Ballow

Ballow
Location	Deep Docks
Role	Miscellaneous
Tasks	SEEK: The Dark Below
Affiliations	Forge Daughter (Boss)
Gender	Male
Singing	Default When Hornet is in the diving bell

If you need something, talk to the boss. I'm busy.

– Ballow

Ballow is an NPC in Hollow Knight: Silksong. He is Forge Daughter's assistant who is involved in the SEEK: The Dark Below objective.

Background

Ballow is a young Smelt Shoveller who is the assistant of Forge Daughter. He can be found shovelling smelt into a metal carapace beside her shop. He and Forge Daughter are the only workers in Deep Docks who still have their senses. Ballow is mostly concerned with his work, and dislikes interruptions.

In-Game Events

When Ballow is working next to Forge Daughter, Hornet can hit him with a pogo attack, which deals no damage to him but makes Forge Daughter laugh if done enough times.

If the Bench in the sauna room in the lower area of the Deep Docks is unlocked and then Hornet rests elsewhere, upon revisiting it, Ballow can be found there enjoying the sauna. After speaking to him and resting elsewhere, he can be found working next to Forge Daughter again.

During the SEEK: The Dark Below objective in Act 3, after speaking with Ballow, he agrees to fix the diving bell. He moves to the diving bell's control panel, accessible through an opened floor gate in the upper right corner of the diving bell's room. After speaking to him there, he gives Hornet the Diving Bell Key, allowing her to enter the diving bell and descend into the Abyss.

After Hornet's first escape from the Abyss, Ballow retrieves the diving bell and starts repairing it with additional reinforcements. Once Hornet obtains the Everbloom, the bell is ready, allowing Hornet to safely descend into and return from the Abyss at any time.

