[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.19,0:00:11.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Snail Shamans are one of the biggest mysteries\Nin all of Hallownest.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.37,0:00:17.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know I’ve said that before, about the\NAncient Civilization, about Mask Maker, about
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.46,0:00:23.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the nature of Higher Beings, about Mister\NMushroom, and about Zote’s political ideology.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.53,0:00:25.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I really do mean it this time.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.69,0:00:30.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Snail Shamans are a pretty easy group\Nof characters to overlook in Hollow Knight.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.33,0:00:34.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They’re definitely important, but they don’t\Nseem too related to anything that actually
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.49,0:00:38.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,happens in the main story the character unravels\Nthroughout the game.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.29,0:00:43.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Shamans also don’t really tell us much\Nabout who they are or where they came from.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.42,0:00:47.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is in part due to the fact that the vast\Nmajority of them are dead.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.65,0:00:52.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And for the one Shaman who is alive, his dialogue\Nonly gives us small glimpses into the Snail
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.20,0:00:54.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Shaman culture and practices.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.21,0:00:58.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One important thing to understand about the\NSnail Shamans is how they are related to Soul,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.53,0:01:01.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one of the main spell systems found in Hollow\NKnight.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.73,0:01:05.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hollow Knight’s spell system is introduced\Nvery early in the game, and while it’s easy
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.62,0:01:10.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to understand mechanically, the lore surrounding\Nit isn’t quite as straightforward.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.52,0:01:15.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hitting enemies will give you “Soul” which\Nyou can “Focus” to either heal or use
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.25,0:01:16.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,attacks.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.25,0:01:17.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what is Soul?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.82,0:01:19.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Is it like mana?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.72,0:01:23.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why is Soul always displayed as a white liquidy\Ngoop?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.21,0:01:25.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Is it some kind of “spiritual milk”?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.91,0:01:29.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It’s possible that Soul even have some kind\Nof taste.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.86,0:01:33.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Hunter shares his thoughts in the Soul\NTwister hunter’s journal entry, saying:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.79,0:01:38.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have heard others talk about 'soul' but\NI do not understand what it actually is.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.45,0:01:43.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I do know that freshly killed meat tastes\Nbest - is that because the 'soul' still clings
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.62,0:01:44.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to it?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.68,0:01:49.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Of course this seems more like idle speculation\Non the Hunter’s part, and unfortunately,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.47,0:01:54.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he doesn’t actually tell us what Soul might\Ntaste like, so we can only make educated guesses
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.35,0:01:55.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on that front.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.39,0:02:00.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hollow Knight’s Soul system draws more from\Nthe concept of shamanism than the traditional
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.18,0:02:05.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fantasy magic systems you’d find in stuff\Nlike Lord of the Rings or Arthur.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.23,0:02:10.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Basically, every living bug contains Soul,\Nand this Soul is used to animate their bodies,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.95,0:02:14.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so Soul seems to act like a lifeforce primarily.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.16,0:02:15.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But Soul can be found elsewhere.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.79,0:02:20.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, Soul is so prevalent throughout the\Nworld that it permeates the air itself, and
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.84,0:02:24.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Soul is so valuable that several groups in\NHallownest have taken efforts to store or
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.87,0:02:27.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,manipulate Soul in some way.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.59,0:02:31.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Ancient Civilization built totems used\Nto store Soul.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.42,0:02:36.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Soul Sanctum scholars appeared to have\Nstudied these totems and ended up using glass
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.27,0:02:39.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,jars to store the Soul of bugs they captured.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.45,0:02:41.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then there’s the Snail Shamans.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.48,0:02:46.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Their goals and habits are probably even more\Nvague than the Ancient Civilizatio At least
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.06,0:02:48.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we know that they were worshipping the Void.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.56,0:02:52.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As for the Shamans, they just sort of hang\Nout inside their own little mounds.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.81,0:02:55.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we don’t know exactly why.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.12,0:02:59.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We also have no idea where they came from\Nor how they fit in with the other groups in
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.09,0:03:00.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hallownest.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.66,0:03:04.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it’s clear that they have a strong connection\Nto Soul, and that connection ties deeply into
