Every Mask Variant Explained | Hollow Knight Lore

Have you ever wondered how important masks are in Hollow Knight? I have too, so I decided to try figuring it out!
Twitter - / ccmaci​
Discord - / discord
_________________________________________________________
VVV Special thanks and credits to media used below VVV
Script/Lore Checkers:
- Dragoler (aka GoldenFlowerFan)
- @Sumwan
Voice Actors (in order of appearance):
Jack ‘node’ Schweighardt voicing “Item Descriptions”
- / banodle
- / @willowchair
- www.castingcall.club/m/jacknode
Patrick Compton as “Mask Maker”
- / realpatrickcompton
- / realpatcompton
- www.castingcall.club/m/PatCom...
Nicholas Dunlap voicing “Lore Tablets”
- / nichola39057175
- www.castingcall.club/m/Nickdu...
Lucas Davey as “Quirrel”
- / laundrygremlin
- / lanky_boy_lucas
- www.castingcall.club/m/LDaveyVA
flipflopitstimetostop as “Confessor Jiji”
- / flipflopitstimetostop
- / flipflopitstimetostop
- / flipflopitstimetostop
- www.castingcall.club/m/flipfl...
Music (in order of appearance):
- Hollow Knight OST, created by Christopher Larkin, you can find his music on his bandcamp | christopherlarkin.bandcamp.com​
- Hollow Knight Synthsong - Truth, Duty and Cyborgs | • Hollow Knight Synthson...
- HK Synthsong - Synth Reflection | • HK Synthsong - Synth R...
- HK Synthsong - Neongazers | • HK Synthsong - Neongazers
Hollow Knight Silksong - Ancient Sea Theme (Fanmade) | • Video
HK Synthsong - Highway of Pain | • HK Synthsong - Highway...
MichiMochi created my new sprites! If you want to support her, or want to commission her for art like my Otter Boi, head on over to her twitter! / xxmichimochixx​
Hollow Knight/Silksong Wiki | hollowknight.fandom.com/wiki/...
Video Script | docs.google.com/document/d/13...
(Custom Closed Captioning is still in the process of being completed)
Timestamps:
00:00​ Intro
00:42 What are masks in Hollow Knight?
01:48 Mask Maker
09:25 The Dreamers
14:37 The Godseekers
17:25 The Grimm Troupe
20:55 Quirrel
26:38 End Credits
#Masks #Quirrel #Lore

[@Ccmaci]

Thank you for watching my video! If you haven't already, please consider **Subscribing** to my channel for more Hollow Knight & Silksong lore just like this! Please only read the rest of this comment AFTER you've finished the video, it has spoilers for what I say in the "Dreamers" and "Quirrel" sections of my video: In talking about the Dreamers, I decided to remove some smaller points from the video for better viewer enjoyment, so here's what I left out. When a bug is masked, their "true form" is protected by the "masked form", but to what extent this "masked form" changes a bug's appearance, I'm unsure. So if Monomon's mask gave her her jellyfish body, why can we see her tentacles BEFORE her mask is returned? I have two guesses: her mask didn't give her her jellyfish body, or her body actually has a weak connection to her mask throughout the game. My first guess actually makes sense considering Herrah, since her offspring, Hornet, has the same horns as her masked mother. I'm unsure when the Dreamers were given masks to wear, but since they're used as apart of the Seal on the Black Egg, I assume Herrah was given her mask *after* Hornet was born. This means the masks do not give their wearers new bodies, explaining why we can see unmasked Monomon's tentacles. However, if that is incorrect, then its possible Monomon's mind in the dream world actually had a weak connection to her body in the real world this entire time. Since Quirrel thinks she's calling to him from within the Teacher's Archive, then this would definitively explain how. With a weak connection between her body and mind, her body is fractured, but not completely wiped from existence. If I had to guess, the focus her mask provides her body creates a "focused" connection between the two, allowing her body to fully reform. Also, if you want an explanation for why Monomon was the only one to implement such an OVERPOWERED protection on her body, my only guess is... she's smart. Or maybe because she's in a tube, and the other Dreamers aren't. No idea honestly on this point xD ONLY READ ONWARD IF YOU'VE FINISHED THE VIDEO, YOU WILL BE SPOILED BY THIS PARAGRAPH Turns out, I'm not so sure if it would've made sense for Mask Maker's quote to apply to Quirrel EVEN IF his face was covered by Monomon's mask in the Desolate Wastes. Since I concluded the mind provided by Monomon's mask is locked away in the Dream Realm, it wouldn't make sense for the mask to be able to give another mind to another wearer if it only has one mind to give away, right? However I'm unsure if that's how masks even work, or if this is something that should only be applied to Dreamer masks. Whatever the case, we can all agree Mask Maker's quote was a big red herring in relation to Quirrel >:(

[@naturallymoronic2214]

love the voice acting! the "project" is gonna turn out great

[@Ant-tx2ej]

You're so cool.

