Silksong: Act 2, Citadel of Song, part 1
Oct. 7th, 2025 07:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
schneefinkI've been having so much fun with Silksong, an incredible game. There's so much to explore!
I finally got to the first ending (could have done it earlier but now felt like a good time) and that seems like a good point to post, uh, 9.5k of notes about my playthrough.
Still day 13, I couldn’t resist playing a little bit more. After I fell down into the Underworks I made my way to the next bench – there are several in one room but again, requiring payment. And there's a "confession booth," one that also requires payment, that just says to work more and harder. And the journal entries for all the workers describes how tired and overworked they are. Oof.
I found a "lamp" with light flies, I destroyed it to free them because I remembered a light fly rescuing Hornet at the beginning.
I died twice to a gauntlet room (hopefully not several waves…) and decided to leave it here for tonight.
Day 14
I made my way further through the Underworks. It took me a few tries to make it past that gauntlet room, fortunately only two waves. Then I focused on getting up and out, I left quite a bit unexplored down there I'm sure, but then I made it to the Choral Chambers!
Wow. The eerie atmosphere is fantastic. The giant empty halls, piled corpses and spiderwebs everywhere, the music… And the area is huge.
I met Lace again! So the kingdom is under the thrall of a god, huh? Hornet has already figured it out. Hornet, very emphatically, telling Lace off when Lace doubts her, and saying that those who claim themselves a god are rarely worth the title, yess very cool. Yes, Hornet does know from experience that even gods can fall. Fascinating.
After the confrontation with Lace, the inhabitants of the Citadel "woke up" – some only when Hornet comes close - and are, unsurprisingly, hostile. I made my way further through the Choral Chambers, mostly running through the rooms and trying to avoid the enemies. I found a chamber with an invitation to a performance of some kind and a creature sort of reminiscent of the Grim Troupe on a poster(?)… intriguing, but I left it for now. Thankfully I found the fast travel station, that was a relief. I also found an elevator to "Terminus," interesting…
Instead I traveled back to Bellheart and then Bone Bottom, to see if there were any new guests or wishes. Then I went down to the Moss Grotto again, because I'd accidentally stumbled across spoilers that there was a secret door there that can be opened by playing the needolin. (It's so hard not to look for things – this is a cool thing I'm enjoying right now! I want to dwell on it and see what others think etc.! I'm just glad all spoilers I've seen so far have been minor, like the names of areas or bosses and some item locations, and nothing story-wise.)
I found the door and discovered the Weavenest Atla! And there, Eva. The conversation with her was fascinating: she is not an enemy of the Weavers, but "their prisoner not through malice;" she, too, is "a child of Weavers yet not quite their kin," like Hornet, but not like Hornet, who is "a shifting, blended thing." Crests are a Weaver term for "that signifier of a bug's essence and their invisible yoke born through a lifetime." Eva can look at them, which normal bugs can't. Hornet's nature is "so unlike a mortal bug's," "malleable, transitory," a marvelous thing. (I looked up that scene on a video later to get the quotes because I definitely didn't want to pause while playing.)
Eva upgraded my Hunter's crest, cool, and asked me to come back when I've evolved further. (I got used to the downward pogo of Reaper and Wanderer again, not sure if I want to bother switching again, hm.) I also found another silk spool in the Weavenest and then the boss fight with two moss mothers. A fairly chaotic fight, I tried a few times and then decided to leave it here for the night.
But I've already found another place that looks similar to the needolin Weaver door on the map in Far Fields, definitely going there next.
Day 15
I looked up the reward for beating the two moss mothers, a trinket, and then decided to leave it for later.
I wanted to farm a bit in Greymoor when suddenly I was kidnapped! All possessions stolen and imprisoned in the Slab! Naked Hornet looks really funny. I made my way through the Slab until I got my stuff back, and I found two keys but not the third one. I found a Penitent in a cell that likes to sing along with my music, and an exit to Mount Fay but that's clearly meant for later, I can barely stay there without freezing to death, much less traverse it. Not sure if I can even find the third key in this area yet, so eventually I returned.
I checked out the Weavenest in Far Fields and got a new trinket there for super-sprint, I tried it out afterwards for some farming and it was very convenient. Along the way I talked to the Seamstress again – I hadn't made the connection that she was part of the order of maidens the Pinstress had talked about, neat. Then I went back to the area behind the Deep Docks door because I'd read that there was a cool trinket to find there and it paid off, I can now light my needle on fire, very cool.
Next I went back to the Choral Chambers and climbed up. I didn't figure out how to go sideways at the turning wheel, but made my way upwards and then to the right instead and found the First Shrine – which is now the Songclave! Very cool. I like the Caretaker too, very resigned but willing to try and take care of poor pilgrims drawn here now that Hornet rang the bell, even though they have nothing to offer them.
I found a key that will surely be helpful later, and thankfully another station of the transport elevator close by. Up at the station Terminus it only said its use is forbidden because of the danger, bugs that serve must never die…
I accepted a wish to collect pins from choirbugs, looking at the hunter journal I've barely beaten any so far, I always try to run away instead when I can ^^
I made my way toward the middle and discovered the Cogwork Dancers, but I was low on health already and died before the music really started.
Not sure if I want to try that fight again immediately, or explore the left side of the Choral Chambers, or go back and explore the Underworks some more. Or there's Hunter's Marsh still…
I'm 31 hours in and having a great time.
Day 16
I wanted to enter the Underworks again, but I found out I can't go back the way I did before. I went back to Bone Bottom to check on the wish board, the builder there built a big statue and gave me a small Hornet statue in thanks, aww. Then in Bellhart (took me ages to figure out it's not "Bellheart" btw) I was asked to find the courier's brother and found him in Sinner's Road, so I would have discovered it then at the latest. I delivered supplies to Bone Bottom but I think the other deliveries will be harder to make without getting hit. I also found the lost merchant in the Choral Chambers. I opened the elevator down to the Whiteward – wow, that area is creepy! All kinds of weird experiments, it looks like… and a wheelchair, and a cradle… and I found a trinket used to forcibly insert silk into a bug's shell… *shudders*
From the Whiteward I found a way to the Underworks, where I found what looks like a chained version of Fourth Chorus (and maybe a different giant robot too?, couldn't see it very well, I think I need grapple to get up there, or find another way.) And thankfully another stop of the transport elevator – I really hope Shakra will soon sell me automatic markers for them.
I'm back to using Hunter's crest again, btw. Idk, something about waking up in the Slab with nothing but the original, and how Hornet talked about it with Eva… I decided I wanted to try it again. And the diagonal pogo does feel very good, when I manage to use it properly.
I died and stopped by the Songclave again, where I met Sherma, who's happy to be there but sad about the state of the Citadel. I also had fascinating conversations with the Caretaker! He clearly knows what Hornet is, called her Old One and wondered if she plans to rule here and says fulfilling simple wishes is beneath her. Hornet says he too is hiding his nature and he asked to be permitted his disguise. They also talked about Whiteward and how the bugs were inserting silk inside their shells to prolong their lives and gain immortality, so when the "monarch" arrived all that silk was already there, ready to be grasped (forgot the exact wording. I definitely have to watch a playthrough after I finish playing.)
After Hornet encouraged Sherma to look after the pilgrims in the Songclave, he decided to go down to the Whiteward to look for supplies, uh-oh…
Further exploring the Choral Chambers, I found the way to the Slab (still no Apostate key, sadly), and then the Citadel spa. Then I died a few times to the gauntlet left of it and took a break. Also because I'm running out of shards (without opening my bundles), so while I think I almost had it – not that I know how many waves…
Instead I tried going further up first. I found a cogheart, not that I know what that is useful for yet, and I encountered Garmond and Zaza! Very helpful. I saved Grindle the thief, not that he was especially thankful, oh well. I discovered a dining hall fallen into disrepair, too.
I left the Citadel again to do a tiny bit of sidequesting, like the dagger aiming challenge in the Marrow (took me a few tries, embarrassingly), and I finally got travel elevator – sorry, Ventrica – pins from Shakra, very helpful. I'm almost done filling out Nuu's hunter's journal, to my surprise.
Next: …maybe the Cogwork Dancers? Hm.
Almost 34 hours in.
Day 17
The Cogwork Dancers: what a beautiful fight! I loved that. It only took me a few tries, too. I switched back to Wanderer so I could hit them more often when they stood still. The last part, with only one of them, was so sad… Beautiful. (I bet that fight is going to be modded to be more difficult, maybe with three or four dancers, I can't wait to see that.)
Looking for the Threefold Melody now, hm. First I made my way to the dining hall: I need to bring several dishes to get the oil for my next needle upgrade. I got the mossy stew from the druid immediately, but transporting the courier's rash to the dining hall seems slightly tricky tbh so I decided to leave that for later.
I finally defeated the gauntlet to the left of the Citadel spa and unlocked the Choral Chambers Ventrica. I did some more exploring nearby and also in the Underworks, I found another trinket and silk spool pieces today. Then I tried the gauntlet near the Underworks Ventrica but gave up after several stupid mistakes. Instead I went back to the Cogworks (why are there so many clawmaidens on the way there now, uugh they suck) and found the (lower) Cogwork Core. Where I also immediately discovered a tricky gauntlet that I decided to leave for later. But at least I filled out Nuu's journal, I just have to bring it back to her now.
I was really hoping for a movement upgrade tbh, probably the grapple is next, I'm not sure how to get to any of my three new objectives… Can I figure it out before I get impatient and look it up, is the question ^^ (I did look up if that gauntlet on the left was important and as expected it isn't, though getting another mask shard would be very handy. I'll go back once I have enough that I can complete one.)
I got my own Bellhome! :D Hornet has a residence now! Lovely.
Around 35.5 hours.
Day 18
Did some platforming in the Cogwork Core (using Reaper for the reach, and after I bought the trinket that lets me cling to walls better), but either I'm overlooking something or I need something else to get to the upper part. Instead I went right to the Whispering Vault, where I found a vault keeper looking for music, and what looked like a concert practice room which I lit up and after that there are now more enemies running around… I didn't find a map yet, unfortunately. But I made it down to Trobbio, and then died to him a couple of times. Trobbio is clearly a reference to the Grimm Troupe, an entertainer with a red ~cape etc., so I was looking forward to the fight because I enjoyed fighting Grimm, but Trobbio's fight is very chaotic with all the fireworks and stuff and it's tiring.
I took a break to bring the journal to Nuu and on the way by fortunate happenstance found out that I can get one of the ingredients for the great gourmand from Creige at the Halfway House. I got the beads but then died a few times to the ants below because I got impatient, and then decided to take a break.
