Cloth

Cloth
Gender	Female
Backer	Noah Sturtridge
Voice Actor	Not Shalulu (regular voice) Matthew 'Leth' Griffin (cicada noises when she is below the ground)

You act so confident in battle. You show no fear before your foes. I'll try my best to do the same. – Cloth

Cloth is a wanderer in Hollow Knight. She is on a quest of her own throughout Hallownest to prove her bravery.

Lore

Cloth is a large cicada warrior. She set out to Hallownest in order to prove her courage by defeating mighty creatures. However, her cowardly nature often takes over her bravado and leads to hiding underground to escape her foes or to simply sleep, snoring loudly while doing so. She is motivated by the prospect of dying in an epic battle and joining her departed Nola.

Cloth fights by brandishing a club cut from the tooth of an ancient beast. She jumps before landing her club, smashing her opponents to bits.

In-game events

Cloth can first be encountered in the Fungal Wastes, above the entrance to the City of Tears. She is woken up by the sound of the Knight's footsteps and rises from the ground to talk to them. She tells them of the Mantis Tribe deeper down in the area, against whom she wants to test her strength.

Later on, if Cloth has yet to be encountered in the Ancient Basin, she can be found at the beginning of the Failed Tramway in Deepnest. There she rests, exhausted and sore after her fight against the ferocious creatures of the Nest. She plans to leave the area later and search for a less terrifying challenge.

In the Ancient Basin, Cloth found herself unable to fend off the creatures infesting the end of the Tram tunnel and buried herself to hide from them. Once the Knight clears off the tunnel of Aspid Hunters and Lesser Mawleks, she comes out from the ground. Abandoning her bravado, she openly confides her weaknesses. Yet, inspired by the Knight's feats, she regains confidence and decides to continue her quest in Hallownest.

From this point on, Cloth can be encountered at the entrance of the Queen's Gardens near the Fog Canyon. She returned to this area to face the Mantis Traitors occupying the gardens. She hopes to finally be able to face down her fears this time or die doing so. She later appears to help the Knight during an ambush of Mantis Traitors near the White Lady's refuge, and they fight together against the Traitor Lord. However, the Traitor Lord mortally wounds her at the end of the fight, she then chooses to deal the final blow herself before dying.

Cloth needs to be saved in the Ancient Basin for her to appear during Traitor Lord's fight. If Traitor Lord was fought but not defeated before Cloth was rescued in Ancient Basin, then rescuing Cloth does not trigger her next encounter at the entrance of the Queen's Gardens. Despite her absence in this location, she is still present in the fight against the Traitor Lord.

Once the Knight leaves the area and returns, Cloth's spirit can be found above her corpse. She is thrilled by her fight, having achieved what she came to Hallownest for, and states she will depart soon to join Nola. After leaving the area again, her spirit disappears.

If Cloth was not rescued in the Ancient Basin before killing the Traitor Lord, she decides to leave Hallownest, having found no challenge she could not overcome or die trying. She returns to Dirtmouth and sleeps outside of Sly's shop for a quick rest. She thanks the Knight for the inspiration they gave her but states her plan to find more challenges outside Hallownest's ruins. In her mind, she still hopes to be reunited with Nola in death. Cloth leaves Dirtmouth after she is listened to and the area is exited.