[@necr0mancrr]

I would definitely like to see you make a silksong video

[@Firewyrk]

@@naturallymoronic2214 Yes “project” POG

[@racimlongou5178]

17:25 That editing is sick

[@whatthewhatthe9117]

My head canon is that the knight stores masks and charms inside its shell by sliding it inside its eyeholes similar to how it “consumes” power ups

[@Althalus2010]

It also does this with Geo. I now want fanart of The Knight, but fat as a seal and with Geo, Masks and Charms pouring out of its eyeholes.

[@wyattmurphy7153]

@@Althalus2010 that’s deviant arts job.

[@Gobershmat]

Brumm (or whatever the accordion guy after banishing the Grimm troupe is named) mentions he thinks the charm he gives you would look nice on you, implying you wear them. So the knight reaches into their eyes, pulls out a charm, and shoves it onto their cloak like a Boy Scout Badge.

[@micahjones7837]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[@bettycampbell2562]

The knight costumes things with void so it's possible that you are correct but if the void is an infinite space it could just absorb the masks for protection and also the shade could be semi permeable wich is how the knight can hit it with it's nail but it can store things inside it

[@ErPaniX]

*Late game spoilers ahead* Me, with something around 300 hours of playtime: "Oh no! _Anyway"_

[@JustSome1]

Spoilers of hollow knight 112% :troll:

[@ng42.]

@@JustSome1 120%???

[@mayakirkhouse84]

@@ng42. 112% is the highest you can get, with 12% coming from dlc

[@ng42.]

@@mayakirkhouse84 oh I know that, it's just that @JustSome1 accidentally wrote 120% instead of 112% and I got confused but it's fixed now

[@alche8568]

"...To conceal it *fully* within another..." Maybe the alternative reason to why Quirrel had his mind intact outside the Hallownest was because he didn't wear Monomon's mask properly, giving his mind a weak protection with smaller consequences, those being memory loss.

[@sockmonkey6666]

Sure, it's also possible that it doesn't matter how you wear it as long as it's on you in some way.

[@graysonsturtevant3964]

That actually makes sense

[@anthonycostanzo7649]

I still think Quirrel left Hollownest

[@alche8568]

@@anthonycostanzo7649 ???

[@alche8568]

@@anthonycostanzo7649 but what does this have to do with my comment

[@basilzoubi1290]

Makes sense that fury of the fallen would be right next to that lore tablet about unmasking, because the power of fury of the fallen only works when you lose almost all your masks. It clearly has some connection

[@SillySunnyTacos]

yep. your last mask, your face. lose it and you lose yourself plus funny risk game

[@VGamingJunkie]

@@SillySunnyTacos The Shade even proves this, it's no longer The Knight. When you're restored, you're missing the essence of shade that makes you up so you're basically an empty shell but you still have yourself, your mask. Meanwhile, the maskless shade has no identity and is little more than the shadows in the abyss, mindlessly attacking even you.

[@tristanemery8748]

I think this is something he kinda neglected to touch properly apon I'm the video - we know that the Pale King isn't exactly trustworthy, and as far as I can tell from the tablet next to fury of the fallen, and the one in the throne room in White Palace, he may have actually benefitted from bugs not wearing masks. PK was all about control, hence why any bugs in the kingdom who didn't fall under his control, or straight up broke free of it (like xero) were often prosecuted or shunned. Only through superior force or bargaining were bugs able to have autonomy from the king (see the mantis village for proof of this - they kept deepnest at bay, so they were left alone). Perhaps the reason the mask maker was hidden away was because the Pale King couldn't outright get rid of all masks, but didn't want them to be used, as with one, bugs would have more individuality and would, more importantly, be able to travel outside of the Kingdom without risk of losing their minds. (This is obviously just a working theory, but I feel as though it may hold some merit, as it's pretty obvious that the Pale King does have a personal agenda aside from stopping the radiance from taking over)

[@justsomeguy4422]

One thing I love about the moment with Quirrel before he “disappears” is that if you leave tiso on the opposite side of the lake it can be a really symbolic parallel moment of these two adventurers that we have met. Tiso is still looking for more ramp up and will inevitably meet his end in the coliseum. And Quirrel has had a fulfilling adventure for the second time in his life and can go out peacefully knowing he has finished his part. It’s beautiful really.