I went back to Bellhart and found out that I can buy furniture for my bellhome! Nice. I did some bead farming and bought the desk and the lights. I like quitting the game in the bellhome, Hornet actually lies down on the bed.
Then I went back to Trobbio: there's an achievement for beating him so I'm hoping for a good reward. I'm getting better but it's slow going.
Around 38 hours.
Day 19
I did some more exploration in the Whispering Vaults and freed a flea and found a silk eater and a mask shard, and probably discovered where to go next except I need another ability. I knew how to get three more mask shards so I did the gauntlet near Deep Docks and farmed some beads to buy one off Jubilana (I'll need to get more beads soon, I can now buy my own spa for my bell home) and did the gauntlet in the lower Cogwork Core, and now I have seven masks, nice.
I got frustrated with the Whispering Vaults and looked up where to find the map. With that, I found some pale oil just lying around (I'm glad I found one before satisfying the Great Gourmand!, that's going to take a while I'm sure), and now I have an upgraded shining needle. Shiny.
After that I fought Trobbio a few more times, I'm getting closer, at least.
A little over 40 hours.
Day 20
I beat Trobbio! Only took me a few more tries today, thankfully. I got an achievement for it, but I'd been hoping for an ability as a reward, not a tool. But I got past him and found the Vaultkeepers' melody, at least. The place where I found it, with the dead vaultkeeper lying among the scrolls, is another one in a long list of places with a beautiful background that tells so many stories. Like the chained Fourth Chorus-like constructs in the Underworks.
Then I felt a bit stuck because so many places clearly needed the grappling hook to continue, which I didn't have and I didn't know where it was. So I did a few sidequests, including Sherma's in Whiteward. I'm glad I remembered to play the needolin when I found him, poor guy is having a crisis of faith, unsurprisingly.
From there I decided to check out the left side of the Underworks again. And I did find an area there that I'd missed and found the "Cauldron" and got Clawline! (It took me a while to get out of that room and I had to look it up, idk how long it would have taken me to realize I can use it on enemies.) Then I found the architect there and I only needed a few more tools to get their special key, so I did some rosary bead farming to buy some and I also went back and defeated the Moss Mothers for another one. The key opened the chapel and I now have the Architect crest :) Very cool. I heard it's very powerful, but tbh I haven't really tried it out yet, I rely on my yellow and blue tools too much most of the time.
I went back to Far Fields to check out the thing there only accessible via clawline, turns out it's a very creepy hut with a fight in lava at the end, I'm going to wait until I have double jump for that.
Then I climbed up the upper Cogwork Core, which required some platforming using clawline. The platforming was fun, the most annoying part were the couple of enemies in between tbh. It took me a bit to solve the puzzle at the top, but then I got the second melody, very nice scene.
Another detour: Hunter's Marsh. This time I easily made it past the gauntlet near the entrance and then further in. I heard the trap activate at the bench and didn't manage to get out of the way in time, but I did try to evade right into the mechanism to stop it so that was helpful. I found the chapel and Savage Beastfly; unfortunately because I was careless I was already down to one mask when the fight started and it didn't last very long. The parts I saw didn't seem that hard but I've seen many people curse this fight so I assume it gets a lot worse. That's for later.
What are a few more ants after that, so I finally got the vintage nectar from the cellar of the Halfway House. I unlocked a door in the lower part of the Deep Docks and poked my head in, but left it for later. I also briefly considered making my way through Sinner's Road, and I freed the green prisoner with the simple key I got from Jubilana, but then changed my mind. And there's a couple of other places I could check out now that I have clawline – the game feels so open now, my favorite part.
Next: the last melody. I made my way through High Halls, and it was close but I made it to the bench & ventrica station without dying, go me. I even got the cogflies along the way, haven't really tried them out yet but I've heard they're good. I found another lock for a simple key and wondered if I shouldn't have freed the prisoner yet… I tried the High Halls gauntlet exactly once and then decided to stop there for the night.
Almost 45 hours in.
Day 21
I went to the side to the right of Whispering Vault that required clawline, and down there I discovered Bilewater. Ugh. I'd heard about that place. I also heard there's a tool to negate the maggot effect, fingers crossed I'll find that soon-ish. I died a few times and then left.
Then I started the Grand Hunt in the Slab, the wailing broodmother. I only tried that fight twice and then left.
I remembered that Eva told me to come back once I was further "evolved," so I visited her again and got a "vesti-crest," an additional tool slot no matter the crest, very cool. Blue would have been even better, but a yellow slot isn't bad either.
Then I went to Mount Fay! I got spoiled for the fact that I need to go there for double-jump, but I think I would have checked it out soon-ish anyway even if I didn't know what exactly I could get there, it does promise a substantial reward for the struggle of the climb.
I made it up to the first ~top bit and then down and to the lake, where I died a couple of times without figuring out where I was meant to go, so I took a break there. I looked up the next step and then made it across the lake \o/ and found a bench there, and a trinket. Then I realized that the downside to having a bench here is that now I can't leave unless I make it back out… And the way further is just as difficult. I can do it!, but it takes me a long time to learn each part and progress is slow.
Around 47 hours.
Day 22
It took me a lot more practice, but I finally made it to the top of Mount Fay! Where a giant white fluffy bird appeared, the Fayforn, aww. And gifted me with down for my cloak so now I have double jump :) Beautiful. I really enjoyed Mount Fay overall, it was hard but every step felt doable and I could feel myself getting better. The weavelight trinket was also extremely helpful to always have enough silk for clawline. (I suspect that getting used to double jump will be easier than getting used to clawline since it's a common ability in so many games.)
I found a Mask Maker on Mount Fay, though he said Hornet doesn't need his services, but it still seems like ominous foreshadowing somehow.
There was a new wish on the Songclave wish board to look for the merchant Jubilana, who was missing and was last seen near the Citadel's Memorium, I hadn't even discovered that yet. But fortunately I'd decided to check out the area above the Choral Chambers where I could go now with double jump, and that turned out to be the Memorium, convenient. An area with rooms styled after different areas of Pharloom (including some I clearly haven't discovered yet), with cages and creatures in tubes, and an ominous sign: "Containment fails. Memory lost. Excise outer. Maintain inner. Shellwood stasis sustained – Remember. Marrowlands stasis critical – Remember. Verdanian environment exceeded – Destined to forget." Uh-oh. Maybe Verdania has something to do with the purple lightning plants…
I got the third part of the cogwork heart, I wonder what I'll use that for. I also found a large very angry flea on top of the Citadel in a cage, that gave me the achievement that I rescued half of the fleas. And I have now discovered every ventrica in the Citadel. (There was one more collectible that I left for later because I kept failing the parkour, I looked up what it was and it's a memory locket so I definitely want to get it, and I accidentally found out there's a secret room with another trinket nearby so I'll go back for that too.)
Jubilana, after I rescued her from a bird flock, sold me a "spider strings" tool to enhance the needolin, I'm curious what that will help with. I've tried it in a few places, no special results as of yet.
I also found Grindle's shop near Blasted Steps, convenient. And the dice player's corpse, with his dice next to him. Sad but convenient for me.
I tried out the Memory Crystal tool I found in Mount Fay while rosary bead farming and while I'm not sure how much damage it actually does, the crystal shapes it makes of Hornet are very funny.
After a break I did some more looking around to get some shiny things (some I left bc they were very tricky, like whatever is presumably in the High Halls tower.) I found the Second Sentinel in the Cogwork Core and inserted the cogwork heart, the sentinel said its service is eternal and flew off, curious where that will show up again…
Thanks to spoilers I knew there was a way to turn off claw maidens in the High Halls by destroying their silk repertoire, I did that, a relief because those were very annoying.
Then I tried the High Halls gauntlet a few times, I switched back to Hunter crest again because of the big guy. If I cling to the top of the wall it can't get me, I just need to get the timing right to still be able to get hits in. I got past it once, even.
It would be very helpful to be able to use more trinkets, so I hatched a plan: I went back to Hunter's March to defeat the Savage Beastfly in the chapel of the beast, to get the Beast crest. It only took a couple of tries, but if I didn't have my upgraded needle and tools it would have been a lot harder so I'm glad I didn't try it earlier. (I also found Gilly hiding again, I wonder how many different places I'll find her. Not that I have a specific reason to come back soon.) Like Architect, Beast seems like it'll take some getting used to but could in theory be very powerful for fights. Hmm.
I actually got the crest because I was hoping to get another vesticrest slot from Eva for expanding my powers, but apparently Eva meant something else (presumably another mask, which I also had last time I visited again), unfortunate.
Beating the Savage Beastfly once also unlocked a Grand Hunt wish in Bellheart to beat it again (I assume in a more powerful form.) I currently have three hunts open, clearly my least favorite kind of wish. But this one has a mask shard as a reward so I'll get around to it at the latest when I need a fourth one.
Almost 52 hours.
Day 23
I could not entirely resist looking things up after last time, so I went back to the Citadel Memorium and got the purple lightning tool. Very cool, but it seems a bit tricky to use effectively, probably very situational.
Then, also because of spoilers, I ran across the roof of the Citadel again where I found Jubilana, and found the secret entrance to the Putrified Ducts from there. But that was a very unpleasant entrance and I almost immediately ran into a miniboss(?) and decided to leave that area for later. (Also I prefer not to take too much advantage of spoilers anyway, even as I can't resist checking them out.)
On the way I ran through the hallway between the Cogwork Core and the Songclave and found the Second Sentinel fight one of the choir guys there: it won, saluted, and flew off. Interesting.
I'd also looked up how to get another vesticrest from Eva, apparently with getting another crest I was on the right track but I also need to use more memory lockets, and I tried that but it didn't work. Hm. Maybe even more.
I tried the High Halls gauntlet a few more times and then decided to explore Sinner's Road instead. I handed in the roach guts and finally got the tacks, I've seen that tool recommended a lot. I found disgraced chef Lugoli, but decided to leave them for later. (I suspect I'm going to need to defeat them to get an ingredient for the great gourmand's meal.)
I continued through Sinner's Road – it's a lot easier to traverse with the faydown cloak!, I bet I would have hated that without. I got a simple key by defeating a miniboss, and I found a bench near a creature called Styx that really wants to be my slave because the weak should serve the strong. Hornet is understandably unhappy with being called mistress, but Styx does craft silkeaters so that at least is useful.
I found the Mists, unfortunately when I was affected by maggots, and stumbled around aimlessly for a while since the area changes constantly. Reminiscent of that one creepy forest from Ori; and like in Ori I hope there's a lantern or other tool I can find that will stabilize the area. No luck yet.
