Labyrinthine times in bug land, part 2. So the first place I went was back to the Fungirl Wastes, because I recalled Hornet leading me to an obstruction somewhere near the middle. (Having heard Hornet's voice, doesn't the way she keeps just ahead of you seem almost playful? Helpful? It's like she wants you to see her throw that needle & dart off. Need to try shooting a Vengeful Spirit at her back next time, see if she dodges it. She can take it, I'm sure...)
This obstruction was an absent bridge, thorny tendrils lazing over some platforms above. (Unn, perhaps?) A few walljumps cleared it up. No sooner had I entered a new place than someone locked me in, though, and there was no walljumping out of it. (I ran into the first glass window there like a very stereotypical bug, too. What a perfect moment of immersion.) Going forward, I was assaulted by some militaristic joggers who I methodically rendered into pieces on the floor before continuing.
[ed.: welcome to the city of tears. i love taking these assholes off their money. i also love that you refer to those guards as ‘joggers’ which makes it even more joyful to take them off their money.]
The music here was cheerful for the city of gray stone and running rainwater that I emerged into. Opposition grew weaker, a drizzle of civilian bugs soon ended. (While I don't drown, they do. If we are just animate armour, though, how do we keep on going when our regret/shadow/soul is drawn out?) Soon I saw Hornet again, and after she implied I'm looking to restore this shattered state, I was left without the rematch I was expecting. A plaque valorized the sacrifice of the 'Hollow Knight'.
This Hollow Knight quickly became lost. After skipping out the hut of a blacksmithing beetle with my first upgrade, duller swords dotting the drab pavement, I found there were very few places to go. Long past having killed everything I found an elevator, and spent a while banging it into the floors and ceilings trying to get it somewhere new, tormented by a sweet cheeping. When I reached the source it immediately blew itself up trying to kill me. Figures.
A bug behind a desk called me a grubby little wanderer, but by this point I was beginning to feel like a grubby little prisoner. Tossed some antiques I found at him to recieve Geo I could not spend. A variety of knights tried me. Some flying, some large, some with lances or greatnails, all of them chewed up and spat out much the same. If my back-and-forth search for an exit could've trodden them to paste, it would've, but it did at least get me a grub to rescue and another Rancid Egg.
My third online search (1: 'is Salubra a grub'? 2: 'hollow knight bouncy mushrooms') was on what the hell I was missing, and 'there's a Stagway somewhere near the top left' was all I needed. The six-hoof express was found, and thundered me off to Queen's Station. Sweet relief. Got stuck into a platforming challenge immediately. Threading the needle between two spike-strips after walljumping feels... Really good. My prev platforming experience: those "pit full of planks" descents in Souls.
[ed.: i deeply love your appreciation of challenges as you confront them; the platforming in this game is sparse but always beautiful. i am very excited for your accounts of future experiences...]
Right afterwards, I met a wonderful being. In a room not far away, a kind of masked, six-legged bug, comparable to a giraffe in proportions, named Willoh. She went from munching somewhere overhead to rambling sweetly about "little treats" while I was wondering if she was an enemy and clutching my nail close. Still deeply tempted to look up every spoiler possible to ensure this lady remains okay. The little attentive noise when you walk into the room... Lovely, lovely, lovely.
I did want to go up into the subway ocean, and look for treats for her. But I didn't want to bribe my way into her affections, and she was so perfect, there, that I left her alone out of a certain respect and yet felt very very clear, and emboldened, as I jumped on the Stagway elsewhere. (and my writing has almost caught up to the things I did today! Those will probably be written tomorrow.)