WEBVTT 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:10.839 I first talked about the Grimm Troupe 3 years 00:00:10.839 --> 00:00:13.139 ago back in 2017. 00:00:13.139 --> 00:00:16.270 But anyone who has followed this channel for a while knows that I have been on quite the 00:00:16.270 --> 00:00:17.970 character arc. 00:00:17.970 --> 00:00:20.740 Back in 2017, I was but an ignorant fool. 00:00:20.740 --> 00:00:25.330 But now I’m older, wiser, I’ve read Judith Butler. 00:00:25.330 --> 00:00:26.330 Twice. 00:00:26.330 --> 00:00:30.940 All of these things have obviously helped me better appreciate Hollow Knight lore. 00:00:30.940 --> 00:00:34.239 With that being said, I think it’s time to check back in on the Grimm Troupe and see 00:00:34.239 --> 00:00:37.039 what new lore we can uncover. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:41.230 When the Grimm Troupe content pack first dropped, I was a little annoyed at how it seemed like 00:00:41.230 --> 00:00:45.530 Team Cherry was just throwing new characters at us without really expanding on the characters 00:00:45.530 --> 00:00:46.969 who were already there. 00:00:46.969 --> 00:00:51.580 But looking back, the Grimm Troupe does more for Hollow Knight worldbuilding than I realized. 00:00:51.580 --> 00:00:55.629 For example, we now have a new Higher Being to examine. 00:00:55.629 --> 00:00:59.760 The lore of the Grimm Troupe all starts with an entity known as the Nightmare Heart. 00:00:59.760 --> 00:01:03.809 Seer gives us a very cryptic bit of dialogue regarding the Nightmare Heart. 00:01:03.809 --> 00:01:07.250 And of course, she has to do it in poetry form. 00:01:07.250 --> 00:01:12.180 The expanse of dream in past was split, One realm now must stay apart, 00:01:12.180 --> 00:01:15.760 Darkest reaches, beating red, Terror of sleep. 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:17.190 The Nightmare's Heart. 00:01:17.190 --> 00:01:19.280 Let’s take this bit by bit. 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:22.090 We know that there is a dream realm in the world of Hollow Knight. 00:01:22.090 --> 00:01:23.530 It’s where the Radiance is. 00:01:23.530 --> 00:01:25.900 It’s where the Pale King’s corpse is. 00:01:25.900 --> 00:01:29.900 And even the Lifeblood creature appears to inhabit some kind of dream realm, given the 00:01:29.900 --> 00:01:32.360 appearance of dream catcher particles in this room. 00:01:32.360 --> 00:01:37.740 It’s not really clear if these are all different Dream Realms, or branches off of one big Dream 00:01:37.740 --> 00:01:38.740 Realm. 00:01:38.740 --> 00:01:43.470 The Dream Realm where the Dreamers and Radiance are look very different from the Pale King’s 00:01:43.470 --> 00:01:46.220 which also looks very different from Bretta’s dream. 00:01:46.220 --> 00:01:49.840 If there is a distinction between these areas, it’s vague. 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:54.100 However, we do know there is one special, very different realm called the Nightmare 00:01:54.100 --> 00:01:58.170 Realm which was completely split off from the main Dream Realm. 00:01:58.170 --> 00:02:02.350 While regular dreams are made up of Essence, the Nightmare Realm is made up of a different 00:02:02.350 --> 00:02:07.040 type of burning Essence, which Grimm describes as the “flame in dream”. 00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:11.060 For simplicity's sake, I’ll call this different Essence Nightmare Essence. 00:02:11.060 --> 00:02:13.800 But what exactly caused this split? 00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:16.680 These kinds of splits are common in creation stories. 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:20.980 Like how Zeus, Poseidon and Hades split up the heavens, seas and underworld. 00:02:20.980 --> 00:02:24.980 Or how the world of Dark Souls went from a grey, unchanging world, to one divided up 00:02:24.980 --> 00:02:26.520 by Lords. 00:02:26.520 --> 00:02:30.100 Even our own scientific understanding of the universe starts with a theory that three of 00:02:30.100 --> 00:02:34.569 the fundamental forces of the universe were unified, but eventually split apart from one 00:02:34.569 --> 00:02:35.569 another. 