I also found an entrance to Bilewater, behind a breakable wall, and eventually I made my way there. Again, double jump was extremely helpful. Thankfully I eventually found a bell travel station, that was a relief. I found another entrance to the Mists, but again didn't get any further than just running around avoiding the banshees. I tried playing the needolin with the spider silks there, just in case, but no effect.
I finally found Shakra after that, so now I know that Bilewater is quite big and I still have a lot of it to explore.
I took a break from Bilewater, went back to High Halls and opened the door with the simple key there. That led me to a treasure chamber of sorts, and I also found a rosary cannon. Haven't tried that out yet but sounds fun. Though once again I'm wondering if that was the right choice or if I should have opened up Wormways first >.<
I got annoyed that I still didn't have a map for Sinner's Road, so I went back there and looked around, and when I still couldn't find Shakra I looked it up. No idea how I overlooked that… Conveniently the guide also told me about the trapped bench (and where to go to fix it) so I didn't waste any rosaries there. (Also, again, that must be so much more annoying without clawline and double jump.)
I went back to Bilewater and made my way up, past the stupid acid-or-poison-spewing floating things; I almost made it up to the next bench (or at least where I think it probably is, signs point to an alcove) but not quite.
Then I gave up and looked up a hint about the Mist. Apparently I need to play the needolin and follow the butterflies. Since I didn't notice anything when I tried playing the needolin there I think it would have taken me a very long time to even consider that… (In hindsight, I think comparing it to Ori was a red herring because I was fixated on an item to help me. The light butterflies have been helpful in the past, like freeing Hornet in the trailer, so I do think I could have figured it out. And as expected I regret it a little. Not too much though, thankfully.)
Anyway, I tried a few times and I do think I got to a different room, at least, but then there were more and more banshees and I died a few times and then stopped there.
Around 55 hours.
Day 24
I thought I would try to find my way through the Mist today but I tried once more and the banshee annoyed me so much that I left immediately. Instead I decided to finally take on the Skull Tyrant in the Marrow, which only took me 3 tries iirc, thanks to Wanderer crest.
That gave me confidence so I fought the Broodmother again. But that was much less fun so I left after two attempts.
I went back to the Wormways to see if I'd overlooked something there and I found a captured flea I rescued.
Then I went to the Blasted Steps in the hopes of finding the Sands of Karak, because I knew it was somewhere above but not how to get there. First I found a breakable wall near Grindle's shop where I got a beast shard and found a bunch of larva who sang about getting stronger and holy to serve the citadel. Then I went back to the Pinstress and from there I found the Sands! Very cool. I found Shakra already, now I just have to find a bench.
Instead I found an area with soo many spikes I had to destroy, I died often. The Pinstress kept telling me that she's getting sick of my presence, I was starting to get concerned she's going to throw me out or start a fight, when I finally realized that I'd already unlocked a shortcut to the bench at Blasted Steps. That made things a lot easier, and it was all worth it because I found a crustnut! That means I know where all the ingredients for the gourmand quest are! Getting another needle upgrade would make so many things easier, so I immediately went back to Sinner's Road to fight chef Lugoli a few more times. And by "a few" I mean several. It took me a while to learn the movements enough to make it to the second phase with my needle alone, and then in the second phase I just spammed poison spike traps and poison cogflies until the chef was dead. (The cogflies are very cute.)
Now all I need is the courier's rasher! …yeah. Unlike the Delicate Flower quest in HK I don't need to do it hitless, at least, but every hit means less time so I can take probably one hit, two at most. I'll have to work backwards removing the enemies first, but that'll take a while, and then get lucky. I'll do that tomorrow. Maybe I should also practice some parts of the route. And a video thankfully reminded me that I have flea brew, that should help.
After that, I'll follow Shakra's wish to go find her mentor, looking forward to that but I assume it can't hurt to have a sharper needle for it.
Around 58 hours.
Day 25
I wanted to check out a new route for the meat delivery that I saw in a video (take the elevator to the right of Bellhart up to where Widow was and then left through upper Shellwood), overshot and visited the flea caravan again. They decided to move, so I traveled with them to right before the Grand Gate. I also got another half a silk spool from them in thanks for freeing so many fleas, so I bought another half from Grindle – I have so many now that not recovering my cocoon makes a significant difference.
I'd looked up the requirements for the second vesticrest slot again and realized I was only one memory locket use away, so I used the last one I had and unlocked a blue slot for the Architect crest; I don't think I will use that crest very often because the shard cost is very high, but maybe sometimes.
I made my way to Eva via Bone Bottom, when Bone Bottom was suddenly attacked by a skull tyrant! It took me by surprise and when it destroyed the flimsy bridge I jumped down to escape, and made my way to Eva where I indeed got that second, blue vesticrest slot. That's going to be very convenient. Probably most of the time I'll have Ascendant's Grip in the yellow and Weavelight in the blue slot, I suspect. (Other blue trinkets: I really like using Memory Crystal for its passive damage, and of course Poison Pollip. But for fights the injector needles + multi-bind are very powerful, so I'll probably switch out the crystal and weavelight for that.)
I climbed up again and killed the skull tyrant first try. I checked if some bugs were hiding in the bellway travel station and when I came out Flick was already trying to repair the bench!, resilient little guy.
I practiced the route for the rasher delivery a little, especially in the Blasted Steps, and cleared the enemies on route in the Citadel. Then, next try for the actual delivery! I got hit once by a stupid conchfly, and I'd forgotten to equip the flea brew, but I narrowly made it \o/ A relief to have that done. The great gourmand got its meal, I got more pale oil, and pinmaster Pinney refined my needle further. It's a hivesteel needle now, with the hive banding revealed. Hornet told Pinney the needle was a gift from a noble tribe from her homeland, but it's long since passed. (Is that the Hive from Hollow Knight, or was that merely a descendant off-shoot, the remains taken by the infection, from the noble tribe it once was. How long has it been since the events of Hollow Knight…)
I still want to make the courier deliveries to Pilgrim's Rest and Songclave eventually. And there's a new delivery quest, Queen's Egg, intriguing… but first: helping Shakra find her master in Bilewater (of course it had to be Bilewater.)
That broken bench! *shakes fist*
I finally found Shakra and the body of her master, in a beautiful cave full of purifying water, and we sang together (well, Shakra sang and Hornet played the needolin.) Shakra finally called me Hornet Wielding Needle, instead of Child Wielding Needle. Then Shakra gave me throwing rings in memory of her master. Very nice.
Then I went back because I'd read there was a secret bench in Bilewater. I looked it up and I'm very glad I found it, climbing up here every time from the bellway station would have really sucked. I found the beginnings of a settlement called Bilehaven and entered an arena; I died in the gauntlet but I know that I'll fight Groal here.
Not entirely decided if I want to do that now or later because I've heard the Groal fight sucks (and the runback isn't fun either), but otoh, a settlement is very tempting. Maybe I'll watch a couple of videos in advance to speed up the learning process.
After a break – and some practicing so I could make it to the arena without falling into maggot water, though in practice I still failed but then discovered there's enough silk in a room above to rid myself of them – I immediately made it to Groal, and the boss himself doesn't seem too tricky (overconfidence speaking probably), it was the summons that killed me. The next few tries I didn't even make it to the boss. I almost want to take a break and do other stuff first but then I'd have to make my way up here again…
The lore tablets show that the inhabitants here really hate the citadel: "Their shells are ours. Their souls are ours. Our hate is forever," and "Hate for their light. Hate for their pins. For their waste poured thick and endless. Fill your hearts with hate, for power has now been claimed, and with it we shall punish." Intriguing. Yeah if the citadel poured their waste into the area (maybe not always called Bilewater?) of course they hate them. "Power has now been claimed" is intriguing.
Almost 60 hours.
Day 26
More practice of the runback to Groal, the gauntlet, and increasingly often Groal himself. I tried the cheese method (hiding in the water) but still died a couple of times because I was already low by the time I was done with the gauntlet and there are some things that can hit you still. I'm pretty sure I almost had him at least twice but I ran out of tools and was rapidly burning through shards, so I decided to only use tools in the second phase. I switched to a combination of clawline + water for a bit, and I'm definitely improving, at least. My least favorite part for a while were the green flies in the gauntlet, but they at least got a little easier once I remembered to use my charged attack.
I have seriously considered going elsewhere and coming back later, hopefully with another upgrade or two, but otoh I shouldn't play too much rn anyway so a couple of rounds in between study sessions are just fine and this is the perfect time for this. I should try the other grand hunts after this maybe (though Broodmother felt even less fun somehow, amazingly.)
Around 62 hours.
Day 27
A few more tries, and then a new plan: I'm allowed to quit this fight and go elsewhere for now after I've done a good amount of studying for the day.
That took a while, but I finally got to it in the evening. First I went to the unknown area under Deep Docks, but immediately died a few times and then left again. Then I went to the Sands of Karak, where I struggled with the platforming, so I left the climb up the tower for later. But I did find a bench and a simple key, and with that I finally opened the door in the Wormways.
That opened up an entire new area and I found the Weavenest Karn, where I bound a new silk skill, sharp dart. It certainly looks cool! Situational use I think, since it seems like it needs better positioning, but with some practice could probably be very good.
I died more often in the Wormways than I'd like to admit, but eventually I found the alchemist Zylotol, who's researching "Plasmium" – the blue flowers we already saw in Hollow Knight. I helped him collect the extract (and found the corpse of his assistant, with a blue butterfly flower growing around it, beautiful scene) and got plasmium phials in return. I assume they work like Lifeblood in HK, could definitely be helpful.
Around 63.5 hours.
Day 28
I decided it's time: I'm going to try and continue with the main quest. (Partially so I can watch any% speedruns tbh.) I went back to the High Halls and this time Shakra was there to offer her help. That was extremely useful, especially for the big guys (I basically summoned my poison cogflies, clung to the walls and let them and Shakra do most of the work.) With her help, I beat the gauntlet first try.
I got the conductor's melody and made a stop at Songclave to see if the shrine keeper would have anything to say. He didn't, but I did see a wish by the Second Sentinel for a "final audience." On the way there next to the Cogwork Dancers arena I ran across the Green Prince holding the remains of one of the dancers. He said that his partner gave his whole to create these, his shell and soul became the mould, in desperate trade to keep their caves safe; which didn't work. Another tragedy :(
The final audience with the Second Sentinel turned out to be a fight to test Hornet's willpower and see if she's been affected by the silk curse. That fight was a lot of fun! Only took me 3-4 tries, thanks in large parts to Wanderer's crest and the multi-bind & injector band combo. I'm glad Hornet and the Second Sentinel then parted as friends.
Then I played the threefold melody for the three great Citadel constructs (?) – in hindsight, I really should have equipped the spider silks for this, it wasn't necessary but it would have been fitting. I meant to but forgot.