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.99,0:03:07.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how they live their lives.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.07,0:03:12.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The majority of the Shamans the Knight finds\Nare located in these areas called mounds.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.54,0:03:16.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These mounds are described by the Wanderer’s\NJournal as ancient temples constructed from
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.62,0:03:20.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the bones and shells of innumerable dead creatures.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.22,0:03:24.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These mounds also appear to have some actual\Nstructure to them, with several beams of wood
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.64,0:03:26.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,arranged in various ways.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.24,0:03:29.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I use the term “structure” loosely.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.86,0:03:35.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And just to clarify, this stuff isn’t technically\Nwood, but instead “shellwood”.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.58,0:03:40.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Hunter mentions that Zote’s Life Ender\Nis made from this shellwood substance, and
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.10,0:03:42.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there’s also a developer’s note about\Nit as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.91,0:03:45.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what is shellwood actually?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.05,0:03:48.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How would one carve a shell into wood?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.14,0:03:52.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, my theory is that I have no fucking\Nidea.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.10,0:03:56.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Getting back to the mounds, I’m guessing\Nthey are supposed to be similar to burial
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.02,0:03:57.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mounds.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.02,0:04:00.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There’s literally a bench made out of bones\Nhere, so I don’t think that’s much of
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.58,0:04:01.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a stretch.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.91,0:04:06.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Shaman even says that the spirits of his\Nancestors will watch over the Knight when
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.37,0:04:08.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he forces it to kill the Elder Balder.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.60,0:04:12.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There’s no denying that Soul is connected\Nto dead bugs.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.44,0:04:16.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Whenever you cast a spell, you can hear whispering\Ncoming from the Soul.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.97,0:04:20.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,*spooky whispering
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.78,0:04:26.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which makes sense because the Knight is literally\Nconjuring an angry spirit and firing it off
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.15,0:04:30.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to attack its foes, hence the name “Vengeful\NSpirit”.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.71,0:04:34.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Soul Sanctum bugs also fire attacks that\Nmake this whispering sound.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.90,0:04:37.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,*ᵖᵉᵉ ᶦˢ ˢᵗᵒʳᵉᵈ ᶦⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵇᵃˡˡˢ
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.63,0:04:42.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can even hear the nightmarish cries of\Ndistressed Souls in the second phase of the
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.06,0:04:42.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Soul Master fight.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.56,0:04:45.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,*demonic voices WHAT THE HELL
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.61,0:04:48.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is kinda weird.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.29,0:04:53.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are already ghosts in Hollow Knight,\Nbut these creatures are completely different.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.14,0:04:57.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ghosts are made up of Essence, a substance\Nwhich can take the form of bygone memories.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.84,0:05:02.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So Essence can hold part of a bug’s personality\Nor identity in a sense.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.57,0:05:05.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But Soul can kinda do the same thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.43,0:05:10.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The whispering of Souls implies it holds some\Nsemblance of the bugs it occupies.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.13,0:05:12.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Soul can take the form of Spirits which…
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.48,0:05:15.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think are the same things as ghosts?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.03,0:05:19.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there are two different forces in the world\Nof Hollow Knight that can create apparitions.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.53,0:05:23.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a pretty big deviation from how actual\Nghosts work in the real world.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.85,0:05:27.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But we all know how that stuff works, so I\Ndon’t want to bore you with the details.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.75,0:05:31.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Ancestral Mound also gives us a bit more\Ninformation about the Snail Shamans via the
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.85,0:05:33.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Whispering Root found there.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.78,0:05:36.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The dialogue produced by this root reads:
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.25,0:05:37.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,...Soul attuned...
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.71,0:05:39.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,...Spiral focus...
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.17,0:05:40.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,...Shunned Power...
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.63,0:05:42.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The first line is a little vague.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.55,0:05:47.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It just seems to be confirming that the Snail\NShaman is attuned to Soul in some way.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.08,0:05:50.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We don’t really know how difficult it is\Nto be Soul attuned, but it seems like the
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.85,0:05:54.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Snail Shamans had a much better grasp on how\Nto use Soul when compared against the bugs
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.68,0:05:58.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of Hallownest, even including the ones in\Nthe Soul Sanctum.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.33,0:06:00.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We only see the Snail Shaman use Soul once.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.83,0:06:05.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He actually uses his cute little staff to\Nconjure up the Vengeful Spirit out of thin
