#vaultkeepers

Part 2 of a series. See the contents for other parts

Contents

GMS and the Weavers

Pilgrims’ Inheritance (this post)

Faith without a Heart

Apostasy: Family and Faith Bound into One

Interlopers?

Purity

Silk-spun Children

Daughter of Hallownest

Pharloom’s Future

Conclusion + Misc

Pilgrim's Inheritance

All this isn't just about GMS and her progeny, as I spoke of in the last post.

Rune harp found in the Citadel: Sisters, spiders, the burden is passed. These simple bugs shall bear it full. Never to cease. Never to silence. Conductor Ballador: The mantle of rule, claimed greedily from Pharloom's fading first children, those bitter Weavers... it was yoke, not crown. Now, in our Citadel's silence, we share their truth. Only one monarch's claws ever clutched this kingdom, though we raised our voices to cry otherwise.

(It must be noted that, as in the line above, the Weavers are often called first children. This will come up repeatedly.)

And this longer exchange:

Hornet: The bugs of your land, I have watched them, climbing towards their absolution without the flicker of a thought to what it means. Mask Maker: Aye. But isn't it always such for those snared to serve your higher caste? Our mortal mob did once act some defiance, unawares maybe, but successful in part, goaded towards it by Weavers' will'n all. Hornet: You speak of the Citadel? Its former function has failed, but I can still sense its purpose, some. It is church and cage both. Mask Maker: Aye. Devised by your ancestors that monstrosity, and their wicked, clever minds. A system, or a web they'd likely call it, a way to keep their mother sealed in slumber, and themselves free to lavish in their false rule.

The pilgrims of Pharloom, up to the highest authorities of the Citadel, took on the task from the Weavers to keep GMS asleep. But it's more than just a matter of rule and duty. The pilgrims take on a particular role.

Pious Isamor: ...Dear [pil]grim... Dark it seems now... [l]et these word[s] become your guide… Hear our voice... Let it [?] your own! Give of yourself for great Pharloom, for [the] first-children who bequeath it to us... for our salva[tion] sure to come! Pious Isamor needolin: Pilgrims... all… / Siblings... serving... / Devout... unwavering… / All... are equal…

Pious Isamor is a statue seemingly animated by silkflies. It's found in a hidden location in the Whispering Vaults, probably some storage room. Those on the Hollow Knight wiki speculate it used to be in a prominent spot in Choral Chambers (removed from a base that was left in place). From its dialog it clearly was supposed to be talking to pilgrims, telling them how they should be in the Citadel. I think it was from the time of the Weavers. From the talk of first-children, to other of its dialog saying the Citadel is bare and unadorned, to indicating equality between all the pilgrims...those things aren't true in the present. There's high stratification in Citadel society, and plenty of adornment.

Twelfth Architect: Long before the c-c-creation of the core, the sentinels ventured, even beyond these walls, to see all bugs brought-forced safe to serve the Citadel.

(can't help but use this line any chance I get) (I dunno if the sentinels were in the Weaver times but they at least were early on in bug rule)

What I wanted to point out here is...even in the time of the Weavers, there were pilgrims. They came to the Citadel. They worshiped the Weavers (see: weaver effigies, containing prayers to weavers). And they called each other siblings.

And the Weavers...they were called first children. Children of GMS obviously enough. But if there are first children, does that not imply there are subsequent children? Would it not be the pilgrims, who are all siblings to each other? Sure, sibling is not an unusual term to call people in a religious sense, but I think it's both in this instance. The family role that GMS bestowed upon the Weavers is in turn bestowed, expanded, to encompass all of Pharloom and its bugs.

(I don't think Lace, Phantom, or other silk-spun beings could be the second children, but I'll discuss why later.)

Hornet, to Twelfth Architect: I bear the lineage of Weavers, along with other strands, equally strange. Twelfth Architect: Then on your r-r-request, Bug-Red, as directive demands, for Pharloom's first children, a-a-a-and our kingdom-eternal, I shall c-c-craft.

Cardinius: Fool! Demanding of a Vaultkeeper. Hers is impudence enough to bring death... If she did not carry the scent of Weaver-spawn. Hornet: So you know something of my ancestry, learned bug. If it gains me favour here, then I'll expect your service in full. Cardinius: Bleg! Dead! Dead, your vicious kind are meant to be. Better methinks to stay as such… Gkkkt. But this one was taught. It shall fold its claws. It shall pass its knowledge, as much as is gleaned. Only to a first child must a Vaultkeeper defer.