I ascended on the elevator and found Lace lying in a field of white roses that looks almost floating atop a raised platform. Kind of surreal, almost, after the very, hm, tangible build of the Citadel.
It took me many tries to learn her patterns, but it was a very fun fight once I did. I used Wanderer again, and the poison cogflies for the very last part. I beat her with one mask remaining :)
So Lace is a being spun solely from silk, and she thinks that means she's empty; "Life? You're too generous! This weak, wasting existence. This was not life, just a husk shaped to act as a child." while Hornet tries to reassure her that "yours was life, pale one. Do not confuse your unique creation with its absence. I have seen others make the same mistake." Lace calls Hornet spider here, and she tells her Hornet that Hornet is the one her holy mother wants, oof. Then she lies down with a cry (and doesn't react to the needolin either.)
And then mysterious text while Hornet consumes a second silk heart: "better a child spun mad than none… better a child spun frail than none… From our Silk… A child born loyal…"
I continued into the "Cradle", the top of the citadel, and in a room to the side I found cages with inscriptions of who they were for: people with Weaver ancestry, an eighth or quarter, in weakened states, that were taken from various places, uh-oh.
I talked with the shrine keeper about Lace and he agreed that she's a singular creation, and that she tried to keep the peace in the Citadel, of course that generally meant killing anyone she thought didn't fit. (I forgot the wording.) Lace's journal entry reads "Manic fencer who delights in battle. A bug born entirely of thread. Much Silk would have been needed to see her sustained. A fragile form of life, but life nonetheless."
Then I climbed to the top of the Cradle and challenged the being on top, pulsing in a giant glowing ball of silk: Grand Mother Silk. (In HK you could only challenge the Radiance for the true ending, which made it feel extra special. Here I'm certain this isn't the true ending yet.)
I fought Grand Mother Silk a few times, even made it to the second stage once, and then decided to take a break.
I'd looked up things to do before act 3 and one of them was duelling Shakra, so I went back to Bellheart and did that a few times. Not an easy fight by any means! I died very quickly several times, but I think I also got close a few times and I'm improving.
But I got confirmation that act 3 doesn't automatically begin when I beat Grand Mother Silk (I was pretty sure but still good to hear) so maybe I'll try to get to the credits first.
65.5 hours.
Day 29
My gf was here and I showed her what I'd done since last time. I visited the conductor again, who had new dialogue, first about his role and then: "The mantle of rule, claimed greedily from Pharloom's fading first children, those bitter Weavers… it was yoke, not crown. Now, in our Citadel's silence, we share their truth. Only one monarch's claws ever clutched this kingdom, though we raised our voices to cry otherwise. Would you see her, pilgrim? Up there at our Citadel's crown? Reach those heights we'd hoped to hide and bow before this land's true ruler." Iiinteresting. So the bugs of the Citadel took over from the fading Weavers and tried to restrict Grand Mother Silk to the top of the Citadel (but still experimented with silk in the Whiteward etc.), but failed? From the conversation with the shrine keeper I'd assumed GMS came from outside, but this sounds more like she, like the Weavers, were from here.
I showed my gf the Grand Mother Silk fight (I died very quickly), and also the duel with Shakra – and this time I won! First try! With one mask left, go me.
I showed her a video of the second Lace fight and wanted to show her the silk heart dialogue too, which is how I found out that there's apparently slightly different dialogue possibilities there, and also that there's a silk heart somewhere in Whiteward. I went back to Whiteward to look around (which I would have done at some point anyway, most likely) and was annoyed I'd completely forgotten/not even marked that there's a very obvious floor opening requiring a key. I went through the entire area again – still creepy – and found the surgeon's key, which opened the floor and dropped me into a fight with "The Unravelled." Took me only two tries to beat them, go me, and I got my third (and final) silk heart. With creepy dialogue: "…Their voices… Their song… bind their shells… They are ours… Bound forever…" The journal entry is also tragic, calling the mobs there living silk possessing the shells of dead bugs and the Unravelled "The souls of so many bugs, obsessed with Silk, consumed by it. Their pain shall forever remain in that pit. Even I do not possess strength enough to cleanse it."
I also found a psalm cylinder with the sounds of conductor Mizello's last surgery *shudders* (I assume there's a psalm cylinder for every area of the Citadel, unfortunately I didn't keep track where I've already found one.)
Back at the Songclave I found Garmond and Zaza there, resting and preparing to protect the camp; which according to comments I've read means I've missed the opportunity to duel them. Unfortunate, because I think I finally have an idea how to get to that area to the top right of Whispering Vaults (last time I just fell down into Bilewater but pretty sure there has to be something on the way down.) But I died to the sawblades and decided to stop there for the day.
I looked up the Garmond and Zaza duel and fortunately it doesn't seem like a fight I'm that sad about missing out on, looks fairly standard.
I looked at my achievement tracker: I found 16/18 silk spools, but only 9/20 mask shards, heh.
On the one hand I have no reason to rush beating GMS, but otoh I told myself that getting to the credits would be a good point to finally clean up and post these notes and I'm starting to look forward to that ^^ (Yes I could post them at any point but getting to a good stopping point would be nice.)
66.5 hours.
Day 30
I did make it up onto the roofs of the Whispering Vaults, and I didn't find Garmond and Zaza there but I did rescue a flea. And I found another psalm cylinder, I brought it to the Vaultkeeper and that completed his collection. Lucky, I thought I'd probably missed one somewhere. When I then returned to Bellhart to string up the rosary beads it turns out the vaultkeeper sent them a gramophone to sell to me, very nice! It's now installed in my bellhome.
I finally did the Pilgrim's Rest supply delivery, and I found the little pilgrim from Bone Bottom there. He introduced himself as Pilby, nice to mee him. (I found out online that if you do the skull tyrant wish earlier, in act 1 before Pilby moves on, he dies when the skull tyrant attacks Bone Bottom, and the other pilgrims have a funeral for him. I love the little details.)
Then I went back to Hunter's March to fight the gauntlet on top (it's not that hard but last time I got there I didn't know how long it would be and couldn't be bothered) and got Curveclaw from there.
Then I tried the Mists again, this time slaying the banshees instead of trying to outrun them, which worked much better. I followed the light butterflies to the Exhaust Organ, where I found Phantom, playing a massive organ with their mask off. Learning that fight was fun: it really clicked once I started using clawline to attack them in the air. Having double jump also helped to avoid their ground attacks, the windswept anklets were helpful to avoid the aoe attacks, and I used poisoned tools in the last phase (I even switched to Hunter's Crest so I could use more tools, but I don't think I even used half of them.) The attack to take them out was a separate input called "parry," and I learned the silk skill cross stitch, intriguing.
Phantom's journal entry says "Mournful creature tasked alone to expel the Citadel's choking refuse. Their talent with a longpin is unmatched. Through grey with age, their frayed form suggested a being strung from Silk, one who welcomed a decisive end in combat over a slow decline." Hm, so a Silk creature like Lace? But one given a much worse job. Older, apparently, since Hornet calls Lace a child. Maybe a first, perhaps unsatisfactory attempt? (Sidenote, I automatically called Phantom "she" at first until I reread the journal entry, likely because of the comparison with Lace.)
I would have missed this, but thanks to comments online I saw that when you play the needolin next to the mirror in the Exhaust Organ you get brief spectres of Phantom in the mirror (/tube?) and Lace standing in front of it, and the words "She spun us to break… she spun us to fade… Why us, sister? Why us?" (It's unclear who is talking, but my guess is Lace since Phantom is inside the mirror/tube and not confirmed even awake. Lace did repeatedly emphasize that Hornet's quest is futile because there's no sense going up against the divine and her doubts as to her being alive seem to sit deep, and we don't actually know Phantom's feelings on her creator at all. So it's technically not even confirmed that Phantom knows about Lace, I guess, but Lace definitely knows about Phantom, and I'd say it's likely they knew each other. I'm definitely going to look for fic after I'm done playing.)
The journal entry of the banshees says "Anguished spectre of lingering thread. […] Not a bug but a projection of another's will cast in smog and Silk," and that seems to have been Phantom's will since they disappeared after I beat Phantom, and the Mists cleared up. That makes Phantom seem pretty powerful. Maybe they used the organ, too?
Next I made my way back to Deep Docks to explore the lower area. I found the Forebrothers Signis and Gron and fought them a few times unsuccessfully (the one time I got closest Gron got stuck in the ceiling, ugh.) Then I decided to look at the other side first and found a gauntlet room that took me several tries to beat (stupid explosions), but as a reward I rescued another flea. I keep running low on shards; I can't imagine how expensive it must be to run Architect as your main crest.
I fought Signis and Gron again multiple times during study breaks and got close sometimes but couldn't beat them yet. At the end of the day I did another round of rosary bead farming in the Choral Chambers because I was running so low on shards.
69 hours.
Day 31
I went back to the Memorium and finally got that one shiny thing (a memory locket) behind the thorn parkour that I found really difficult for some reason. Then, thanks to spoilers online, I got the mossberry from the Memorium, the last mossberry from Weavenest Atla, and a tool hidden in Weavenest Atla (a silk snare, hm.) I went back to the moss druid, and the druid finally has enough mossberries now for their work and upgraded my druid eyes trinket in thanks.
Almost 69.5 hours.
Day 32
The plan for today was just Grand Mother Silk practice, and only during timed study breaks, so I'm not tempted to keep exploring. I managed to get to her phase two pretty quickly: like most fights, it's all about patience and keeping track. I'm lasting longer and longer in her second phase, and I'm not even using my tools yet. I'm using Hunter crest because it feels slightly easier to hit her (Wanderer has such a short range) and also because since I'm not taking much damage this is a prime opportunity to build up focus for more damage. Eventually I finally remembered to use clawline for attacks too, it's so good but I don't always think of it immediately.
And then, during my third study break of the day, I finally beat her! I was feeling good and even used a few poison cogflies toward the end, but I was still surprised when I finally succeeded. Other helpful tools equipped were the injector band, the magnetite dice, I suspect the weighted belt was also beneficial though I don't know how much, and I also had the fractured mask though I don't think I needed it. (That was a lot easier than the Radiance, but maybe similar to the Hollow Knight?, which would fit for the first ending. I'm curious how the fight will be for the true ending, though I have a while to go until that still.)
The ending was so cool! Hornet breaking open Grand Mother Silk who is more and more unraveling, more and more inputs of "Bind" being required and at the same time her silk spool becomes longer and longer and her masks change and there are more showing her increase in power, and then the cut scene of the Silk enveloping the whole citadel, and Hornet trapped within and transforming… "Weaver Queen" indeed! *flails*
70:07 hours \o/
There's so much more I want to explore even before act 3, and then there's still act 3, there's so much I'm looking forward to. Fantastic game.
