Conductor Ballador

Conductor Ballador
Role	Miscellaneous
Tasks	LEARN: Conductor's Melody
Affiliations	Weavers (Former superiors) Conductors (Member) The Choir (Leader)
Gender	Male
Singing	Default Teaching Conductor's Melody

The mantle of conductor weighs heavy. Had I known the cost before its bearing, would I have accepted the duty?

– 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.

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 objective, 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

General 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. I hope, good pilgrim, our Citadel has shown you the courtesy deserved of a bug devout. I've borne its hospitality well enough, aged one... Ahhh... My sympathies, pilgrim... We have fallen so far. And now, sadly, if you've come seeking aid or understanding, I fear I too shall disappoint. Whatever you would ask, I have only my melody left to offer. It is a simple thing, the smallest of gifts, but perhaps more special now, for it has been rarely heard in these quietened times. 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. But the words... How hollow they echoed. The mantle of rule, claimed greedily from Pharloom's fading first children, those bitter Weavers... it was yoke, not crown. Now, in our Citadel's silence, we share their truth. Only one monarch's claws ever clutched this kingdom, though we raised our voices to cry otherwise. Would you see her, pilgrim? Up there at our Citadel's crown? Reach those heights we'd hoped to hide and bow before this land's true ruler. In time near, sir bug, I shall indeed climb to meet your monarch... 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... Now only silence... Only our sickness... Only our song...

Location

Conductor Ballador can be found in The Forum, in the south-west end of the High Halls.

• 

  Conductor Ballador's location in High Halls.

Gallery

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  Conductor Ballador in Act 2

• 

  Conductor Ballador in Act 3

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.

Names in Other Languages

Language	Name	Meaning/Explanation
Brazilian Portuguese	Condutor Ballador	Conductor Ballador
French	Maestrel Ballador
German	Dirigent Ballador	Conductor Ballador
Italian	Direttore Ballador	Conductor Ballador
Japanese	指揮者バラドール Shikisha baradōru	Conductor Ballador
Korean	지휘자 발라도어 Jihwija balladoeo	Conductor Ballador
Russian	Дирижёр Балладор Dirižër Ballador	Conductor Ballador
Simplified Chinese	指挥家巴拉多尔 Zhǐhuījiā bālāduōěr?	Conductor Ballador
Spanish	Director Ballador	Conductor Ballador
Internal name	LAST_CONDUCTOR

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