00:02:35.569 --> 00:02:38.909 So lazy writing like this is kinda just how creation stories go. 00:02:38.909 --> 00:02:42.450 But that doesn’t really help us answer why the Nightmare Realm has to stay apart from 00:02:42.450 --> 00:02:43.450 the Dream Realm. 00:02:43.450 --> 00:02:47.489 A pretty common theory is that the Radiance somehow caused this separation. 00:02:47.489 --> 00:02:50.030 But there really isn’t any evidence for this. 00:02:50.030 --> 00:02:52.310 Maybe if Grimm actually commented once on the Radiance. 00:02:52.310 --> 00:02:56.530 But he really doesn’t seem to give two shits about any of that unfortunately. 00:02:56.530 --> 00:03:00.720 So whether this split was natural or caused by the action of some higher being, chances 00:03:00.720 --> 00:03:02.349 are we’ll never know. 00:03:02.349 --> 00:03:06.170 Anyway it seems like the Nightmare Heart is the main Higher Being who resides in this 00:03:06.170 --> 00:03:09.969 Nightmare Realm, and its design stands in stark contrast to the other Higher Beings 00:03:09.969 --> 00:03:11.120 we see in Hallownest. 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:17.629 We’ve got a moth, a worm, a plant, a slug, and a giant heart made of patchwork with dozens 00:03:17.629 --> 00:03:18.909 of eyes on it. 00:03:18.909 --> 00:03:22.969 At the very core of it, the Nightmare Heart appears to be made of Nightmare Essence, similar 00:03:22.969 --> 00:03:26.709 to how the Radiance is composed of a light similar to Essence. 00:03:26.709 --> 00:03:30.550 And while the Nightmare Heart may seem different from other higher beings on the surface, it 00:03:30.550 --> 00:03:32.420 does have one thing in common with them. 00:03:32.420 --> 00:03:37.519 It really likes to mess around with regular bugs, pulling them into its service. 00:03:37.519 --> 00:03:41.860 In order to survive, the Nightmare Heart needs to conduct a ritual involving the Grimm Troupe 00:03:41.860 --> 00:03:45.099 so that it can feed off the flames of ruined civilizations. 00:03:45.099 --> 00:03:50.810 Basically, ancient, abandoned kingdoms like Hallownest or Disney Land are a goldmine for 00:03:50.810 --> 00:03:56.110 Nightmare Essence, so the main way the Nightmare Heart feeds is by using the Troupe to find 00:03:56.110 --> 00:03:58.750 these kingdoms and harvest the Essence for itself. 00:03:58.750 --> 00:04:04.739 And this ritual happens over and over as an endless cycle the Heart uses to cheat death. 00:04:04.739 --> 00:04:09.689 Of course, finding kingdoms is the first step in this process, which brings us to this corpse 00:04:09.689 --> 00:04:11.480 in the Howling Cliffs. 00:04:11.480 --> 00:04:15.980 This bug is wearing a makeshift mask that has a similar design to the masks other Grimm 00:04:15.980 --> 00:04:17.640 Troupe members wear. 00:04:17.640 --> 00:04:22.420 Dream nailing this bug brings a device called the Nightmare Lantern into the physical world. 00:04:22.420 --> 00:04:26.470 This lantern seems to act as a sort of anchor for the Grimm Troupe, and lighting it is what 00:04:26.470 --> 00:04:29.440 causes the Grimm Troupe to arrive in Hallownest. 00:04:29.440 --> 00:04:35.440 If we dream nail the corpse again, it says “Master... my role.... apart from you... 00:04:35.440 --> 00:04:36.980 apart from kin. 00:04:36.980 --> 00:04:38.570 It pains me so.” 00:04:38.570 --> 00:04:40.500 God, what a simp. 00:04:40.500 --> 00:04:44.820 This bug apparently has some kind of job that involved it leaving the Troupe and traveling 00:04:44.820 --> 00:04:46.250 to Hallownest. 00:04:46.250 --> 00:04:50.430 So it seems like the Grimm Troupe actually designates certain bugs to travel to different 00:04:50.430 --> 00:04:51.430 kingdoms. 00:04:51.430 --> 00:04:52.810 Once they get there… well… 00:04:52.810 --> 00:04:54.290 I’m not sure. 00:04:54.290 --> 00:04:56.880 Do they just die once they reach a kingdom? 00:04:56.880 --> 00:05:00.410 Or did this particular bug die before it could set up the lantern? 00:05:00.410 --> 00:05:02.970 We have to dream nail the lantern out of it. 00:05:02.970 --> 00:05:06.890 Maybe this is a litmus test for anyone who would help the Grimm Troupe, requiring them 00:05:06.890 --> 00:05:09.360 to have some access to the Dream Realm. 