I finally got to the first ending (could have done it earlier but now felt like a good time) and that seems like a good point to post, uh, 9.5k of notes about my playthrough.
Still day 13, I couldn’t resist playing a little bit more. After I fell down into the Underworks I made my way to the next bench – there are several in one room but again, requiring payment. And there's a "confession booth," one that also requires payment, that just says to work more and harder. And the journal entries for all the workers describes how tired and overworked they are. Oof.
I found a "lamp" with light flies, I destroyed it to free them because I remembered a light fly rescuing Hornet at the beginning.
I died twice to a gauntlet room (hopefully not several waves…) and decided to leave it here for tonight.
Day 14
I made my way further through the Underworks. It took me a few tries to make it past that gauntlet room, fortunately only two waves. Then I focused on getting up and out, I left quite a bit unexplored down there I'm sure, but then I made it to the Choral Chambers!
Wow. The eerie atmosphere is fantastic. The giant empty halls, piled corpses and spiderwebs everywhere, the music… And the area is huge.
I met Lace again! So the kingdom is under the thrall of a god, huh? Hornet has already figured it out. Hornet, very emphatically, telling Lace off when Lace doubts her, and saying that those who claim themselves a god are rarely worth the title, yess very cool. Yes, Hornet does know from experience that even gods can fall. Fascinating.
After the confrontation with Lace, the inhabitants of the Citadel "woke up" – some only when Hornet comes close - and are, unsurprisingly, hostile. I made my way further through the Choral Chambers, mostly running through the rooms and trying to avoid the enemies. I found a chamber with an invitation to a performance of some kind and a creature sort of reminiscent of the Grim Troupe on a poster(?)… intriguing, but I left it for now. Thankfully I found the fast travel station, that was a relief. I also found an elevator to "Terminus," interesting…
Instead I traveled back to Bellheart and then Bone Bottom, to see if there were any new guests or wishes. Then I went down to the Moss Grotto again, because I'd accidentally stumbled across spoilers that there was a secret door there that can be opened by playing the needolin. (It's so hard not to look for things – this is a cool thing I'm enjoying right now! I want to dwell on it and see what others think etc.! I'm just glad all spoilers I've seen so far have been minor, like the names of areas or bosses and some item locations, and nothing story-wise.)
I found the door and discovered the Weavenest Atla! And there, Eva. The conversation with her was fascinating: she is not an enemy of the Weavers, but "their prisoner not through malice;" she, too, is "a child of Weavers yet not quite their kin," like Hornet, but not like Hornet, who is "a shifting, blended thing." Crests are a Weaver term for "that signifier of a bug's essence and their invisible yoke born through a lifetime." Eva can look at them, which normal bugs can't. Hornet's nature is "so unlike a mortal bug's," "malleable, transitory," a marvelous thing. (I looked up that scene on a video later to get the quotes because I definitely didn't want to pause while playing.)
Eva upgraded my Hunter's crest, cool, and asked me to come back when I've evolved further. (I got used to the downward pogo of Reaper and Wanderer again, not sure if I want to bother switching again, hm.) I also found another silk spool in the Weavenest and then the boss fight with two moss mothers. A fairly chaotic fight, I tried a few times and then decided to leave it here for the night.
But I've already found another place that looks similar to the needolin Weaver door on the map in Far Fields, definitely going there next.
Day 15
I looked up the reward for beating the two moss mothers, a trinket, and then decided to leave it for later.
I wanted to farm a bit in Greymoor when suddenly I was kidnapped! All possessions stolen and imprisoned in the Slab! Naked Hornet looks really funny. I made my way through the Slab until I got my stuff back, and I found two keys but not the third one. I found a Penitent in a cell that likes to sing along with my music, and an exit to Mount Fay but that's clearly meant for later, I can barely stay there without freezing to death, much less traverse it. Not sure if I can even find the third key in this area yet, so eventually I returned.
I checked out the Weavenest in Far Fields and got a new trinket there for super-sprint, I tried it out afterwards for some farming and it was very convenient. Along the way I talked to the Seamstress again – I hadn't made the connection that she was part of the order of maidens the Pinstress had talked about, neat. Then I went back to the area behind the Deep Docks door because I'd read that there was a cool trinket to find there and it paid off, I can now light my needle on fire, very cool.
Next I went back to the Choral Chambers and climbed up. I didn't figure out how to go sideways at the turning wheel, but made my way upwards and then to the right instead and found the First Shrine – which is now the Songclave! Very cool. I like the Caretaker too, very resigned but willing to try and take care of poor pilgrims drawn here now that Hornet rang the bell, even though they have nothing to offer them.
I found a key that will surely be helpful later, and thankfully another station of the transport elevator close by. Up at the station Terminus it only said its use is forbidden because of the danger, bugs that serve must never die…
I accepted a wish to collect pins from choirbugs, looking at the hunter journal I've barely beaten any so far, I always try to run away instead when I can ^^
I made my way toward the middle and discovered the Cogwork Dancers, but I was low on health already and died before the music really started.
Not sure if I want to try that fight again immediately, or explore the left side of the Choral Chambers, or go back and explore the Underworks some more. Or there's Hunter's Marsh still…
I'm 31 hours in and having a great time.
Day 16
I wanted to enter the Underworks again, but I found out I can't go back the way I did before. I went back to Bone Bottom to check on the wish board, the builder there built a big statue and gave me a small Hornet statue in thanks, aww. Then in Bellhart (took me ages to figure out it's not "Bellheart" btw) I was asked to find the courier's brother and found him in Sinner's Road, so I would have discovered it then at the latest. I delivered supplies to Bone Bottom but I think the other deliveries will be harder to make without getting hit. I also found the lost merchant in the Choral Chambers. I opened the elevator down to the Whiteward – wow, that area is creepy! All kinds of weird experiments, it looks like… and a wheelchair, and a cradle… and I found a trinket used to forcibly insert silk into a bug's shell… *shudders*
From the Whiteward I found a way to the Underworks, where I found what looks like a chained version of Fourth Chorus (and maybe a different giant robot too?, couldn't see it very well, I think I need grapple to get up there, or find another way.) And thankfully another stop of the transport elevator – I really hope Shakra will soon sell me automatic markers for them.
I'm back to using Hunter's crest again, btw. Idk, something about waking up in the Slab with nothing but the original, and how Hornet talked about it with Eva… I decided I wanted to try it again. And the diagonal pogo does feel very good, when I manage to use it properly.
I died and stopped by the Songclave again, where I met Sherma, who's happy to be there but sad about the state of the Citadel. I also had fascinating conversations with the Caretaker! He clearly knows what Hornet is, called her Old One and wondered if she plans to rule here and says fulfilling simple wishes is beneath her. Hornet says he too is hiding his nature and he asked to be permitted his disguise. They also talked about Whiteward and how the bugs were inserting silk inside their shells to prolong their lives and gain immortality, so when the "monarch" arrived all that silk was already there, ready to be grasped (forgot the exact wording. I definitely have to watch a playthrough after I finish playing.)
After Hornet encouraged Sherma to look after the pilgrims in the Songclave, he decided to go down to the Whiteward to look for supplies, uh-oh…
Further exploring the Choral Chambers, I found the way to the Slab (still no Apostate key, sadly), and then the Citadel spa. Then I died a few times to the gauntlet left of it and took a break. Also because I'm running out of shards (without opening my bundles), so while I think I almost had it – not that I know how many waves…
Instead I tried going further up first. I found a cogheart, not that I know what that is useful for yet, and I encountered Garmond and Zaza! Very helpful. I saved Grindle the thief, not that he was especially thankful, oh well. I discovered a dining hall fallen into disrepair, too.
I left the Citadel again to do a tiny bit of sidequesting, like the dagger aiming challenge in the Marrow (took me a few tries, embarrassingly), and I finally got travel elevator – sorry, Ventrica – pins from Shakra, very helpful. I'm almost done filling out Nuu's hunter's journal, to my surprise.
Next: …maybe the Cogwork Dancers? Hm.
Almost 34 hours in.
Day 17
The Cogwork Dancers: what a beautiful fight! I loved that. It only took me a few tries, too. I switched back to Wanderer so I could hit them more often when they stood still. The last part, with only one of them, was so sad… Beautiful. (I bet that fight is going to be modded to be more difficult, maybe with three or four dancers, I can't wait to see that.)
Looking for the Threefold Melody now, hm. First I made my way to the dining hall: I need to bring several dishes to get the oil for my next needle upgrade. I got the mossy stew from the druid immediately, but transporting the courier's rash to the dining hall seems slightly tricky tbh so I decided to leave that for later.
I finally defeated the gauntlet to the left of the Citadel spa and unlocked the Choral Chambers Ventrica. I did some more exploring nearby and also in the Underworks, I found another trinket and silk spool pieces today. Then I tried the gauntlet near the Underworks Ventrica but gave up after several stupid mistakes. Instead I went back to the Cogworks (why are there so many clawmaidens on the way there now, uugh they suck) and found the (lower) Cogwork Core. Where I also immediately discovered a tricky gauntlet that I decided to leave for later. But at least I filled out Nuu's journal, I just have to bring it back to her now.
I was really hoping for a movement upgrade tbh, probably the grapple is next, I'm not sure how to get to any of my three new objectives… Can I figure it out before I get impatient and look it up, is the question ^^ (I did look up if that gauntlet on the left was important and as expected it isn't, though getting another mask shard would be very handy. I'll go back once I have enough that I can complete one.)
I got my own Bellhome! :D Hornet has a residence now! Lovely.
Around 35.5 hours.
Day 18
Did some platforming in the Cogwork Core (using Reaper for the reach, and after I bought the trinket that lets me cling to walls better), but either I'm overlooking something or I need something else to get to the upper part. Instead I went right to the Whispering Vault, where I found a vault keeper looking for music, and what looked like a concert practice room which I lit up and after that there are now more enemies running around… I didn't find a map yet, unfortunately. But I made it down to Trobbio, and then died to him a couple of times. Trobbio is clearly a reference to the Grimm Troupe, an entertainer with a red ~cape etc., so I was looking forward to the fight because I enjoyed fighting Grimm, but Trobbio's fight is very chaotic with all the fireworks and stuff and it's tiring.
I took a break to bring the journal to Nuu and on the way by fortunate happenstance found out that I can get one of the ingredients for the great gourmand from Creige at the Halfway House. I got the beads but then died a few times to the ants below because I got impatient, and then decided to take a break.
I went back to Bellhart and found out that I can buy furniture for my bellhome! Nice. I did some bead farming and bought the desk and the lights. I like quitting the game in the bellhome, Hornet actually lies down on the bed.
