Dope Knight is a fanfiction parody series based on hit indie Metroidvania Hollow Knight. It follows Ghoncl, the stoner son of the Pale King, as he has drug-infused adventures in Hallownest and beyond.
The series is available to read on Archive of Our Own here
, and has an in-progress comic adaptation of the first book here.
Provides examples of:
- Action Girl: Mainly Hornet, but also Dryya and Ze'mer. All three are extremely skilled with weaponry, and can each hold their own in a fight.
- Anyone Can Die: The series frequently kills off characters, most notably Seer, who had been there throughout the entire first story.
- Battle in the Center of the Mind: The fight against Godseeker in Dope Knight 4, in which the Hallownestians venture into Godseeker's mental world Godhome in order to fight her.
- Behemoth Battle: The entire battle with the Radiance in Book 1, and later her reappearance alongside the Shade Lord in Dope Knight 4. Both involve fighting against humongous gods.
- Big "NO!": Ghoncl lets one out as Seer passes away during the Radiance battle from her injuries.
- Bittersweet Ending: Dope Knight 1. The battle against Radiance has been won and Hallownest is safe, but Seer sacrificed herself to save everyone.
- Book Ends: In Dope Knight 1, Ghoncl's first appearance is him on a return journey from Alabamanest, collecting weed from Fael. At the end of the final book, Dope Knight 4, Ghoncl leaves the kingdom to go and pick up Fael's newest batch.
- Central Theme: Drugs and addiction. Almost every Dope Knight book is centred around Ghoncl and his constant drug use. Addiction comes up in Dope Knight 2, especially the fallout after the White Lady removes Ghoncl's scopolamine patch. He is described to be practically bedbound, with even Hornet concerned.
- Chekhov's Gun: Grimm's "patch" on his arm is offhandedly referred to in Chapter 1 of Dope Knight 2. As it turns out, the patches contain scopolamine, a drug used by the Nightmare Heart to mind control members of the Gammy Gang. Unknowingly, Ghoncl rips it off during the battle against Grimm, freeing the latter from the Heart's influence.
- Crown-Shaped Head: The Pale King, as well as his father Lailoken due to the circular ring of horns on their heads.
- Dirty Coward: The Pale King. In Dope Knight 1, he refuses to take action in the Radiance battle due to being scared of being crushed to death. In Dope Knight 2, Hornet outright refers to him as this during her trip to Deepnest.
- Due to the Dead: Invoked multiple times. Firstly in Dope Knight 1, where the main characters hold a funeral for Seer after her death. This is also true of Chapter 9 of Dope Knight 2, when Ghoncl, Hornet and Hollow go to pay their respects to her grave.
- Establishing Character Moment:
- Ghoncl at the beginning of Dope Knight 1. He is immediately stated to be on a return trip from Alabamanest to buy weed, insinuating that he is a stoner. This is the brunt of his character for the entire series.
- Hornet, when she shows up in Greenpath. She is portrayed as smart, sensible, and sick of her crackhead brother.
- Hollow, in the same scene as Hornet: he's a nervous wreck, barely able to speak without stuttering.
- Herrah. Even when she's first mentioned by Elderbug she is described as "Deepnest's stripper queen", and is later referred to as "unhinged" by Hornet. When we actually meet her, she is everything that she's described as and more: a promiscuous, hypersexual beast who isn't afraid to ask for what she wants — especially from PK, the king of Hallownest.
- Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": In Dope Knight 2, when Midwife appears, the narration states that she's only known by her title.Curled around [the cot] was one of Herrah's oldest friends, known only as 'Midwife' because that was the only job she was ever seen doing.
- Finale Title Drop: The ending of Dope Knight 1 has PK pronounce Ghoncl as the Dope Knight.
- Furry Reminder: Every time Hornet is described to be doing something "beastly", on account of her species and heritage.
- Hearing Voices: Trobbio and later Seth in chapter 8 of Dope Knight 3, after they hear Queen Ryna's spirit calling to them.
- Macabre Moth Motif: The Radiance, a moth goddess, is the main antagonist of Dope Knight 1.
- Parody: Of Hollow Knight. It's got all of the characters, just with a hundred times more drugs and profanities.
- Rule of Three: The three main protagonist siblings, Ghoncl, Hornet, and Hollow.
- Spider Limbs: Hornet, Herrah, and practically everyone in Deepnest — most are agile, eight-limbed beasts.
- Spiders Are Scary:
- Hornet, the deadly half-spider daughter of the Pale King and Herrah the Beast. She's shown to have incredible fighting talent and wit, and manages to make various characters afraid of her.
- Herrah herself is this, but in a different way. She only manages to scare others through her unhinged sexual actions and advances.
- Tiny Guy, Huge Girl: A recurring theme in Weaver's Justice. The large Forge-Daughter and the much smaller Ballow, tall Shakra and short Sherma.
- Toilet Humor: Rampant throughout the series. Ghoncl is one of the biggest offenders, what with his unwelcome urination, with Ogrim and his IBS coming in as a close second.
