Have a chat about parental issues why don't you
I wanna see something
(don’t vote if you haven’t played hollow knight)
GUYS
GUYS ITS SO FUCKING OBVIOUS WHAT HAPPENED TO GREENPATH VESSEL OH MY GOD.
EVERYONE WHO SAID HORNET DID IT IS WRONG AND HERE'S WHY.
Ok so. One of Greenpath Vessel's (Geep for short) most notable traits is that their nail is stabbed into them. Why would Hornet stab them with their own mail instead of her needle? That's right because she didn't do it.
But that begs the question, if Hornet didn't do it, then who did?
They did it to themselves.
Now that might sound absurd until you realize that there is AN EXTREMELY NOTABLE VESSEL THAT ALSO STABS THEMSELVES.
THATS RIGHT BABY ITS THE HOLLOW KNIGHT.
In conclusion, Geep is doing the EXACT. SAME. THING. That Hollow did. The only difference is that they were much weaker, and though were most definitely infected didn't have the ENTIRE SOURCE of it inside their head.
Remember to look both ways before crossing the street
comission
I think something else to note since my other post about PK is getting attention: is that unless someone knows what they're doing, dreams cannot be controlled.
This is why the Radiance is so damn dangerous: she will find a crack and worm her way in, promising sweet things that the average person can't fight back against. Every single uninfected person with is lucky to not have come under her radar/hasn't been there long enough/has a very strong will and sense of self. Even then, the strongest of wills can break (as evidenced with Holly) and it's only a matter of time before she claims everything.
They can fight back in dreams, but they can't control them. PK is not a dream god, just knows enough about the realms and has enough power to bullshit his way through this whole plan and the moving of the palace. That also means since he's not inherently a dream god and doesn't know everything, the White Palace ends up shifting and twisting into the platforming hell it is now. He doesn't have full control over it, and his emotions will dictate how it ends up being.
The only two beings that we know of that can control dreams in some way is the Radiance and Grimm. Grimm too is definitely the weaker one, being stuck in the nightmare realm and having to do this ritual. I think it's safe to say Radi and him probably got into some sort of feud (that Radi probably started with what we know of both of their personalities) and it lead to the realms separating. Everyone else is subject to their unconscious mind, and both Gods can take advantage if they want to. Grimm doesn't seem to interested in doing so other than harvesting essence, but Radi sure does, as that is a core mechanic of how the infection works.
Now the biggest question is: can a dream be sustained after its host is dead?
If we assume no, then maybe with Grimm's or Radi's intervention it can keep going, but I doubt it would work forever and would be draining on them both. They'd have to have a damn good reason to keep a dream alive.
But also if we assume no, the fuck is going on with the White Palace? Is the king somehow still alive in some form?
Though if the answer is yes, then the White Palace is a graveyard, a lingering fragment in the Dream Realm, and one that will fade with time.
All sorts of fun headcanons can come from just the concept of the dream realms alone. Being a fan of the Yume Nikki games, I think I like the idea of the King not being in full control of his dreams and a lot of the internal guilt and grief and wanting to run away from it all manifesting as a result. And you have to wonder just how it remains there when the King is seemingly dead...
There is truly no greater love than taking your most adored fictional character and throwing them into the emotionally-devastating angst fueled trash compactor and pressing every single button on the machine just to see what will happen