Then I went back to Trobbio: there's an achievement for beating him so I'm hoping for a good reward. I'm getting better but it's slow going.
Around 38 hours.
Day 19
I did some more exploration in the Whispering Vaults and freed a flea and found a silk eater and a mask shard, and probably discovered where to go next except I need another ability. I knew how to get three more mask shards so I did the gauntlet near Deep Docks and farmed some beads to buy one off Jubilana (I'll need to get more beads soon, I can now buy my own spa for my bell home) and did the gauntlet in the lower Cogwork Core, and now I have seven masks, nice.
I got frustrated with the Whispering Vaults and looked up where to find the map. With that, I found some pale oil just lying around (I'm glad I found one before satisfying the Great Gourmand!, that's going to take a while I'm sure), and now I have an upgraded shining needle. Shiny.
After that I fought Trobbio a few more times, I'm getting closer, at least.
A little over 40 hours.
Day 20
I beat Trobbio! Only took me a few more tries today, thankfully. I got an achievement for it, but I'd been hoping for an ability as a reward, not a tool. But I got past him and found the Vaultkeepers' melody, at least. The place where I found it, with the dead vaultkeeper lying among the scrolls, is another one in a long list of places with a beautiful background that tells so many stories. Like the chained Fourth Chorus-like constructs in the Underworks.
Then I felt a bit stuck because so many places clearly needed the grappling hook to continue, which I didn't have and I didn't know where it was. So I did a few sidequests, including Sherma's in Whiteward. I'm glad I remembered to play the needolin when I found him, poor guy is having a crisis of faith, unsurprisingly.
From there I decided to check out the left side of the Underworks again. And I did find an area there that I'd missed and found the "Cauldron" and got Clawline! (It took me a while to get out of that room and I had to look it up, idk how long it would have taken me to realize I can use it on enemies.) Then I found the architect there and I only needed a few more tools to get their special key, so I did some rosary bead farming to buy some and I also went back and defeated the Moss Mothers for another one. The key opened the chapel and I now have the Architect crest :) Very cool. I heard it's very powerful, but tbh I haven't really tried it out yet, I rely on my yellow and blue tools too much most of the time.
I went back to Far Fields to check out the thing there only accessible via clawline, turns out it's a very creepy hut with a fight in lava at the end, I'm going to wait until I have double jump for that.
Then I climbed up the upper Cogwork Core, which required some platforming using clawline. The platforming was fun, the most annoying part were the couple of enemies in between tbh. It took me a bit to solve the puzzle at the top, but then I got the second melody, very nice scene.
Another detour: Hunter's Marsh. This time I easily made it past the gauntlet near the entrance and then further in. I heard the trap activate at the bench and didn't manage to get out of the way in time, but I did try to evade right into the mechanism to stop it so that was helpful. I found the chapel and Savage Beastfly; unfortunately because I was careless I was already down to one mask when the fight started and it didn't last very long. The parts I saw didn't seem that hard but I've seen many people curse this fight so I assume it gets a lot worse. That's for later.
What are a few more ants after that, so I finally got the vintage nectar from the cellar of the Halfway House. I unlocked a door in the lower part of the Deep Docks and poked my head in, but left it for later. I also briefly considered making my way through Sinner's Road, and I freed the green prisoner with the simple key I got from Jubilana, but then changed my mind. And there's a couple of other places I could check out now that I have clawline – the game feels so open now, my favorite part.
Next: the last melody. I made my way through High Halls, and it was close but I made it to the bench & ventrica station without dying, go me. I even got the cogflies along the way, haven't really tried them out yet but I've heard they're good. I found another lock for a simple key and wondered if I shouldn't have freed the prisoner yet… I tried the High Halls gauntlet exactly once and then decided to stop there for the night.
Almost 45 hours in.
Day 21
I went to the side to the right of Whispering Vault that required clawline, and down there I discovered Bilewater. Ugh. I'd heard about that place. I also heard there's a tool to negate the maggot effect, fingers crossed I'll find that soon-ish. I died a few times and then left.
Then I started the Grand Hunt in the Slab, the wailing broodmother. I only tried that fight twice and then left.
I remembered that Eva told me to come back once I was further "evolved," so I visited her again and got a "vesti-crest," an additional tool slot no matter the crest, very cool. Blue would have been even better, but a yellow slot isn't bad either.
Then I went to Mount Fay! I got spoiled for the fact that I need to go there for double-jump, but I think I would have checked it out soon-ish anyway even if I didn't know what exactly I could get there, it does promise a substantial reward for the struggle of the climb.
I made it up to the first ~top bit and then down and to the lake, where I died a couple of times without figuring out where I was meant to go, so I took a break there. I looked up the next step and then made it across the lake \o/ and found a bench there, and a trinket. Then I realized that the downside to having a bench here is that now I can't leave unless I make it back out… And the way further is just as difficult. I can do it!, but it takes me a long time to learn each part and progress is slow.
Around 47 hours.
Day 22
It took me a lot more practice, but I finally made it to the top of Mount Fay! Where a giant white fluffy bird appeared, the Fayforn, aww. And gifted me with down for my cloak so now I have double jump :) Beautiful. I really enjoyed Mount Fay overall, it was hard but every step felt doable and I could feel myself getting better. The weavelight trinket was also extremely helpful to always have enough silk for clawline. (I suspect that getting used to double jump will be easier than getting used to clawline since it's a common ability in so many games.)
I found a Mask Maker on Mount Fay, though he said Hornet doesn't need his services, but it still seems like ominous foreshadowing somehow.
There was a new wish on the Songclave wish board to look for the merchant Jubilana, who was missing and was last seen near the Citadel's Memorium, I hadn't even discovered that yet. But fortunately I'd decided to check out the area above the Choral Chambers where I could go now with double jump, and that turned out to be the Memorium, convenient. An area with rooms styled after different areas of Pharloom (including some I clearly haven't discovered yet), with cages and creatures in tubes, and an ominous sign: "Containment fails. Memory lost. Excise outer. Maintain inner. Shellwood stasis sustained – Remember. Marrowlands stasis critical – Remember. Verdanian environment exceeded – Destined to forget." Uh-oh. Maybe Verdania has something to do with the purple lightning plants…
I got the third part of the cogwork heart, I wonder what I'll use that for. I also found a large very angry flea on top of the Citadel in a cage, that gave me the achievement that I rescued half of the fleas. And I have now discovered every ventrica in the Citadel. (There was one more collectible that I left for later because I kept failing the parkour, I looked up what it was and it's a memory locket so I definitely want to get it, and I accidentally found out there's a secret room with another trinket nearby so I'll go back for that too.)
Jubilana, after I rescued her from a bird flock, sold me a "spider strings" tool to enhance the needolin, I'm curious what that will help with. I've tried it in a few places, no special results as of yet.
I also found Grindle's shop near Blasted Steps, convenient. And the dice player's corpse, with his dice next to him. Sad but convenient for me.
I tried out the Memory Crystal tool I found in Mount Fay while rosary bead farming and while I'm not sure how much damage it actually does, the crystal shapes it makes of Hornet are very funny.
After a break I did some more looking around to get some shiny things (some I left bc they were very tricky, like whatever is presumably in the High Halls tower.) I found the Second Sentinel in the Cogwork Core and inserted the cogwork heart, the sentinel said its service is eternal and flew off, curious where that will show up again…
Thanks to spoilers I knew there was a way to turn off claw maidens in the High Halls by destroying their silk repertoire, I did that, a relief because those were very annoying.
Then I tried the High Halls gauntlet a few times, I switched back to Hunter crest again because of the big guy. If I cling to the top of the wall it can't get me, I just need to get the timing right to still be able to get hits in. I got past it once, even.
It would be very helpful to be able to use more trinkets, so I hatched a plan: I went back to Hunter's March to defeat the Savage Beastfly in the chapel of the beast, to get the Beast crest. It only took a couple of tries, but if I didn't have my upgraded needle and tools it would have been a lot harder so I'm glad I didn't try it earlier. (I also found Gilly hiding again, I wonder how many different places I'll find her. Not that I have a specific reason to come back soon.) Like Architect, Beast seems like it'll take some getting used to but could in theory be very powerful for fights. Hmm.
I actually got the crest because I was hoping to get another vesticrest slot from Eva for expanding my powers, but apparently Eva meant something else (presumably another mask, which I also had last time I visited again), unfortunate.
Beating the Savage Beastfly once also unlocked a Grand Hunt wish in Bellheart to beat it again (I assume in a more powerful form.) I currently have three hunts open, clearly my least favorite kind of wish. But this one has a mask shard as a reward so I'll get around to it at the latest when I need a fourth one.
Almost 52 hours.
Day 23
I could not entirely resist looking things up after last time, so I went back to the Citadel Memorium and got the purple lightning tool. Very cool, but it seems a bit tricky to use effectively, probably very situational.
Then, also because of spoilers, I ran across the roof of the Citadel again where I found Jubilana, and found the secret entrance to the Putrified Ducts from there. But that was a very unpleasant entrance and I almost immediately ran into a miniboss(?) and decided to leave that area for later. (Also I prefer not to take too much advantage of spoilers anyway, even as I can't resist checking them out.)
On the way I ran through the hallway between the Cogwork Core and the Songclave and found the Second Sentinel fight one of the choir guys there: it won, saluted, and flew off. Interesting.
I'd also looked up how to get another vesticrest from Eva, apparently with getting another crest I was on the right track but I also need to use more memory lockets, and I tried that but it didn't work. Hm. Maybe even more.
I tried the High Halls gauntlet a few more times and then decided to explore Sinner's Road instead. I handed in the roach guts and finally got the tacks, I've seen that tool recommended a lot. I found disgraced chef Lugoli, but decided to leave them for later. (I suspect I'm going to need to defeat them to get an ingredient for the great gourmand's meal.)
I continued through Sinner's Road – it's a lot easier to traverse with the faydown cloak!, I bet I would have hated that without. I got a simple key by defeating a miniboss, and I found a bench near a creature called Styx that really wants to be my slave because the weak should serve the strong. Hornet is understandably unhappy with being called mistress, but Styx does craft silkeaters so that at least is useful.
I found the Mists, unfortunately when I was affected by maggots, and stumbled around aimlessly for a while since the area changes constantly. Reminiscent of that one creepy forest from Ori; and like in Ori I hope there's a lantern or other tool I can find that will stabilize the area. No luck yet.
I also found an entrance to Bilewater, behind a breakable wall, and eventually I made my way there. Again, double jump was extremely helpful. Thankfully I eventually found a bell travel station, that was a relief. I found another entrance to the Mists, but again didn't get any further than just running around avoiding the banshees. I tried playing the needolin with the spider silks there, just in case, but no effect.
