Hollow Knight SilkSong[RP Russ]

The Citadel is a majestic, glittering golden pinnacle of the world, woven from the purest silk and mechanical bells. Its halls are patrolled by elite silk knights, flying cult priests, and ghostly Phantoms. At its very heart, within the mechanical core, rests the final deity—the Supreme Mother of Silk.

Bell Church (Greymoor) is a vast, smoke-shrouded industrial city of artisans, where metal and bells are cast. Crazed blacksmith guards, flying mechanical drones, and the mad blacksmith Trolo patrol the streets and factories. In the highest attics, the mad weaver Widow weaves her webs.

Bonebottom / Deep Docks — Gloomy underground docks and labyrinths carved from ancient fossils. Bone crawlers and heavy worker beetles roam the tunnels. The armored executioner Sharp hunts along the tracks, and the mighty Bell Beast is trapped in the depths of the mines.

Marrow Moors – Vast, windswept wastelands, laced with old aqueducts and dried-up riverbeds. Wild mudskippers scamper across the rocky plateaus, and predatory beetles fly. This is also where the theatrical maestro Trobbio sets his traps.

Burned Ridge – A scorching, dangerous zone covered in ash and lava flows, once home to ancient blacksmiths. The region is teeming with fire slugs and flying salamanders, and the passages are guarded by hovering guardians of the Fourth Choir.

Coral Forest — A glowing, neon-pink zone overgrown with giant, spongy corals and sponges. Glowing butterflies flutter here, barbed mollusks crawl, and the deadly warrior Lace lies in wait for travelers on winding bridges.

Sinner's Road is a desolate, toxic, and utterly gloomy area located just above Ringville. In the past, these labyrinths served as a filthy food farm, where food was grown and prepared for the wasteland's inhabitants. Eyewitnesses say this path is a secret bypass for pilgrims who want to slip straight into the Citadel, bypassing the stern judges on the front steps. Voracious dung roaches, maggots, and their sinister ghostly guards scurry in the dark nooks and crannies. It is here, deep in one of the cages, that the boastful Green Prince languishes, while the maddened Disgraced Chef Lugoli guards the passages.

Far Fields — Picturesque, sunlit golden meadows stretching directly above the Coral Forest. Butterflies flutter peacefully here and herds of herbivorous beetles wander, but the passages to the shrines are vigilantly guarded by flying guardians from the Fourth Choir.

Shellwood (Mosshome) — A winding, hidden thicket hidden behind the Mossy Grottoes, where one can learn the art of wielding a silken spear. These ancient canopies are home to longhorn beetles and tiny web-spinner spiders, and the stern Sister Thorn greets travelers on the suspension bridges.

The Mist (Bilewater) is a slimy, noxious-fumed swamp that borders the Road of Sinners. Locals avoid these swamps, where caustic, bile-filled streams churn and bands of feral bandit beetles roam, their minds freed from the silken control thanks to the swamp's mud. Poisonous midges swirl in the air, and stealthy mudskippers leap from the mud. At the farthest, foggiest edges of this swamp, a deadly Phantom lies in wait for travelers, guarding the passage to the Citadel's exhaust pipes.

Moss Grotto - The lowest, dampest region, dotted with green vegetation and mists. It is home to timid fleas, jumping moss beetles, and crawling grubs. The chief guardian of these places is the enormous and furious Mother of Mosses.

In the ancient chronicles of Pharlum, these tiny creatures are called lost fleas. They are charming and timid wanderers who, according to legend, arrived in these lands in search of enlightenment and peace. Together, they form a single Flea Caravan, watched over by their mustachioed and stately leader, Mushka. Among the thirty little creatures scattered throughout the world, special, rare creatures with their own names are sometimes mentioned—for example, the secretive Kratt or Vog, who can read the symbols on silk threads. The history of these creatures is closely intertwined with the journey of the scarlet princess. When an ancient curse and madness enveloped the kingdom, the servants of the Citadel launched a veritable manhunt for the defenseless fleas. They were captured and locked in thorny vines, iron cages, and crystal traps throughout all the inhabited zones. Mushka, having gathered the remnants of his caravan in a camp amid the scorching lowlands, begged the rare passersby to find his missing children. Every time someone broke his shackles and freed another lost flea, the little one sighed joyfully, squealed softly, and rushed back to his family. As the caravan reunited, his magic grew stronger. Gathered together, these furry bundles began digging the earth with their paws. They dug deep labyrinths and underground tunnels, moving their entire camp to new regions and opening secret routes for their rescuers, bypassing the most dangerous monsters and royal guards.