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:12.400 Otherwise they probably wouldn’t be able to interact with any of the Grimmkin in the 00:05:12.400 --> 00:05:13.610 first place. 00:05:13.610 --> 00:05:17.480 Now we don’t know if these bugs are just sent off in a random direction, or if they 00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:19.730 know how to reach these kingdoms. 00:05:19.730 --> 00:05:24.050 The Godseeker and Quirrel mention that the winds carry them to Hallownest. 00:05:24.050 --> 00:05:25.060 Which is odd. 00:05:25.060 --> 00:05:28.210 How the hell is the wind blowing towards one specific spot? 00:05:28.210 --> 00:05:32.940 Oddly enough, the Pale King does have some other weird connections to wind. 00:05:32.940 --> 00:05:38.300 The Monarch Wings and the King’s Brand also blow wind throughout Hallownest for some reason. 00:05:38.300 --> 00:05:41.950 But Wind Lore in Hollow Knight is a whole other can of worms we’ll have to save for 00:05:41.950 --> 00:05:42.950 later. 00:05:42.950 --> 00:05:47.400 Anyway, the Godseeker also detected the Pale King’s afterglow while traveling to Hallownest, 00:05:47.400 --> 00:05:51.840 but I personally don’t think the Grimm Troupe bug could have done that, considering it doesn’t 00:05:51.840 --> 00:05:54.410 appear to have a Godtuner device like the Godseekers. 00:05:54.410 --> 00:05:59.210 Instead, I’m guessing a large amount of these bugs just wander around aimlessly until 00:05:59.210 --> 00:06:03.530 they can find civilizations that could be harvested for their Nightmare Essence. 00:06:03.530 --> 00:06:08.310 So the Grimm Troupe emphasizes just how barren the world of Hallownest really is. 00:06:08.310 --> 00:06:12.980 The Nightmare King’s Dream Nail dialogue in Godhome hints at this with the line “Scattered 00:06:12.980 --> 00:06:14.210 lands… 00:06:14.210 --> 00:06:15.870 Nightmare binds all.” 00:06:15.870 --> 00:06:19.630 This implies that the Grimm Troupe uses the Nightmare Realm as a way to reach different 00:06:19.630 --> 00:06:23.100 kingdoms, which is what we see when we light the Nightmare Lantern. 00:06:23.100 --> 00:06:27.460 I don’t think it would be a stretch to say that the Grimm Troupe is well traveled. 00:06:27.460 --> 00:06:30.970 And as it turns out, the Grimm Troupe might give us our best look into what the world 00:06:30.970 --> 00:06:33.710 outside Hallownest really looks like. 00:06:33.710 --> 00:06:37.370 Hidden within the Grimm Troupe’s tent is a secret room that can only be accessed through 00:06:37.370 --> 00:06:39.470 some tricky wall jumps. 00:06:39.470 --> 00:06:43.940 In this room we can see some chests, a pile of masks and this strange contraption. 00:06:43.940 --> 00:06:47.740 Now there are a few theories as to what this might be. 00:06:47.740 --> 00:06:52.030 At the very least, we know it’s important because there is a seal protecting it. 00:06:52.030 --> 00:06:55.990 One idea is that it is some kind of device that can move the tent between the real world 00:06:55.990 --> 00:06:57.580 and the Nightmare Realm. 00:06:57.580 --> 00:07:02.300 Or it could somehow be related to Grimm’s performance with all the spotlights and other 00:07:02.300 --> 00:07:03.300 stuff. 00:07:03.300 --> 00:07:07.760 But if we look at the ingame art files, the assets for this device refer to it as a “chart”. 00:07:07.760 --> 00:07:12.010 So I think this device is actually supposed to be a map of some kind. 00:07:12.010 --> 00:07:17.700 Now of course, an art file name is by no means canon, but our only option here is to speculate 00:07:17.700 --> 00:07:20.700 anyway, so let’s just have some fun with this. 00:07:20.700 --> 00:07:23.920 But bear in mind this is by no means conclusive. 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:28.260 So is this thing a chart of the real world or of the Nightmare Realm or what? 00:07:28.260 --> 00:07:30.530 Unfortunately, none of that is clear. 00:07:30.530 --> 00:07:34.640 But these balls are possibly points of interest for the Grimm Troupe, so these might be the 00:07:34.640 --> 00:07:37.820 various locations they have traveled to over the years. 00:07:37.820 --> 00:07:41.700 Sort of like web addresses that point to specific domains on the internet. 