| First encounter | Ho there, traveller. I'm afraid there's only me left to offer welcome. Our town's fallen quiet you see. The other residents, they've all disappeared. Headed down that well, one by one, into the caverns below. |
|---|---|
| First encounter (if walked by him the first time) | Oh! You came back! You walked straight past me, I thought maybe I'd faded away along with this town. |
| First encounter (if visited Forgotten Crossroads before listening to him) | Oh! You're back! You walked straight past me and descended down into the ruins without even saying hello! I thought maybe I'd seen a ghost. The mind sometimes plays tricks on you when you spend a lot of time alone. |
| Listening again | Many used to come, hoping the kingdom would fulfill their desires. Hallownest, it was once called. Supposedly the greatest kingdom there ever was, full of treasures and secrets. |
| Listening after reaching the City of Tears | I hope you aren't too disappointed by our little town, traveller. Though it's now a solemn place, once we were much more welcoming. Entry to the kingdom was forbidden long ago, supposedly after some great calamity. Many gates were closed, but our old well remains as a way to creep back in. |
| Listening after Iselda's shop opened | A young couple's just recently taken up residence in the house beside the station. Seems they're running a map shop, which may excite adventurous types like yourself. She's a tall bug, the wife. I told them to take a larger house, especially given they're all empty, but they liked the look of that one. |
| Listening after Sly was rescued in the Forgotten Crossroads | Oh, what a turn! Our shopkeep's come home. Just wandered back in. I'd hoped for grand tales of his time below, but he seems to remember almost nothing! Maybe it was all too much for him? If you're interested in his wares, watch out! He drives a hard bargain, that one. |
| Listening after opening the Stag Station in Dirtmouth | I never thought I'd see such a thing. The Stag Station has opened! That building lay silent since before even my time. Oh, I've heard the tales of the glorious lines. A web of tunnels running all through the kingdom. Not that I'll be travelling them, mind you! |
| Listening after opening the door to Confessor Jiji | Faring well in your adventures below? Well I had an adventure of my own while you were gone. I don't usually visit the town's graveyard, but I thought I'd go and visit the grave of an old friend. |
| Listening after rescuing Bretta in Fungal Wastes | That lovely young lass returned to us! I must admit, I'd placed thin odds on her survival. |
| Listening while wearing Defender's Crest | Can you... smell something? There's suddenly a horrid stench in the air. I swear, the town usually smells much nicer than this. Please accept my humble apology! |
| Listening after opening the lift leading from Crystal Peak to Dirtmouth | That noisy old lift, where does it go? Up to the old mines they carved into the peak, I suppose. Have you been up there? Is it true that crystals grow everywhere you step? |
| Listening after having reached the Howling Cliffs | To reach Dirtmouth, most travellers take circuitous routes around the cliffs beside us. It's a hard trek now but in the kingdom's prime things were far simpler. There's an old pass in the cliffs that once allowed easy access. The bridge up to it has long since crumbled away, and even without it, a huge door bars entry. |
| Listening after visiting the Infected Crossroads | Ehhh...A sharp sickly smell has started to drift from the well beside town. I'd thought those depths ominous before, now they seem just dreadful. Whatever horrid curse afflicts this ruin, I'd wager it's grown stronger than ever. |
| Listening after visiting the Temple of the Black Egg | Did you visit that temple? A strange building I've heard, though I'd never dare the journey myself. The braver among us once went there to pray, said they felt at peace within the walls. After a while, they stopped going. I wonder what changed? |
| Listening after opening the Temple of the Black Egg | I heard a piercing cry from the well. It echoed about my mind and left me all a daze. I'd say it was a foul beast's death, but this cry sounded different...divine? Has something happened little traveller? |
| Exhausted dialogue (if not given a Delicate Flower) | Feeling tired? That bench may be iron, but I assure you it's quite comfortable. There's no better place to collect your thoughts before heading below. Plus I enjoy the company. Not that you seem the talkative sort. |
| Dream Nailed (if not given a Delicate Flower) | To descend into that ruin...Why? Things are so much simpler up here. |
Elderbug
  |
Elderbug is an NPC in Hollow Knight. He is the oldest resident of Dirtmouth and a friendly face for new travellers seeking the Kingdom.[1] He gives advice to anyone who passes by him.[3]
Lore
While Elderbug is the oldest bug in Dirtmouth, he was not around before the fall of Hallownest, the Stag Station of Dirtmouth being closed even before his time.[4]
Since all of Dirtmouth's residents have disappeared down the well into the Forgotten Crossroads, Elderbug is the only remaining resident in town. These bugs followed their dreams and then never returned, making him believe that dreams are not so great after all.[5] He has become pessimistic, seeing the world as faded, with dark thoughts creeping into his mind.[6][7]
Elderbug had an old friend who is buried in the graveyard of Dirtmouth. He visits her grave occasionally.[8]
In-game events
When Elderbug is first met, he warns the Knight to be careful if they decide to head down the well, as creatures who go there turn mad and travellers are robbed of their memories.
