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schneefinkI have been playing quite a lot of Hollow Knight recently and I enjoy it a lot. Almost done with the main storyline now, except for the BBEG (and the DLC boss.)
Friday: I found the Spirit Glade, very pretty. Then I found Izma's Grove and got Izma's Tear, and then I beat the Broken Vessel and got the Monarch Wings. Finally! I immediately checked out a few previously inaccessible areas. I found Hallownest's Crown, which looks great, and also a few other areas like the Blue Lake and the Fungal Core. I stumbled upon the Hive but then left and later couldn't find it again >.< I also found a few new charms and trinkets and finally got Salubra's last charm notch. Then in the City of Tears I got stuck at the fight against the Watcher Knights.
Saturday: More exploration! I remembered where the Hive was (turns out the tram from the Ancient Basin goes in two directions) and from there discovered Kingdom's Edge. I learned my second Nail Art there, and I found the second Hornet fight and decided to leave that for later. Instead I explored the Hive, which is very pretty, and decided to leave the Hive Knight fight for later, too. I got some more Pale Ore from the Seer and upgraded to the Coiled Nail. I won the Trial of the Warrior in the Colosseum of Fools on my first attempt! And I collected a bunch of new charms and finally freed half of the grubs.
Sunday: While looking for Shade Cloak I found Quick Slash, which is also very nice. Then I thought I could try fighting Hornet again, just for fun, and beat her on my first attempt! (I'm counting that as my actual first attempt because the first time I wasn't even fully healed and not prepared for combat.) I got the King's Brand, so I'm king now? …okay? No character has commented on that yet.
After that I was very optimistic and tried the Watcher Knights again, but after dying another half dozen times I finally asked DD to look up in which area Shade Cloak is. She said Ancient Basin, and I found the Abyss from there and there the Shade Cloak. Finally!
I decided to explore the Fog Canyon, but instead I stumbled into Queen's Garden, where I finally unlocked the last Stag Station so of course I had to take a look at the Stag Nest. Unfortunately the Traitor Lord (there must be a story behind this) apparently killed Cloth (I think? He killed me too) but I'll have my revenge some other time. With the Love Key I found the Collector and from him got the map with all the grub locations, very convenient, now I just need to figure out how to get to them. Also along the way, after rescuing Bretta last time and finding the Stag Nest etc. I completed my third extra health mask, which is nice.
Monday: After dying twice I decided to leave the Hive Knight for later – mostly because making my way to the fight through the Hive is annoying. Instead, after a brief detour to the Howling Cliffs to get Joni's Blessing, I finally got Cornifer's map of the Fog Canyon, the last one. (I'd looked up approximately where to go because somehow I always got lost in there and it was starting to become annoying.) I made it to the Teacher's Archive and together with Quirrel beat Uumuu, and then killed Monomon the Teacher and with that destroyed the second seal. With the help of Sharp Shadow I also finally made it through that one platforming challenge in Greenpath with the lightning and got Thorns of Agony.
Idk what happens after I destroy the third seal so I kind of want to beat the Traitor Lord before that. Getting to him is annoying though.
Tuesday: Next goal: Dreamgate, so I can fight the Traitor Lord without losing most of my health to the damned spikes. I beat No-Eyes (and got the Dream Wielder charm), then lost to the Lost Kin a few times, then made my way to the Warrior Dream Galien in Deepnest but first found the Weaver's Den and the Weaversong charm (pet spiderlings!) and then Nosk. (It's clever how grubs or Whispering Roots often give you hints where secret areas are.) That sequence before Nosk where I kept seeing "myself" running away was the most creepy thing in Deepnest so far. It took me several tries for each, but eventually I beat first Nosk and then Galien.
Wednesday: Defeated Marmu (first try) and mastered the Dreamgate! I created one right below the Traitor Lord fight and immediately died to him a few times, even though Cloth is still around to help. I'm pretty sure he was almost dead a few times but not quite. Instead of trying another dozen times I decided that it was side-quest time. I summoned the Grimm Troupe (which I'd looked up how to do, otherwise I never would have found it – even if I'd found the room, I would have missed that I could light the lamp) and collected the first three flames. I love the design of Troupe Master Grimm, ominous circus vampire xD I also defeated another two warrior dreams (Gorb and Elder Hu), leaving only the last one, Markoth, which I tried once and then decided to do another day.
