Hk Pale King - Blog Posts

A fragment of an animatic I'm working on

I can't stop looking at it, I'm excited to finish this project aaaa

Torniamo alle origini once more. Jesus bug

i have lots of feelings about the Pale King too

fanart of the hk fic: i am learning again to live with scars by @resha04

this fic was a lovely read! i had to draw something in appreciation haha, its what i envisioned when i read the final sentences of chapter 16!

if its hard to decipher at all (which, no blame i did a very quick sketch) it is hallow holding pk, ghost reaching for him, dawn (broken vessel) snuggling closer and pk hugging them- the light is not the radiance, do not fret!

if your intrigued at all, please do check the fic out!

What is with the Dreamers' Houses?!?! Part 3.7 Lurien's Spire - WHAT is WRONG with Lurien's Office?!?!

Welcome back! Do you remember the last part where I was talking about how Patriotic Lurien was with all the Hallownestian crests?

I was about to leave it off here, until I realized something strange. There are no King’s Idols in Lurien’s Spire. Mr.-Certified-Pale-King-Fanboy has no King’s Idol from which he would worship the Pale King. What kind of fan would not have an idol or picture of his king? Especially in his bedroom!

Again, I was going to leave it even after checking the Hollow Knight wiki. Tumblr/Ao3 artist Aspidike already wrote a whole comic on it after all, so why should I spend time on it?

Looking back on it, I really should have spent more time wondering why Lurien has no King’s Idols to worship the Pale King when HERRAH is shown to be more religious than him. The Spider Queen has a Shrine inside her den while Lurien doesn’t even have a single idol or a chapel!

I only began to look deeper at the lack of King’s Idols in Lurien’s Spire when I realized there is something else missing in the Watcher’s Spire. Take a look at the carpet in Lurien’s Office.

Why does Lurien have purple carpet that completely covers the floor? Even wrapping around the pillars leading up to his Office?  Why when everywhere else in his Spire has RED flooring and Hallownestian seals…

And that’s when it hit me. Not only are there no King’s Idols in Lurien’s Spire, but there is also nothing of the Pale King in Lurien’s Office a.k.a where he lays slumbering.

Look at Lurien’s Office again.

No painting of the Pale King, only that of the City. No massive window of the Hallownest Seal, only open windows.  There are Hallownest Seals on the banners…but no Monarach Wings.

Please, allow me to explain the importance of the lack of Monarch Wings. Take a look down below at the kinds of Hallownest Seals seen across Hallownest.

The above photo is a drawing as I suck at photoshop.

Design 1 or the Seal design is most reminiscent of the Pale King with his Monarch Wings, hence why it will be often referred to as the Monarch’s Seal in this essay.

Design 2 or the Crest design is the most often seen crest design across all of Hallownest. It is the center or base that Designs 1 & 3 form their own designs on. I often take it to mean Hallownest itself versus the Monarch’s Seal which brings to mind the Pale King.

Design 3 is the design, which to my knowledge, is only seen in the City of Tears, especially on the noble’s side of the City. Originally, I called it Plumage Design and pondered whether or not this was an allusion to the Pale King, but now I believe it is a homage to the White Lady. See the comparison down below.

Part of the reason why I am making such a big deal out of the different designs is due to the Medieval heritage the game Hollow Knight draws on. If kings, knights, and keeping your oaths to your lords is greatly important to the game, then having a coat of arms and its impact are not a stretch. We already saw this in Monomon’s portion of the essay when we realized that Monomon was the one in charge of the Teacher’s Archives. Due to the lack of Hallownestian crests (or anything of Hallownest) as well as symbols in the benches being Monomon’s mask, we concluded that the Teacher’s Archives was not part of Hallownest proper, but rather natural territory under Monomon’s direct charge.

Having three different Hallownestain crests is vital. While the standard Design 2 or the Crest design allows one to tell that the messenger is from Hallownest versus the Mosskin, Designs 1 and 3 allow us to tell if the message came from the Pale King or White Lady themselves. The common Hallownestian official might only bear the Crest Design while servants in the White Palace bear Designs 1 & 3. Though I bet the Queen’s gardeners only bore the Plumage Design.

