History Characters / HollowKnightLoreAndHistory

* SlainInTheirSleep: Their physical bodies are invulnerable while they're dreaming, but if the Knight uses the dream nail on them, he can kill them within the dream world, which is necessary to break their seals.

* BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu: Happens whenever the Knight [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique channels either Void Given Form or Void Given Focus]] against both forms of Radiance. With Void Given Form, the Knight loses its physical shell after destroying the Radiance's manifestation within the Hollow Knight. Void Given Focus on the other hand merges with the Knight to become a titanic WebOriginal/{{Zalgo}}-esque EldritchAbomination, who proceeds to take over over Godhome, and is [[InferredHolocaust implied to be inflicting a new plague upon Hallownest]]; in other words, in punching out Cthulhu, [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie the protagonist became Cthulhu themselves]].

* {{Expy}}: Of Gwyn, Lord of Sunlight from Videogame/DarkSouls. [[spoiler: Presented as the GreaterGood before revealed to be the cause of all the problem of the world? Check. Defeat an ancient rulers of the world then set himself up as GodEmperor? Check. Ruthlessly trying to maintain their era? Check. A terrible father to their childrens, upto and including {{Unperson}}ing and Sealing them? Check. Well-intentioned extremists associated with light? Also Check. He checked so many of Gwyn boxes that it's probably intentional given how the game was inspired by Videogame/DarkSouls.}}

** Hegemol is always depicted in the statues and in [[spoiler:Ogrim's dream]] without any weapon. However, [[spoiler:what does that make of the bug mace that the False Knight (specifically the maggot thief that stole his armor) uses in the boss fight? Did Hegemol fought bare-handed in the past? Did he also use a mace as his WeaponOfChoice but preferred to keep it away when not needed? Or did he use something else, like a giant nail?]]

* AbusiveParent: Subverted. While the details of what he was like as a person before the infection are unknown, his plan to create the perfect hollow Vessel to contain the infection required [[spoiler:the sacrifice of thousands of his own spawn until one of them became perfectly "hollow" enough to contain Radiance.]] Ironically, [[spoiler:it was because he wasn't heartless ''enough'' that doomed the plan, as he became attached to the Hollow Knight and raised them into adulthood, causing them to gain an "idea instilled" and become no longer truly hollow.]]

* AFormYouAreComfortableWith: His original form is [[spoiler:of a gigantic Wyrm, specifically the giant discarded shell at Kingdom's Edge is actually his old corpse, containing a broken pod that is implied to be where his current form was birthed from and where the Knight obtains the King's Brand.]] It is unknown how many of the regular Hallownest citizens actually know the true origin of their King, and only the more ancient beings seem to be aware, [[spoiler:such as his mate and Queen the White Lady, who only ever refers to him as the "Wyrm".]]

* ParentalAbandonment: It is eventually revealed [[spoiler:that the Knight, Hollow Knight, and all Vessels and Shades are siblings, and at one point the offspring of the Pale King and the White Lady. It is not clear exactly what the Pale King did to his children in his desperation to create the perfect Vessel to contain the infection, but he left thousands (or hundreds of thousands) of Vessel corpses and wandering Shades in the Abyss. Eventually, he sealed them away and refused to return to them once he thought he had the perfect Vessel]]. The Knight somehow managed to escape and make their way to the Howling Cliffs at some point.

** We get to see the Knight turn into either of these forms just as it has to kill either forms of the Radiance. However, before fighting the Absolute Radiance in the Pantheon of Hallownest, there is a strange MightyRoar heard just after the Radiance's own distinct scream. If that strange roar is heard ''before'' the Knight fights the Absolute Radiance, it could mean that the Void Given Focus is an entirely separate void entity on its own, and is just lending its power to the Knight at the right time and place.
* ArchEnemy: A Dream Nail dialogue for the Absolute Radiance calls the Knight (or to be precise, the Void Entity within it) as her "Ancient Enemy".
* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: The Godseeker more or less allows The Knight to do this after getting past the various pantheons and defeating Radiance directly. They seem to go DrunkWithPower and take over Radiance's plague normally, the Godseeker's physical body as a catalyst to burst from. However, giving the Godseeker a Delicate Flower prevents this, allowing the two to ascend together, turning into light. After this, The Godseeker praises The Knight as the "God of Gods" she was looking for in the first place.

* BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu: As a consequence of the Knight [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique using the]] PowerOfTheVoid to overpower Absolute Radiance, it merges with the Void and manifests as a titanic WebOriginal/{{Zalgo}}-esque EldritchAbomination, who proceeds to take over over Godhome, and is [[InferredHolocaust implied to be inflicting a new plague upon Hallownest.]] In other words, in punching out Cthulhu, [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie the protagonist became Cthulhu themselves]].

* GreaterScopeParagon: While the Void itself has a significance as the Pale King used it to counter the Radiance, many historical records claim that it was just a powerful and devouring, neutral liquid substance that is abundant in the Abyss. But the ''Godmaster'' content expands on this, as the Godseeker refers to the void as a higher being, especially the TopGod... and you, the Knight gets to [[IAmLegion command and control the Void itself]] to kill the BigBad.

* TheWorfEffect: As the Void Given Form, the Knight needed the help of the Hollow Knight's shade to make the Radiance vulnerable. In the Godhome, it doesn't have the backup of the Hollow Knight to defeat the more powerful Absolute Radiance. But all it takes is to turn into the much larger Void Given Focus and turn the tide into the Knight's favor.

->''"Gods of Thunder, Gods of Rain! Why forsake thy servants? Will Our minds be left suffering, to ache alone? What God remains to deliver Us from this woeful silence?"

** [[spoiler:The False Knight's armor is actually Hegemol's. But it wasn't clear how Hegemol lost his armor to that maggot. Was it simply stolen? Was Hegemol killed by that maggot? Or is he still alive but went into hiding?]]

The Great Knight whom Sheo considered as "fierce". She was the guardian of the White Lady in the Queen's Gardens.

* BodyHorror: For some reason, her dead body is attached to a wall by plant growth. How she ended up this way is left for imagination however.

* ExtraEyes: It has thirteen eyes in front alone, not even counting how many eyes are their from the other perspectives:

* BarrierMaiden: The Knight has to hunt them down and absorb their essence to unlock the Black Egg Temple and defeat the final boss.

* FinalSpeech: Dream Nailing each of them multiple times in the dream realm before ending their lives provides their final thoughts. Their Dream Nail dialogue is notable for being much longer than any other NPC in the game.

* LivingMacGuffin: They are still present in the physical realm, albeit sleeping and preserved via their protective barriers. But the only way for the Knight to enter the Black Egg Temple is to find a way to disable the barriers, enter each of the Dreamers' sleep, and kill them in the dream world.

* SlainInTheirSleep: Using the Dream Nail, the Knight enters their dreams in order to end their lives and break their seals on the Black Egg Temple.

* UndyingLoyalty: Even after the kingdom has fallen, the dreamers swore to keep the seal intact, so they decided to [[spoiler:keep the Knight in the Dream World forever. Unfortunately for them, a moth rescued the Knight and gave it the Dream Nail]].

* ZeroEffortBoss: [[spoiler:They don't attack the Knight and are willingly allowing themselves to get hit and killed.]]

[[quoteright:190:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pale_king.png]]

!!Warrior Dreams
[[folder:In General]]
[[quoteright:75:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/grave_pin.png]]
[[caption-width-right:75:Warrior's Grave Map Pin]]

The lingering ghosts of particularly strong bugs that can only be challenged once the Dream Nail is acquired. Defeating them rewards the knight with a large amount of Essence. They were all designed by Kickstarter backers.