Thursday: My first attempt at the Trial of the Conqueror failed, but I did collect another Simple Key, now I just have to figure out what to use it for. I then collected geo from the grubfather, Lem, and Millibelle and got Unbreakable Strength, that should be useful in the future. (I considered getting Unbreakable Greed first, to make it easier to save up for buying the other two, but that might take a while and having Unbreakable Strength now should be a big bonus.) Full of confidence I challenged both the Failed Champion and then the Enraged Crystal Guardian but failed several times each.
Friday: I freed a couple more grubs and collected three more flames, but after my first fight with Troupe Master Grimm I decided to leave him for later. I then failed at defeating Lost Kin several more times, so I watched a few videos and got the tip to use Defender's Crest (and Mark of Pride, Unbreakable Strength, and Quick Focus.) With that I eventually, very narrowly, defeated Lost Kin. Then I tried Markoth again and this time beat him on my first try (just had to be patient enough and not try to hit him too often), and then the Seer awakened the Dream Nail. Next I beat the Enraged Guardian using a trick I also got from a video (stand in the corner and his laser shoots the ground.)
I thought I was on a roll so I tried the Traitor Lord again. After I was unsuccessful half a dozen times I changed my strategy and equipped Weaversong, Grubsong, Glowing Womb, Defender's Crest, and Grimmchild, and with some well-timed shadow-dashing that actually worked. I'm sorry Cloth died, but she did say "it's really everything I could have ever hoped for" so I'm glad she's satisfied at least.
I met the White Lady, that was cool. (Interesting that she called Hornet "the Gendered Child," and she mentioned her mother - and now I want all the Hornet backstory. Silksong when.)
Then I finally made it through that one thorn area in Greenpath and met Nailmaster Sheo! He's great. Sly, the Great Nailsage, then gave me the Nailmaster's Glory charm. Now I want to visit all the Nailmasters again – but I might leave Sheo for last. Those thorns were very annoying.
Having conquered one thorn challenge gave me the motivation to try the next one, and I freed that one grub at the top of the Queen's Garden. Then I went ahead and freed all the other ones. The last one was in the Hive, so I decided to give the Hive Knight another try and this time beat him on my first attempt. That gave me Hiveblood, and then the Grubfather gave me Grubberfly's Elegy, I almost have forty now. (Lifeblood Core is missing, and I'm glad I semi-accidentally read where and how to get it because that might have taken me a long time to find.)
I visited the Grubfather again afterwards - I'd been spoiled on what would happen (turns out when you want to search for "grubfather rewards" because you're too curious, the first suggested search is "grubfather eats the grubs") but it was still an odd moment.
Saturday: I finally defeated the Watcher Knights! Took me only one try this time, getting stronger really paid off. All three Dreamers are destroyed, so I could go to the Black Egg Temple if I wanted to, but not yet.
For some reason I'd thought that I would need four Pale Ore to upgrade my Nail again and I wanted to see if the Nailsmith had any hints where I could find the last one, but when I found out that it was only three I decided to do the Trial of the Conqueror. Took me about ten tries but I did it, and afterwards got the Pure Nail. (I didn't kill the Nailsmith. If Sheo found something else to do, so can the Nailsmith.)
I tried fighting Troupe Master Grimm a few times, but without success. Instead I tackled the Grey Mourner's Quest and succeeded on my first try, by going the route the other way first and killing most enemies. I only had one health mask left when I arrived at the Grey Mourner, which was annoying because while I couldn't take damage anyway I did plan to use Grubberfly's Elegy. But it worked out in the end, and now I have nine health masks. I also met Quirrel again by the Blue Lake, that was nice.