[@tritiper4188]

Yep, tiso seeks for more but quirrel acknowledges that this is the best that the kingdom gets.

[@jellycore1316]

Oooh, true, good point! ^^

[@laurenromero2134]

I got the 500th like

[@diffdimgamerseven9986]

yes, i literally have both quirrel and tiso at opposite sides of the lake

[@Victini7472]

i just found it super funny on my recent playthrough that after i had a moment with quirrel and he, well, you know, i then went to find tiso at the other side of the lake saying "UGH THIS PLACE IS BORING I HATE IT HERE"

[@LaggerKnight]

To correct the interpretation of the quote stating the mind is 'destroyed', the mask maker also states that those with a strong will, or those with strong ideals, may still pertain a sliver of their original self when they bear the new mask. Also, I can align the contradiction: The Pale King's beacon gives minds to those without a mask, when otherwise they would need one, but a new mask would somewhat overwrite that mind, but keep aspects of the original if those aspects are deeply rooted in the individual.

[@serraramayfield9230]

I don't agree that the mind is "overwritten", it's rather contained or otherwise influenced by another "state", as Quirrel shows the influence on both "states" is bidirectional. Also if it wasn't for Cc immediately discarding his take on soul-essence because of him not covering his face with his mask in the Wastes, my comment would be a bit longer; but he caught himself, so...

[@zotethemighty3707]

The tablets were only written for higher beings, so maybe them taking off their masks might not hurt them like it would too normal bugs

[@serraramayfield9230]

@@zotethemighty3707 The "higher beings" that the Pale King talks about are his uplifted citizens, and is essentially propaganda.

[@RodrigoPereira-ws8ok]

@@serraramayfield9230 Well, technically they are higher beings, at least when compared to their primitve counterparts, though they indeed do not abide by the "scientific" definition of the term. I really wish Team Cherry didn't add the whole "higher beings, these words are for you alone" to all the lore tablets, since the concept of higher beings proper isn't even present in the base game outside of the kingsoul description. It's really confusing this way.

[@serraramayfield9230]

@@RodrigoPereira-ws8ok They are not, because TC defines Higher Beings as "beings above all others"; citizens uplifted by PK's beacon clearly are not this as Mantises/Weavers/Spiders/etc also have sentience. Remind me of the Kingsoul description again?

[@spudpogchamp1179]

I love all of the refrences to other things and all of music choice and video editing. Felt like a small movie to watch 10/10 would wait again.

[@P3N7UMBR4]

something i think about is what the long term effect of wearing masks would be. i often see masks being used as metaphors in all kinds of media, usually about personality. when one wears a fake personality for too long, it eventually becomes hard even for themselves to separate reality from the "mask". maybe when a bug stays too long with a mask, their mind is slowly merged with it. when Nymm loses his mask he also loses his memory, since the mask was part of him for a while, instead of just an item to wear. As mask maker says, it's hard to tell if other bugs are wearing masks or not, and not because they look real, but because at some point they become the same. That would also explain how only bugs with a stronger mind would be able to keep it after removing the mask. maybe thats also why the dreamers dont have a maskless form, since they ended up becoming the same over time (gods know how time works in hollow knight, we can only assume it was for a long while) it could also explain how Monomon still communicates with quirrel, since he would be quite literally wearing her mind, and maybe he didn't wear it properly precisely because he didn't want his mind to be lost but still wanted the protection. maybe that only slowed down the process of losing one's mind instead of completely stopping it, which is why he lost part of his memories

[@Firewyrk]

Just finished watching… HOLY SMOKES I LOVE THIS! The attention to detail, the voice acting, and even the jokes slipped in, it’s so well thought out and the execution was just…. MMMM! I don’t have words to describe it.

[@Lesbianwithagun]

Here are some words “subscribe and like the video” how are these words

[@pixiedixiedo]

Okay, but can we just appreciate how _good_ CC's editing had gotten?

[@kemori_]

it was a cut above the rest from the very beginning, and somehow gets better every vid

[@Xenogante]

And the voice acting

[@lethequin]

According to Charm Lover Salubra, charms can be made when a bug dies. So perhaps Brumm and Nymm are two different entities and Brumm removing his mask and becoming Nymm killed Brumm and shifted his corpse, his mask, into Carefree Melody.