Throughout the Knight's journey, Elderbug gives hints on which area they should go to next. He also comments on other residents returning to Dirtmouth and buildings reopening.
When he is given a Delicate Flower, he happily accepts it and notes that he had not expected any gratitude for the advice that he gave to travellers. The flower makes him see the world as a little less faded and causes him to consider that dreams might not be so bad after all.[9]
The Grimm Troupe ContentAfter the Grimm Troupe arrives in Dirtmouth, Elderbug moves from his usual spot near the Bench to a spot west of this. He comments on how the Grimm Troupe's arrival fills him with dread, and that he would best ignore it.[10] He moves back to the Bench after this.
Once the Grimm Troupe leaves or is banished, Elderbug expresses how relieved he is that the town is quiet once more.[11] If the Troupe was banished, he finds Nymm outside of town and invites him in. The musician's arrival delights him, as Nymm's accordion music gently breaks Dirtmouth's windy sounds.[12]
Dialogue
|
Location
Elderbug is located in Dirtmouth, next to the Bench.
-
Location in Dirtmouth
Gallery
-
Elderbug in Dirtmouth Square
-
Elderbug frightened by the Grimm Troupe
-
Elderbug with the Delicate Flower
-
Promotional art
Trivia
- Although he is a valid recipient of the Delicate Flower, giving him the Flower does not have any effect and only counts as it being destroyed. Another Flower can still be acquired from the Grey Mourner to be delivered to the grave in the Queen's Gardens, or from the grave itself if the Grey Mourner's quest has already been completed.
- If Elderbug is ignored when first entering Dirtmouth, he calls after the Knight in surprise and, if listened to later, comments on this.
- Elderbug was used as an example of a cut ability of the Dream Nail known as "Dream Diving".[13] With this ability it was possible to enter the "Dream Well" of characters, which contained their hopes, fears and secrets.[13] A video was released showing the Knight use the Dream Nail on Elderbug, which popped the top of his head off and opened a portal that the Knight could enter.[14] Inside Elderbug's Dream Well was a young version of him that could be listened to.[14] This ability was later cut from the game, but Elderbug's separate head sprite could still be found in the game's files prior to the
Lifeblood update. - Elderbug's hint for Greenpath used to never appear due to a bug. This was fixed in version 1.5.68.11808.
-
The Knight entering Elderbug's Dream Well
-
Young version of Elderbug inside his Dream Well
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Official manual
- ↑ Message from Leth on Discord.
- ↑ Elderbug: "I'd resigned myself to selflessly giving out advice to passers by, without receiving any gratitude in return."
- ↑ Elderbug: "The Stag Station has opened! That building lay silent since before even my time."
- ↑ Elderbug: "I'm sure you too seek your dreams down there. Well watch out. It's a sickly air that fills the place. Creatures turn mad and travellers are robbed of their memories. Perhaps dreams aren't such great things after all..."
- ↑ Elderbug: "Suddenly, the world seems a little less faded."
- ↑ Elderbug: "This flower you gave me... when dark thoughts creep into my head I gaze at it and think of you."
- ↑ Elderbug: "I don't usually visit the town's graveyard, but I thought I'd go and visit the grave of an old friend."
- ↑ Elderbug: "Perhaps dreams aren't such bad things after all..."
- ↑ Elderbug: "Ugh, it fills me with dread. I think it best I try to ignore it."
- ↑ Elderbug: "Ah ha! Good riddance! That creepy carnival has vanished and the town's returned to its former self, nice and quiet as I like it."
- ↑ Elderbug: "I found the fellow just outside of town. [...] Whatever his past, he's a rather good musician, and this town's spent far too long listening only to the wind. Thanks to him, we've gained a new tune and some new company!"
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Kickstarter update of December 1st, 2014.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Cut Ability: Hollow Knight Dream Nail trailer.