I finally found Shakra after that, so now I know that Bilewater is quite big and I still have a lot of it to explore.
I took a break from Bilewater, went back to High Halls and opened the door with the simple key there. That led me to a treasure chamber of sorts, and I also found a rosary cannon. Haven't tried that out yet but sounds fun. Though once again I'm wondering if that was the right choice or if I should have opened up Wormways first >.<
I got annoyed that I still didn't have a map for Sinner's Road, so I went back there and looked around, and when I still couldn't find Shakra I looked it up. No idea how I overlooked that… Conveniently the guide also told me about the trapped bench (and where to go to fix it) so I didn't waste any rosaries there. (Also, again, that must be so much more annoying without clawline and double jump.)
I went back to Bilewater and made my way up, past the stupid acid-or-poison-spewing floating things; I almost made it up to the next bench (or at least where I think it probably is, signs point to an alcove) but not quite.
Then I gave up and looked up a hint about the Mist. Apparently I need to play the needolin and follow the butterflies. Since I didn't notice anything when I tried playing the needolin there I think it would have taken me a very long time to even consider that… (In hindsight, I think comparing it to Ori was a red herring because I was fixated on an item to help me. The light butterflies have been helpful in the past, like freeing Hornet in the trailer, so I do think I could have figured it out. And as expected I regret it a little. Not too much though, thankfully.)
Anyway, I tried a few times and I do think I got to a different room, at least, but then there were more and more banshees and I died a few times and then stopped there.
Around 55 hours.
Day 24
I thought I would try to find my way through the Mist today but I tried once more and the banshee annoyed me so much that I left immediately. Instead I decided to finally take on the Skull Tyrant in the Marrow, which only took me 3 tries iirc, thanks to Wanderer crest.
That gave me confidence so I fought the Broodmother again. But that was much less fun so I left after two attempts.
I went back to the Wormways to see if I'd overlooked something there and I found a captured flea I rescued.
Then I went to the Blasted Steps in the hopes of finding the Sands of Karak, because I knew it was somewhere above but not how to get there. First I found a breakable wall near Grindle's shop where I got a beast shard and found a bunch of larva who sang about getting stronger and holy to serve the citadel. Then I went back to the Pinstress and from there I found the Sands! Very cool. I found Shakra already, now I just have to find a bench.
Instead I found an area with soo many spikes I had to destroy, I died often. The Pinstress kept telling me that she's getting sick of my presence, I was starting to get concerned she's going to throw me out or start a fight, when I finally realized that I'd already unlocked a shortcut to the bench at Blasted Steps. That made things a lot easier, and it was all worth it because I found a crustnut! That means I know where all the ingredients for the gourmand quest are! Getting another needle upgrade would make so many things easier, so I immediately went back to Sinner's Road to fight chef Lugoli a few more times. And by "a few" I mean several. It took me a while to learn the movements enough to make it to the second phase with my needle alone, and then in the second phase I just spammed poison spike traps and poison cogflies until the chef was dead. (The cogflies are very cute.)
Now all I need is the courier's rasher! …yeah. Unlike the Delicate Flower quest in HK I don't need to do it hitless, at least, but every hit means less time so I can take probably one hit, two at most. I'll have to work backwards removing the enemies first, but that'll take a while, and then get lucky. I'll do that tomorrow. Maybe I should also practice some parts of the route. And a video thankfully reminded me that I have flea brew, that should help.
After that, I'll follow Shakra's wish to go find her mentor, looking forward to that but I assume it can't hurt to have a sharper needle for it.
Around 58 hours.
Day 25
I wanted to check out a new route for the meat delivery that I saw in a video (take the elevator to the right of Bellhart up to where Widow was and then left through upper Shellwood), overshot and visited the flea caravan again. They decided to move, so I traveled with them to right before the Grand Gate. I also got another half a silk spool from them in thanks for freeing so many fleas, so I bought another half from Grindle – I have so many now that not recovering my cocoon makes a significant difference.
I'd looked up the requirements for the second vesticrest slot again and realized I was only one memory locket use away, so I used the last one I had and unlocked a blue slot for the Architect crest; I don't think I will use that crest very often because the shard cost is very high, but maybe sometimes.
I made my way to Eva via Bone Bottom, when Bone Bottom was suddenly attacked by a skull tyrant! It took me by surprise and when it destroyed the flimsy bridge I jumped down to escape, and made my way to Eva where I indeed got that second, blue vesticrest slot. That's going to be very convenient. Probably most of the time I'll have Ascendant's Grip in the yellow and Weavelight in the blue slot, I suspect. (Other blue trinkets: I really like using Memory Crystal for its passive damage, and of course Poison Pollip. But for fights the injector needles + multi-bind are very powerful, so I'll probably switch out the crystal and weavelight for that.)
I climbed up again and killed the skull tyrant first try. I checked if some bugs were hiding in the bellway travel station and when I came out Flick was already trying to repair the bench!, resilient little guy.
I practiced the route for the rasher delivery a little, especially in the Blasted Steps, and cleared the enemies on route in the Citadel. Then, next try for the actual delivery! I got hit once by a stupid conchfly, and I'd forgotten to equip the flea brew, but I narrowly made it \o/ A relief to have that done. The great gourmand got its meal, I got more pale oil, and pinmaster Pinney refined my needle further. It's a hivesteel needle now, with the hive banding revealed. Hornet told Pinney the needle was a gift from a noble tribe from her homeland, but it's long since passed. (Is that the Hive from Hollow Knight, or was that merely a descendant off-shoot, the remains taken by the infection, from the noble tribe it once was. How long has it been since the events of Hollow Knight…)
I still want to make the courier deliveries to Pilgrim's Rest and Songclave eventually. And there's a new delivery quest, Queen's Egg, intriguing… but first: helping Shakra find her master in Bilewater (of course it had to be Bilewater.)
That broken bench! *shakes fist*
I finally found Shakra and the body of her master, in a beautiful cave full of purifying water, and we sang together (well, Shakra sang and Hornet played the needolin.) Shakra finally called me Hornet Wielding Needle, instead of Child Wielding Needle. Then Shakra gave me throwing rings in memory of her master. Very nice.
Then I went back because I'd read there was a secret bench in Bilewater. I looked it up and I'm very glad I found it, climbing up here every time from the bellway station would have really sucked. I found the beginnings of a settlement called Bilehaven and entered an arena; I died in the gauntlet but I know that I'll fight Groal here.
Not entirely decided if I want to do that now or later because I've heard the Groal fight sucks (and the runback isn't fun either), but otoh, a settlement is very tempting. Maybe I'll watch a couple of videos in advance to speed up the learning process.
After a break – and some practicing so I could make it to the arena without falling into maggot water, though in practice I still failed but then discovered there's enough silk in a room above to rid myself of them – I immediately made it to Groal, and the boss himself doesn't seem too tricky (overconfidence speaking probably), it was the summons that killed me. The next few tries I didn't even make it to the boss. I almost want to take a break and do other stuff first but then I'd have to make my way up here again…
The lore tablets show that the inhabitants here really hate the citadel: "Their shells are ours. Their souls are ours. Our hate is forever," and "Hate for their light. Hate for their pins. For their waste poured thick and endless. Fill your hearts with hate, for power has now been claimed, and with it we shall punish." Intriguing. Yeah if the citadel poured their waste into the area (maybe not always called Bilewater?) of course they hate them. "Power has now been claimed" is intriguing.
Almost 60 hours.
Day 26
More practice of the runback to Groal, the gauntlet, and increasingly often Groal himself. I tried the cheese method (hiding in the water) but still died a couple of times because I was already low by the time I was done with the gauntlet and there are some things that can hit you still. I'm pretty sure I almost had him at least twice but I ran out of tools and was rapidly burning through shards, so I decided to only use tools in the second phase. I switched to a combination of clawline + water for a bit, and I'm definitely improving, at least. My least favorite part for a while were the green flies in the gauntlet, but they at least got a little easier once I remembered to use my charged attack.
I have seriously considered going elsewhere and coming back later, hopefully with another upgrade or two, but otoh I shouldn't play too much rn anyway so a couple of rounds in between study sessions are just fine and this is the perfect time for this. I should try the other grand hunts after this maybe (though Broodmother felt even less fun somehow, amazingly.)
Around 62 hours.
Day 27
A few more tries, and then a new plan: I'm allowed to quit this fight and go elsewhere for now after I've done a good amount of studying for the day.
That took a while, but I finally got to it in the evening. First I went to the unknown area under Deep Docks, but immediately died a few times and then left again. Then I went to the Sands of Karak, where I struggled with the platforming, so I left the climb up the tower for later. But I did find a bench and a simple key, and with that I finally opened the door in the Wormways.
That opened up an entire new area and I found the Weavenest Karn, where I bound a new silk skill, sharp dart. It certainly looks cool! Situational use I think, since it seems like it needs better positioning, but with some practice could probably be very good.
I died more often in the Wormways than I'd like to admit, but eventually I found the alchemist Zylotol, who's researching "Plasmium" – the blue flowers we already saw in Hollow Knight. I helped him collect the extract (and found the corpse of his assistant, with a blue butterfly flower growing around it, beautiful scene) and got plasmium phials in return. I assume they work like Lifeblood in HK, could definitely be helpful.
Around 63.5 hours.
Day 28
I decided it's time: I'm going to try and continue with the main quest. (Partially so I can watch any% speedruns tbh.) I went back to the High Halls and this time Shakra was there to offer her help. That was extremely useful, especially for the big guys (I basically summoned my poison cogflies, clung to the walls and let them and Shakra do most of the work.) With her help, I beat the gauntlet first try.
I got the conductor's melody and made a stop at Songclave to see if the shrine keeper would have anything to say. He didn't, but I did see a wish by the Second Sentinel for a "final audience." On the way there next to the Cogwork Dancers arena I ran across the Green Prince holding the remains of one of the dancers. He said that his partner gave his whole to create these, his shell and soul became the mould, in desperate trade to keep their caves safe; which didn't work. Another tragedy :(
The final audience with the Second Sentinel turned out to be a fight to test Hornet's willpower and see if she's been affected by the silk curse. That fight was a lot of fun! Only took me 3-4 tries, thanks in large parts to Wanderer's crest and the multi-bind & injector band combo. I'm glad Hornet and the Second Sentinel then parted as friends.
Then I played the threefold melody for the three great Citadel constructs (?) – in hindsight, I really should have equipped the spider silks for this, it wasn't necessary but it would have been fitting. I meant to but forgot.
I ascended on the elevator and found Lace lying in a field of white roses that looks almost floating atop a raised platform. Kind of surreal, almost, after the very, hm, tangible build of the Citadel.