I find masks one of the most interesting things in Hollow Knight lore. At first, you dont even think about them, but when you look closer at the details of the game, you see how they're everywhere and their existance is sure of great importance to a deep, truly deep lore of the entire universe of the game, not just Hallownest. They might be the one thing in the middle of it all, the answer to everything. And I feel like there is still so much information missing, so many unanswered questions. I really hope we see a continuation to that lore in Silksong.

[@themaskedfacade9939]

Lots of respect for the Brumm appreciation! His role in the grimm troupe is generally clowned on for stealing away the chance to fight Nightmare Grimm, but what the cause he fought for was a meaningful one.

[@T4coTV]

Finally another video from mossba- Oh. Loved the editing as always! :D

[@saltytea7367]

in case you want to compare

[@saltytea7367]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5_JgIR3iMlqZ7c

[@bloms4689]

From what I understand, the Mask Maker and Pale King don't necessarily contradict each other. The Mask Maker uses "Concealed Self", rather than previous self. This means that the mind isn't actually gone forever, but the previous line insinuates it isn't active, or whatever the terminology would be. From my understanding, the mind itself isn't destroyed, but the sense of self, the existence of the bug. The Pale King wanting to have the bugs unmask is for them to be themselves, to be proud of who they are or something like that. If this is similar or at least partially true, it might explain some stuff. Im probably wrong tho, but it might help explain something. I just thought it was interesting he still refers to the self as existing in a concealed form rather than destroyed, right after he says its destroyed. The slivers that leak through might be able to break through the seal of binding. It might slso be that thing that protected the White Palace, with will being enough to break through a weaker version. This is mostly my speculation, I think. Anyways, that's my understanding.

[@hollowsteel]

Bugs are pretty cool, they eat leaves and don’t afraid of anything.

[@nkyfong]

They also are not bound by morality.

[@theshockinglyeloquentdog9945]

@@nkyfong and they never take fall damage

[@odstat1949]

Sort of like John Halo

[@donutlovingwerewolf8837]

@@nkyfong wait what?

[@Hollow_Construct]

Don't afraid of anything hm?

[@Northirn]

that’s what the point of the mask is? but genuinely this video was amazing, keep up the great work dude!!

[@avessel4090]

Oh , it really is you hi Northirn hope you are doing well

[@NT-sx2bd]

They also made a nice accessory for your character.

[@KompadoodleLEL]

bro literally didnt ask

[@heartlessnobody1143]

CURSE you and your bloodline, i regret having memory of that now

[@HexagonThatReallyLikesVinegar]

n o r m a l p i l l s

[@mr.awesome8864]

This vid made me make my own OC. His name is Quadrollo, he is the warrior of the city of tears and an expert of soul and nail.

[@ninolloydbandiola5581]

so, A Soul Warrior

[@vieira_109]

So, a soul kjight or smt

[@Regigigas_YT]

Is he skinny? bcuase he's just a skinny Soul Warrior then.

[@Hank19830]

​@@ninolloydbandiola5581MINOS!?!?!

[@georgehumphreys1105]

My first thought when looking at the scattered masks littering the land of storms was that maybe they were all attempts at creating the mask that they currently use to attune? It seems pretty complicated and it would not surprise me in the slightest if it took them a long time to make a working one.

[@eligellock2023]

True

[@TheGrinningGamer]

Another banger of a lore vid, Cc! It never ceases to amaze me how consistent the deep lore of this game goes. Way to make my aching for Silksong resurface. Well done, friend.

[@Semiblurryloom]

Welp, you've convinced me. I'll add a Hollow Mask to some of my art from now on

[@frozenreaper5028]

I love the editing and all the mask submissions! But... I wonder if the knight could wear all of their masks of health at once🤔

[@Ant-tx2ej]

Hi reaper!

[@aciddrinker2194]

REAPERRRR Hi! (Lilredenby)

[@frozenreaper5028]

@@Ant-tx2ej heyo amazing Ant!

[@frozenreaper5028]

@@aciddrinker2194 heyo beautiful buddy!

[@zekanark943]

Hi reaper!

[@flipflopitstimetostop]

really great video!!! it's incredibly well-made and thought-out. also the editing is marvelous! /gen (i'm the voice actor of jiji btw :D)

[@jwsp1231]

congrats Maya

[@flipflopitstimetostop]

@@jwsp1231 thanks jonah

[@bloomenvogel]

Thats so cool. You captured Jiji's vibes and really nailed (no pun intended) her voice!