I also visited Oro and Mato again to see what they would say about each other. Fascinating sibling dynamic. Sheo was the best at nail art, Mato was the most eager pupil and admired Sheo very much, and Oro… He says that Mato was surely a strict and ~bad teacher, calls Sheo the mightiest of Sly's pupils and says his brother and teacher loved Sheo very much, but also says Sheo was "aloof, but not unkind." Upon seeing the Nailmaster's Glory charm, he says he hopes that by helping he redeemed himself a little. Mato also says that he will never forget what Oro owes him. I'm very curious what happened! Oro says he wonders if Sheo achieved his goal of teaching himself something completely new, while Mato takes Sheo teaching someone as proof that he changed his mind and is happy about that.
I collected Lifeblood Core, the second to last charm, and now it was time for Kingsoul, and White Palace. That was a challenge!! I would have had no chance without Hiveblood (I thought; later I realized I could probably also have used a combination of Grubsong + Deep Focus etc, but while having to wait for the masks to regenerate was slightly annoying it probably helped keep me fairly calm.) Certain parts I had to try probably more than twenty times. Fortunately there were usually frequent checkpoints, except near the end (which at that point I did not realize was near the end.) Finally finishing felt great. (And with no online tips or shortcuts either, and for some reason - i.e. I tried and failed and didn't realize I'd just missed - I thought I couldn't pogo on the buzzsaws and long spikes.)
After that I checked in on Sheo – the Nailsmith really did find him! They are making sculptures together now! I'm very happy for them.
Then I got Salubra's Blessing. Ngl while the effect is nice, the sound effect while sitting on a bench is annoying. No longer a peaceful experience. I almost wish there was a way to (temporarily) turn it off ^^
I went to the Abyss because the Kingsoul mentioned "birthplace," and I found another secret area underground, with a black egg, but didn't know what to do there and left again. Then I decided to look up where to go with the Kingsoul because I was out of ideas – and it turns out the black egg was exactly the right place, I just hadn't thought to hit it with the Dream Nail *facepalm*
I did that and got Voidheart. So the story, as I understand it, is basically that the Pale King, who really believes in "the end justifies the means," created many many "vessels" in the Abyss until one of them, the "pure Vessel", "ascended" and could seal the infection inside of itself somehow (?) The Dreamers created seals to keep it contained, and later the Pale King disappeared for some reason, while the White Lady bound herself under her garden. But the infection is leaking, which is why Hornet and the Dreamers etc. are helping this vessel (also created by the Pale King, presumably? And it somehow survived in the Abyss and got out?) open the Black Egg Temple, in the hopes that by/after destroying the pure Vessel = now Hollow Knight a new/more permanent binding to the infection can be found somehow.
I went to the temple of the Black Egg, and the fight against the Hollow Knight actually went quite well. Then, glad that I had looked up what I had to do, I challenged the Radiance – but after losing to her twice I decided that the final battle can wait for another day.
I get to see completion percentage now, mine is at 102%! Although that includes some things from the DLC, and the maximum is 112%. Not very likely I will get to that but who knows.
Sunday: After having faced the Radiance I decided to get the upgrade to Howling Wraiths, and I was glad that I looked up how to get it because I would not have thought of that on my own.
Then I went back to Oro to see if he had new dialogue and this time I remembered to Dreamnail him, and then I had to do the same to his brothers and Sly as well. Oro wonders if Mato still thinks of him as an enemy and is willing to explain his actions to Mato, Mato thinks of Sheo often and hope Sheo remembers their time together, Sheo wonders what drove Oro so far away and hopes that perhaps he too can find a new calling to ease his soul. And Sly: "…Wherever you are… Whatever it is you do now… I hope you three are looking after yourselves…" I have many feelings about these brothers and I really hope there is a way to reunite them somehow. (I have not looked it up but fingers crossed.)
Then I challenged the Hollow Knight again, but while yesterday I beat him fairly comfortably twice, this time I died to him several times. (Also because I changed my charms in anticipation of the Radiance fight – with Shaman Stone and Soul Eater, in addition to Mark of Pride – but I had to go back to Unbreakable Strength and Quickslash to deal with the Hollow Knight. I rarely used many spells in fights.) I did eventually face the Radiance again, but it will take several more attempts until I learn to reliably avoid her flying swords. And I should probably not do that today because my wrists are telling me that some rest would do them good.