Dialogue

General First encounter & Repeated dialogue If you need something, talk to the boss. I'm busy. Speaking in the sauna Here to sweat away your sorrows, miss? The steam does wonders for a mind set sullen, or a shell gone stiff. I've found these lowlands hot enough already, and mine is a shell more resilient than most. To challenge that further seems a unique sort of madness. Aye, well this is Pharloom, miss! Madness is catching. I'd say this here's the smallest form of it. Repeated dialogue in the sauna Ahh... Can you feel it yet? All your troubles dripping away... Playing the Needolin Heat it... Shape it... The work endures... Forged by holy duty... Tempered... moulded... For Pharloom everlasting... We continue the task... Act 3 First encounter & Repeated dialogue Oi! What's with all these tremors? This smelt still need shovelling, and the shakes're only making it harder. Speaking after acquring the Diving Bell Key If Hornet hasn't seen the Diving Bell yet Sir, I have need to head below the lakes of flame. Can you aid me in this task? Hmmm... Well if you head down below to the very base of the docks, there's an old diving bell built for just what you're askin'. Thing is, you can ride it, but it takes an operator stood dockside to send it. I might be capable, but I ain't got time for naught else while the shovelling still needs doing. Choose to aid me, sir, or all your efforts will soon be wasted. This kingdom crumbles. If you wish for your work and your life to continue, you must help me, now. If Hornet has seen the Diving Bell Sir, I have need to head below the lakes of flame. There is a diving bell at the base of this structure that seemed fit for the task. I require it opened, and an operator to send it deep. As one of few upon these docks with mind still sound, that role must fall to you. Can't you see I'm busy, miss? Ain't got time for naught else while the shovelling needs doing. Choose to aid me, or all your efforts will soon be wasted. This kingdom crumbles. Its collapse is inevitable. If you wish for your work and your life to continue, you must help me, now. Grfff... So it's gotten that bad, aye? I guess... If that's how it is, I'll be your bug. Meet me below, at the diving bell. We'll see if I can get you ready for the drop. Speaking at the Diving Bell Ho, miss! How's all this then? Lotta dials to be trackin', but at least the controls seem in good order. From here, I can guide your bell down, best as any bug. Then you've no prior experience with this type of transport? No one does, miss! Them's who used to dive're all long dead, or cursed ta half life. An' there ain't no bug left alive's been brave or stupid enough to try... 'til now, at least. I'll work it best's I can. Can't do much more, I'm afraid. At least the forgings of these docks were built to last. Now we's only gotta pray they hold for you. Here's the key that'll see you inside its metal belly. Pop in there once you're feelin' good and ready. In the meantime, I'll get to seeing things set up here. Repeated dialogue after handing over the Diving Bell Key Pop inside the diving bell once you're feelin' good and ready. In the meantime, I'll get to seeing things set up here. Speaking through the gramophone inside the Diving Bell Sir, I wish to depart. Please ready the bell for travel. Sure thing, miss. Sit on the bench, and I'll send you down. Speaking again before sitting on the Bench I need a moment, sir. Please unlock the bell that I may exit. Seein' some sense? Can't blame ya if you're thinkin' on backin' out. It's a mad hope that old bell'd even survive the trip. Using gramophone after Bell failure Sir, if you can hear me, there has been an accident during the descent. In this broken state, the bell is unfit for travel. Retrieve it if you may, but I shall not return within. ...iss...istake...erwhelm...retrie...a...ssible... Repeated dialogue ...tract...annot...ap...en...epair...orry..iss... Speaking after returning from the the Abyss Miss! Errr... Ullo... I see you've survived... somehow... Thought that last plunge must'a been your end. It was not. I survived the fall, and managed a treacherous return. For the diving bell's failure, the risks were clear to me. The fault lies not with you. Aye! As you say! This bell's old. And time has a way of breaking things even as fine forged as this. And see below, for its failure I've been workin' hard at improving the design! Your last journey ended up being a valuable test... ahem. Good. That return path is long closed to me, and your bell may still be needed if I choose to descend again. Again? We'll if you're game enough to try a second time... Once this new shield-shell is fitted, it'll surely withstand the drop!.. Surely! Repeated dialogue after returning from the Abyss The diving bell'll be ready again soon, miss. Once this new shield-shell is fitted, it'll surely withstand the drop!.. Surely! Bell repaired Speaking inside Diving Bell without talking him prior Oi! Who'sat? Whoever's down there, if you're fellin' mad enough to try and travel, best meet me up at the controls, and we can chat Speaking after acquring the Everbloom If Hornet did not speak with him after escaping The Abyss Miss! Errr... Ullo... I see you've survived... somehow... Thought that last plunge must'a been your end. It was not. I survived the fall, and managed a treacherous return. For the diving bell's failure, the risks were clear to me. The fault lies not with you. Aye! As you say! This bell's old. And time has a way of breaking things even as fine forged as this. And see below, for its failure I've been workin' hard at improving the design! Your last journey ended up being a valuable test... ahem. Good. That return path is long closed to me, and your bell is now needed again. Again? We'll if you're game enough to try a second time... A shell-shield's been fitted, and the bell's like new. Better'n new. If you're planning another descent, head down, holler, and I'll get you goin'. If Hornet spoke to him before It's done, miss! I've fitted the shell-shield. Bell's like new. Better'n new even! If you're planning another descent, head down, holler, and I'll get you goin'. Your work is aprreciated, sir. Know that, with luck, the threat from below might soon be quelled, and your lands shall rest calm. Well... Good! I'm only really wishin' to return to the forge, and my regular duties... A little purpose, routine... Frankly, miss, all this action's more'n a bit overwhelming for bugs like me. I'll be glad when it's all over... Providing we survive, of course. Repeated dialogue after the bell is repaired The new shell-shield's all bolted on tight, miss. If you're planning another descent, head down, holler, and I'll get you where you're goin'. Asking to use the Diving Bell for the first time Holler when you're ready, miss. The upgrades are done. That bell's as ready as it'll ever be. Asking to open the door in either place Sir, I require a moment. Please unlock the bell for me. Aye. Can do, miss. Hail me again when you're ready to travel. Asking to use the Diving Bell in The Abyss Sir, I need to return above. Please ready the bell for me. Aye, miss. Sit on the bench, and let's get you hauled up.

Location

Ballow is located in the same room as Forge Daughter in Deep Docks. He can be found in the Deep Docks sauna after it's opened; after the encounter he moves back to his usual location next to Forge Daughter.

After talking to him during the SEEK: The Dark Below objective, he moves to the diving bell's control panel.

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  Initial location in Deep Docks

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  Location in Deep Docks sauna

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  Later location in Deep Docks

Gallery

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  Ballow with Forge Daughter

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  Ballow resting in Deep Docks sauna

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  Ballow at Diving Bell controls

Trivia

• Within the intact diving bell, Ballow can be heard singing through the speaker if the Needolin is played. However, his needolin dialogue does not appear.
• When Needle bouncing on Ballow, he makes the same sound when Needle bouncing on a Flintstone Flyer, even though he resembles a Smelt Shoveller.

Names in Other Languages

Language	Name	Meaning/Explanation
Brazilian Portuguese	Ballow	—
French	Ballow	—
German	Ballow	—
Italian	Ballow	—
Japanese	バロウ barou	Ballow
Korean	발로우 ballou	Ballow
Russian	Боллоу Bollow	Ballow
Simplified Chinese	巴洛 Bāluò ?	Ballow
Spanish	Ballow	—
Internal name	BALLOW

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