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.39,0:06:06.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,air.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.39,0:06:09.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He demonstrates a clear capacity to manipulate\NSoul when he does this.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.95,0:06:14.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Snail Shaman also has the Soul Catcher\Ncharm, which is used by Shamans to collect
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.50,0:06:16.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Soul from the world around them.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.91,0:06:21.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another Shaman relic found in the game, the\NShaman Stone, informs us that the Snail Shamans
Dialogue: 0,0:06:21.80,0:06:27.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have spent generations growing their knowledge\Nof Soul manipulation to create powerful spells.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.31,0:06:32.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One final Shaman charm even gives us a peek\Ninto how Shamans once lived.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.28,0:06:37.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Soul Eater charm is a forgotten Shaman\Nartifact that was used to draw Soul from still-living
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.81,0:06:38.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,creatures.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.81,0:06:43.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it seems like Shamans of the past were\Nmore intent on taking Soul from others, instead
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.21,0:06:47.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of passively collecting Souls in temples riddled\Nwith remains.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:47.23,0:06:51.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As for why this practice was forgotten, it\Nmay have to do with the arrival of the Pale
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.05,0:06:52.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,King in Hallownest.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.73,0:06:57.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We know that the King did not approve of this\Nsort of repurposing of other bugs’ Soul.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.29,0:07:01.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He explicitly objected to the action taken\Nby the bugs of the Soul Sanctum.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.45,0:07:05.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These bugs harvested the Souls of others,\Nliterally consuming Soul to the point where
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.65,0:07:08.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their bodies became bloated and deformed.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.33,0:07:11.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My favorite example of this has to be the\NSoul Master.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.37,0:07:15.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When staggered, we can literally see Soul\Nescaping out of his body as he shrivels up
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.60,0:07:16.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like a raisin.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.96,0:07:21.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when he dies, the Desolate Dive ability\Nseeps out of his mouth like a deflating balloon.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.65,0:07:25.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The second line given by the Whispering Root\Nmight give us another little insight into
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.41,0:07:28.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how the Snail Shamans are able to manipulate\NSoul.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:28.46,0:07:33.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The “spiral focus” line might be referring\Nto the spiral shell the Shaman wears on his
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.40,0:07:34.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,head.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.40,0:07:38.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This spiral pattern also shows up on the inside\Nof all three Snail Shaman charms, a small
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.88,0:07:41.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,detail that might highlight its importance.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.79,0:07:46.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There seems to be some sort of connection\Nbetween the use of Soul, focusing and the
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.24,0:07:47.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,head.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:47.24,0:07:52.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Godseeker focuses using a crest located\Non the mask she wears on her head.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.10,0:07:55.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Although in this case, she isn’t focusing\NSoul, but thoughts.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.96,0:07:59.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Godseeker is sort of an outlier here,\Nbut she still shows a connection between the
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.93,0:08:02.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,head of a creature, and the act of focusing.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.60,0:08:05.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There’s also the Kingsoul and Void Heart\Ncharms.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:05.75,0:08:10.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another Hollow Knight lore YouTuber, Ccmaci,\Npointed out to me that these charms have a
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.51,0:08:16.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,similar looking crest or insignia on their\Nforeheads, like what we see with the Godseeker’s
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.09,0:08:17.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mask.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.09,0:08:20.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This might entirely be a coincidence, but\NI wouldn’t be surprised if it was intentional,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.84,0:08:25.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as it could imply the Knight having a greater\Nmastery over Soul and Void respectively.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.98,0:08:30.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Soul Sanctum bugs claim that they are\Ntrying to obtain a pure “Focus” which
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.07,0:08:33.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,somehow involves consuming large amounts of\NSoul.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.69,0:08:37.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the end results of this is how their\Nminds swell and ache.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.47,0:08:42.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On top of that, all of the scholars wear these\Nstrange jewels on their heads, which are occasionally
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.47,0:08:45.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,used to fire off Soul attacks.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.30,0:08:49.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These appear to be the same objects that we\Nsee on the Spell Twister charm.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.31,0:08:53.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Perhaps they act like the crest on Godseekers\Nhead, helping them focus.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.08,0:08:56.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Unfortunately, there isn’t much else to\Ngo on here.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.67,0:08:59.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another vague connection we can make is to\Nthe Mask Maker.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.60,0:09:04.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Mask Maker tells us that one requires\Na face to “define, focus and exist”, which
