White Lady

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These bindings about me, I've chosen to erect. There is some shame I feel from my own part in the deed, and this method guarantees it cease.
– White Lady

The White Lady is an NPC in Hollow Knight. She gifts one half of the Kingsoul to the Knight in the Queen's Gardens.

Lore

The White Lady is a root higher being[2] who used to be the Queen of Hallownest[3][4] and the wife of the Pale King. During Hallownest’s prime, the Queen's Gardens were her well-guarded retreat.[5] This area used to belong to the Mosskin, but the White Lady claimed it to create her gardens.[6]

The White Lady bound in the Queen's Gardens

The White Lady is the mother of the Vessels.[7][8] Out of shame for her part in their creation, she bound herself in the Queen's Gardens to stop herself from having more offspring.[9] Dryya, one of the Five Great Knights, stood guard over her, although Dryya died after defeating numerous Mantis Traitors. The White Lady is not aware of her death.[10]

Over time, the White Lady's vision worsened and she could not see much anymore.[11] She did sense within her roots the weakening of the Hollow Knight, prompting her to await a visit from a Vessel to give them her part of the Kingsoul.[12][13]

In-game events

The cocoon-like object in which the White Lady resides

The White Lady is found in the northwest part of the Queen's Gardens inside a cocoon-like dwelling. Outside this structure is the corpse of Dryya.

When the Knight first meets her, she gifts her half of the Kingsoul to them. She then asks the Knight to defeat the Hollow Knight and take their place in sealing the Radiance.[14]

After the Knight has obtained the completed Kingsoul, she comments on their strength and dedication, wondering if they could be more than simply a Vessel.[15] She tells the Knight to visit their birthplace in the Abyss to find out what is at the heart of the Kingsoul.[15]

Godmaster Content
The White Lady in the Pantheon of Hallownest

The White Lady can be offered a Delicate Flower but she refuses it, explaining that the flower originates from outside Hallownest and holds rare power.

She makes an appearance in Godhome in the Pantheon of Hallownest, with the Godseeker commenting on her lore and backstory. In this form the White Lady seems to be unbound and without constraints. The Godseeker mentions that the White Lady hides from their attunement, and wonders if she diminishes herself by choice.[16]

Dialogue

General
First Encounter Oh! One arrives. Far it walks to find me. Did it seek my aid? Or did the path carry it by chance to so pertinant sic a place?

It is true. True, that you were awaited. No. Perhaps that is inaccurate. True one like you was awaited.
I have a gift, held long for one of your kind. Half of a whole. When united, great power is granted, and on the path ahead, great power it will need.

After picking up the White Fragment Within my roots, the weakening of the Vessel I plainly feel. Only two obvious outcomes there are from such a thing.

The first is inevitable on current course, regression, all minds relinquished to that pernicious plague.
The second I find preferable, and would seek your aid in its occurance, sic replacement.
I implore you, usurp the Vessel. Its supposed strength was ill-judged. It was tarnished by an idea instilled. But you. You are free of such blemishes. You could contain that thing inside.

Listening again I'll offer fair warning. The Vessel may itself be weak, but it is much empowered by that force within.

To claim its role requires strength of some magnitude. Prepare yourself well before attempting the task.

Exhausted dialogue Prepare well, but don't dally. Were the Vessel to break prematurely, that plague would unleash with rage and power built of ages chained.
Listening after returning Do I seem prisoner here? If so, it's not by any choice but my own. These bindings about me, I've chosen to erect.

There is some shame I feel from my own part in the deed and this method guarantees it cease.
I still feel that urge you see. I always will. A voracious desire to spread seeds upon the land, to propogate sic myself, to breed.

Listening after acquiring the King's Brand It faced the Gendered Child? She's a fierce foe, strong in mind and body, striking reflection of her mother, though the two were permitted little time together.

I never begrudged the Wyrm's dalliance as bargain. In fact, I feel some affection for the creature birthed.
If your paths were ever to align, I imagine you might gain yourself a powerful ally.

Dream Nailed So it can access a mind? Then the seals shall break before its blade.
Reacting to Charms
Listening after acquiring Kingsoul Ahh! So it bears our once-fractured soul, now complete. Such strength, such resolve, such dedication! Is it more than simply a Vessel? I almost feel like I'm once again in the presence of my beloved Wyrm.

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...

Listening after acquiring Void Heart That pulsing emptiness... Truly, it has been transformed by the revelations it found.

Does it... feel anything? Triumph? Or hate? If it does, I cannot sense it.
The fate of our Kingdom, our Hallownest... that future belongs to you now.

Listening while wearing Defender's Crest ...That scent. Does another travel with you? Is that you Ogrim, my mighty Knight?

I cannot see you, but then time has clouded my eyes and I cannot see much. Even your booming voice falls silent upon me.
Only this small one I register, if maybe because it shares some piece of myself. This one stands clear upon a misted world.
Ah.... But my my, that potent smell does recall such joyous memory. Only a short moment we had together, compared to ruin now endured, but what shining times they were.
I am grateful you would visit, even if to see me in somewhat faded form.