Friday: I found the Spirit Glade, very pretty. Then I found Izma's Grove and got Izma's Tear, and then I beat the Broken Vessel and got the Monarch Wings. Finally! I immediately checked out a few previously inaccessible areas. I found Hallownest's Crown, which looks great, and also a few other areas like the Blue Lake and the Fungal Core. I stumbled upon the Hive but then left and later couldn't find it again >.< I also found a few new charms and trinkets and finally got Salubra's last charm notch. Then in the City of Tears I got stuck at the fight against the Watcher Knights.
Saturday: More exploration! I remembered where the Hive was (turns out the tram from the Ancient Basin goes in two directions) and from there discovered Kingdom's Edge. I learned my second Nail Art there, and I found the second Hornet fight and decided to leave that for later. Instead I explored the Hive, which is very pretty, and decided to leave the Hive Knight fight for later, too. I got some more Pale Ore from the Seer and upgraded to the Coiled Nail. I won the Trial of the Warrior in the Colosseum of Fools on my first attempt! And I collected a bunch of new charms and finally freed half of the grubs.
Sunday: While looking for Shade Cloak I found Quick Slash, which is also very nice. Then I thought I could try fighting Hornet again, just for fun, and beat her on my first attempt! (I'm counting that as my actual first attempt because the first time I wasn't even fully healed and not prepared for combat.) I got the King's Brand, so I'm king now? …okay? No character has commented on that yet.
After that I was very optimistic and tried the Watcher Knights again, but after dying another half dozen times I finally asked DD to look up in which area Shade Cloak is. She said Ancient Basin, and I found the Abyss from there and there the Shade Cloak. Finally!
I decided to explore the Fog Canyon, but instead I stumbled into Queen's Garden, where I finally unlocked the last Stag Station so of course I had to take a look at the Stag Nest. Unfortunately the Traitor Lord (there must be a story behind this) apparently killed Cloth (I think? He killed me too) but I'll have my revenge some other time. With the Love Key I found the Collector and from him got the map with all the grub locations, very convenient, now I just need to figure out how to get to them. Also along the way, after rescuing Bretta last time and finding the Stag Nest etc. I completed my third extra health mask, which is nice.
Monday: After dying twice I decided to leave the Hive Knight for later – mostly because making my way to the fight through the Hive is annoying. Instead, after a brief detour to the Howling Cliffs to get Joni's Blessing, I finally got Cornifer's map of the Fog Canyon, the last one. (I'd looked up approximately where to go because somehow I always got lost in there and it was starting to become annoying.) I made it to the Teacher's Archive and together with Quirrel beat Uumuu, and then killed Monomon the Teacher and with that destroyed the second seal. With the help of Sharp Shadow I also finally made it through that one platforming challenge in Greenpath with the lightning and got Thorns of Agony.
Idk what happens after I destroy the third seal so I kind of want to beat the Traitor Lord before that. Getting to him is annoying though.
Tuesday: Next goal: Dreamgate, so I can fight the Traitor Lord without losing most of my health to the damned spikes. I beat No-Eyes (and got the Dream Wielder charm), then lost to the Lost Kin a few times, then made my way to the Warrior Dream Galien in Deepnest but first found the Weaver's Den and the Weaversong charm (pet spiderlings!) and then Nosk. (It's clever how grubs or Whispering Roots often give you hints where secret areas are.) That sequence before Nosk where I kept seeing "myself" running away was the most creepy thing in Deepnest so far. It took me several tries for each, but eventually I beat first Nosk and then Galien.
Wednesday: Defeated Marmu (first try) and mastered the Dreamgate! I created one right below the Traitor Lord fight and immediately died to him a few times, even though Cloth is still around to help. I'm pretty sure he was almost dead a few times but not quite. Instead of trying another dozen times I decided that it was side-quest time. I summoned the Grimm Troupe (which I'd looked up how to do, otherwise I never would have found it – even if I'd found the room, I would have missed that I could light the lamp) and collected the first three flames. I love the design of Troupe Master Grimm, ominous circus vampire xD I also defeated another two warrior dreams (Gorb and Elder Hu), leaving only the last one, Markoth, which I tried once and then decided to do another day.