Dialogue: 0,0:09:04.38,0:09:08.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is pretty open to interpretation but it’s\Ndefinitely important.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.26,0:09:12.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So maybe this head-Soul connection is an extension\Nof that in some way.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:12.77,0:09:17.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That being said, Soul is such a vague force\Nin this game that you can connect it to a
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.36,0:09:21.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lot of things, and it’s hard to tell what\Nconnections were actually intended by Team
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.40,0:09:22.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Cherry.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.55,0:09:27.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In my King’s Pass video, I talked a lot\Nabout focusing and Soul and how regular bugs
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.37,0:09:30.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,might be able to focus their own Souls in\Nsome way.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.79,0:09:35.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In my Silksong speculation videos, I talk\Nabout how Hornet might be able to make silk
Dialogue: 0,0:09:35.00,0:09:37.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is composed of Soul.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.13,0:09:41.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In my video discussing the post war politics\Nof Australia after the Emu War, I mentioned
Dialogue: 0,0:09:41.78,0:09:44.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that Soul might taste like vegemite.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.09,0:09:47.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And with so many different ways Soul can be\Ninterpreted, it’s kinda hard to say there
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.96,0:09:52.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a definite connection between the concept\Nof the face or the head and Soul.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:52.24,0:09:55.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I do think there are some strands there.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.87,0:09:59.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The last line of the Whispering Root is fairly\Neasy to understand.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.61,0:10:04.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Shaman’s power to use Soul was probably\Nshunned by the Pale King.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.14,0:10:08.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like I said earlier, he didn’t seem to approve\Nof the Soul Sanctum’s experiments at all.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.63,0:10:12.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or it might just be that the other bugs of\NHallownest find freaky snail people with bone
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.39,0:10:15.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,furniture both scary and disgusting.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:15.19,0:10:19.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We know other strange powers like Lifeblood\Nwere considered taboo in Hallownest too.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.94,0:10:24.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So something as strange as Soul manipulation\Nwas probably treated the same way.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.50,0:10:28.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This line could also explain another phenomenon\Nwe see with the Shamans.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.55,0:10:32.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We know from the Snail Shaman’s dialogue\Nthat he is bound to the Ancestral Mound in
Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.36,0:10:33.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some way.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.36,0:10:37.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There’s also a developer’s note about\Nthis line of dialogue, which reads:
Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.48,0:10:40.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At some point hints that he can not leave\Nthe mound.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.04,0:10:45.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Can not" could mean he stays out of duty,\Nor literally can not leave
Dialogue: 0,0:10:45.00,0:10:50.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We find Snail Shamans in the Ancestral Mound,\NOvergrown Mound and Crystallized Mound.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.08,0:10:54.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we find any of them outside of a mound,\Nthey are either buried, or being brutally
Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.97,0:10:55.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,tortured.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:55.97,0:11:00.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There’s one in the Soul Sanctum, who appears\Nto have been subjected to experiments.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:00.48,0:11:03.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there’s one sealed in a sarcophagus\Nin the Resting Grounds.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.99,0:11:07.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Perhaps Snail Shamans were forced to remain\Nnear their mounds due to how the rest of Hallownest
Dialogue: 0,0:11:07.72,0:11:09.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,perceived their power.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:09.53,0:11:13.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that doesn’t seem too likely considering\Neveryone is pretty much dead at this point.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:13.87,0:11:18.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it’s probably either that the Shaman\Nhas a sense of duty to the mound, or his strength
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.25,0:11:20.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is somehow tied to it.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.37,0:11:24.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe the Shaman’s spells don’t work as\Nwell outside the mound, so he is vastly underpowered
Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.32,0:11:26.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to leave his home.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:26.00,0:11:31.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After all, he doesn’t even seem capable\Nof clearing out his own den of dangerous creatures.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.02,0:11:33.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it’s anyone’s guess, honestly.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.15,0:11:36.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Team Cherry very much left this part of the\Nlore ambiguous.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.81,0:11:40.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Of course, there’s one question looming\Nover the nature of the Snail Shamans.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:40.85,0:11:45.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A question that gets thrown around a lot whenever\Ndiscussion about them arises.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:45.09,0:11:47.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Are the Snail Shamans Void?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:47.86,0:11:52.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In my video on the Ancient Civilization, I\Nconfidently said there was no question that
Dialogue: 0,0:11:52.36,0:11:54.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these things were Void creatures.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.67,0:11:55.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But…
Dialogue: 0,0:11:55.67,0:11:58.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think I jumped the gun a little bit.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:58.53,0:12:02.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So now it’s time to lace up those clown\Nshoes, put on that clown makeup, and pull
Dialogue: 0,0:12:02.95,0:12:07.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,out your clown keyboards, because we are about\Nto have a serious discussion about whether