00:07:41.700 --> 00:07:50.570 Like twitter.com/mossbag69, or discord.gg/mossbag or mossbag.com. 00:07:50.570 --> 00:07:54.080 And I’m sure you’ve already noticed that there are 19 of these ball things. 00:07:54.080 --> 00:07:58.660 So does that mean there are at least 18 other civilizations that the Grimm Troupe has visited? 00:07:58.660 --> 00:08:01.030 What other crazy world could be out there? 00:08:01.030 --> 00:08:02.330 Water World? 00:08:02.330 --> 00:08:03.520 Moon World? 00:08:03.520 --> 00:08:04.670 New Jersey? 00:08:04.670 --> 00:08:08.960 However, if this really is supposed to be a chart of where the Grimm Troupe has been, 00:08:08.960 --> 00:08:10.680 it’s really weird looking. 00:08:10.680 --> 00:08:14.880 Why does the world of Hollow Knight vaguely look like a cock and balls? 00:08:14.880 --> 00:08:20.220 It honestly looks more like some kind of planetary model as opposed to a topographical map. 00:08:20.220 --> 00:08:21.850 Which might make sense. 00:08:21.850 --> 00:08:24.490 These kingdoms could all be deep underground. 00:08:24.490 --> 00:08:27.070 We aren’t even sure if Hallownest is on the surface. 00:08:27.070 --> 00:08:32.900 It appears to be, but we can’t see any stars or direct evidence of such. 00:08:32.900 --> 00:08:36.539 Maybe the Land of Storms is on the surface considering there is rain and thunder, but 00:08:36.539 --> 00:08:39.950 maybe these weather patterns were created by the gods of thunder and rain that were 00:08:39.950 --> 00:08:41.579 once there already. 00:08:41.579 --> 00:08:44.880 So a three dimensional map like this could make sense in this world. 00:08:44.880 --> 00:08:48.459 It’s not like they would have a map on a piece of paper or a globe or something. 00:08:48.459 --> 00:08:52.060 And it’s not that big of a stretch to assume that the Grimm Troupe would have some kind 00:08:52.060 --> 00:08:54.420 of map to help them navigate around. 00:08:54.420 --> 00:08:58.230 And if this is actually a chart of the Nightmare Realm then it doesn’t really have to look 00:08:58.230 --> 00:09:00.430 like anything to be believable. 00:09:00.430 --> 00:09:05.420 But at the end of the day, there really isn’t much to go off of here, so for now, the definitive 00:09:05.420 --> 00:09:08.079 answer to what this thing is eludes us. 00:09:08.079 --> 00:09:12.670 Getting back to the Nightmare Lantern, whoever lights this thing gets entwined into a contract 00:09:12.670 --> 00:09:16.399 with the Grimm Troupe, all without so much as a terms and conditions. 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:20.100 The Grimm Troupe is summoned to Dirtmouth where they set up their tent and prepare Hallownest 00:09:20.100 --> 00:09:22.689 to be harvested of its Nightmare Essence. 00:09:22.689 --> 00:09:27.519 The Grimm Troupe of course has a troupe master, known as Troupe Master Grimm. 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:32.740 Grimm has a unique aesthetic, which has made him pretty popular in the Hollow Knight fandom. 00:09:32.740 --> 00:09:35.680 He looks like a Gen 7 Starter Pokemon. 00:09:35.680 --> 00:09:38.670 Like can he even be considered a bug of any kind? 00:09:38.670 --> 00:09:42.389 I’ve heard some people say that he’s supposed to be a vampire moth. 00:09:42.389 --> 00:09:44.700 Looks absolutely nothing like that to me. 00:09:44.700 --> 00:09:49.379 Might as well say he’s a Caterpillar MD6250 Rotary Drill. 00:09:49.379 --> 00:09:53.980 No, Grimm and his troupe appear to be a hodgepodge of horror tropes. 00:09:53.980 --> 00:09:57.980 Regardless of what kind of bug Grimm may be, he definitely draws from Dracula. 00:09:57.980 --> 00:10:03.660 He’s got the long flowing cape, he can explode into smaller winged creatures, and his moveset 00:10:03.660 --> 00:10:07.910 seems to borrow quite a lot of concepts from the Castlevania Dracula fights. 00:10:07.910 --> 00:10:11.510 And you’ve got the whole creepy traveling circus thing. 00:10:11.510 --> 00:10:14.160 Although, it’s not a very good circus. 00:10:14.160 --> 00:10:17.100 They just set up a tent and then expect the visitors to perform. 00:10:17.100 --> 00:10:20.189 Kinda the opposite of how that’s supposed to work, I think. 