There has always been a hierarchy in Pharloom. Between GMS and Weavers, with GMS at the top. Between the Weavers and other bugs, with the Weavers worshiped, and it is clear from the dialog that they and their high station were remembered still by a few. (I believe Second Sentinel may also remember, if only because it asks Hornet for orders immediately upon waking as if she was an authority.) Even in the Weavers' long absence, they hold the highest rank in the Citadel. Of course, the Weavers have still been gone for the most part. Without them, the pilgrims stratified greatly, with the Conductors on top. It's not just a straight vertical hierarchy though.

The pilgrims have a degree of upward mobility...somewhat literally of course lol. They start at the bottom of Pharloom, making their way up to the Citadel. Then some of those bugs can reach a higher level, being trusted with weapons (I had so much to say on weapons that I had to make a separate post on it and the Order of the Pinstress).

Chorister journal entry: Disciple of the Choir, elevated above other pilgrims, and forced to cowl their face forever more.

Perhaps some of those could even be elevated to Conductor, if there ever was such an open position. But beyond that I'm not sure what else a pilgrim could be.

See, there are many many bugs in the kingdom that seem to have little to do with this whole pilgrimage.

Loam: Surely you did come from above! Me time has come at last! Me work is done. You come to bring me up! Up, up! Hrrr!

I can't imagine Loam was ever a pilgrim. To reach the Citadel and expect holy reward, only to be taken away to the Underworks and promised a second time? I don't think they've ever seen the Citadel. Have the other underworkers? Have the roachkeepers of Sinner's Road?

Sign near the squirrms: Bug born of Pharloom. You have been chosen. May our Citadel's holy gilding harden your soft shell. Stand eternal as our arbiter, that no bug bearing sin shall step within our sacred halls.

The squirrms are baby versions of the judges. From birth they are intended for this one job. There never was a pilgrimage.

Hornet, in the Slab: Will you tell me of those who guard this structure? They are servants of the Citadel, are they not? Old Penitent: Servants...? They too are penitents. In a past age, that caste committed their own sacrilege against the Citadel. A sin long forgotten, but so grave that their offspring and the offspring of their offspring carry the guilt with them still. To serve here is their only hope of absolution.

Scabfly journal entry: Foul creatures birthed into servitude. Their plight elicits no sympathy from me.

I'm sure it doesn't matter what supposed sin was committed. The slabflies perform a useful service to the Citadel. They're as likely to be absolved as Loam is to be taken up.

Forge Daughter: Sent from our Forgehome we were, at request of those holy bugs above. Hornet: The Citadel dwellers? The veiled bugs? They ordered you here? Forge Daughter: Yes! An age ago that. Such is duty! We Forge Daughters live to hone the craft, and aid the line. By the Citadel's patronage, and our long duty upon these docks, our Forgehome would swell in holy esteem.

Forge Daughter, in act 3: There is no choice! Not for us. We cannot leave, not ever. We are a Forge Daughter, fixed to this forge and its service. Ours is a duty lifetime bound.

There's not just one Forge Daughter, but a whole line of Forge Daughters. We don't get to know where Forgehome is, but "those holy bugs above" suggests to me that this Forge Daughter has never been there in the Citadel. They've been assigned to their duty and they never leave. They emphasize it even in as the world may end to void.

Twelfth Architect: Bug-Red. Do you ask-need our service? We shall create, as is our d-d-directive. To serve, for Pharloom eternal. On seeing the cogwork heart: That heart is an inspired form, conceived by the first of my line for a knight of cog and blade. In it, I see my predecessor's talent, immense, now lost-forgotten. I could never create-copy a work s-s-so fine. Realizing it will die soon: The skill to construct an Architect... That was taken by t-t-time. I am the last-final. The core remains to sustain the song, but no more Architects to tend-toil or build anew. S-s-strange... 'For Pharloom eternal,' states the d-d-directive-cage. But how can eternity sustain without an Architect to serve? This seems e-e-error. An end? An error... welcome? needolin: ...To mend...Unending... / ...To serve...Eternal... / ...Always an Architect... / ...From these thoughts...Creation... / ...From these memories...Skill... / ...Designs...Divine...

Twelfth Architect is a bit different in that it's artificially created, and animated by a silkfly that would've come from a pilgrim. But I'm not sure if it's truly distinct from the situation of many bugs. Born into a station and given a duty one can never stop.