Dialogue: 0,0:12:07.55,0:12:10.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or not Snail Shamans are Void.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.27,0:12:15.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what was 2019 mossbag’s reasoning behind\Ncalling the Shamans Void?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:15.10,0:12:19.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, it mainly comes down to a few simple\Nobservations.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:19.85,0:12:24.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When the Knight examines the Snail Shaman\Nin the Soul Sanctum, it explodes into black
Dialogue: 0,0:12:24.39,0:12:26.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,particles that the Knight absorbs.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:26.84,0:12:31.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Snail Shaman in the Crystalized Mound\Nalso explodes in the same way.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:31.20,0:12:35.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Knight collects the Shade Soul and Descending\NDark from these Shamans respectively.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:35.49,0:12:40.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What’s interesting here is that while the\Nprompts for these moves still mention spirits,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:40.08,0:12:43.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their descriptions in the menu describe them\Nas shadows.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:43.13,0:12:48.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For the Abyss Shriek move, we can even see\Nthe attack uses a combination of Soul and
Dialogue: 0,0:12:48.09,0:12:49.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,shadow.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:49.09,0:12:53.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there’s even unused art of a Vengeful\NSpirit-like move with this same motif.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:53.64,0:13:00.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Regardless, these upgrades all mix the original\NSoul-based attacks to also use Void.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:00.13,0:13:04.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One noteworthy distinction between the Soul\Nupgrades and the Void upgrades is that the
Dialogue: 0,0:13:04.25,0:13:07.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Soul upgrades appear as these little spirit\Nsprites.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:07.28,0:13:09.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Void spells don’t have this at all.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:09.59,0:13:13.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In all three instances, it’s black balls\Nflying into the Knight.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:13.82,0:13:18.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in the third instance that takes place\Nin the Abyss, we can be fairly sure that the
Dialogue: 0,0:13:18.32,0:13:20.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Knight is consuming Void.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:20.77,0:13:22.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This invites a very simple conclusion.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:22.77,0:13:28.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These Shamans explode into Void which the\NKnight then sucks up to inherit their spells.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:28.15,0:13:29.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that makes sense.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:29.32,0:13:31.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Bada bing bada boom, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:31.01,0:13:34.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, let’s talk about the elephant in the\Nroom.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:34.27,0:13:39.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Characters exploding into stuff happens on\Na number of occasions in Hollow Knight, and
Dialogue: 0,0:13:39.06,0:13:41.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it doesn’t always make sense.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:41.54,0:13:47.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, when the Seer disappears after\Ncollecting 2400 Essence, she appears to transform
Dialogue: 0,0:13:47.52,0:13:48.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into a Lumafly.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:48.52,0:13:53.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It’s a really small detail that might have\Nlore implications, but there is absolutely
Dialogue: 0,0:13:53.60,0:13:58.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nothing else in the game to follow up on this,\Nand it opens such a huge can of worms that
Dialogue: 0,0:13:58.65,0:14:00.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I’m afraid to even talk about it.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.53,0:14:05.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There’s also the Grey Mourner and the Brooding\NMawlek who explode into Mask Shards.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:05.64,0:14:08.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This makes absolutely no sense.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:08.31,0:14:13.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If people can just die and turn into masks,\Nthen why the hell do we need Mask Maker?
Dialogue: 0,0:14:13.50,0:14:16.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Are masks somehow connected to the Souls of\Nbugs?
Dialogue: 0,0:14:16.81,0:14:20.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Was the Brooding Mawlek hiding this Mask Shard\Nup its asshole?
Dialogue: 0,0:14:20.13,0:14:21.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That sounds painful!
Dialogue: 0,0:14:21.26,0:14:27.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A more agreeable and straightforward explanation\Nis that this is just a gameplay quirk.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:27.28,0:14:30.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another example we can compare this to is\NGrey Prince Zote.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:30.93,0:14:35.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Several of his animations use the black ball\Neffect similar to what we see with the Snail
Dialogue: 0,0:14:35.20,0:14:36.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Shamans and the Abyss.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:36.55,0:14:40.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Since this entire fight takes place inside\Na Dream concocted by Bretta’s obsessive
Dialogue: 0,0:14:40.48,0:14:44.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mind, this probably isn’t supposed to imply\Nthat Zote is Void.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:44.30,0:14:49.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, it seems highly unlikely that Bretta\Nwould even know what Void is.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:49.12,0:14:53.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So black stuff that appears in her dream is\Nprobably just an ingame effect used to portray
Dialogue: 0,0:14:53.84,0:14:56.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the conjuring of a character made up mostly\Nof the color black.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:56.83,0:14:59.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We’re in a similar boat with these Shamans.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:59.79,0:15:04.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These effects might purely be an aesthetic\Nchoice by Team Cherry, and not proof that
Dialogue: 0,0:15:04.07,0:15:06.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Shamans are actually Void.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:06.36,0:15:10.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we talk to the Snail Shaman after getting\Nthe Shade Soul, he implies that it was the
Dialogue: 0,0:15:10.32,0:15:14.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Knight’s essence that melded with the spell,\Nusing a powerful source to do so.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:14.80,0:15:18.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The wording here is annoying in how obscure\Nit is.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:18.17,0:15:23.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So stuff goes into the Knight, giving it enough\Npower to transform the spell inside it with