00:10:20.189 --> 00:10:24.529 When the Knight first talks to Grimm, he gives it the rundown on what the Troupe is doing. 00:10:24.529 --> 00:10:28.240 Well, he gives a very brief, very vague explanation. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:32.240 He gives the Knight the Grimmchild charm and tells it to seek out the Grimmkin, who have 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:35.170 been collecting Nightmare Essence throughout Hallownest. 00:10:35.170 --> 00:10:39.480 Using the Grimmchild, the Knight will be able to find Grimmkin, kick their asses, and store 00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:41.290 the Essence inside the Grimmchild. 00:10:41.290 --> 00:10:46.189 Once returned, the Grimmchild then evolves into its second of four different forms, implying 00:10:46.189 --> 00:10:49.879 that the Grimmchild might have fed off these flames to become stronger. 00:10:49.879 --> 00:10:53.209 But it’s not just the flames of Hallownest’s Nightmare Essence that the Grimmchild feeds 00:10:53.209 --> 00:10:54.209 off of. 00:10:54.209 --> 00:10:59.110 According to Grimm, it can also feed off the heat of a passionate dance, or in other words, 00:10:59.110 --> 00:11:00.839 the Grimm boss fight. 00:11:00.839 --> 00:11:05.430 There is also one other way the Grimmchild can feed: by consuming the Nightmare King 00:11:05.430 --> 00:11:06.430 himself. 00:11:06.430 --> 00:11:10.870 Yes, like most things in Hollow Knight, it all comes back to vore. 00:11:10.870 --> 00:11:15.339 The Nightmare King can be fought after collecting three sets of flames from the Grimmkin scattered 00:11:15.339 --> 00:11:17.339 all throughout Hallownest. 00:11:17.339 --> 00:11:21.269 Once this is done, Grimm can be found sleeping in the far side of the tent. 00:11:21.269 --> 00:11:24.249 Dream nailing Grimm takes the Knight to the Nightmare Realm. 00:11:24.249 --> 00:11:28.439 There we can find the Nightmare Heart, surrounded by Grimmkin Nightmares. 00:11:28.439 --> 00:11:33.069 We then see the Nightmare Heart suffer from a pretty severe myocardial rupture as the 00:11:33.069 --> 00:11:35.470 Nightmare King emerges from inside. 00:11:35.470 --> 00:11:39.589 The Nightmare King is basically just a much faster version of the Troupe Master Grimm, 00:11:39.589 --> 00:11:41.670 but with more flame on his attacks. 00:11:41.670 --> 00:11:46.920 According to more poetry, the Troupe wants to burn away the Nightmare King and feed it 00:11:46.920 --> 00:11:48.529 to the Grimmchild. 00:11:48.529 --> 00:11:52.470 Once this is accomplished, the Grimmchild’s eyes will burn brightly with the flame of 00:11:52.470 --> 00:11:53.540 the Nightmare Heart. 00:11:53.540 --> 00:11:56.199 And everyone involved with the Grimm Troupe will disappear. 00:11:56.199 --> 00:11:58.949 Well, almost everyone, but we’ll get to that. 00:11:58.949 --> 00:12:03.740 So basically, we dream nailed into Grimm, found the Nightmare Heart, killed the Nightmare 00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:09.670 King inside it, and then that got fed to Grimm Jr. Grimm was a vessel for the Nightmare Heart, 00:12:09.670 --> 00:12:14.300 and now the heart has been transferred over into a fresh, new vessel, the Grimmchild. 00:12:14.300 --> 00:12:18.360 From here, we can assume that the Grimmchild will grow into the new Grimm, and start his 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:24.449 own troupe, and move away and never call home again. 00:12:24.449 --> 00:12:30.000 Now that’s cool and all but it raises some interesting questions. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:32.579 What is the rest of the Grimm Troupe doing now? 00:12:32.579 --> 00:12:35.819 Do they just sit around and wait for the grown up Grimmchild to show up? 00:12:35.819 --> 00:12:40.350 Also, if this little guy is the new Grimm, what happens if we take him into the Temple 00:12:40.350 --> 00:12:41.709 of the Black Egg. 00:12:41.709 --> 00:12:43.680 Will Grimm be trapped with us in there forever? 00:12:43.680 --> 00:12:47.279 Does he get completely destroyed in the Dream No More ending? 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:49.839 And then of course we have the Embrace the Void ending. 