and your goal and tries to aid you. You are all "Siblings" after all.

[TheBrightKing]

Kein and Like a Boss are right, first, hes stabbimg himself because a part of him has noticed what you came to do so he wants to help, and second, radiance flourishes within him because after all hes not completely hollow.

[Zackmar]

Thanks a lot guys, that helps. I'm glad I was half-right on the stab part!

[JohnSolaris]

DeathSabr3 eredeti hozzászólása:

I saw HK stabbing itself as the infection completely taking over momentarily, and trying to destroy HK in order to get out and take over completely, as the more it stabs itself, the more infection based abilities it uses in the fight.

I think it's more likely that it's the Hollow Knight himself momentarily regaining control, to stab himself and speed up the release of the infection. After all, the protagonist wants to release the infection, from its previous imperfect vessel, so he can absorb it into himself and seal it away; the Hollow Knight saw that and thought to help the protagonist on that.

[`Shadop]

We need a guide made by multiple player of the community to put the Lore in place (about what we really know for the moment). ;o
Because some people (or like me, not native UK) got some trouble to understand tiny part of the lore.

Also, I would be glad to fully understand the Spirits (thoses you face like Elder Hu and those who are passiv like in the cimetary) cause I didn't follow everything well but it seems that they have serve the previous King ? (the one standing dead in the white palace)

Another thing I'm not totally aware. Did the 3 Dreamers are like Hornet in the '"Sealed Siblings" end? Like... the previous Vessel facing the Radiance with Teacher, Beast and Watcher, those 3 was deafeted during the fight and when the Vessel sealed the Plague they became the Seal ?
Or did they just come later to renforce the Black Egg and put a better countain on the infection ?

Plus is it me or it's not explained how Teacher still got a "body" in the tube of glass ?
(Maybe it'll be explained in the comics but I just have the first chapter released)

[Kein Zantezuken]

The Sleepers agreed to be the seals voluntarily. Well, not really.
Lurien the Watcher loved his City, it was his life apparently, and would do anything for it. Plus, one of his dream texts reads "promised plenty". It is implied KIng just "bought" him, either with ear lies or fake great promises.

Herrah the Best drove a hard bargain: she asked for a special child from King (because "their brood was lost to the pestilence of the mind") - Hornet aka the Gendered Child aka Weaver Princess.

Lastly, Monomon. She was the smartest among these and even without the the gift of providence, which the King or Wyrm had, she still could foresee/deduct things ahead. She understood necessity of sealing Radiance in the Vessel yet she predicted its [Hollow Knight] possible destruction - that's why she gave a special quest to Quirrel and and ordered a Mask for him.

Plus is it me or it's not explained how Teacher still got a "body" in the tube of glass ?

She is pretty much a jellyfish, that's why she is in the capsule.

[`Shadop]

Kein Zantezuken eredeti hozzászólása:

He is pretty much a jellyfish, that's why he is in the capsule.

What does Quirrel do with the mask ?

From what i've understand (again, not native), he kinda call back the body of Monomon ?
I'm aware that the mask is the same as the face of Monomon. But didn't understand this part...

What about Zote ? Is he a Vessel too ?
Like us he's similar by design. When every other characters got his own appearance from existing bugs. Zote share a lot of similarities with us (He even got a Cloak !). Except he can talk... That's the main reason fro me to not trust he's a simili Vessel...

[Kein Zantezuken]

`Shadop eredeti hozzászólása:

What does Quirrel do with the mask ?

Removed special barrier that prevented you from getting him dream nailed.

`Shadop eredeti hozzászólása:

What about Zote ? Is he a Vessel too ?

I personally consider Zote just being a comic relief character.

[`Shadop]

(Yeah I know I'm boring ;p)

Did you guess who's the other one who've upgraded his own nail in the Blacksmith?
I suppose it's Quirrel but there's no clue... or I missed it.

Also are we agreed that, in the first encounter with Hornet, she kill one of us? (Another Vessel, the one that give you the Dash Cloak)

[4thQueen]

I imagine the Nailsmith is referring to the mindless husks of the city, who might still remember to go there to repair their weapons.

[`Shadop]

Mmmmh, but he didn't talk in plural :/

[4thQueen]

That's not how English works. If one husk comes to leave a nail, then he would only talk about that one husk.
Quirrel is out of the question, though, cause he only mentions hearing about the Nailsmith in passing, and he apepars to take good care of his own nail.

Of course, the nailsmith could be talking about some future character that we haven't seen yet.