With this in mind, let us turn back to Lurien’s Spire to see which crests he bears throughout.

These are all locations through-out the Watcher’s Spire containing different versions of Hallownestian crests. Now please compare these with that of Lurien’s personal Office and Final Resting Place.

Here is the ONLY Place I found the 1st design or Monarch Seal in Lurien’s Office… If you actually can count it since it’s OUTSIDE his office.

The two places where the Monarach Wings appear in Lurien’s Office are in two locations that are OUTSIDE his office. The first is on the Spire’s wall which is just typical City of Tears architecture while the second winged crest is on the elevator.  AKA, a standard design that is easily removed from the room.

What does this mean for Lurien, the fandom’s Pale King fanboy, with nothing of the Pale King inside his office? This is supposed to be Lurien’s personal space where there would be tons of Pale King merch and references. Yet, upon closer examination, not only are there no references to the Pale King, but Lurien went out of his way to hid any references to the White Lady as well! The purple carpet extends all the way down, hiding Design 3 or the White Lady’s crest!

Forget any blacklash from an shocked fandom, the lack of references to the Royal Couple in Lurien’s Office reeks of possible danger for the Watcher. Lurien is the 3rd most powerful bug in Hallownest, right underneath the Pale King and White Lady. Such massive influence needs to be massively watched and carefully checked to ensure that the Watcher doesn’t use that power against the Royal Couple. Yet the Watcher, in his own personal office, does not have any direct reference to either of them.

We do not know how the Royal Couple would feel that Lurien went out of his way to not show any direct alliegance in his private workspace and room. 

Now, I already know what you are thinking. Lurien’s canon dialogue in the Dream Realm. “For King Beloved…to sleep and serve…” It seems as if all of his dialogue is suggesting the exact opposite picture of Lurien’s Office, that he put the Pale King above everything…but the Pale King isn’t the only reason why he became a Dreamer. To quote Lurien’s last journel entry:

“Sleep beckons eternal and these words become my last. Though my gaze shall no longer fall upon this city, I will act forever in its protection. For King, for bug, for Hallownest, I head now to my rest.”

Lurien is a poet. 2)  His actions are for the forever protection of his City. 3) Lurien’s reasons for acting are not solely for the Pale King, but for bug and Hallownest. This is important as it shows Lurien separates Hallownest from the Pale King in his mind.

While Lurien DID say “For King Beloved”, there is nothing of Pale King inside Lurien’s personal Office. It seems like the care Lurien had for the Pale King was like the love Americans have for their flag, unwilling to let the flag touch the ground…but not going so far to have the flag inside their bedrooms…unless the love for the flag goes beyond patriotism to nationalism.

Finally, what does this lack of crests mean for Lurien’s character? I am afraid that I will have to dive into symbolism to explain as a certain Watcher doesn’t have much dialogue.

The lack of Monarch crest on the banners shows how Lurien always put Hallownest first, not the Pale King’s interests.  Lurien could have snuck in one of the bigger banners with the Monarch crests, but chose the smaller banner with Design 2 to hang instead. Symbolically, this shows how Lurien’s heart with the kingdom first.

The lack of the Plumage Crests was brought about by Lurien redoing the floors, turning the red floor to purple carpet. As seen before in previous essays, the color red is associated with the nobles and the majority of the Plumage Crests are seen on the noble’s side of the City. Meanwhile, the color purple is primarily seen in Lurien’s Spire AKA Lurien’s color. Just as purple takes from both red and blue to rise to higher wisdom, inspiration, and humility, so Lurien rises above the roots to see a bird’s eye view of the whole culture of Hallownest, not just the nobles who grow (pun intended) from the White Lady.

The open windows has its own symbolism as Team Cherry could have given Lurien’s Office those magnificent Monarch crest windows. Instead, they chose to not just have no seal, but almost no window. Practically, this means Lurien can easily reposition his telescope anywhere so he can see everywhere in the City. But what about symbolism? The answer is that Lurien can see everything CLEARLY and without basis. He sees what is truly there, not what the Pale King wants him to see or expects him to see. Lurien isn’t even plagued by his own personal weakness or anger that could cause the glass to fog up. He can SEE.

