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The Abyss
Far down below us, beneath the kingdom, the air grows stiller and a sense of emptiness pervades. Can life flourish down there? |
The Abyss is the lowest area in Hallownest, located below Ancient Basin. It is the place of origin of the Void, a substance found at the bottom of the Abyss.
Description
The main area of the Abyss is a giant chasm littered with the shells of Vessels who were born and then discarded.[1] When the Kingsoul Charm is equipped, a path to a hidden area can be opened with Desolate Dive, leading to an egg that can be Dream Nailed to obtain Void Heart.
To the very west is an altar surrounded by numerous screaming faces where the Abyss Shriek Spell can be acquired. To the east is the sea of Void, with a massive lighthouse standing on its shore. This lighthouse can be activated to calm down the Void Tendrils in the sea which normally lash out towards intruders, allowing the Knight to cross to the east side of the Abyss.
The east side holds the Shade Cloak, in a room with a corpse holding a bowl of Void. It also appears to be where the Pale King studied the Void, as there is a research room with diagrams on the walls, as well as the Hunter's Journal entry for Void Tendrils.
The Void Tendrils and Siblings found throughout the Abyss become passive once Void Heart has been acquired.
Lore
Before the kingdom of Hallownest was founded, an ancient civilisation originated from or near the Abyss who worshipped the Void.[2] When the Pale King arrived in Hallownest, he eventually discovered the Abyss and the presence of the Void. After the Infection appeared, he used the Void to turn his children into Vessels, beings with a shell filled with Void who were born in the Abyss, hoping that their emptiness could contain the Infection.[3][4][1] The Pale King sealed the Abyss after selecting the Hollow Knight as his chosen Vessel.[5] The shades of dead Vessels, the Siblings, still wander the bottom of the Abyss.
How to access
The Abyss can be accessed by going to the bottom of Ancient Basin and by having the King's Brand to unlock the entrance.
Lifeblood Core
only accessible by acquiring 15 Lifeblood masks | |
Arcane Egg x 3
1 only accessible by acquiring 15 Lifeblood masks | |
Geo Deposit x 3
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Soul Cache x 2
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Special Rooms
Lifeblood Chamber
The Lifeblood Chamber is accessed by a door on the west wall of the Abyss chasm, sealed by Lifeblood vines. It requires 14 Lifeblood Masks (15 with Joni's Blessing equipped) to open, which is most easily opened with Joni's Blessing in conjunction with other Lifeblood sources. When the Knight approaches the door with enough Lifeblood Masks, the orbs next to the door begin to glow, one by one, until the last one is shining a bright blue hue and the blue vines disappear, unlocking the door.
Inside the chamber is a short series of platforming challenges. At the end of the area is a room with an altar where the Lifeblood Core Charm can be found. In the background of this room is seen the massive multi-eyed head of the Abyss Creature. After obtaining Lifeblood Core from this room, the Knight wakes up next to the door, which is now sealed by dull grey vines, and can no longer be entered. The Arcane Egg contained inside is no longer obtainable if missed.
This is the only area outside of the Dream Realm that features the floating circular symbols, though in a blue hue instead of pink. The reason for this similarity is unknown.
Birthplace
The birthplace of the Knight.[1] Accessible only with the Kingsoul Charm equipped. Its entrance is located at the bottom of the Abyss on the west side, revealed by shaking ground. At the end of the area is a large black egg, showing a reflection of the Knight. When the egg is hit with the Dream Nail, a scene from the past is revealed, involving Vessels and the Pale King. Viewing this scene is required to transform the Kingsoul into the Void Heart. The Birthplace is still accessible after the Kingsoul becomes the Void Heart; however, the egg no longer shows a reflection of the Knight. This area contains an Arcane Egg.
Void Tendrils imprint room
In order to access this room the Knight first needs to get past the sea of Void by turning on the Lighthouse.
After crossing the sea of Void and obtaining the Shade Cloak, a room to the northwest near where the Shade Cloak is acquired can be accessed. It has a small shaft of light and a Shade Gate which leads to a hallway connected to the ceiling, leading to a small room that appears to be a study overlooking the sea of Void.
In the study, there is a fossilised entity that, when interacted with, gives the Void Tendrils Hunter's Journal entry: "An imprint of Abyss given form".
Gallery
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Platform at the entrance to the Abyss
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Centre area leading down
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Void Tendril pools
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Lumaflies gathering when turning on the lighthouse
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Lighthouse interior when the light is turned on
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Area where the Shade Cloak is acquired
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Void Tendril Journal entry room
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Area where Abyss Shriek is obtained
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Corpse lined corridor in the Birthplace
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Arcane Egg location in the Birthplace
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The egg in the Birthplace that can be Dream Nailed
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Opened door leading to Lifeblood Core
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Arcane Egg location in Lifeblood Core area
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Area where Lifeblood Core is found
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Concept sketches of the Abyss
Trivia
- According to the Kickstarter stretch goals, the Abyss was "a massive new expansion for only the hardiest of adventures" and was going to have "4 new bosses",[6] however, this $85,000 stretch goal was not reached. According to Team Cherry, the expansion would have "taken players down into the lake of void, to explore the twisted space within."[7]
- When later asked on Creative Hustler's Show in October 2017, it was stated that Team Cherry would not be working on the content planned for the Abyss expansion, citing that the world for the game was built without considering this expansion, and that Team Cherry would like to move on from Hollow Knight and work on a new game in the near future.[8]
- The lighthouse in the Abyss was originally going to feature a boss encounter.[9] A sketch of this boss was shown by Team Cherry on Twitter, but the boss itself was never added.[10]
- This area does not have a Map, instead being shared with that of Ancient Basin. It also does not appear on the zoomed-out version of the map, but does when zoomed-in.
- The Abyss ambience is the Main Menu theme distorted and slowed down.
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Sketch of a boss in the sea of Void near the lighthouse
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 White Lady: "The Kingsoul... What is at the heart of it I wonder? If its curiosity wills it, it should seek out that place. That place where it was born, where it died, where it began..."
- ↑ Void Tendrils Hunter's Journal entry: "The bugs of Hallownest sometimes wondered whether there were other, older, stranger Kingdoms deep below them."
- ↑ White Palace Lore Tablet: "Eternity in promise and charge in progeny cursed."
- ↑ Pale King: "Born of God and Void."
- ↑ Ancient Basin Lore Tablet: "Our pure Vessel has ascended. Beyond lies only the refuse and regret of its creation. We shall enter that place no longer."
- ↑ Hollow Knight Kickstarter
- ↑ Reddit AMA answer concerning stretch goals.
- ↑ INTERVIEW W/ ARI GIBSON: Hollow Knight & Team Cherry
- ↑ Kickstarter update of December 15th, 2014.
- ↑ Team Cherry [@TeamCherryGames]. "#HollowKnight design in action! yet another wondrous creature to meet" (Tweet). Adelaide, South Australia. Retrieved 9 October 2015 – via Twitter.