[@flipflopitstimetostop]

@@bloomenvogel ahhh ty!!!

[@laminator6995]

I had a head canon of how the masks work for the knight (and by extension the vessels) that each mask the player has acts somewhat like a protective seal of binding but weaker, designed to break and mend to the wearer’s will (as an actual seal of binding would be too restrictive). With each mask worn, a layer of protection for the knight, kind of like a Russian doll. This works with the theory that the knight wears all its masks at once. It’s last mask acts to keep the void and/or shade inside its shell and when that last mask breaks there is nothing to keep what tries to escape from freedom. But how does this work with other bugs? Well what if masks didn’t work the same between different bugs? We know that the vessels weren’t created like normal bugs so why should they need masks that expand their mind? They need no mind to think, no will to break, no voice to cry suffering. The vessels aren’t supposed to have a mind so need no masks, only the shells they’re already provided with at birth and are given masks to keep the shade inside their shell. But that’s just my theory, have fun with it!

[@davidhong1934]

For the vessels, given their objective, I think the masks represent a set of instructions The end objective for each vessel is given as follows: - locate source of infection - seal vessel within oneself However, in their default "shade" state, they don't actually do anything; shades float around their spawn location unless they detect the PC. Therefore, additional instructions are required to explain how vessels should fulfill their objective. These additional instructions are as follows: - movement and navigation - identify and attack enemies - interact with non-hostiles Each of the above points are performed solely in regards to the primary objective, limiting the chance for independent thought and development of a mind ...however, on their respective journeys, vessels can encounter obstacles and events not covered by the above instructions, thus requiring a final catch-all statement: - acquisition of additional knowledge and abilities This final point allows for creative thinking and, judging by the sheer number of bodies, is not present in all vessels and is ultimately what allows escape from The Abyss. However, it also allows for independent thought. As a result, any vessel that escapes The Abyss also has the capacity to gain "an idea instilled", or an instruction outside the scope of their primary objective.

[@MatDeiBrughi]

Ah Cc, great job as always! Every time I hear some of my music in the background a big big smile suddenly appears on my face :) And the way you shortened Highway of Pain at 28:08 is just perfect, couldn't have done better!

[@Ccmaci]

I haven't even scratched the surface of your amazing HK synth remixes, keep up the good work!

[@cirinalelsinahl1957]

In regards to the point of the Godseeker potentially being able to store all the minds within herself without wearing multiple masks, it's also possible that it's a similar situation to the knight. In that all of the masks the knight wears aren't applied to the character modles in game. So then the question becomes how one would wear all of the masks if they were applied.

[@youdoyouidome7452]

Perhaps mask with a connection to powerful forces or outside effects can simply.. grow 'denser', meaning they deepen their ability" but maintain the same amount of are, wether their would be an actual weight difference from such a thing is.. up to interpretation

[@lilyminer9164]

I’ve been dying for a new lore video ever since I picked up hollow knight myself. And mask maker is my second favourite character so I’m sure this’ll be fun!

[@proctifer9833]

I think a lot of what Mask Maker says is figurative. It could be what TC intended, but I never thought it literally meant masks give sentience. For me it meant: masks are an avenue to disguise your original features so that you are unrecognizable. But you can become too used to that new look and "lose" your original identity. That can be a metaphor for just acting differently to give yourself a different persona. If you get too used to that persona then you might become that persona. Masks do seem to have a lot of prevalence in Hollow Knight, but I don't think that they are actually that important. Godseeker is a different story, sure they're masks that they wear, but that's not the key detail. God tuners make it easier to concentrate your thoughts towards something (in other words, to focus). I never agreed with what mossbag said about masks actually changing the wearer. Dreamer masks actually served a function, but likely didn't need to even be a mask to work. Monomon probably helped Quirrel to survive outside of Hallownest, since we know she is still connected to him through the mask which contains a fragment of her existing mind. Regardless, I can't explain this all in a KZbin comment, and I've already written more than people are willing to read.

[@eligellock2023]

Simple explanation that means you don’t have to throw out your theory: just as M’s mask acts like a link between the dream world and reality, it can be used to give you most of the effects of the Beacon from basically anywhere, acting kinda like a redstone repeater from Minecraft. This is due to the fact that M’s body is in Hallownest.