* BonusBoss: They are optional spirits that you can challenge for essence once you get the Dream Nail.
* DeathAmnesia: They're all unaware of their own deaths. Some of them realize the truth after being fought, but some don't...
* DueToTheDead: All Warrior Dreams are located in graves used to remember where they died.
* GottaCatchEmAll: Getting the dream nail also unlocks fights with dream warriors and dream bosses, who when defeated can be collected by the dream nail for between 100 and 300+ Essence each. You need 1800 Essence to work towards the real ending, and 2400 to unlock some crucial context for the lore.
* {{Leitmotif}}: All of them (except No Eyes who sings her own song) share the same boss fight theme titled [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VFebb9xLRA "Dream Battle"]].
* PosthumousCharacter: They've all been dead for quite a while.

[[folder:Elder Hu]]
!!!'''Backer:''' Donald Lynch
[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dream_elder_hu.png]]

->''"Never forget what once was lost, yet do not let it tie you down."''
-->'''-Elder Hu (Hunter's Journal)'''

A traveling sage who sought to purify the borderlands of Hallownest from the Infection. He, unfortunately, became infected himself, and his own infected mind made him see the Mantis Village Tribe as afflicted by the plague. The Mantises killed him after he attacked them, and a memorial was erected in his name above the gates to the City of Tears.

* AndThenJohnWasAZombie: Wanted to purify the Infection, but got infected himself.
* DeathFromAbove: His only method of attack is to summon numerous rings down.
* HeelRealization: After being beaten by the knight, he realizes that he was wrong for attacking the Mantis Tribe, and comes to terms with his death.
-->'''Elder Hu:''' ''If there was madness in that village, it was I who brought it. They were right to cast me out. When I attacked, they were right to... They were right to kill... To kill... me...? ...aah.''
* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: Traveled Hallownest trying to purify its borderlands of the Infection, and ended up infected himself for his troubles.
* TeleportSpam: May teleport to the other side of the arena after launching an attack.
* WalkingTheEarth: Travelled the world tending to those affected by the plague.

[[folder:Galien]]
!!!'''Backer:''' Zachary Virden
[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dream_galien.png]]

->''"A Knight strives not only to protect the land and its people, but the hopes and dreams of the kingdom."''
-->'''-Galien (Hunter's Journal)'''

A brave and undefeated warrior who claimed to be the strongest in Hallownest and desired to prove his valor to the Pale King as a Knight. He traveled to Deepnest in order to test his strength but eventually found death instead. His husk lies in a cave filled with unusually large glowing mushrooms.

* BloodKnight: Greatly enjoys fighting.
-->'''Galien:''' ''Let us test our strength in joyful combat!''
* DeadlyDisc: His main form of attack is to simply spin his large scythe like it acts as a huge buzzsaw. He can also summon two smaller discs that independently move and bounce.
* HomingProjectile: His main scythe can re-adjust itself to follow the Knight's location even as it bounces. Galien can also pause the scythe for a bit before directly aiming it at the Knight again.
* {{Irony}}: He comments on how the world is not kind to the weak, as shown by "this poor fool" lying dead before he and the Knight. He never seems to realize that he's referring to his own dead body.
* LockedOutOfTheLoop: He never realizes that he's been killed, and acts as if the knight is the first person to defeat him. He's also unaware of the King's disappearance.
* MindOverMatter: He is the only Warrior Dream who uses a physical weapon instead of projecting a spectral copy, and he can freely move the scythe without directly interacting with it.
* PinballProjectile: Once launched, his spinning scythe will keep on bouncing every time it hits the edges of the arena. He can also summon up to two glowing mini-scythes that do the same.
* ScarsAreForever: There's a huge crack/split in his body and face even as a ghost.
* SinisterScythe: He summons a [[FlyingWeapon flying, spinning scythe]] to attack the knight.
* StrengthEqualsWorthiness: He ventures into Deepnest because he believes he needs to prove his strength to the Pale King to be a knight. He, unfortunately, fails to do this and dies as a result.

[[folder:Gorb]]
!!!'''Backer:''' Aladar Apponyi
[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dream_gorb.png]]

->''"I am Gorb!"''
-->'''-Gorb (Hunter's Journal)'''

Gorb the Great Mind, a mystic creature with a distended brain who claimed to be all-knowing. He goaded others to revere his mind and ascend with him to a different plane of existence. His remains were buried on a hill atop the Howling Cliffs.

* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: He claims he can do this, and wants others to do this with him for some reason.
-->'''Gorb:''' ''Ascend! Ascend! Ascend ascend ascend with Gorb!''
* CloudCuckoolander: All he says seem childish and non-sensical. The weird noises he makes during his battle also contribute to his goofy aspect.
* CounterAttack: Gorb will almost, always retaliate with his attack everytime the Knight hits him.
* TakeOurWordForIt: He is implied to be very intelligent, might be a case of TheCloudCuckoolanderWasRight but it's never explained how.
* TheSpook : Unlike the others Dream Warriors, Gorb isn't given a backstory. His life stays enigmatic.
* TheMagnificent: "The Great Mind"
* MyBrainIsBig: Has a pretty big distended brain, and seems rather proud of it.
* StormOfBlades: His only attack is firing a ring of 8 spears outwards in a circle from his location. As he takes damage, he'll start doing it in waves in alternating patterns.
* TeleportSpam: He'll occasionally teleport to a different area of the arena.

[[folder:Markoth]]
!!!'''Backer:''' Samuel Dixon
[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dream_markoth.png]]

->''"May your efforts lead you somewhere worthy."''
-->'''-Markoth (Hunter's Journal)'''

One of the only moths to carry a weapon, Markoth was an undefeated warrior who grew disgruntled from the world and the kingdom of Hallownest, rejecting them. He went to Kingdom's Edge to seclude himself and meditate, hoping to uncover a truth long forgotten, and fighting any who disturbed, regardless of their reasons. He eventually died, his remains never to be found in a lone cave of Kingdom's Edge.
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* BulletHell: ''' ''Oh boy!'' ''' Markoth spends the whole fight summoning Nails around the arena that aim in The Knight's direction for a moment before flying forward. He does this whenever he isn't doing another attack, and the Nails spawn faster as the fight goes on.
* MacabreMothMotif: He's a member of the Moth Tribe, worshippers of the Radiance and a race once associated with dreams.
* MothMenace: The ghost of a moth warrior who's aggressive towards the player when they first meet.
* {{Nerf}}: This boss was once overpowered during the release of the ''Godmaster'' DLC so they had to tune it down. Markoth's health was lowered (requiring the player to endure the Bullet Hell for a shorter period of time).
* OrbitingParticleShield: He summons a Dreamshield at the start of the battle that orbits around him. At half-health, he summons a second one.
* ShieldBash: Markoth's Dreamshield orbits around him, damaging the Knight on contact. As the fight goes on, he can summon another copy and accelerate the speed of both shields.
* StormOfBlades: Attacks by summoning some floating nails near the Knight and launching them after a while.
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[[/folder]]

[[folder:Marmu]]
!!!'''Backer:''' Zara Pellen
[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dream_marmu.png]]

->''"If you believe in something as hard as you can, with your eyes shut tight... eventually it will come true!"''
-->'''-Marmu (Hunter's Journal)'''

The innocent-minded yet strong protector of the Queen's Gardens. The Queen promised to teach her how to fly upon her return to the verdant retreat, but Marmu sadly passed away before that day came. A totem in her memory was placed upon her grave in the gardens' wilds.
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* AndCallHimGeorge: Her pre-fight dialogue suggests that she doesn't realize that "playing" with the Knight can kill them. In fact, the fight consists of her bouncing around and letting herself get hit like a beach ball until she gets "tired out".
* BlownAcrossTheRoom: Marmu is one of the few bosses that can be knocked back with the Knight's attacks. In fact, she has such a strong recoil when hit that the Knight can literally send her at a significant distance, even more with Heavy Blow.
* BouncingBattler: Her main method of attack is curling up into a ball and flinging herself at the knight.
* ChildSoldier: Implied, given that she's a caterpillar who's waiting to learn to fly (i.e. become a butterfly, i.e. grow up) and is very naïve.
* SeldomSeenSpecies: She's a [[https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/98/79/1987996_b2d6729a.jpg Puss Moth Caterpillar]]! Not as cute as the game makes it look!
* TragicDream: She's waiting for the queen to teach her how to fly, completely unaware that she's dead and will never get the chance.
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[[/folder]]

