The Legendary Protectors of Hallownest: Meet the Five Great Knights

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Hollow Knight is a challenging platformer that takes players on a journey through the mysterious world of Hallownest. As players navigate through the infested kingdom, they will discover the story behind its downfall and the vile creatures that inhabit it. One of the game's most intriguing aspects is its lore, particularly its worldbuilding, which is slowly introduced through dialogue and visuals.

At the heart of this lore are the Five Great Knights, who were once thought to be the protectors of Hallownest. However, over the years, they have either gone missing or perished. Understanding the contributions of these knights to Hallownest sheds light on the Knight's journey through the kingdom. So who were these knights and where are they now?

The Great Knights Of Hallownest

To fully appreciate the Great Knights in Hollow Knight, it's important to first understand their home base. Hallownest, once a thriving kingdom, now lies in ruins following the arrival of the Infection. As players delve deeper into the game, they'll discover that the Pale King, not the original ruler the Radiance, has taken control of the kingdom and its inhabitants. It soon becomes clear that the Great Knights are intimately tied to the fate of Hallownest and its people.

The Pale King and the Radiance's initial psychic conflict led to the Infection, which even the Great Knights failed to contain. The Radiance attempted to revive the denizens' allegiance to her, but the Pale King's manipulation was so powerful that her efforts were deemed infectious to the entire Kingdom.

Little is known about the origins and history of the Five Great Knights, as they existed a long time ago. Their personal lives remain a mystery, with even the NPC Relic Seeker Lemm suggesting that their true appearances and names may have been erased from history due to the scarcity of information available. However, players can still catch glimpses of the Great Knights during their journey through Hollow Knight. As the protagonist Knight, who is also a discarded vessel of the Pale King, progresses through the game, it becomes apparent that the Great Knights have either perished or disappeared. Evidence of their existence can be found in the form of their visages below Ogrim’s cave, created out of dung.

Ze’mer: The Grey Mourner

Upon reaching the Resting Grounds in Hollow Knight, players will come across an NPC called The Grey Mourner. This character shares a heart-wrenching tale of a love that was rejected by the Mantis lover's family due to the Grey Mourner's status as an outsider. However, players have the chance to help the Grey Mourner by delivering a Delicate Flower to the lover's grave in Queen's Gardens. Once this is done, the Grey Mourner dissipates and finds peace.

Interestingly, it is later revealed that the Grey Mourner is actually Ze'mer, one of the Five Great Knights. Coming from "serene lands" outside of Hallownest, she brings Delicate Flowers to her new home. Although not much is known about her activities as a Great Knight, it is clear that her status as one of the remaining two living Great Knights means she possesses significant combat prowess.

Ogrim: The Dung Defender

Ogrim, the Dung Defender, is the only one of the Five Great Knights that players can interact with. He can be found in the Royal Waterways that border Isma's Grove. Despite missing the company of his fellow Great Knights, Ogrim is unable to visit them due to his sworn duty. He is also unaware of their fates, as he is confined to his mission in a specific area.

The defeat of Ogrim as the "White Knight" hidden boss grants players access to a unique dialogue with the boss. Ogrim ponders whether his legacy as a Great Knight will end with his defeat or if a new team of heroes can continue it. He envisions the player, as the Knight, joining forces with other legendary heroes of old.

Dryya: The Protector

Upon reaching the Queen's Garden, players of the platformer will come across a chilling sight - a sitting, intact corpse surrounded by a pile of broken bodies. Nailmaster Sheo reveals that this corpse belongs to Dryya, one of the Five Great Knights who was tasked with protecting the White Lady from attackers in her Garden. Despite the mystery surrounding her personal life, it's clear that Dryya was a skilled warrior, as evidenced by the number of corpses surrounding her own fallen body. It's likely that she fought valiantly against multiple Mantis Traitors before ultimately succumbing to their numbers. Sadly, the White Lady remains unaware of Dryya's demise, a testament to the great bravery of this "Fierce" knight.

Hegemol, one of the Great Knights, remains a mystery in Hollow Knight due to his missing nature in the game. He is only depicted as a towering statue without any weapon, and his figure is always that of a hulking giant. Despite being a fearsome knight, Ogrim describes Hegemol as humorous, while Nailmaster Sheo admires him as "Mighty Hegemol."

Recently, Hegemol's armor was stolen by a Maggot who was on a mission to defend his siblings. The False Knight was seen wielding a mace with an armored bug end, which is in contrast to Hegemol's usual depiction. However, it's unclear whether the Maggot simply stole the armor or had to kill Hegemol to get it.

Isma: The Kindly

Upon defeating the Dung Defender, players gain access to a hidden corridor in the eastern end of the Royal Waterways. This leads to Isma's Grove, a murky swamp that is believed to be the origin of the acid plaguing Hallownest's lower regions. The Grove is home to Isma, a revered Great Knight of Hallownest, and is shrouded in mystery and danger.

Isma, like the other Great Knights, remains a mystery when it comes to her personal history and abilities. However, she is often associated with acid due to Isma's Tear granting players immunity to this hazardous substance. It is also said that her Grove is the origin of the acid blight. Isma is perhaps the most enigmatic of the Great Knights, with her body found attached to a wall amidst thriving plant life, leaving behind no clues as to how she met her end. Hollow Knight was made available on various platforms, including Windows, MacOS, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One, in 2017.