[@eco4652]

23:15 maybe to "wear" it means only to have it close, like having it under your cloak, as a hat, inside your mind (From the Beacon) like Monomon or with a Game Theory of the knight, to just have it inside your cloak/shade/body/whatever it is

[@EclipseSystem]

"Let all bask in your true form." Completed masks hide your true form. The lore tablet is next to Fury of the Fallen, which gives you strength when you only have one mask. I would assume this is just alluding to Fury giving you extra power when you "shed your mask layers, exposing your true form beneath" or something like that

[@pyrusinc]

Dawg what the hecc, your editing is so good??? This video felt so professional, between the slick visuals, the SFX, the VA's you called in, the music (MAT my beloved), not to mention the actual script and the narrative you built. Man I love your videos so much! I hope you have a great day and can keep making amazing stuff like this :)

[@Stizzl]

A new cc video is like christmas

[@dogwalter3655]

“Oh, you don’t know mask lore, huh?” Me who watched all of mossbags videos: *I N C O R R E C T*

[@xxxdeadasfxck]

I still find it really sweet that you held that contest/event in your discord for the masks and then show them off in your video. Its a nice touch.

[@alpacaofthemountain8760]

Amazing video! I wonder if Quirrel wearing the mask part way was a way to protect his mind while not being overridden by Monomon's mind while in the wastes outside Hollownest.

[@Baark0]

Only 7 minutes in but can I just say I love the voice acting here? Great work

[@DracoGalboy]

Definitely worth the wait... Well done cc!

[@hollowinsomnia893]

Can we talk about how the outro music slaps hard, and how someone finally made a memorial to Brumm and Quirrel.

[@Big-Chungus21]

The mask maker does resemble the kingsmolds a bit. I think this suggests they may have been created by someone for the purpose of making masks.

[@userpersonwhoisahuman]

These voice actors are so talented! :o

[@3rdJan]

such a great video! the production quality was amazing. the editing complimented the audio perfectly, and you made some great points, helping me understand the lore of those darned masks a bit better. good job!

[@STNDD]

The ancient mask in "hidung the true self" refers to locking away the shade inside. The only one that uses *ancient* masks is the knight, not the rest of the bugs, except maybe the dreamers, and that special mask makes them sleep forever

[@noelvyhnanek5951]

Great video, have some of my own interpretations and theories to come up with now 🔍 But really this whole thing is so interesting and cryptic... Glad I can finally understand some of the basics! Thanks Maci!

[@Sol-Lar-Bink]

I learned, I cried, I laughed. This was an expertly made video, and I loved every second. All your jokes made me laugh, and I now have a deeper appreciation for the masks, as I never really thought much about them.

[@Foxyrobo]

Nice video cc! I really liked the animations that the characters had

[@xpdragon3173]

Man, your style of editing is so good, I'm surprised you aren't followed more!

[@CyanidesDagger]

Poggers video! I deleted my first comment cause it too long (I still don’t want any drawings of the knight with 9 masks at once it’s too cursed)

[@NT-sx2bd]

Yes you do.

[@CyanidesDagger]

I really don’t

[@fishbutler6170]

this kind of video is exactly what ive been looking for, thank you and fantastic job!

[@MooseyVGM]

Loved it, Cc! You continue to entertain and excel at doing so x)

[@kovexplay]

Wow, I love the voice acting and editing! I feel like I'm in a modern interactive museum lol

[@hyneksnajdr3758]

Ah I love your lore videos! It always feels like watching a movie or reading a full story. This has been extremely interesting in particular. Great job!

[@rubberduckie0701]

your lore videos are always so GOOD cc, keep it up!!

[@KasenPringle]

I can try to explain the contradiction between mask maker and the lore tablet in king’s pass: The lore tablets in king’s pass are addressed to higher beings, while Mask Maker was addressing bugs in general. That pretty much explains it, but it’s time for some speculation. Mask maker says that “those of striking will may still a retain a slither of that concealed self.” Higher beings definitely fit this bill, but why would whoever wrote these tablets want higher beings to reveal themselves? The Pale King never took off his mask for all we know, and when the Radiance made herself known, the entire kingdom was thrown into chaos. In my opinion, it’s either directly addressed to Vessels, or simple foreshadowing. Being the children of the Pale King and White Lady, the Vessels could be considered higher beings as well. The knight only defeated the Radiance when all the siblings in their shade forms, he took off his mask to reveal his shade, but the shit out of the Radiance, and dragged the Radiance into the void. So yeah, that’s my interpretation of that Lore Tablet.