[[folder:No Eyes]]
!!!'''Backer:''' Liza Kretzschmar
[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dream_no_eyes.png]]

->''"They're coming...\\
What's inside of you...\\
Strip it out!"''
-->'''-No Eyes (Hunter's Journal)'''

A former warrior of Hallownest who fell to the Infection. She couldn't sleep knowing the dreams would infect her mind with the light, so she stripped both her and other bugs of their eyes to protect them from succumbing to it. They were all laid to rest in the Stone Sanctuary, a place in complete darkness, deep in Greenpath.
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* CycleOfHurting: Especially in her Ascended variant where you have a tighter room to move within. Summoned ghosts can converge so closely that you may end up bumping into the nearest environmental traps... or bump into other ghosts as well! It's common to take 2-3 masks of damage if you are hit by one attack and are very unlucky with the knockback mechanics.
* DarknessEqualsDeath: Her sanctuary is hidden away in pitch black darkness, with spikes jutting out from almost every wall, and she's by far the most frightening of the Warrior Dreams.
* DevelopersForesight: No Eyes won't appear unless the player has bought the Lumafly Lantern. Why? Because her stage is [[DarknessEqualsDeath so dark]] that it's impossible to know where you are going inside.
* DisabilityImmunity: {{Invoked}} with No Eyes and her followers. They gouged their eyes because they believe that the "light" would infect them in their dreams, so getting rid of one's eyesight equals immunity. No Eyes is proven to be ProperlyParanoid at one point since [[spoiler:the Radiance caused the infection via invading others' dreams]].
* EyeScream: She ripped her own, and some other's, eyes out to escape infection.
* FlunkyBoss: She never directly harms the knight, but rather summons the sanctuary's spirits to attack instead.
* GetBackHereBoss: The real challenge of her boss fight is this. She {{Teleport Spam}}s around the arena every few seconds, so the player has to get to her before she does it again to damage her, while also avoiding the spirits that actually trying to hurt them. Somewhat mitigated by listening to her lullaby: she teleports at the end of each line so you can predict when she's about to jump.
* IronicNurseryTune: She sings an incredibly creepy Latin-sounding lullaby [[BackgroundMusicOverride in place of the usual Dream Boss Battle music]].
* LedgeBats: The ghosts accompanying No Eyes bump into you in order to push you off platforms and into the spikes.
* MeaningfulName: No Eyes has no eyes because she ripped them herself.
* NeverSleepAgain: Became an insomniac due to her [[ProperlyParanoid paranoia]] of being infected if she ever sleeps.
* NothingIsScarier: Lives and breathes this trope: She's found in a pitch black sanctuary in the depths of Greenpath, her fight is accompanied only by the sound of whistling wind and her creepy humming, and, perhaps eeriest of all, her journal entry never explicitly says she died - merely that she "[[NeverFoundTheBody dis]][[ParanoiaFuel appeared]]" when the plague hit.
* ProperlyParanoid: Believes that if she would sleep and dream, she would become infected. She's technically correct on this one, and the idea might as well count as a {{Foreshadowing}} since [[spoiler:the Radiance does infect other bugs by invading their dreams]].
* TheSpook: One of the notes about her just imply that she ''disappeared'' during the plague.
* TearsOfBlood: Black liquid drips from her eyeholes.
* TeleportSpam: She teleports around the arena every few seconds.
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[[/folder]]

[[folder:Xero]]
!!!'''Backer:''' Constant Pham
[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dream_xero_0.png]]

->''"A life defined by tragedy and triumph. A death marred by sorrow and regret. A spirit burdened by sins and memories. Better to wander the world than be cursed with glory."''
-->'''-Xero (Hunter's Journal)'''