Yes, Monomon. You can stop listing all the things wrong with the City. Lurien already has your list and THEN some. 

Here we are at the end of this section and I cannot believe that CAREPT of all things would reveal how Lurien's loyalty is to Hallownest first, not the Pale King.

If you wish to read more of the Essay, click one of these links below.

Part 1.0: Herrah's Den : Here

Part 2.0: Monomon's Archives: Here

Part 3.0: Lurien's Spire: Here

Part 3.25: Lurien's Spire: Windows and Colors: Here

Part 3.5: Even More of Lurien's Spire. Here

Part 3.7: What is WRONG with Lurien's Spire? (You are here)

Part 3.8: Even, even More of Lurien's Spire: Secret Room: Click here

Part 3.9 Watcher Knight Boss Room! Here

Part 4.0 What We Know We Don't Know About the Dreamers' Houses: Click Here

Link to essay on Ao3: Here

If you have thoughts you wish to share, please feel free to comment or reblog! Especially with the above observation!

What is with the Dreamers' Houses?!?! Part 3.5 Lurien's Spire - Pillows & Patriotism

Yes, you read the title right! We're talking about the pillows in Lurien's Spire!

Basically, I ran across a few articles calling the Watcher gaudy and greedy, lumping him with Hallownestian nobles. The Watcher, however, is not gaudy like the nobles of Hallownest. Before we bring in the pillows, let us compare the pictures down below.

Vs. the Watcher's Spire.

While there is a lot of details going on in all three photos, it is far easier to filter out Lurien’s Spire than the nobles. The purple in the Watcher’s Spire calms the player versus the red constantly popping in the noble’s houses.

That, and it took me four years before I realized that Lurien had wallpaper while every detail of the noble's houses was screaming in my face.

Now, we can bring in the pillows. We shall point out the pillows, discuss their arrangement, and what both say of the characters of the nobles and the Watcher himself.

In the noble houses, all the pillows are in the center of the room.

Meanwhile, in the Watcher’s Spire, the pillows are by the windows.

All the pillows in the nobles’ houses are facing the center where the nobles can be the focal point of attention. Where the point could be is either the red couches or the pillows themselves, but any visitor would certainly be hyper-focused on the noble by the mere seating arrangement.

If this was not the City of Tears that we know, such an arrangement could show how everyone is focused on the people and community. Unfortunately, we know thanks to the Dream Nail how all the nobles were overprotective of their geo. The arrangement of the pillows and seating of the guests was only to show off a noble’s wealth, not foster familial ties.

The Watcher’s Spire, however, has the opposite arrangement of pillows. The seating arrangement looks outside of the Spire, not in. Lurien invites any visitor to his Spire to admire not his wealth, but the wealth and health of the City.

One could argue that Watcher’s arrangement of pillows show how he is always looking outwards instead of reflecting upon himself and his faults, but considering the noble’s thoughts and intentions, I believe that Lurien is not selfish in looking outwards as his pillow arrangement is completely opposite of the nobles. Luriem is always looking out to his community AND loves to admire the beauty resulting from the community.

Finally, Lurien still loves both practicality and beauty as seen in his window designs by the pillows. The nobles’ design for the window is pathetic in comparison, though one must be grateful for being to see out of said window.  

As for more comparisons of Lurien with other characters in Hollow Knight, let us marvel at how patriotic Lurien is.

All the little details.

I swear, Lurien is more patriotic than the Pale King. Compare the opening of Lurien's Spire to the White Palace.

VS.

Remember, Lurien's wallpaper still counts.

I wonder how Lurien being more patriotic than the Pale King speaks about his character?

As a Lurien fan, I am afraid that I must admit there is not enough evidence in the Spire alone to answer that question. Right now, these photos suggest that Lurien was Nationalistic while the Pale King was Patriotic.

Yet, once we look at both of their actions in-game, we can determine that Lurien is indeed Patriotic, not Nationalistic. Afterall, it is Lurien who makes the ultimate sacrifice for Hallownest not once but twice, even when he knew the Pale King wasn’t coming back. The Pale King, meanwhile, sacrificed everyone but himself, then fled from the Radiance when the Infection returned.