Dialogue: 0,0:15:23.00,0:15:27.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,its own essence, and by essence, I don’t\Nmean actual Essence, but Void.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:27.98,0:15:32.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There’s enough vagueness there to perhaps\Nargue that the Knight is absorbing the power
Dialogue: 0,0:15:32.31,0:15:38.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the Shamans in a general sense, and not\Nsomehow absorbing their Void bodies, but it
Dialogue: 0,0:15:38.36,0:15:41.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would honestly make more sense to me if they\Nwere just Void.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:41.13,0:15:45.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean that seems to be the case when we get\Nthe Abyss Shriek.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:45.13,0:15:49.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another possible hint at Shamans being Void\Nis how the Shaman in the Overgrown Mound appears
Dialogue: 0,0:15:49.85,0:15:54.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be melting, kind of like what we see with\NVoid in other locations, particularly the
Dialogue: 0,0:15:54.59,0:15:55.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Collector.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:55.78,0:16:00.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it could be just dark colored leaves,\Nto help sell the “overgrown” aspect of
Dialogue: 0,0:16:00.38,0:16:01.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the mound.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:01.60,0:16:06.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As a side note, if the Shamans are Void, it’s\Nkinda weird they put one in a sarcophagus.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:06.81,0:16:11.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It’s certainly possible, but I think it\Nwould be the only instance of a Void creature
Dialogue: 0,0:16:11.25,0:16:13.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,having a “proper” burial.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:13.99,0:16:18.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another small detail to consider is how the\NSnail Shaman calls the Knight a shadow and
Dialogue: 0,0:16:18.75,0:16:21.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mentions its “empty face”.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:21.35,0:16:25.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This could imply that the Snail Shamans are\Nat least aware of what Void is.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:25.31,0:16:29.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The only characters who call the Knight a\Nshadow directly are Hornet and the Dreamers,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:29.96,0:16:34.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and arguably Divine, all characters who are\Nmore likely to know what Void is.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:34.85,0:16:39.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It’s obvious that the Snail Shaman is pretty\Naware of things, considering he can tell when
Dialogue: 0,0:16:39.76,0:16:41.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he is Dream Nailed.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:41.01,0:16:46.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Also, the fact that he says our essence melded\Nwith the Vengeful Spirit after getting the
Dialogue: 0,0:16:46.11,0:16:49.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Shade Soul kinda implies that he knows the\NKnight is unique.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:49.68,0:16:55.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How exactly would a non-Void creature's essence\Nmeld with a Void spell?
Dialogue: 0,0:16:55.20,0:16:58.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So that’s all of the evidence for why the\NShamans are Void.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:58.02,0:16:59.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our main argument is balls.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:59.90,0:17:05.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And yes, balls are pretty convincing in most\Ninstances of Hollow Knight lore discussion.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:05.01,0:17:09.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But once we get into non-ball related topics,\Nthere are a lot of other issues that pop up
Dialogue: 0,0:17:09.90,0:17:11.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with this theory.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:11.44,0:17:15.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,First of all, if the Shamans are Void, where\Ndid they come from?
Dialogue: 0,0:17:15.62,0:17:18.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For a lot of Void beings, we have explanations.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:18.87,0:17:22.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Kingsmoulds and Wingmounds were created\Nto serve the Pale King.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:22.60,0:17:27.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Collector probably also came from that\Nmold, and probably is sort of working with
Dialogue: 0,0:17:27.15,0:17:31.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Pale King, it’s a whole thing, we’re\Nnot getting into it right now.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:31.08,0:17:35.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Vessels were also created by the Pale\NKing, when he placed eggs containing his children
Dialogue: 0,0:17:35.19,0:17:36.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the Abyss.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:36.53,0:17:41.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The ferocious Void Tendrils and Shade Lord\Nappear to be more intricately tied to the
Dialogue: 0,0:17:41.52,0:17:46.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Abyss and Void itself, although the specifics\Nare muddy on that front.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:46.58,0:17:51.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Shamans, on the other hand, don’t have\Nany leads for their possible Void origins.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:51.18,0:17:55.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, we are fairly certain they didn’t\Ncome from the Abyss at all.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:55.21,0:17:58.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After obtaining the Abyss Shriek, the Snail\NShaman tells the Knight that the spell must
Dialogue: 0,0:17:58.60,0:18:02.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have come from a place the Snail Shamans never\Nthought to look.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:02.35,0:18:06.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This implies that the Shamans aren’t connected\Nto the Abyss at all, unless the Snail Shaman
Dialogue: 0,0:18:06.65,0:18:09.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,somehow forgot where his people came from.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:09.59,0:18:13.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That seems unlikely, but we do know that the\NSnail Shamans have forgotten at least one
Dialogue: 0,0:18:13.46,0:18:18.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,part of their history, considering the Soul\NEater charm is described as a forgotten Shaman
Dialogue: 0,0:18:18.23,0:18:19.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,relic.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:19.43,0:18:23.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As for their true origins, we do see a similar\Ncharacter to the Snail Shamans in the upcoming
Dialogue: 0,0:18:23.84,0:18:25.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Silksong sequel.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:25.45,0:18:30.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Churchkeeper appears to be a similar character\Narchetype as the Shamans, except instead of
Dialogue: 0,0:18:30.56,0:18:34.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,teaching Hornet how to shoot ghosts out of\Nher face, she’s teaching Hornet how to play
Dialogue: 0,0:18:34.34,0:18:36.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,songs on her needle.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:36.25,0:18:39.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But should this character even be considered\Na Snail Shaman?