00:12:49.839 --> 00:12:55.430 Does Grimm just get completely consumed by the Shade Lord, lost forever in a sea of void? 00:12:55.430 --> 00:12:59.319 The point is, the Knight is probably the last creature Grimm would want to be stuck with 00:12:59.319 --> 00:13:00.810 in charm form. 00:13:00.810 --> 00:13:04.940 Cuz there really aren’t any endings that go well for the Knight’s physical body. 00:13:04.940 --> 00:13:08.970 But of course, there is more to the Grimm Troupe than just Grimm himself. 00:13:08.970 --> 00:13:12.649 We also have the Grimmkin, as well as characters like Brumm and Divine. 00:13:12.649 --> 00:13:16.839 We get the best insight into Grimm’s entourage from Confessor Jiji. 00:13:16.839 --> 00:13:19.589 Perhaps you suspect that they hide their true appearance? 00:13:19.589 --> 00:13:20.619 You'd be right. 00:13:20.619 --> 00:13:25.149 They favour projection over truth, shrouding themselves in forms dreamed. 00:13:25.149 --> 00:13:26.149 Best be careful. 00:13:26.149 --> 00:13:30.980 Assisting them might benefit you, but who knows what suffering it may cause? 00:13:30.980 --> 00:13:34.790 Digging into this dialogue, we can see two different types of Grimm Troupe members. 00:13:34.790 --> 00:13:38.600 You’ve got the Grimmkin who appear to be more like ghosts. 00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:41.259 They can teleport around and even show up in the Nightmare Realm. 00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:46.079 Then you’ve got bugs like Brumm, Divine, and the Grimmsteeds who appear to be like 00:13:46.079 --> 00:13:47.209 normal bugs. 00:13:47.209 --> 00:13:50.610 And I’m using the phrase “normal bugs” loosely. 00:13:50.610 --> 00:13:54.759 The one thing all these characters have in common are the masks they wear. 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:58.749 Even the bug outside the kingdom is wearing a Grimm Troupe mask, although this one looks 00:13:58.749 --> 00:14:02.769 more like a third rate cosplay than an actual Grimm Troupe wardrobe. 00:14:02.769 --> 00:14:06.100 Now I have talked about masks a lot on this channel. 00:14:06.100 --> 00:14:12.139 My Mask Maker video, my King’s Pass Video, Godmaster, Colosseum of Fools, even my review 00:14:12.139 --> 00:14:14.939 of The Mask starring Jim Carrey mentions them. 00:14:14.939 --> 00:14:16.819 But that’s no surprise. 00:14:16.819 --> 00:14:20.499 Masks are very mysterious and important to the world of Hollow Knight. 00:14:20.499 --> 00:14:23.579 But Jiji doesn’t actually mention the masks outright. 00:14:23.579 --> 00:14:27.889 Instead she says that the Grimm Troupe prefers projection and to hide themselves in forms 00:14:27.889 --> 00:14:28.889 dreamed. 00:14:28.889 --> 00:14:32.800 This could be referring to how Grimmkin are literally dream creatures. 00:14:32.800 --> 00:14:37.279 They come in three forms: Novices, Masters, and Nightmares. 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:41.600 It seems that as they become more devoted to Grimm, they become more nightmare-like 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:43.149 in their appearance. 00:14:43.149 --> 00:14:48.300 But from what we see in the Grimm Troupe tent, these masks appear to be real physical objects. 00:14:48.300 --> 00:14:53.160 This might imply that the Grimmkin use masks as conduits to project their dream forms into 00:14:53.160 --> 00:14:54.439 the real world. 00:14:54.439 --> 00:14:57.139 Perhaps that is even the case with Grimm himself. 00:14:57.139 --> 00:15:01.600 But that claim is pretty speculative, so don’t hang your hat on that being true. 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:05.519 There are plenty of ghosts that don’t have anything physical to them, but still interact 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:07.059 with the real world. 00:15:07.059 --> 00:15:11.540 But what is clear is that these masks do have an effect on living bugs, and we can see this 00:15:11.540 --> 00:15:13.410 pretty clearly with Brumm. 00:15:13.410 --> 00:15:19.170 During the last phase of harvesting Essence, the Knight can find Brumm hidden away in Deepnest, 00:15:19.170 --> 00:15:21.260 far away from the eyes of Grimm. 