Sharpe is the ruthless leader of an elite squad of punishers hired by the high clergy to hunt down outsiders. He was described as a towering warrior in massive armor with a head resembling the tip of a harpoon. Sharpe possesses colossal physical strength and can perform rapid dashes, transforming his body into a flying projectile. In combat, he wields a gigantic metal blade, releasing waves of energy upon impact with the ground, and can call upon the support of his loyal trackers. Sharpe's story is simple and grim: he sold his allegiance to the Citadel cult in exchange for eternal life and power, becoming the chief executioner of the lower tiers of Farloom, who will not rest until he delivers his target to the altar.

Trolo is the once-great master smith of Zvonville, whose story ended in tragedy. He was a master craftsman who crafted bells to control the kingdom's sound currents. When the Silk Madness engulfed the city, Trolo barricaded himself in his foundry. Under the influence of the goddess, he lost his mind, but retained his skills. He can spin a massive mechanical bell-hammer at incredible speeds, create shockwaves that deafen all living things, and hurl red-hot chunks of metal from his smelting furnaces. Eyewitnesses say he attacks anyone who tries to pass through his workshops, seeing every passerby as a thief come to steal his latest creation.

Gilt is a mysterious and secretive merchant who dwells in the darkest corners of a ruined world. He was described as a creature covered in a multitude of bags and old rags, with only his cunning eyes gleaming beneath. Gilt possesses a unique gift for finding the rarest tools, silk threads, and amulets in places others fear to even tread. He can move unnoticed through monster ambushes and collect fragments of ancient machinery. His history is shrouded in mystery, but rumor has it that he was once a high-ranking official in the Citadel who escaped just in time, taking with him part of the treasury and sacred relics. He now profits from the kingdom's decline, selling valuable resources to those struggling to survive.

The Slab is a monumental, stone-hewn prison perched high on the icy Fae Mountain. To an outside observer, it is a grim and impenetrable structure, created by the ruling cult of Pharlum to completely isolate those who dared to defy the sacred will of the Citadel. Entry is easy for any sins against the faith or dissent, but exit is nearly impossible: the only way leads directly to the elite's custody, and the outer walls are shackled by the deadly mountain cold. The Slab's architecture is a labyrinthine maze of blind stone cells, heavy gates, and intricate mechanical traps. The space is divided by massive slabs in the floor and walls, which can only be opened by special mechanisms or keys, such as the Renegade Key. Within this harsh dungeon dwell those forever deprived of freedom. The prison's guardians are ancient, feral flies that have known no cleansing or care for centuries. They serve eternally as punishment for their own grave misdeeds from the distant past. These winged guards furiously attack anyone who disturbs the peace of the corridors. In the deepest and most guarded dungeons of the Slab languishes the First Sinner—a fearsome and dangerous prisoner who has become the ultimate test for anyone who dares to breach the isolation of this place. The prison has also become the final humiliation for the captured weavers, whose magic once flourished but is now bound by iron bars. The Slab holds lost relics, rare mask fragments, and hidden abilities, sealed within the walls as a reminder of the prisoners' former strength.

The Great Mother of Silk created a caste of weavers—refined, proud beings gifted with the unique gift of weaving threads and creating flaming runes. The weavers were taught to be superior, divine beings, destined to serve the Citadel undividedly. She was the first among them. And it was she who uncovered the terrible truth that the ruling elite had carefully concealed. It turned out that their entire "divinity" was a cruel fiction. Originally, they were the most ordinary farlids, simple crawling beetles of these lands. The deity had simply forcibly altered their bodies, reshaped their flesh, and transformed them into obedient tools, calling them her "daughters" to force unquestioning obedience. When she tried to open the eyes of her kin, the system worked instantly. She was declared an apostate, betrayed by those she tried to save, stripped of her name, and exiled under guard to the very top of the icy mountain—to the stone casemate of the Slab. She was locked there for so long that the world below forgot even why she was punished. She became the First Sinner—a myth, a bogeyman for the disobedient.

Hornet is mentioned in the old tales of Hallownest as a proud princess-protector, born of a secret union between the Pale King and the distant queen of Deepnest. Eyewitnesses described her as a swift figure in a scarlet cloak, wielding a giant sewing needle with a long, sturdy thread. She possesses incredible agility: she can perform lightning-fast lunges, hover above the ground using silk tripwires, set barbed traps, and transform accumulated silk into healing energy. Witnesses from Farloom said that after her mysterious abduction, she fought her way up, gathering allies and crushing mad tyrants to break the curse of the Citadel.