Dialogue

Encounters First encounter in Fungal Wastes Ah ha! The tiny steps of a tiny creature. You got the look of an adventurer, so we've much in common. Searching for dangerous places aye? Well you're on the right track. A long necked critter warned me of a tribe deeper down. Warrior sorts, so she says and I'm itching for some serious combat. Listening after returning I wasn't hiding, you know. Just napping before I head off again. Bound to be facing even more deadly beasts soon, so I gotta keep me strength up. Exhausted dialogue Keep sharp my adventurous friend. Stay alive and let's meet again on the road ahead. Dream Nailed Am I in over my head? Even these shroom creatures almost did me in and far nastier things await further down. Curse me and my foolish bravado! If I could shed my pride, I'd be asking this tiny warrior for help. First encounter in Deepnest This whole area swarms with deadly critters, biting, burning, scratching types. I'd thought to test my strength against them. Now that bravado has left me and all I feel is tired and sore. First encounter in Deepnest if never listened to before Greetings tiny creature. You got the look of an adventurer alright. I'd call myself the same but this dreadful place makes me feel inadequate. Exhausted dialogue I'm taking what brief rest I can, then I'm off in search of less terrifying challenge. This nest is no place to die. Dream Nailed Such bad luck. The critters about here are just terrifying. Those scuttling legs, those gnashing teeth. Tis not the end I'd ever want to meet. First encounter in Ancient Basin My friend, you dealt with all of those beasts? I'm ashamed to say... I was hiding. Those ghastly things chased me and I ran. If you hadn't come along, who knows if I'd ever have survived. Others take me for a fearsome warrior, what with my impressive size, but this kingdom's beasts, I wonder if I'm just no match for them?... Enough! I cannot wallow in my weakness. I must take strength from your example! You act so confident in battle. You show no fear before your foes. I'll try my best to do the same. First encounter in Ancient Basin if never listened to before Oh! Ahh. Such a tiny creature, yet you dealt with all of those beasts? I wasn't hiding, if that's what you're thinking. Just waiting for the right moment to pounce!...No... I can't speak such a lie... I was hiding. Those ghastly things chased me and I ran. If you hadn't come along, who knows if I'd ever have survived. Others take me for a fearsome warrior, what with my impressive size, but this kingdom's beasts, I wonder if I'm just no match for them?... Enough! I cannot wallow in my weakness. I must take strength from your example! You act so confident in battle. You show no fear before your foes. I'll try my best to do the same. Exhausted dialogue I look forward to our next contact, tiny saviour. Then you'll meet a warrior with courage to match your own. Dream Nailed (before listening) I could only hide. What warrior am I?.. Dream Nailed (after listening) Such luck! This tiny one appears at just the right moment. And what masterful skill it shows! As a warrior it sets powerful precedent. I'd do well to learn from its form. First encounter in Queen's Gardens Ahhh tiny warrior. Then, you too come to test yourself against that traitorous tribe? A deadly bunch they are that roost within these glades. I'd once've stayed well clear of them, but your actions have shown me the truth of it. We must face down our fears or be defeated by them. If we both make it through, we can swap stories of our adventures. I'd look forward to that! Exhausted dialogue Stay alive my friend. Whatever you seek in here, I'm sure that tribe won't look lightly on our intrusion. Dream Nailed It's time! I'll face that fear. Nola will be proud. Listening to Cloth's spirit Well now that was something! A true battle of mighty warriors. So intense. So climactic. It's really everything I could have ever hoped for. Thanks for all your help, my friend. For a tiny bug you set a valiant example. We'll meet again, I'm sure of it. Exhausted dialogue Be on my way soon. Nola is waiting and I'm done down here. Just savouring the moment a little longer. First encounter in Dirtmouth Ah! Tiny warrior. I'm glad I could see you again. You've inspired me! I'm about to head off in search of other places and other foes. This quiet town's the perfect stop before I scale the cliffs and head out onto the plains. Exhausted dialogue I'll be off soon. It's a dangerous thing to trek the desolate sands beyond the kingdom. I'll need all my strength to survive them. First though, a good rest is in order. Dream Nailed Nola, I'm coming. More challenging foes are out there, somewhere, but none in this ruin could take me to you...

Locations

Cloth can be found in several locations across Hallownest. If she is encountered in the Queen's Gardens, she cannot be found in Dirtmouth and vice versa.

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  Fungal Wastes

• 

  Deepnest

• 

  Ancient Basin

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  Queen's Gardens

• 

  Dirtmouth

Gallery

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  Cloth in the Fungal Wastes

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  Cloth in Deepnest

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  Cloth in the Ancient Basin

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  Cloth in Dirtmouth

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  Cloth in the Queen's Gardens

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  Cloth's final blow

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  Cloth's spirit says farewell

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  Promotional art

Trivia

• Cloth was the first Backer NPC announced. Backer NPCs were a reward tier on the Hollow Knight Kickstarter page:
  • "Cloth is a Cicada-type warrior to meet on your quest through the caverns. Just listen for his Cicada song and you’ll know he’s close. Cloth’s a friendly sort, though he’s having doubts about his combat prowess. As the Hollow Knight, you can help Cloth regain his morale and in doing so gain his assistance through some tough battles. Watch out though! Cloth isn’t invincible and without the two of you working together he may end up meeting a warrior’s demise."
  • "Fun Fact: Cloth was originally called Burlap until we realised burlap, the material, doesn't exist in Hallownest so he underwent a name change. We’re still working with Noah to finalise Cloth so look forward to his exciting (possibly tragic) tale when you play the final game."
  • Although pitched as male during the Kickstarter campaign, the official manual denotes Cloth as female.
• There is always rumbling before Cloth pops out of the ground in any area; this is accompanied by the same sound effects as when the Knight walks on a breakable floor.
• Her club can be seen resting on the grave of the Traitors' Child in the background of the Traitor Lord fight in Godhome, if she is killed in battle.
• If the Dream Nail has not been obtained before defeating the Traitor Lord with Cloth, her spirit is invisible, but can still be interacted with to hear her dialogue.
• Although Nola is mentioned several times by Cloth, Nola cannot be seen in the game. The circumstances of their death are also unknown.

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