00:15:21.260 --> 00:15:25.450 Brumm laments the never ending cycle of the Grimm Troupe and asks the Knight to aid him 00:15:25.450 --> 00:15:27.959 in banishing the Troupe from Hallownest forever. 00:15:27.959 --> 00:15:31.860 If the Knight goes through with this request and uproots the Nightmare Lanturn in the Howling 00:15:31.860 --> 00:15:36.480 Cliffs, Grimm’s tent disappears from Dirtmouth and next to the bench we can find a very different 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:40.009 looking Brumm, under a new name, Nymm. 00:15:40.009 --> 00:15:44.290 Nymm gives us a very clear look at how the mask Brumm was wearing affected him. 00:15:44.290 --> 00:15:49.110 As Brumm, he had no memory of his past life, and his demeanor was very constrained. 00:15:49.110 --> 00:15:53.089 As Nymm, he is more carefree and has forgotten his time in the Troupe. 00:15:53.089 --> 00:15:57.769 More surprisingly, however, Nymm has also physically shrunk down in size. 00:15:57.769 --> 00:15:59.189 That’s rough, buddy. 00:15:59.189 --> 00:16:03.649 The mask itself appears to be transformed in the Carefree Melody charm, which grants 00:16:03.649 --> 00:16:05.980 protection to anyone who wears it. 00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:09.839 We can see that the mask still radiates with the power of the Grimm Troupe by the flames 00:16:09.839 --> 00:16:12.220 that come off the Knight when it activates. 00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:17.009 So that sort of ties the masks to having a dream like quality of sorts, similar to what 00:16:17.009 --> 00:16:18.860 Confessor Jiji mentioned. 00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:22.800 Nymm’s experience also closely parallels a line from Mask Maker. 00:16:22.800 --> 00:16:26.010 To change a face; to conceal it fully within another... 00:16:26.010 --> 00:16:30.100 A powerful protection that is, but one with sad consequence. 00:16:30.100 --> 00:16:34.399 The original mind is destroyed, though those of striking will may still retain a sliver 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:35.910 of that concealed self. 00:16:35.910 --> 00:16:41.000 Nymm’s mask made him bigger and connected to the Troupe, but his original mind was lost, 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:44.800 and it only came back because he fought back against Grimm’s wishes, remembering that 00:16:44.800 --> 00:16:47.259 he used to be more than just a vessel. 00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:51.569 So it seems like these masks basically brainwash members of the Troupe into serving the Nightmare 00:16:51.569 --> 00:16:52.679 Heart. 00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:56.509 Maybe these bugs were all forced to serve the Troupe, and that might be what Jiji is 00:16:56.509 --> 00:17:00.860 referring to when she mentions those who would suffer by completing the ritual. 00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:03.369 This gives us an interesting contrast. 00:17:03.369 --> 00:17:08.579 Mask Maker says he makes masks for those who ask, and says it is a gift for a world deserving. 00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:13.319 But the Nightmare Heart uses it as a way to control bugs and make them work towards its 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:14.610 own goals. 00:17:14.610 --> 00:17:18.740 Of course, working as a slave under the Heart might beat the alternative of trying to survive 00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:23.980 in the wasteland that covers much of the world, but it’s still kind of a dick move. 00:17:23.980 --> 00:17:27.659 And since I talked about Brumm so much, I should at least mention Divine. 00:17:27.659 --> 00:17:32.860 Her job within the Grimm Troupe is to… well, I’m not really sure why she’s here. 00:17:32.860 --> 00:17:36.940 She talks about how she can smell something in Hallownest, referring to the Fragile Charms 00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:38.540 that Leg Eater sells. 00:17:38.540 --> 00:17:42.080 You can give her these charms which she will then turn into unbreakable charms by eating 00:17:42.080 --> 00:17:43.630 and shitting them out. 00:17:43.630 --> 00:17:44.630 Yeah… 00:17:44.630 --> 00:17:47.490 I’m not sure why Grimm keeps her around. 