If both Lurien and the PK’s actions were foreshadowed by the amount of Hallownestian seals and crests, well…I do not feel as if I can make that judgement due to my basis on Lurien. I shall leave that to the community to decide.

If you wish to read more of the Essay, click one of these links below.

Part 1.0: Herrah's Den : Here

Part 2.0: Monomon's Archives: Here

Part 3.0: Lurien's Spire: Here

Part 3.25: Lurien's Spire: Windows and Colors: Here

Part 3.5: Even More of Lurien's Spire. (You are here)

Part 3.7 Lurien's Spire: What is wrong with Lurien's Office?! Here

Part 3.8: Even, even More of Lurien's Spire: Secret Room: Click here

Part 3.9 Watcher Knight Boss Room! Here

Part 4.0 What We Know We Don't Know About the Dreamers' Houses: Click Here

Link to essay on Ao3: Here

If you have thoughts you wish to share, please feel free to comment or reblog! Especially with the above observation!

Hallo !

I've started to notice a pattern in the hk community.

When people (not all but most) draw pk ,in bug or gijinka, they tend to hide his pretty wings or not draw them at all.

So I've decided to ask bloggers if they could show or describe the king's wings, just out of curiosity (and for my own amusement)

(Btw if you are not taking requests please forgive me, I did not wish to annoy you with my silly babbles)

Well, the pattern seems to arise from the game itself as we never see the Pale King with his wings. (Unless you believe the theory that the PK's robe ARE his wings) The only time we see the PK with wings would be in Origm's dreams as the White Defender...and the PK is far away as a light silhouette.

If artists were to draw the PK, they would not have good canon references for the PK's wings. They would be forced to rely on the dream sequence (again, a silhouette), the Hallownestian crest/seals, and the Monarch wings when Little Knight uses them. If the artist wants any references or inspiration for drawing the PK with wings, they will need to look at other fanart.

How do I know this? Only had to go through the whole process myself while creating this.

I had an idea to make Lurien a Blue Morpho Butterfly, so it was fun to draw him and the PK together with their wings. If you want to see more Lurien as a butterfly, click on the link.

I must say that I've come a long way since December with this photo. Thank you for giving me the chance to practice my drawing and editing skills!

(No need for forgiveness. I am quite honored that you asked me to do this as I mostly draw Lurien the Watcher, not the Pale King. I think this was the first time I ever drew the PK as a "bug", so it was quite the experience on top of practicing hands and lighting. Thank you!)

Lurien does not like to cross paths with the Pale King, because he demands work reports from him (reports that he makes the night before the scheduled delivery of these reports, obviously)

Lurien avoids meetings with the Pale King

Expected reasons: The King is so handsome and inaccessible… Next to him, my heart stops, my thoughts get confused, it's so hard to breathe… I hope he doesn't notice how much I want to kiss him…

The real reasons: Oh no, he's going to ask me about work and how the monthly report is going. I just got out of a drawing binge yesterday, I need an alcoholic binge because of the number of unopened mail, and somehow all the ink ran out in the tower, and the personnel department forgot to buy a new batch of envelopes to send, and I don't know what's going on in the city right now

To hell with Lurien, who is in love with the Pale King, for him he is the boss who makes him work X)

This is now my head canon and you can't stop me.

My sisters and I call this the princess tram because it takes passengers to Deepnest- Basin- Hive, all the places Hornet would have been raised. We headcanon the king had it constructed specifically for her transportation.

Perfectly NOT Fine: Chapter 3

BLURB:

Instead of Deepnest, the Knight went up through the City of Tears to escape. What would happen but being found and adopted by none other than the Watcher himself.

Tell me, what happens now? After all, the Knight has a twin in the White Palace down below....

Previous: https://www.tumblr.com/violetdawn001/741443039477858304/perfectly-not-fine-chapter-2?source=share

SCRIPT:

Nothing was the same after that meeting in the White Palace. I told no one, of course, of what the king told me.

Yet that did little to prevent our household from putting facts together that someone threatened the Spire...and you.