Thursday: My first attempt at the Trial of the Conqueror failed, but I did collect another Simple Key, now I just have to figure out what to use it for. I then collected geo from the grubfather, Lem, and Millibelle and got Unbreakable Strength, that should be useful in the future. (I considered getting Unbreakable Greed first, to make it easier to save up for buying the other two, but that might take a while and having Unbreakable Strength now should be a big bonus.) Full of confidence I challenged both the Failed Champion and then the Enraged Crystal Guardian but failed several times each.
Friday: I freed a couple more grubs and collected three more flames, but after my first fight with Troupe Master Grimm I decided to leave him for later. I then failed at defeating Lost Kin several more times, so I watched a few videos and got the tip to use Defender's Crest (and Mark of Pride, Unbreakable Strength, and Quick Focus.) With that I eventually, very narrowly, defeated Lost Kin. Then I tried Markoth again and this time beat him on my first try (just had to be patient enough and not try to hit him too often), and then the Seer awakened the Dream Nail. Next I beat the Enraged Guardian using a trick I also got from a video (stand in the corner and his laser shoots the ground.)
I thought I was on a roll so I tried the Traitor Lord again. After I was unsuccessful half a dozen times I changed my strategy and equipped Weaversong, Grubsong, Glowing Womb, Defender's Crest, and Grimmchild, and with some well-timed shadow-dashing that actually worked. I'm sorry Cloth died, but she did say "it's really everything I could have ever hoped for" so I'm glad she's satisfied at least.
I met the White Lady, that was cool. (Interesting that she called Hornet "the Gendered Child," and she mentioned her mother - and now I want all the Hornet backstory. Silksong when.)
Then I finally made it through that one thorn area in Greenpath and met Nailmaster Sheo! He's great. Sly, the Great Nailsage, then gave me the Nailmaster's Glory charm. Now I want to visit all the Nailmasters again – but I might leave Sheo for last. Those thorns were very annoying.
Having conquered one thorn challenge gave me the motivation to try the next one, and I freed that one grub at the top of the Queen's Garden. Then I went ahead and freed all the other ones. The last one was in the Hive, so I decided to give the Hive Knight another try and this time beat him on my first attempt. That gave me Hiveblood, and then the Grubfather gave me Grubberfly's Elegy, I almost have forty now. (Lifeblood Core is missing, and I'm glad I semi-accidentally read where and how to get it because that might have taken me a long time to find.)
I visited the Grubfather again afterwards - I'd been spoiled on what would happen (turns out when you want to search for "grubfather rewards" because you're too curious, the first suggested search is "grubfather eats the grubs") but it was still an odd moment.
Saturday: I finally defeated the Watcher Knights! Took me only one try this time, getting stronger really paid off. All three Dreamers are destroyed, so I could go to the Black Egg Temple if I wanted to, but not yet.
For some reason I'd thought that I would need four Pale Ore to upgrade my Nail again and I wanted to see if the Nailsmith had any hints where I could find the last one, but when I found out that it was only three I decided to do the Trial of the Conqueror. Took me about ten tries but I did it, and afterwards got the Pure Nail. (I didn't kill the Nailsmith. If Sheo found something else to do, so can the Nailsmith.)
I tried fighting Troupe Master Grimm a few times, but without success. Instead I tackled the Grey Mourner's Quest and succeeded on my first try, by going the route the other way first and killing most enemies. I only had one health mask left when I arrived at the Grey Mourner, which was annoying because while I couldn't take damage anyway I did plan to use Grubberfly's Elegy. But it worked out in the end, and now I have nine health masks. I also met Quirrel again by the Blue Lake, that was nice.