[@charlesmorey4298]

I love how simple vessels are to draw. I'm not even an artist, half the stuff I can pull off is stick figures, but vessels... I made on that was literally a cracked face, with a left horn snapped off and replaced with a hive crystal. He also had a raggedy cloak. THATS IT.

[@kimchipossum]

that was amazing, everything was put so well together :)

[@galoisdeer2660]

I love all the visual bits you put in, very fun!

[@samuelcrow4701]

Perhaps the mask and what it conceals can communicate, meaning that monomon instructed her unmasked mind to call out the knight and quarrel in her absence

[@GippyHappy]

Please stop making me cry over Quirrel I’ve already given him so many tears

[@MarsLee0]

The editing in this is wonderful! I'm so exited to see more

[@kappa1990]

Comparing the godseeksers to the minions was something I didn't know I wanted to hear.

[@artiomgera6686]

CC gongrats on the PvP tournament. You did a great Job!!!. Fire and Hunt were insane.

[@kseromore]

This is the kind of video i am subscribed for. Fantastic work

[@TrilainaBloodwind]

The voices you picked for this were ON POINT! Great idea to recruit from the community, CC! :D

[@grub3320]

an absolute blockbuster, as always. Great job!

[@daniyalnaseer-ud-din5490]

This has to be the highest quality Hollow Knight video I have ever seen

[@kokzuckerberg3880]

This video is a piece of art, the editing was amazing the voice acting was amazing 10/10 would watch again.

[@delirious_z9987]

so maybe the kings becon just effects the dream world version and by having a mask that form is being revealed in the normal world....i guess.... and he might have effected only the dream world because the radiance was also in it i think.

[@evotheevolutions9437]

9:23 use the tnt exploit to break the bedrock

[@rubenbadalgorriz5331]

Ok I just discovered you a few days ago... Your videos are amazing, huge quality, I love them

[@katie-ampersand]

I've already seen two of your video essays on hollow knight lore, how am i not subscribed yet

[@jfisher5347]

This feels like a mat pat video but actually done well with accurate information lmao

[@derontanzil6939]

Wooow this was a really well edited video . I really enjoyed the comedy too

[@andtheniforgotit]

I remember when I finally saw Quirrel again at the blue lake, I spent like, 20 minutes just hanging out. When I left, I thought he'd just be there resting whenever I needed a break from the intensity of the game. When I went back and saw only his sword, I actually cried.

[@mileszeweniuk2999]

these videos are on par with mossbags!

[@kaemd5462]

Amazing video! The editing is top notch

[@Viscidsquare040]

Dude, your editing is god tier

[@ma1exu965]

The amount of effort and thought put into this video was outstandingly perfect, nice job as always

[@Ccmaci]

Thank you!

[@user-eq5fz4qk6c]

This video is so good on technical side. This animations, voice acting at dialogues(never so it in hollow knight before)!

[@meesemurger]

“His masks easily come off-“ He said, casting a spell created with soul and void upon it.

[@NT-sx2bd]

I love these long videos about specific things.

[@thonk6191]

Ah, CC, I see you're going to Unmask the truth! You've gone through the wastes to find the connection between the faceless facts and lies, yet in the end it seems as though the face concealed was yet another mask. Maybe we'll get that sweet sweet mask lore in zoteboat.

[@leilaclarridge5807]

Masks are going to be a huge part of the plot of a certain something involving Hollow Knight I'm making, so you bet I'll go buckwild with them

[@stuffstuff3455]

Can you make a charm lore video? The charm lover said that came out of a dead bug's last disires or something like that.

[@serraramayfield9230]

Mossbag already has a decent video about them

[@stuffstuff3455]

No he hasn't.

[@serraramayfield9230]

@@stuffstuff3455 Uh...I'm sure he has. And even then if he hasn't there isn't really a point in making one as we know nearly everything about them

[@stuffstuff3455]

Then tell me. And no. We don't know nearly everything about them. Sure, their are the obvious ones like, dashmaster, quickslash, heavyblow. But most of the rest are quite mysterious. And was the process that turned the kingsoul, a charm that regenerates soul, into the void heart, a charm that unites the void under the bearer's will just by remembering the past?

[@serraramayfield9230]

@@stuffstuff3455 The process that turned the Kingsoul into the Void Heart was a "revelation" (emotional reaction) by its wearer, the Knight, when it witnessed the Birthplace cutscene. Getting the Void Heart caused them to "evolve beyond [the Pale King]" as stated by Bardoon.