You, my son, never noticed the threats. You were so full of excitement from your godmother and all the squires spending all their "free" time with you.

No, not free from duty, for they made loving you their duty.

A choice no one consulted me about.

While our household prepared for what could be, I turned my gaze to what had been...and what to do now.

His Majesty told me of his plans; Of how there were no costs too great...and not to fret for HE would pay them. Pay them with the sweat and blood of his own child. A vessel wearing a dead shell-ha! What a lie to mask the faces of living children! Despite the clear gravity of what His Majesty did and was doing... Dust clouds obscured the best path forward. On One Hand, I stand up to the King, Fight for the King's child, Speak out against this plan. Slighting the Pale King's Dignity and Opening the kingdom to rot. In other words, TREASON. On the Other Hand, I say nothing, do Nothing so that the citizens of the kingdom are saved. Dooming the Princeling to chains and Daming the Pale King to Hell. In conclusion, also TREASON. Strike the Body to save the Soul. Dam the Soul to Save the Body. Any action taken now will be TREASON. Treason, treason, TREASON, TREASON!!! *Soft Footsteps are heard* "?" "Meep! Meep!" I cannot begin to thank you, my son, for bringing me out of that storm. And for the realization of what loyalty I ought to hold most true.

Previous:

https://www.tumblr.com/violetdawn001/741443039477858304/perfectly-not-fine-chapter-2?source=share

Start Here/Cover:

https://www.tumblr.com/violetdawn001/738375072551682048/part-1-prologue?source=share

Next Chapter: Please be patient. 😄

NOTES: Why does Lurien only hire smart people? His servants demanded three extra pages just so they could show how THEY were watching and had to do something!

Thank you so much OP for doing all this work. It makes attempting to draw Hollow Knight a lot easier.

you've probably seen this before, or made the connection yourself (ignore bottom right corner)

but there's also this:

The flowers of the Queen, the crown of the King, and the Hollow Knight

Perfectly NOT Fine: Chapter One

Hollow Knight Fan Comic: Traditional Art

BLURB:

Instead of Deepnest, the Knight went up through the City of Tears to escape. What would happen but being found and adopted by none other than the Watcher himself.

Tell me, what happens now? After all, the Knight has a twin in the White Palace down below....

PROLOGUE: https://www.tumblr.com/violetdawn001/738374720772292608/script-out-of-nowhere-you-came-needing-someone-to?source=share

CHAPTER ONE:

SCRIPT: In the bottomost of Hallownest, there lies the White Palace, Where within ruled the Pale King, shinning and wise. I served this most glorious king, my son, as his Watcher. As his servant, I gave him everything. My service's reward was the entrusting of duties, treasures, and secrets. A reward only given to Her Majesty the Queen.

One day, His Majesty called me aside, desiring to share his secrets. O my son, I had no fantom of the darkness he would share. The only thought in my mind was how I could serve. After all, my liege lord needed all the help he could gather to defeat the Blazing Light.

His majesty was so eager, I recall, to share his secrets. I expected the project to be a grand scheme, a mighty warrior, or a secret weapon. But the last thing I expected to see...was you. A you that was cold, stiff, and lifeless while still drawing breath. Speechless, I observed this test that was required. Clueless, for I left you at our Spire.

What kind of test was this? Whose loyalty was tested? The father or the son? The only reward one could hope to earn was the approval of one's liege lord...

Somehow, the test was passed...but what His Majesty said and did surprised me more. "This 'construct', so capable, will be the vessel to seal away the Blazing Light." "YOU need not be so horrified at such a small thing." The king assured me.

I was horrified, my king not at What...but FOR WHO.

PROLOGUE:

https://www.tumblr.com/violetdawn001/738374720772292608/script-out-of-nowhere-you-came-needing-someone-to?source=share

COVER:

https://www.tumblr.com/violetdawn001/738375072551682048/part-1-prologue?source=share

CHAPTER TWO:

https://www.tumblr.com/violetdawn001/741443039477858304/perfectly-not-fine-chapter-2?source=share

Hallownest became one giant mess ever since Radi was gone, I blame the Tree /j