A former warrior of Hallownest who believed he could fight the infection on his own and turned against the Pale King, for which he was executed. His tomb can be found in the Resting Grounds, a reminder to any who would betray the King.
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* BossArenaIdiocy: You fight the warrior Xero atop a platform in Resting Grounds. But unlike the other boss fights which lock you inside the room, you can easily run past and go below the platform where he hovers or far off to the left of it. Here, you can heal yourself without interruptions because his nails won't reach you and Xero only moves above the platform. This is possibly [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] as Xero is technically the first warrior dream that you can encounter after obtaining the dream nail, and he gives 100 essence, just enough to introduce you to the other, more difficult warrior dreams. However, this tactic becomes averted in the Godhome.
* CategoryTraitor: He was so confident in his strength that he believed that strength alone can defeat the infection. Due to this mentality, he betrayed the King and set off on his own. Xero was then "[[MakeAnExampleOfThem executed for crimes]]".
* DespairEventHorizon: Clearly crossed it a long time ago, judging by his rather bleak and fatalistic outlook on things, but it's unclear whether it was being executed or something else that caused it.
* HeelRealization: After being beaten by the knight, he realizes his coup against the king was foolish and accepts his defeat.
-->'''Xero:''' ''Ah... I can see now. Those who turn against the King are doomed as soon as they raise their weapon. Do not call me a traitor... Simply call me a fool.''
* MakeAnExampleOfThem: He was given a proper burial in the Resting Grounds to make others think twice about treachery. His tomb reads ''"Cursed are those who turn against the King."'' currently, and originally read ''"Here lies a Traitor"'' in an earlier version of the game.
* TheMagnificent: Initially, Xero's grave inscription described him as "a Traitor" (with the uppercase T), until it got changed in a later update.
* OrwellianRetcon: The inscription for Xero's grave was initially "Here lies a Traitor". After Update 1.0.2.8, this was changed to "Cursed are those who turn against the King."
* StormOfBlades: Nails [[FlyingWeapon hover near Xero]], and he attacks with them by launching the nails one-by-one at the knight. They return to him after a short while, making for another obstacle for the Knight to avoid.
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[[/folder]]

!!Other Historical Figures
[[folder:Ancient Civilization]]
->''"One large understanding can be gleamed though. This civilisation may claim itself the first, but something else did exist within this place before Hallownest."''
-->'''-Relic Seeker Lemm, after giving him the first Arcane Egg'''

