| First encounter | A visitor? Now this is rare. I must apologise for not rising to greet you. After an age spent sickly, I find myself unable to lift from this bedchamber. |
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| Speaking when the objective ASCEND: Pharloom's Crown becomes active with the Threefold Melody required, and Hornet has spoken to Ballador before |  I return, bug, and ask to hear your melody again, that I may lock it clear in my mind.Very well, good pilgrim. For one so fiercely devout as yourself, gladly will I give this gift. |
| After learning the Conductor's Melody | Our song upon a silken thread.... Such beautiful sound, so long absent from our halls. Keep safe our melody, good pilgrim. You shall likely be the last to receive it. |
| Revisiting after learning the Conductor's Melody | Your chambers are surely grand, sir bug, but it is plain to see you are no sovereign here. Is our state so bare, pilgrim?... "By the will of the Conductors," we once boomed, and this Citadel shook at our decree. |
| Exhausted dialogue | The mantle of conductor weighs heavy. Had I known the cost, before its bearing, would I have accepted the duty? |
| Needolin dialogue | Dear devout... have we failed? Remember their voices... |
Conductor Ballador
Conductor Ballador is an NPC in Hollow Knight: Silksong. He gives the Conductor's Melody required for ASCEND: Pharloom's Crown.
Background
Conductor Ballador is a Conductor of The Citadel. Not much is known about Ballador, though from his dialogue and his position next to the Forum, it is possible he was originally responsible for the entire choir in the High Halls or beyond. He is sickly, hidden in a hospital-like covered bed with a machine threading Silk inside, likely keeping him alive. Due to his illness, Ballador can be heard coughing. The Conductors seem to undergo some form of intensive surgery to sustain themselves.[3][4]
In-game Events
Hornet encounters Conductor Ballador after fighting a gauntlet of enemies in The Forum. He expresses regret that the Citadel has grown so hostile and unwelcoming, and offers his weakened melody as a small comfort.
After beating the Cogwork Dancers and starting the Learn: Conductor’s Melody Wish, Hornet may return and ask to hear the Conductor's song again. Playing the Needolin along with his grants the Conductor's Melody as part of the ASCEND: Pharloom's Crown objective.
Upon reaching Act 3, returning to Conductor Ballador reveals he has died in the Citadel's collapse. A Rune Harp can be found on his corpse.
Dialogue
Location
Conductor Ballador can be found in The Forum, in the south-west end of the High Halls.
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Conductor Ballador's location in High Halls.
Gallery
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Conductor Ballador in Act 1-2
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Conductor Ballador in Act 3
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Conductor Ballador's death sprite in Act 3, giving a glimpse to his actual appearance.
Trivia
- While Conductor Ballador's full form is never clearly seen, The Unravelled boss uses the mantle of a Conductor as a part of its form, giving an idea of what Ballador himself may look like.
References
- ↑ Conductor Ballador dialogue: "The mantle of rule, claimed greedily from Pharloom's fading first children, those bitter Weavers..."
- ↑ Hornet dialogue with Conductor Ballador: "In time near, sir bug, I shall indeed climb to meet your monarch..."
- ↑ Choral Commandment description: "Last edict of the Conductors. "And lo, is eternity sustained. By Architect's claw, we welcome that final form, of dial and rotor, and soul gladly given. The perfect, unfaltering voice."
- ↑ Psalm Cylinder description: "Last surgery of Conductor Mizello, performed in Whiteward's operating theatre."