00:17:47.490 --> 00:17:50.580 Divine doesn’t even leave with the Grimm Troupe if you complete the ritual without 00:17:50.580 --> 00:17:53.970 finishing her side quest. 00:17:53.970 --> 00:17:56.370 I mean, from a gameplay perspective it’s nice. 00:17:56.370 --> 00:17:58.919 But lore wise it doesn’t make any sense. 00:17:58.919 --> 00:18:03.049 I guess Grimm just doesn’t really care if she is around or not. 00:18:03.049 --> 00:18:07.840 Also I guess she has more autonomy than Brumm because she is only wearing half a mask. 00:18:07.840 --> 00:18:11.529 Instead you need to get all the unbreakable charms, then talk to Leg Eater so he will 00:18:11.529 --> 00:18:13.320 seek out Divine. 00:18:13.320 --> 00:18:15.559 Which well… that doesn’t go well for him. 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:20.049 However, if you choose to banish the Grimm Troupe, Divine leaves for good and if you 00:18:20.049 --> 00:18:24.010 didn’t get the unbreakable charms, then you're just shit out of luck. 00:18:24.010 --> 00:18:25.940 And then we have the Grimmsteeds. 00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:30.890 These bugs appear to be the same species as Willoh, but are also wearing masks. 00:18:30.890 --> 00:18:34.789 Some people have pointed out that Willoh’s tent is a shade of red, implying that she 00:18:34.789 --> 00:18:39.460 might have been a part of the Grimm Troupe at one point, but… come on. 00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:44.200 It’s clearly just red because it’s covered in the blood of her numerous victims. 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:48.930 In conclusion, the Grimm Troupe is a traveling band of bugs who all serve a Higher Being 00:18:48.930 --> 00:18:50.960 known as the Nightmare Heart. 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:54.430 They use the Nightmare Realm to fast travel between the different ruined kingdoms of the 00:18:54.430 --> 00:18:59.040 world, harvesting Nightmare Essence to prolong the Heart’s existence. 00:18:59.040 --> 00:19:03.770 Masks are perhaps used to keep these bugs in line and connected to the Troupe. 00:19:03.770 --> 00:19:07.970 But despite that, some bugs are able to fight against this control, and it’s up to the 00:19:07.970 --> 00:19:11.649 player to decide what fate should befall these poor bugs. 00:19:11.649 --> 00:19:15.510 Of course, most likely the player won’t have any idea what’s going on at all and 00:19:15.510 --> 00:19:18.610 that decision is made completely arbitrarily. 00:19:18.610 --> 00:19:23.490 One final thing to note is that Grimm is known by the White Lady, despite being from so far 00:19:23.490 --> 00:19:24.820 away. 00:19:24.820 --> 00:19:29.230 And while Jiji finds Grimm unfamiliar, she is still able to pick up on what is really 00:19:29.230 --> 00:19:31.210 going on with the Troupe. 00:19:31.210 --> 00:19:35.529 This helps us realize how learned these characters are, which might not be a surprise for the 00:19:35.529 --> 00:19:38.520 White Lady, but more so for Jiji. 00:19:38.520 --> 00:19:41.840 This character has a lot going on that we just don’t know about. 00:19:41.840 --> 00:19:43.010 And so there you have it. 00:19:43.010 --> 00:19:48.071 I felt bad leaving the Grimm Troupe mostly out of my main lore video, but man, there 00:19:48.071 --> 00:19:50.279 was a lot to discuss here. 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:54.650 As for future Hollow Knight content, I know many of you are worried and think that I am 00:19:54.650 --> 00:19:57.440 somehow starved for content. 00:19:57.440 --> 00:20:00.110 But that couldn’t be further from the truth. 00:20:00.110 --> 00:20:02.740 There are plenty of other lore things I could talk about. 00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:05.390 I could make another Zote video. 00:20:05.390 --> 00:20:08.630 And there is some more stuff to talk about regarding Zote. 00:20:08.630 --> 00:20:13.529 And I really want to do a deep dive into the political side of Hollow Knight, particularly 00:20:13.529 --> 00:20:15.430 whether or not Zote is a liberatarin.