Dialogue: 0,0:18:39.28,0:18:41.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Are Snail Shamans even a species?
Dialogue: 0,0:18:41.28,0:18:44.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or do you just need to wear one of those snail\Nhats to become one?
Dialogue: 0,0:18:44.92,0:18:49.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Regardless, she is visually similar to them,\Nwhich might imply Snail Shaman-like creatures
Dialogue: 0,0:18:49.69,0:18:51.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,aren’t unique to Hallownest.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:51.20,0:18:56.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You could argue that this strengthens the\Nargument against Shamans being Void, but I
Dialogue: 0,0:18:56.23,0:19:00.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will say we know so little about what Void\Nis and where it comes from.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:00.69,0:19:04.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Who's to say there aren’t other Abyss-like\Nareas beyond Hallownest where Void can be
Dialogue: 0,0:19:04.25,0:19:05.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,found?
Dialogue: 0,0:19:05.55,0:19:09.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So maybe the Shamans found in Hallownest and\NPharloom are Void beings who originated from
Dialogue: 0,0:19:09.100,0:19:11.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a different place.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:11.43,0:19:14.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, we’re speculating an awful lot here.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:14.11,0:19:19.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this isn’t the only issue that arises\Nwith the “Shamans are Void” statement.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:19.31,0:19:23.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another monkey wrench in this idea is how\Nthe Snail Shaman refers to the other Shamans
Dialogue: 0,0:19:23.41,0:19:25.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as his relatives.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:25.10,0:19:28.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Once you get the Desolate Dive, he mentions\Nhis third uncle has the same ability.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:28.85,0:19:33.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He also mentions his fourth aunt, who resides\Nin the Crystallized Mound.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:33.64,0:19:37.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he mentions his larger cousin located\Nin the Overgrown Mound.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:37.47,0:19:40.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How exactly would Void beings have relatives?
Dialogue: 0,0:19:40.65,0:19:45.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Can Void beings get married, do the nasty\Nand give birth to children?
Dialogue: 0,0:19:45.49,0:19:50.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Technically, shades are siblings, which shows\Nthat creatures connected to the Void can have
Dialogue: 0,0:19:50.24,0:19:52.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,relations to one another.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:52.33,0:19:57.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But cousins and uncles imply a multigenerational\Ncommunity of Void beings.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:57.12,0:20:00.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And... that just sounds kinda silly.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:00.75,0:20:03.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But this does beg the question.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:03.04,0:20:05.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What exactly is a “fourth aunt”?
Dialogue: 0,0:20:05.71,0:20:09.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In order to answer this question, I decided\Nto consult some of the brightest minds on
Dialogue: 0,0:20:09.89,0:20:11.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the entire internet.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:11.20,0:20:15.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So naturally, I took to twitter dot com and\Nasked my followers for their thoughts on the
Dialogue: 0,0:20:15.66,0:20:16.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,matter.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:16.66,0:20:21.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thanks to a very knowledgeable and patient\Nperson known as Sage, I was able to uncover
Dialogue: 0,0:20:21.13,0:20:22.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the truth.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:22.13,0:20:25.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,“Fourth aunt” isn’t really a thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:25.47,0:20:29.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Perhaps a fourth aunt is just your mother\Nor father’s fourth sister.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:29.15,0:20:30.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That would be the easiest explanation.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:30.67,0:20:35.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or a fourth aunt could be a fourth cousin,\Nonce removed, which would be someone who shares
Dialogue: 0,0:20:35.85,0:20:40.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,great great great grandparents with your parents.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:40.04,0:20:45.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This would imply that, given none of the Snail\NShamans participated in inbreeding, a huge
Dialogue: 0,0:20:45.16,0:20:51.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,family tree of at least 133 other Snail Shamans\Nmust have existed to facilitate the relation
Dialogue: 0,0:20:51.04,0:20:55.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between these two characters, let alone the\Nthird uncle and larger cousin and whoever
Dialogue: 0,0:20:55.61,0:20:58.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the hell these people who are and their relation\Nto the Snail Shaman.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:58.91,0:21:02.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that’s not even considering the sexual\Nreproductive habits of actual snails.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:02.94,0:21:08.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if the Shamans are anything like that,\Nwell, things become much more complicated.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:08.38,0:21:12.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Youcould argue that these relations are more\Nsentimental than genealogical.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:12.24,0:21:14.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sorta like dog moms.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:14.80,0:21:18.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,While that excuse might work for the relatives,\Nwe still have to counter with the fact that
Dialogue: 0,0:21:18.11,0:21:21.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these Shamans are deeply tied to their ancestors.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:21.16,0:21:25.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The spirits of the Snail Shaman’s ancestors\Nare apparently watching over the Ancestral
Dialogue: 0,0:21:25.06,0:21:26.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Mound.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:26.08,0:21:30.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This not only reinforces the idea of the Shamans\Nbeing biological creatures that aren’t just
Dialogue: 0,0:21:30.65,0:21:34.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,created, but it also raises another complicated\Nquestion.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:34.19,0:21:36.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Can Void beings even have spirits?