Listening again wearing Defender's Crest Dear Ogrim, I'm sure you saw Dryya on the way in? She's stood guard over me for so long.

Despite her hard front, she's always been a caring type. I'm sure she'll much enjoy a Knights' reunion.

The Grimm Troupe
Grimm Troupe content Listening while wearing Grimmchild or Carefree Melody Ahh, that creature beside. It would be naive to claim it friend, though you two share a... similarity? It is a distant link, one words would strain to convey.

For it to cling to you now... You've been consumed in the Ritual of that scarlet clan.
In what poor moment they descend upon our ruin. Aid their propagation, if you so choose, but do not renege on the larger task this kingdom implores.

Grimm Troupe content Listening while wearing Grimmchild in its final phase Your companion's eyes burn with a familiar flame... Success then for the scarlet heart, and irony, to use my spawn to grow its own.

I know you creature, and the form time shall bring. You may be all and one, clan and master, but this land shall never bear so foreign a king.

Delicate Flower
Godmaster content After giving Delicate Flower Ah, what precious gift it offers, though alas I shan't accept.

Not of me that flower, nor of this kingdom. Far it travelled to reach this place, brought by one beloved, fair knight of lands serene.
There is rare power hidden in those frail petals.
To hold it so close, one must surely be unaware of its nature...

Location

The White Lady can be found in the northwest part of the Queen's Gardens. This requires defeating the Traitor Lord first.

  • Location of the White Lady in the Queen's Gardens

    Location of the White Lady in the Queen's Gardens

Gallery

  • The White Lady with her eyes closed

    The White Lady with her eyes closed

  • The secret room of the White Lady in the White Palace

    The secret room of the White Lady in the White Palace

  • Concept sketch

    Concept sketch

Trivia

The emblem appearing over the White Lady
The emblem appearing over the White Lady
  • For the White Lady's dialogue where she talks about Hornet, the game still checks whether the King's Brand has been acquired before this dialogue is triggered, even though it is not possible to reach the White Lady without it.
  • The White Lady is one of the few NPCs who is able to detect when they are being Dream Nailed. However, instead of reacting negatively, she responds with what seems to be hope.
  • When using any Spell on the White Lady, a Seal appears over her.
  • In an early version of the game, the Gruz Mother fight area contained three statues: one showing the Pale King, the second showing the White Lady, and the third, a broken one, potentially representing the Hollow Knight. These statues can also be seen in the top left corner of one of the early maps.
  • A sketch of the White Lady's cocoon depicts it with her head on the front. The in-game cocoon still has this same design including her roots, except the White Lady's face was replaced by the entrance.[17]
  • Statues in the trailer

    Statues in the trailer

  • Statues on the early map

    Statues on the early map

  • Sketch of the White Lady's cocoon depicting her head

    Sketch of the White Lady's cocoon depicting her head

References

  1. ↑ When We Made… Hollow Knight
  2. ↑ Reddit AMA answer concerning higher beings.
  3. ↑ In the game files, the White Lady is referred to as "Queen".
  4. ↑ Kingsoul description: "Holy charm symbolising a union between higher beings."
  5. ↑ Last Stag: "Before you rang the bell, I'd almost forgotten this station existed. It was not often used by the common bugs, being a well-guarded retreat for our late Queen."
  6. ↑ Greenpath Lore Tablet: "Though once our lands, a pale being lays claim to the caverns ahead."
  7. ↑ White Lady when she is visited with the completed Grimm Troupe content Grimmchild: "Success then for the scarlet heart, and irony, to use my spawn to grow its own."
  8. ↑ Godmaster content The Godseeker: "Pale mother... We barely dare to think."
  9. ↑ White Lady: "Do I seem prisoner here? If so, it's not by any choice but my own. These bindings about me, I've chosen to erect. There is some shame I feel from my own part in the deed, and this method guarantees it cease. I still feel that urge you see. I always will. A voracious desire to spread seeds upon the land, to propogate sic myself, to breed."
  10. ↑ White Lady: "Dear Ogrim, I'm sure you saw Dryya on the way in? She's stood guard over me for so long. Despite her hard front, she's always been a caring type. I'm sure she'll much enjoy a Knights' reunion."
  11. ↑ White Lady: "I cannot see you, but then time has clouded my eyes and I cannot see much."
  12. ↑ White Lady: "Within my roots, the weakening of the Vessel I plainly feel."
  13. ↑ White Lady: "It is true. True, that you were awaited. No. Perhaps that is inaccurate. True one like you was awaited. I have a gift, held long for one of your kind."
  14. ↑ White Lady: "The second I find preferable, and would seek your aid in its occurrence, replacement. I implore you, usurp the Vessel."
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 White Lady: "Such strength, such resolve, such dedication! Is it more than simply a Vessel? [...] 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..."
  16. ↑ Godmaster content The Godseeker: "Why does she frustrate Us? How does she hide from Us? Does she diminish herself by choice?"
  17. ↑ Product design in Hollow Knight at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.
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