In the ancient legends of Farloom, silk is described as a living substance, the blood and flesh of the kingdom itself. It is not just ordinary fabric, but a tangible magical energy that flows through the entire world in the form of shining golden threads. It possesses incredible strength, lightness, and the ability to conduct sound vibrations and mental commands. The cocoons of deities, the garments of the highest nobility, and the protective barriers of the Citadel are woven from it. Silk is inextricably linked with song—they nourish and complement each other. Skilled craftsmen and weavers use it to create complex mechanisms, traps, and weapons capable of cutting metal. Eyewitnesses have reported that this energy can take a variety of forms: from the finest invisible thread that envelops the minds of living beings, to raging golden streams that can heal wounds or transform into deadly blades in the hands of those with royal blood. The history of this substance is tragic. Silk once brought prosperity to the world, but over time it became an instrument of total control. Permeating the land of Farlum from top to bottom, it became a conduit for the madness emanating from the Supreme Mother, turning the inhabitants into obedient puppets bound by an invisible golden web.

Trobbio is a short, plump, and extremely plump male beetle who looks like a true circus performer or a flamboyant theater maestro. His chitinous body is covered in a bright, ornate stage costume with a voluminous collar, immediately striking against the backdrop of the gloomy underground wastelands. His face is hidden by an expressive mask with a wide, frozen theatrical grin, and on his head he sports a comical headdress reminiscent of a jester's cap or a magician's crown. Behind him, small but highly mobile transparent wings flutter, allowing him to soar dramatically into the air during performances. In spirit and disposition, Trobbio is an incredibly cheerful, hyperactive, and exceedingly vain showman. He is absolutely obsessed with the stage, applause, and himself, proclaiming himself the greatest maestro in all of Farloom. There's not a hint of gloom or malice in his character: he views even a mortal combat as a grand spectacle, a joyful performance, and an opportunity to show off for the audience. He adores dramatic poses, loud gestures, and theatrical laughter, turning his every move into an eccentric stunt. Trobbio sincerely believes the whole world is his own personal theater, and he delights in the joy of putting on another spectacular spectacle, complete with explosions and somersaults.

Lace is a graceful warrior in a snow-white gown, born into the highest castes of the Citadel. Those who have seen her in battle described her as a lightning-fast shadow, armed with a slender, gilded rapier. She possesses incredible agility, can make swift lunges, hover in the air, and create protective barriers of silk ribbons around herself. It is known that Lace was trained by the best masters of the cult and was sent to guard the approaches to the upper world. Her story is a journey from blind service to the rulers of Farlum to the realization that the world was sliding into an abyss. She pursued the princess with a needle across all the inhabited zones, staging deadly duels to test whether the outlander was capable of breaking the vicious cycle of slavery to the goddess.

Shakra is known among the inhabitants of Farloom as a fierce warrior and cartographer from a distant border tribe. Those who have encountered her say she travels through the kingdom's most dangerous zones in search of her missing mentor. Instead of conventional blades, she uses heavy throwing rings, which she launches at enemies with a roar, causing the weapons to ricochet off the walls and return to her paws. Hunters have observed her ability to glide through the air with a prolonged leap, evading attacks, and navigate the terrain using barely visible golden rings left on platforms. Travelers have often seen her engage in battle at the side of the scarlet princess, helping to repel ambushes by the ant tribe, and after completing her campaign, she was not averse to engaging her in a fair and friendly duel in the arena.

Garmond and Zozo are an inseparable explorer duo, traveling through the most dangerous corners of the world. Garmond is a gigantic, thick-skinned creature, resembling a gentle hippopotamus, possessing incredible endurance. He can safely pass through the poisonous thickets of mossy grottoes and carry hundreds of kilograms of cargo, including his companion. Zozo is a tiny, grumpy beetle with a keen mind and a map in his paws. He can decipher ancient weavers' runes and locate hidden passages by the subtle vibrations of silk. Their story began long before the kingdom's fall: they vowed to document all the secrets of Farloom before madness completely erased its history, and they often helped rare travelers with valuable advice on safe paths.