It has been hinted that the Radiance and the Pale Beings weren't the only rulers in Hallownest, and that there are older creatures who existed there before. Although their contributions are mostly forgotten, some do still exist in rare lore items, as well as strange objects that were left behind.
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* AllThereInTheManual: The ''Hollow Knight'' artbook states that the Black Egg Temple was built from the carapace of an ancient bug, hinted to originate from this old civilization.
* AmbiguousSituation: There is not much lore that can be connected to the ancient civilization, and even those gigantic fossils that you can find [[spoiler:may or may not be from those ancient times. The only evident clue is that these giants aren't connected to the present-day Hallownest era at all.]]
** There is a giant fossil in Kingdom's Edge where one can obtain the Quick Slash. It's dream nail dialogue simply reads "Pure". Implications suggest that it was the counterpart of a Nailsmith, who tried making a Pure Nail but somehow failed and decided to forge the Quick Slash instead.
** The giant fossil where once can obtain the Shade Cloak is also gigantic. It also has a new dialogue when hit with the Awoken Dream Nail, where it acknowledges the Knight as the "Lord of Shades" when the player has obtained the Void Heart.
** There is a six-eyed corpse of a giant bug in the Queen's Gardens, but the player cannot interact with it in any way.
** The Colosseum of Fools is actually the corpse of an ancient bug. Whether or not it is connected to the ancient civilization, it is similar to the giant fossil in Queen's Guardians by virtue of having six eyes.
** The Temple of the Black Egg's exterior resembles a six-horned shell of a giant bug, with the possibility that the entrance is actually a mouth.
** There is a giant fossil of a trilobite hanging upside-down in Deepnest. But it isn't clear if this is a real fossil, or just an imitation of one. When struck with the nail, it produces a metallic sound, and when struck with spells, it is revealed to be shielded using a Seal of Binding.
* BenevolentArchitecture: Various alien-looking idols are found tucked into out-of-the-way nooks and alcoves across the breadth of Hallownest; they refill the player character's soul gauge if hit with a nail, permitting the knight to use its spells or heal without farming enemies.
* CataclysmBackstory: Even before the Kingdom of Hallownest existed, [[spoiler:there is an unnamed Ancient Civilization that acts as the {{Precursors}} who worshipped the Void itself and was able to build the Soul Totems. These totems are still present and functional, while the Void was beneficial in the King's plans later on. However, it wasn't thoroughly explained how this ancient civilization died]].
* {{Cult}}: While there were no evident traces that this civilization worshipped a physical god, the Journal entry for the Void Idol indicates that they worship the liquid void/darkness itself.
* LostTechnology: They created the Soul Totems scattered all around the kingdom, those that can replenish soul, something that the current rulers [[BlackBox find it difficult to understand]].
* NoNameGiven: As a whole, they don't have an official name. The closest collective name that they have in-game is "ancient bugs", from the description of the Void Idol in the Journal. However, the [[DummiedOut game's files do reveal]] the names of some of these giant bugs:
** The Ancient Nailsmith is named after the text file containing its dream nail dialogue.
** Shade Beast and Green Beast's names come from their sprite art files.
* {{Precursors}}: Although Hallownest claims to be the first civilization, there apparently existed a far older society that built the soul totems, produced the arcane egg items, and seem to have been connected to the void in some way. In the Abyss, one can even find [[spoiler:a secret area with what appears to be a table and a chair of almost alien design, and the lighthouse's architecture doesn't match that of Hallownest even close.]]
* RentAZilla: Judging from the sizes of the remaining fossils found in specific areas, these ancient bugs would tower the current residents if they were still alive, as they are gigantic even in this game's standards.
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[[/folder]]

[[folder:Abyss Creature]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hollow_knight_abyss_creature.png]]

A mysterious multi-eyed being that can be seen in the backgrounds of some Lifeblood-related rooms.
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* ExtraEyes: It has 6 to 8 pairs of blue eyes, with varying sizes.
* FreezeFrameBonus: The face and blinking eyes of an unknown bug can be seen if you look down from the Lifeblood room (since the camera pans further when you hold the down button while standing). The bug in question is on the lower-right corner of the screen.
* GoodColorsEvilColors: Lifeblood is light-blue, and while not heroic, it is still a GoodCounterpart to the orange infection, since consuming lifeblood increases one's health points.
* GreaterScopeParagon: With the implication that it is connected to Lifeblood, he could be a beneficial force since Lifeblood temporarily increases your health anyway.
* MysteriousStranger: What exactly is it, and why is it seen in the Lifeblood Room? Did the Abyss Creature bring lifeblood into Hallownest? Or is it just addicted to the substance? In either case, the substance itself is benefical in contrast to the orange infection, but the creature itself has no written lore to determine if it's a friend or foe.
* NoNameGiven: There are no interactions nor written lore regarding this creature. However, "Abyss Creature" is something derived from the game files.
* RentAZilla: Whatever it is, this creature is massive that even only its head is too large compared to the Knight.
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[[/folder]]

[[folder:Gods of Rain and Gods of Thunder]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hollow_knight_land_of_storms_gods.png]]

->''"Gods of Thunder, Gods of Rain! Why forsake thy servants? Will Our minds be left suffering, to ache alone? What God remains to deliver Us from this woeful silence?"
-->'''-Lament of the Godseekers, Hunter's Journal entry for the Weathered Mask'''