[@snailetiquette]

I like to imagine the player's HP masks being worn under the knight's cloak as a form of scale mail

[@Rivalloni]

This was a really well put together video!! Also, remember to wear a mask everyone!

[@T4coTV]

Legit thought I was watching a movie there. Absolutely superb editing Cc!

[@redlucario296]

The fact that this video was made almost a day ago and I created my own hollow knight oc almost a week or so ago and struggled to make a unique mask design for a bit is a bit weirdly timed on my part XD, although technically my oc's mask is the whole situation of "can't tell the difference between mask and face" type of thing

[@tonythr5093]

Someone probably already ponted that out, but I just wanted to say that the King's Pass tablets are adressed to Higher Beings. Higher Beings are much more powerful than normal bugs, and therefore they don't need a mask to protect their mind. So we totally can trust Mask Maker's words on this topic, because he is talking about average bugs, while tablets are all adressed to Higher Beings and cannot be read by anyone (Elina from Wanderer's Journal coudn't read a tablet in Ancient Basin witch was also addressed to Higher Beings). Also, thank you very much for another AWESOME video! This is actually very impressive work, and I hope to see more of your HK lore discussions on the channel!

[@Ccmaci]

I didn't want to add this in the video since it would get off topic, but I agree with mossbag's take that the Pale King is actually calling regular bugs "higher beings" as a form of propaganda. As well, Elina may have meant she didn't understand the context behind that lore tablet, not that she couldn't read the words on it. Besides that, thank you for enjoying my video :D

[@Sougin_0]

Hollow Knight lore! It’s been a while.

[@calamity500]

8:15 I think we do actually see another way to conceal ones true form (Spoilers ahead) See at the end of the game in the dream no more or pantheon endings our character sheds their shell entirely and reveals the true shade (or shade lord) underneath

[@RaisingKayne223]

That slap was personal

[@crazedaze7256]

Amazing editing well done

[@a.fernando4319]

For what I interpret,the pk is a antenna,the bug are like tv and the mask are expander,normally bug would get the signal without problem but some with have limited signal so the mask improve the resection,losing a mask is losing that extra resection becoming limited again.

[@SnaggyMan]

When a bug leaves the kingdom… THEY TURN INTO A FREAKING PNG!

[@Eggs221]

I clicked faster than a snail! I just realised that doesn't say anything.....

[@earthboundkid1]

So first thing first. My personal theory on Mask Maker is. That he is the oldest NPC in the game. Because he and ONLY him (other than Lemm but he does not really count here) calls out the ancient cast by name. I thought what Mask Maker meant by "To change a face; to conceal it fully within another... A powerful protection that is, but one with sad consequence. The original mind is destroyed, though those of striking will may still retain a sliver of that concealed self." Was. " Be carful using too many mask because it may destroy your mind". Now why would Mask make tell us this? Well it goes back to why Mask Makers eyes are all crazy. So why are Makers eyes all crazy? I think mask maker wore too many masks went mad and some how obtained immortality from wearing too many masks. Yet we as Vessel don't really have a mind to speak of so too many mask don't impact the knight. But that's just my own theory I don't think it has anything to do with the big V word Void.

[@st4rk1113r]

I'm pretty sure that masks have different effets on each bugs, and that even masks makers doesn't understand them. Also, it is possible that mask makers' masks are very different from their godseeker and grim counter part. I think that what mask makers mean when he say that the true form is destroyed is not litteral, but simple that their is no comparing a bug without a mask and a bug with a mask. Something that you left out is the mention to how not all the bugs need a mask. I think for Quirrel, he doesn't need a mask because his mind is already developed on its own. However, he looses his memory either because his mind was still a little expanded by the white king, but there is also the possibility that loosing the influence of the king, his light, was a traumatic experience for Quirrel, which is why he only lost his memory.

[@RodrigoPereira-ws8ok]

I think the Mask Maker is just making regular masks. The masks of the goodseekers are very different from all others, and those of the Grimm Troupe have the eyes crossed, which could link back to how they don't help them focus, but instead enslave them to the Nightmare Heart. Bugs heightened by the Pale King's beacon (which presumably includes Quirrel) are supposed to lose their minds entirely should they leave the beacon's range. Quirrel losing his memories only seems to be an exception to the rule, likely due to him wearing a powerful magical artifact possessed by an ancient bug on his head.

[@gavmcdangle1893]

Seriously amazing content!