Dialogue: 0,0:21:36.68,0:21:40.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Void creatures aren’t technically alive,\Nhence the White Lady saying that the Knight
Dialogue: 0,0:21:40.99,0:21:42.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,died in the Abyss.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:42.82,0:21:48.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Obviously Void creatures like the Collector\Nand James Corden have no Soul, but creatures
Dialogue: 0,0:21:48.19,0:21:52.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like the Hollow Knight do give off Soul, so\Nmaybe they would count?
Dialogue: 0,0:21:52.46,0:21:57.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But being a living creature animated by Soul\Nis very different from being a Void creature
Dialogue: 0,0:21:57.21,0:22:00.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that can contain or hold Soul within its shell.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:00.19,0:22:04.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don’t think you could say the Hollow Knight\Nreally has its own “spirit” in the same
Dialogue: 0,0:22:04.60,0:22:07.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sense that a regular creature would have a\Nspirit.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:07.57,0:22:11.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or maybe I’m reading way too far into the\Nconcept of spirits and Team Cherry just wanted
Dialogue: 0,0:22:11.95,0:22:16.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an excuse to put cute little faces on the\NHollow Knight’s attacks.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:16.09,0:22:20.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Either way you slice it, there are some weird\Nquestions that pop up around the Snail Shamans.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:20.71,0:22:25.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If they truly are Void creatures, why are\Nthey unaware of the Abyss?
Dialogue: 0,0:22:25.12,0:22:26.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How were they created?
Dialogue: 0,0:22:26.61,0:22:29.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why do they refer to each other as relatives?
Dialogue: 0,0:22:29.07,0:22:33.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If they aren’t Void, why do they explode\Ninto black balls that the Knight sucks up
Dialogue: 0,0:22:33.61,0:22:35.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then gains Void spells from them?
Dialogue: 0,0:22:35.84,0:22:40.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why do they still seem to be aware of Void\Nand its shadow-like nature?
Dialogue: 0,0:22:40.02,0:22:43.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the end, the Snail Shamans don’t have\Na clear answer.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:43.44,0:22:47.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Looking strictly at what’s in the game,\Nit seems more likely that they aren’t Void,
Dialogue: 0,0:22:47.64,0:22:52.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,since the Void ball phenomenon is easier to\Nhandwave than the dialogue we actually get
Dialogue: 0,0:22:52.57,0:22:54.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the Snail Shaman.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:54.79,0:22:59.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And even if we ignore the Void stuff, there’s\Nstill the big question of what the older generations
Dialogue: 0,0:22:59.58,0:23:01.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of Snail Shamans were doing.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:01.51,0:23:05.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The fact that they had a charm like the Soul\NEater implies that they were a much more dangerous
Dialogue: 0,0:23:05.67,0:23:06.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,force in the past.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:06.67,0:23:10.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What were these ancient snail people doing\Nexactly?
Dialogue: 0,0:23:10.46,0:23:12.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How powerful were these overcooked hotdogs?
Dialogue: 0,0:23:12.74,0:23:17.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I’m gonna hold out hope that Silksong somehow\Nilluminates the Snail Shamans for us.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:17.88,0:23:22.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just gonna go and add it to the Silksong Bingo\Ncard right next to more Macebug lore and Funky
Dialogue: 0,0:23:22.95,0:23:23.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Mode.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:23.95,0:23:29.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean William did say we might get some Snail\NShaman lore in a Reddit AMA post from 3 years ago
Dialogue: 0,0:23:29.79,0:23:32.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it’s basically confirmed.