Towering creatures whose silhouettes are shown in a part of the Land of Storms, the place where the Godseekers used to stay.
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* GodIsDispleased: The Weathered Mask journal entry states that the Gods of Thunder and the Gods of Rain had abandoned their worshippers (the Godseekers) at one point. The Godseekers lamented this, seeing their "woeful silence" as the end-result of being forsaken. These Godseekers have continued to search for a way to discover new gods so that they might attune to them.
* MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: They can be seen in the stormy background in the area within the Land of Storms where you obtain the Weathered Mask.
* TheOldGods: They were the previous deities whom the Godseekers used to worship before the tribe was abandoned and travelled to Hallownest in search for new gods.
* RentAZilla: They are huge, even when only their silhouettes are visible in the background.
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[[/folder]]

[[folder:Lord Fool]]
[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hollow_knight_lord_fool.png]]

->''"Lord Fool, give me another chance. I'll prove my strength to you!"''
-->'''-Little Fool, when dream nailed'''

A bug who oversaw the trials in the Colosseum of Fools.
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* FlatCharacter: A corpse of a large bug seated at the colosseum's throne. But even after his death, his corpse is displayed as if to evoke the image of someone overseeing the trials. The Little Fool still respects him however.
* PosthumousCharacter: By the time you arrive in the colosseum, he is already long dead.
* DeadGuyOnDisplay: The Lord Fool, the known leader of the Colosseum is literally a corpse, a puppet placed half-slumped on his throne when the knight arrives. The rest of the spectators don't seem to need his leadership either way.
* ThroneMadeOfX: There's a huge fossil of a bug pasted in his throne, and that is even way larger than his body.
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** {{Downplayed}} in the case of The Pale King and the White Lady. It's not much of an actual cult since they have realistic and proper positions in the society of Hallownest for being the royalties who rule the kingdom. Their subordinates are very much civilized either, and not small secluded groups or tribes that deify the other higher beings.

* DeadGuyOnDisplay: The Lord Fool, the known leader of the Colosseum is literally a corpse, a puppet placed half-slumped on his throne when the knight arrives. The rest of the spectators doesn't seem to need his leadership either way.

** In the "Dream No More" ending, Hornet wakes up in the temple only to find the Knight's shell split in two, with no traces of the Knight himself.

* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Whatever the Void Given Focus represents, it is larger than any being so far in the bug kingdom of Hallownest, even larger than the Absolute Radiance, a giant moth, that the Void can just grasp the Absolute Radiance's head with a claw.

* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Judging from the sizes of the remaining fossils found in specific areas, these ancient bugs would tower the current residents if they were still alive, as they are gigantic even in this game's standards.

* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Whatever it is, this creature is massive that even only its head is too large compared to the Knight.

* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: They are huge, even when only their silhouettes are visible in the background.

It has been hinted that the Radiance nor the Pale Beings weren't the only rulers in Hallownest, and that there are older creatures who existed there way before. Although their contributions were mostly forgotten, some do still exist in rare lore items, as well as strange objects that were left behind.

* {{Precursors}}: Although Hallownest claims to be the first civilization, there apparently existed a far older society that built the soul totems, produced the arcane egg items, and seem to have been connected to the void in some way. [[spoiler:In the Abyss one can even find a secret area with what appears to be a table and a chair of almost alien design, and the lighthouse's architecture doesn't match that of Hallownest even close.]]

* MemorialStatue: Statues of the Void Given Form and Void Given Focus will replace the Knight's statue in a special room in the Hall of Gods if you've beaten all bosses in Attuned or Ascended difficulties respectively.

* UndyingLoyalty: Even after the kingdom has fallen, the dreamers swore to keep the seal intact, so they decided to [[spoiler:keep the Knight in the Dream World forever. Unfortunately for them, a moth rescued the knight and give it the Dream Nail]].

''...For her..''\\
''...For her..''\\
''...For her.."''

The lingering ghosts of particularly strong bugs that can only be challenged once the Dream Nail is acquired. Defeating them rewards the knight with a large amount of Essence. They were all designed by Kickstarter backers

* BonusBoss: They are optional spirits that you can challenge for essences once you get the dream nail.