Twelfth Architect: A gleaming order, cogwork sentinels, so impressive-majestic in function they were charged-b-b-bound to the highest holy duty. Second Sentinel, act 2: Defence of the sacred C-c-citadel, and the voices that fill it-t-t, is our eternal duty. [Hornet points out the pointlessness amidst vast decline] Eternal, is the Citadel. Et-t-ternal, is the devotion of the sentinels. While its shell is f-f-functional, this sentinel will hold true to its duty. After Hornet emphasizes there is nothing left in act 3: While voices still fill the g-g-great chambers... the sacred task of the sentinels continues. To defend... To p-p-protect.

Second Sentinel doesn't seem that much different to me compared to someone like Forge Daughter. The duty continues. No matter what. No matter how pointless.

Twelfth Architect continued too, until it could not. It found its end welcome, seemingly surprising itself in that thought. But no matter how welcome, it never stopped its duty until it physically could not function.

Moorwing journal entry: Winged mite-beast, bred large to catch workers who once tried to flee their tasks. Twelfth Architect: Long before the c-c-creation of the core, the sentinels ventured, even beyond these walls, to see all bugs brought-forced safe to serve the Citadel.

Even if anyone in Pharloom wanted to do anything beyond their assigned station it's not like they would be allowed to.

I'd like to point out the repeated use of the word caste. It was used above by the Old Penitent to describe the slabflies. It was used by Mask Maker to refer to higher beings.

Vaultkeeper journal entry: High caste bug, responsible for delivering sermons and leading prayer for those beyond the walls of the Whispering Vaults. Pinstress act 1/2 needolin: The flurried dance of blades swung swift… / Warriors proud in battle's midst… / An order lost of maidens fair… / Lethal talents beyond compare… / I remember you... My sisters passed… / You were the finest... bravest... caste… Hornet, to Grindle: The creature that haunts this place is stirring, little thief. The Citadel's caste now roam the halls. You would do well to leave soon, if you mean to survive. Hornet to Lace at the start of act 2: The signs are clear. Your kingdom is in the thrall of a creature beyond bug, one of that higher caste.

And these aren't all the examples. It was used in Hollow Knight too. I made a post about it previously. To quote myself:

“Caste” is a category. Something having to do with one’s place in society, something you’re born into. Mask Maker brings this up upon seeing Ghost with King’s Brand, something to mark them as King, the top rank of a society.

Some quotes from Hollow Knight:

Mushroom people near Deepnest: This border bounds the twisting, scratching things. Their dead sire, once of honoured caste. Their sealed mother, but the common beast. No peace with them we make. Mask Maker (Hallownest) on the Ancient Civ: It is the ancient caste that made attempt at such vast rule. Hallownest’s ruin reflects well those fared attempts.

Caste is more than just a social thing. It's also a term with a specific definition in biology:

a subset of individuals within a colony (society) of social animals that is specialized in the function it performs and distinguished by anatomical or morphological differences from other subsets.

For example, in real life, ants would be said to have different castes. They have queens. They have workers. They have soldiers with huge heads and mandibles to match. Each ant is raised in a certain role, affecting their body and behavior, and it won't be changed.

I believe Team Cherry might be influenced by this concept and implemented it in the worldbuilding. Not the physical determination of role per se (though, for instance, the skarr do have great physical differences between different ant types determining their jobs, and someone of Forge Daughter's size and presumable strength may be desired for metalworking), but as kingdoms of intelligent bugs with complex societies, stratifying the society in a manner similar to such biological determinations, and yes, calling to mind real world caste systems.

All this is getting a bit above my paygrade (of $0). Point is, this is a highly stratified society with very little choice. I almost wonder if the pilgrimage is the only source of social mobility, where the pilgrims can hope for a good life if they reach the top, and maybe they could even become part of the power structure. Maybe.

Cogwork statues, the ones guarding the elevator to the Cradle: Pilgrim of Pharloom eternal, you rare chosen who hath ascended to this final threshold, listen to our wish, deliver it, that you may rise above and see your pilgrimage end. […] Pilgrim of Pharloom eternal, regale us with our Threefold song, that you may rise above and worship before our kingdom's divine heart. Conductor Ballador: Would you see her, pilgrim? Up there at our Citadel's crown? Reach those heights we'd hoped to hide and bow before this land's true ruler. Cardinius: The Weaver-thing would claim our sacred melody?! How grim the age we survive to see... Vile sacrilege for it to pass to an outsider… Only our pontiff, lived long and low within our vault, they held the melody, jealously, covetously... A learning for the highest Vaultkeeper, and them alone. Twelfth Architect: At the height of our core, there is means-s-s-system, near complete... Constructs old-built to sound our song. They need only be set to functional form.