Summary
Knights have forever been a staple of fantasy stories. From the Arthurian Knights of the Round Table toDark Souls’ Knights of Gwyn, no legend is complete without the warriors who stood steadfast against whatever darkness threatened their lands.
Hollow Knightfollows the same tradition. The Pale King himself tasked five Great Knights to be the protectors of Hallownest, to defend its people until his secret project could be finished. Of course, during their travels through the underground kingdom, players find that, despite their bravery and conviction, all that is left ofHollow Knight’s great heroes are ghosts of the past.
Royal Waterways
Mysterious Ze’mer
A traveler from afar, Ze’mer arrived in Hallownest from a faraway kingdom,speculated to be Pharloom, the same land Hornet will be exploring inHollow Knight’s sequel,Silksong. As can be seen in the game, the lands outside Hallownest are no less deadly than the Radiance-infested Hallownest. As such, Ze’mer was not only a traveler, but a competent warrior, said to show great skill with her weapon of choice, a massive nail.
Due to her skill and experience, she was offered to join the knightly order of the Pale King. After swearing allegiance to Hallownest, Ze’mer found love with a descendant of the Mantis Traitor Lord, but their union was rejected by the Mantis Tribe. Not only did they find disapproval, but their story ended in tragedy. The Traitors’ Child, as her lover was known, died in unknown circumstances, while Ze’mer still lingers on. Mourning her lover’s passing, the lonely knight without purpose waits for someone to ease her suffering and bring her peace.
Fierce Dryya
Little is known of Dryya’s tale, although the circumstances of her death do bear witness to her dedication and loyalty. Found within the Queen’s Garden, Dryya sits still beside the White Lady’s cocoon. Dozens of corpses belonging todead Mantis Warriorsare strewn all around her, the remnants of a fierce battle, worthy of Dryya’s title. Considering the appearance of the dead warriors around her, and that players have to defeat the Traitor Lord to get to the Pale Lady, it seems Dryya died defending her charge and succeeded. If the Dreamnail is used on her, the last thought her spirit still holds is: “Protect…”.
Mighty Hegemol
TheFalse Knight is the first bossplayers come across when first delving into Hallownest. This hulking armored beast is actually a weak Maggot wearing the armor of Hegemol. The Maggot wanted to protect his kin from evil and stole the knight’s armor while he was sleeping. It is unknown whether he killed Hegemol in his sleep, or if the knight met some other fate while deprived of his armor, but he is not seen in the game, except for a statue dedicated to him outside the City of Tears.
Hegemol was a massive figure but said to be soft-spoken and gentle. His fellow knight Ogrim muses about how he misses Hegemol’s humor. In addition,Nailmaster Sheomentions how Hegemol was his favorite among the Five Knights. It can be inferred that Hegemol was a beloved figure among the denizens of Hallownest, yet he still met the same fate many others have.
Kindly Isma
Similar to her companion Hegemol, Isma has been described as a mighty figure of strength, as well as possessing great kindness and understanding. Her death is the most ambiguous, as her body can be found in her grove, melded into the plant growth. Not only isIsma’s death a mystery, but so are the consequences of it. It seems Isma wielded a power based on acid, as the “fruit” of her tree grants the Knight immunity to it, but it’s also a curse, as the acid that flows from her grove threatens to destroy the surrounding land.
Ogrim, The Dung Defender
Despite being the “filthiest” knight, renowned for his bad scent, Ogrim remains the purest of the knightly order. He can be found outside Isma’s Grove, still upholding the oath to protect it for who knows how long. So steadfast is he in his duty that, despite not seeing any of his former friends, and Hallownest being in ruins for ages, Ogrim has not abandoned his duty for a single moment.
The Dung Defenderembodies the greatest knightly virtues of honor and loyalty, although it is quite evident how lonely he is. Isolated for so long, Ogrim passed the time by rolling dung around and sculpting statues of his friends out of it. Being particularly fond of Isma, all that he wishes for is to be reunited with his companions and his liege, oblivious to the fact they are all long gone from this world.
Hollow Knight
WHERE TO PLAY
Forge your own path in Hollow Knight! An epic action adventure through a vast, ruined kingdom of insects and heroes. Hollow Knight is a classically styled 2D action adventure across a vast interconnected world. Explore twisting caverns, ancient cities and deadly wastes; battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs; and solve ancient mysteries at the kingdom’s heart.Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward. Evolve with powerful new skills and abilities! Gain spells, strength and speed. Leap to new heights on ethereal wings. Dash forward in a blazing flash. Blast foes with fiery Soul!Equip Charms! Ancient relics that offer bizarre new powers and abilities. Choose your favourites and make your journey unique! An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.Over 140 enemies! 30 epic bosses! Face ferocious beasts and vanquish ancient knights on your quest through the kingdom.Chart your journey with extensive mapping tools. Buy compasses, quills, maps and pins to enhance your understanding of Hollow Knight’s many twisting landscapes.A haunting, intimate score accompanies the player on their journey, composed by Christopher Larkin.