I also visited Oro and Mato again to see what they would say about each other. Fascinating sibling dynamic. Sheo was the best at nail art, Mato was the most eager pupil and admired Sheo very much, and Oro… He says that Mato was surely a strict and ~bad teacher, calls Sheo the mightiest of Sly's pupils and says his brother and teacher loved Sheo very much, but also says Sheo was "aloof, but not unkind." Upon seeing the Nailmaster's Glory charm, he says he hopes that by helping he redeemed himself a little. Mato also says that he will never forget what Oro owes him. I'm very curious what happened! Oro says he wonders if Sheo achieved his goal of teaching himself something completely new, while Mato takes Sheo teaching someone as proof that he changed his mind and is happy about that.
I collected Lifeblood Core, the second to last charm, and now it was time for Kingsoul, and White Palace. That was a challenge!! I would have had no chance without Hiveblood (I thought; later I realized I could probably also have used a combination of Grubsong + Deep Focus etc, but while having to wait for the masks to regenerate was slightly annoying it probably helped keep me fairly calm.) Certain parts I had to try probably more than twenty times. Fortunately there were usually frequent checkpoints, except near the end (which at that point I did not realize was near the end.) Finally finishing felt great. (And with no online tips or shortcuts either, and for some reason - i.e. I tried and failed and didn't realize I'd just missed - I thought I couldn't pogo on the buzzsaws and long spikes.)
After that I checked in on Sheo – the Nailsmith really did find him! They are making sculptures together now! I'm very happy for them.
Then I got Salubra's Blessing. Ngl while the effect is nice, the sound effect while sitting on a bench is annoying. No longer a peaceful experience. I almost wish there was a way to (temporarily) turn it off ^^
I went to the Abyss because the Kingsoul mentioned "birthplace," and I found another secret area underground, with a black egg, but didn't know what to do there and left again. Then I decided to look up where to go with the Kingsoul because I was out of ideas – and it turns out the black egg was exactly the right place, I just hadn't thought to hit it with the Dream Nail *facepalm*
I did that and got Voidheart. So the story, as I understand it, is basically that the Pale King, who really believes in "the end justifies the means," created many many "vessels" in the Abyss until one of them, the "pure Vessel", "ascended" and could seal the infection inside of itself somehow (?) The Dreamers created seals to keep it contained, and later the Pale King disappeared for some reason, while the White Lady bound herself under her garden. But the infection is leaking, which is why Hornet and the Dreamers etc. are helping this vessel (also created by the Pale King, presumably? And it somehow survived in the Abyss and got out?) open the Black Egg Temple, in the hopes that by/after destroying the pure Vessel = now Hollow Knight a new/more permanent binding to the infection can be found somehow.
I went to the temple of the Black Egg, and the fight against the Hollow Knight actually went quite well. Then, glad that I had looked up what I had to do, I challenged the Radiance – but after losing to her twice I decided that the final battle can wait for another day.
I get to see completion percentage now, mine is at 102%! Although that includes some things from the DLC, and the maximum is 112%. Not very likely I will get to that but who knows.
Sunday: After having faced the Radiance I decided to get the upgrade to Howling Wraiths, and I was glad that I looked up how to get it because I would not have thought of that on my own.
Then I went back to Oro to see if he had new dialogue and this time I remembered to Dreamnail him, and then I had to do the same to his brothers and Sly as well. Oro wonders if Mato still thinks of him as an enemy and is willing to explain his actions to Mato, Mato thinks of Sheo often and hope Sheo remembers their time together, Sheo wonders what drove Oro so far away and hopes that perhaps he too can find a new calling to ease his soul. And Sly: "…Wherever you are… Whatever it is you do now… I hope you three are looking after yourselves…" I have many feelings about these brothers and I really hope there is a way to reunite them somehow. (I have not looked it up but fingers crossed.)
Then I challenged the Hollow Knight again, but while yesterday I beat him fairly comfortably twice, this time I died to him several times. (Also because I changed my charms in anticipation of the Radiance fight – with Shaman Stone and Soul Eater, in addition to Mark of Pride – but I had to go back to Unbreakable Strength and Quickslash to deal with the Hollow Knight. I rarely used many spells in fights.) I did eventually face the Radiance again, but it will take several more attempts until I learn to reliably avoid her flying swords. And I should probably not do that today because my wrists are telling me that some rest would do them good.