It took me many tries to learn her patterns, but it was a very fun fight once I did. I used Wanderer again, and the poison cogflies for the very last part. I beat her with one mask remaining :)
So Lace is a being spun solely from silk, and she thinks that means she's empty; "Life? You're too generous! This weak, wasting existence. This was not life, just a husk shaped to act as a child." while Hornet tries to reassure her that "yours was life, pale one. Do not confuse your unique creation with its absence. I have seen others make the same mistake." Lace calls Hornet spider here, and she tells her Hornet that Hornet is the one her holy mother wants, oof. Then she lies down with a cry (and doesn't react to the needolin either.)
And then mysterious text while Hornet consumes a second silk heart: "better a child spun mad than none… better a child spun frail than none… From our Silk… A child born loyal…"
I continued into the "Cradle", the top of the citadel, and in a room to the side I found cages with inscriptions of who they were for: people with Weaver ancestry, an eighth or quarter, in weakened states, that were taken from various places, uh-oh.
I talked with the shrine keeper about Lace and he agreed that she's a singular creation, and that she tried to keep the peace in the Citadel, of course that generally meant killing anyone she thought didn't fit. (I forgot the wording.) Lace's journal entry reads "Manic fencer who delights in battle. A bug born entirely of thread. Much Silk would have been needed to see her sustained. A fragile form of life, but life nonetheless."
Then I climbed to the top of the Cradle and challenged the being on top, pulsing in a giant glowing ball of silk: Grand Mother Silk. (In HK you could only challenge the Radiance for the true ending, which made it feel extra special. Here I'm certain this isn't the true ending yet.)
I fought Grand Mother Silk a few times, even made it to the second stage once, and then decided to take a break.
I'd looked up things to do before act 3 and one of them was duelling Shakra, so I went back to Bellheart and did that a few times. Not an easy fight by any means! I died very quickly several times, but I think I also got close a few times and I'm improving.
But I got confirmation that act 3 doesn't automatically begin when I beat Grand Mother Silk (I was pretty sure but still good to hear) so maybe I'll try to get to the credits first.
65.5 hours.
Day 29
My gf was here and I showed her what I'd done since last time. I visited the conductor again, who had new dialogue, first about his role and then: "The mantle of rule, claimed greedily from Pharloom's fading first children, those bitter Weavers… it was yoke, not crown. Now, in our Citadel's silence, we share their truth. Only one monarch's claws ever clutched this kingdom, though we raised our voices to cry otherwise. Would you see her, pilgrim? Up there at our Citadel's crown? Reach those heights we'd hoped to hide and bow before this land's true ruler." Iiinteresting. So the bugs of the Citadel took over from the fading Weavers and tried to restrict Grand Mother Silk to the top of the Citadel (but still experimented with silk in the Whiteward etc.), but failed? From the conversation with the shrine keeper I'd assumed GMS came from outside, but this sounds more like she, like the Weavers, were from here.
I showed my gf the Grand Mother Silk fight (I died very quickly), and also the duel with Shakra – and this time I won! First try! With one mask left, go me.
I showed her a video of the second Lace fight and wanted to show her the silk heart dialogue too, which is how I found out that there's apparently slightly different dialogue possibilities there, and also that there's a silk heart somewhere in Whiteward. I went back to Whiteward to look around (which I would have done at some point anyway, most likely) and was annoyed I'd completely forgotten/not even marked that there's a very obvious floor opening requiring a key. I went through the entire area again – still creepy – and found the surgeon's key, which opened the floor and dropped me into a fight with "The Unravelled." Took me only two tries to beat them, go me, and I got my third (and final) silk heart. With creepy dialogue: "…Their voices… Their song… bind their shells… They are ours… Bound forever…" The journal entry is also tragic, calling the mobs there living silk possessing the shells of dead bugs and the Unravelled "The souls of so many bugs, obsessed with Silk, consumed by it. Their pain shall forever remain in that pit. Even I do not possess strength enough to cleanse it."
I also found a psalm cylinder with the sounds of conductor Mizello's last surgery *shudders* (I assume there's a psalm cylinder for every area of the Citadel, unfortunately I didn't keep track where I've already found one.)
Back at the Songclave I found Garmond and Zaza there, resting and preparing to protect the camp; which according to comments I've read means I've missed the opportunity to duel them. Unfortunate, because I think I finally have an idea how to get to that area to the top right of Whispering Vaults (last time I just fell down into Bilewater but pretty sure there has to be something on the way down.) But I died to the sawblades and decided to stop there for the day.
I looked up the Garmond and Zaza duel and fortunately it doesn't seem like a fight I'm that sad about missing out on, looks fairly standard.
I looked at my achievement tracker: I found 16/18 silk spools, but only 9/20 mask shards, heh.
On the one hand I have no reason to rush beating GMS, but otoh I told myself that getting to the credits would be a good point to finally clean up and post these notes and I'm starting to look forward to that ^^ (Yes I could post them at any point but getting to a good stopping point would be nice.)
66.5 hours.
Day 30
I did make it up onto the roofs of the Whispering Vaults, and I didn't find Garmond and Zaza there but I did rescue a flea. And I found another psalm cylinder, I brought it to the Vaultkeeper and that completed his collection. Lucky, I thought I'd probably missed one somewhere. When I then returned to Bellhart to string up the rosary beads it turns out the vaultkeeper sent them a gramophone to sell to me, very nice! It's now installed in my bellhome.
I finally did the Pilgrim's Rest supply delivery, and I found the little pilgrim from Bone Bottom there. He introduced himself as Pilby, nice to mee him. (I found out online that if you do the skull tyrant wish earlier, in act 1 before Pilby moves on, he dies when the skull tyrant attacks Bone Bottom, and the other pilgrims have a funeral for him. I love the little details.)
Then I went back to Hunter's March to fight the gauntlet on top (it's not that hard but last time I got there I didn't know how long it would be and couldn't be bothered) and got Curveclaw from there.
Then I tried the Mists again, this time slaying the banshees instead of trying to outrun them, which worked much better. I followed the light butterflies to the Exhaust Organ, where I found Phantom, playing a massive organ with their mask off. Learning that fight was fun: it really clicked once I started using clawline to attack them in the air. Having double jump also helped to avoid their ground attacks, the windswept anklets were helpful to avoid the aoe attacks, and I used poisoned tools in the last phase (I even switched to Hunter's Crest so I could use more tools, but I don't think I even used half of them.) The attack to take them out was a separate input called "parry," and I learned the silk skill cross stitch, intriguing.
Phantom's journal entry says "Mournful creature tasked alone to expel the Citadel's choking refuse. Their talent with a longpin is unmatched. Through grey with age, their frayed form suggested a being strung from Silk, one who welcomed a decisive end in combat over a slow decline." Hm, so a Silk creature like Lace? But one given a much worse job. Older, apparently, since Hornet calls Lace a child. Maybe a first, perhaps unsatisfactory attempt? (Sidenote, I automatically called Phantom "she" at first until I reread the journal entry, likely because of the comparison with Lace.)
I would have missed this, but thanks to comments online I saw that when you play the needolin next to the mirror in the Exhaust Organ you get brief spectres of Phantom in the mirror (/tube?) and Lace standing in front of it, and the words "She spun us to break… she spun us to fade… Why us, sister? Why us?" (It's unclear who is talking, but my guess is Lace since Phantom is inside the mirror/tube and not confirmed even awake. Lace did repeatedly emphasize that Hornet's quest is futile because there's no sense going up against the divine and her doubts as to her being alive seem to sit deep, and we don't actually know Phantom's feelings on her creator at all. So it's technically not even confirmed that Phantom knows about Lace, I guess, but Lace definitely knows about Phantom, and I'd say it's likely they knew each other. I'm definitely going to look for fic after I'm done playing.)
The journal entry of the banshees says "Anguished spectre of lingering thread. […] Not a bug but a projection of another's will cast in smog and Silk," and that seems to have been Phantom's will since they disappeared after I beat Phantom, and the Mists cleared up. That makes Phantom seem pretty powerful. Maybe they used the organ, too?
Next I made my way back to Deep Docks to explore the lower area. I found the Forebrothers Signis and Gron and fought them a few times unsuccessfully (the one time I got closest Gron got stuck in the ceiling, ugh.) Then I decided to look at the other side first and found a gauntlet room that took me several tries to beat (stupid explosions), but as a reward I rescued another flea. I keep running low on shards; I can't imagine how expensive it must be to run Architect as your main crest.
I fought Signis and Gron again multiple times during study breaks and got close sometimes but couldn't beat them yet. At the end of the day I did another round of rosary bead farming in the Choral Chambers because I was running so low on shards.
69 hours.
Day 31
I went back to the Memorium and finally got that one shiny thing (a memory locket) behind the thorn parkour that I found really difficult for some reason. Then, thanks to spoilers online, I got the mossberry from the Memorium, the last mossberry from Weavenest Atla, and a tool hidden in Weavenest Atla (a silk snare, hm.) I went back to the moss druid, and the druid finally has enough mossberries now for their work and upgraded my druid eyes trinket in thanks.
Almost 69.5 hours.
Day 32
The plan for today was just Grand Mother Silk practice, and only during timed study breaks, so I'm not tempted to keep exploring. I managed to get to her phase two pretty quickly: like most fights, it's all about patience and keeping track. I'm lasting longer and longer in her second phase, and I'm not even using my tools yet. I'm using Hunter crest because it feels slightly easier to hit her (Wanderer has such a short range) and also because since I'm not taking much damage this is a prime opportunity to build up focus for more damage. Eventually I finally remembered to use clawline for attacks too, it's so good but I don't always think of it immediately.
And then, during my third study break of the day, I finally beat her! I was feeling good and even used a few poison cogflies toward the end, but I was still surprised when I finally succeeded. Other helpful tools equipped were the injector band, the magnetite dice, I suspect the weighted belt was also beneficial though I don't know how much, and I also had the fractured mask though I don't think I needed it. (That was a lot easier than the Radiance, but maybe similar to the Hollow Knight?, which would fit for the first ending. I'm curious how the fight will be for the true ending, though I have a while to go until that still.)
The ending was so cool! Hornet breaking open Grand Mother Silk who is more and more unraveling, more and more inputs of "Bind" being required and at the same time her silk spool becomes longer and longer and her masks change and there are more showing her increase in power, and then the cut scene of the Silk enveloping the whole citadel, and Hornet trapped within and transforming… "Weaver Queen" indeed! *flails*
70:07 hours \o/
There's so much more I want to explore even before act 3, and then there's still act 3, there's so much I'm looking forward to. Fantastic game.