Pilgrim chronicles recount that the secretive Phantom not only wanders the Road of Sinners, but fulfills a vital role as guardian of a secret boundary. In the farthest, upper-left corner of these casemates lies a secret passageway, concealed behind a fragile wall. Passing through it and traversing the deceptive labyrinths of the Mist, the traveler comes upon the Graduation (or Exit) Organ—a unique, cramped, and steam-filled mechanical structure at the very foot of the upper world. Inside this Organ, the Phantom vigilantly guards an alternative, forbidden route to the Citadel, which allows one to bypass the chief judges on the grand staircases. Eyewitnesses claimed that he literally "guards" this passage, preventing anyone from activating the lift mechanisms and the Grand Bellway as long as he himself is alive. The Phantom resides at the very top of the Exhaust Organ, in a secluded chamber where, rumor has it, the silence is broken only by sounds resembling piano playing. Should an intruder disturb this place or attempt to reach the Citadel's elevators, the Phantom instantly strikes from the shadows, turning the narrow steam tunnels into an impenetrable death trap.
he is cold-blooded and slightly subservient to the Mother of Silk
In ancient legends, the Phantom is described as a tall, unnaturally thin male beetle with thin, graceful legs. Like all other inhabitants of Farlum, he belongs to the insect world, but his long limbs make his silhouette seem remarkably like a cloaked human. Instead of normal clothing, this beetle is completely concealed beneath a long, ragged, flowing cloak of jet black, which trails along the ground. This cloak is woven from a special dark yarn and sways as if alive, creating the impression that the man is shrouded in the very shadows of the night, as if he has no solid body at all. Beneath the fabric, one can discern a hard, dark chitinous shell that protects him from blows.
He can be considered a guard at the entrance to the Citadel itself, although he himself rarely goes there and sits mostly in the Graduation Organ.
HE IS NOT A MAESTRO

The Mother of Silk is a colossal, ancient deity who wove all of Pharloom from golden threads and sounds. Elders described her as a colossal, multi-legged creature, hidden in a cocoon of shining yarn atop the Citadel. She can control the minds of living beings through invisible silk threads, forcing them to obey her will over vast distances. Witnesses of her awakening claimed she could distort space with sound waves, release hundreds of deadly silk needles from her body, and summon spectral servants woven from the pure energy of song. The entire history of Pharloom revolves around her: she once brought prosperity to the world, but her tyranny led to a rebellion by the weavers, who put her to sleep. Now, awakening, she is slowly driving the entire kingdom mad, demanding a new sacrifice of royal blood to fully restore her strength.

Beads are like currency. If you find them somewhere, it's best to take them with you. You can use them to buy a Kart from the Shakra, which usually costs 80 beads, or buy something more valuable for 450 beads. Prices vary. Beads can be found in old haunts and secret places, but you can also find them on the street somewhere. If you don't have beads, you won't buy anything. Unfortunately, no one will give you anything for free.

The Citadel is the majestic, dazzlingly golden summit of Pharlum, the crown and heart of the entire kingdom. It is an impregnable mechanical fortress-temple, woven from the finest white silk, whirling gears, and gigantic bells. The Citadel serves as the abode of the ruling elite, the priests of the cult, and the most fearsome Silk Knights. It is a place of sacred pilgrimage, where the cult's servants from all over the world round up prisoners and the maddened inhabitants of Pharlum. In the deepest, most hidden mechanical core of the Citadel lies a vast cocoon, within which the world's chief deity languishes and slowly awakens. The Citadel is both the source of the silk madness tormenting the kingdom and the final destination of all Pharlum's roads.

Pharlum is a colossal, fading ancient kingdom built entirely on the magic of silk and music. Unlike other subterranean worlds, Pharlum rises vertically, beginning in dark, damp, mossy valleys and ending high above the clouds. The entire world is threaded with glittering golden threads, and the air constantly echoes with the sounds of ancient bells and songs. Pharlum long thrived under the rule of its deity, but gradually became a trap for its own inhabitants. Now, it is a kingdom consumed by religious madness: its inhabitants have lost their will and become mindless puppets of the cult, guided by an invisible silken web. Its vast expanses are home to everything from wandering merchants and timid flea caravans to elite ant guards.

Old chronicles and the tales of traveling merchants mention a strange incident that occurred on the very border of the fading lands. Eyewitnesses said that the defender of the old kingdom, armed with a needle, was seized by unknown guards in thick gray robes. She was imprisoned in a heavy iron cage and taken to the distant north, across the dead wastelands. Later, rumors began to spread from the depths of the ancient kingdom of Pharlum. Locals from the lower tiers reported seeing magical chains break high in the sky, and the cage crash to the very bottom of the misty grottoes. The captive survived and began her long climb upward, toward the Citadel, shining at the summit of the world. Travelers returning from the central inhabited zones shared stories of encounters with her. In Zvonville, the city of bellsmiths, rumors swirled of a stranger with a needle racing through the smoky factories, dispatching the crazed local guards. She was also spotted in the coral forests and the scorching bell cemeteries. Hunters said the stranger was constantly followed by Lace, a mysterious warrior in white robes, who sometimes attacked her, sometimes seemingly testing her strength. Near the top of the world, among the pilgrims, rumors circulated that the Citadel had abducted this princess for a reason. The rulers of Pharlum were searching for someone with the blood of the ancient weavers to prolong the fading life of their deity—the Supreme Mother of Silk.