Pharloom

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Our kingdom is gripped by a curse. Its paths grow wild and dangerous, and though some still attempt the climb to the Citadel at its crest, none return to speak of what they see.
– Chapel Maid
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Pharloom is the location where Hollow Knight: Silksong takes place. A once thriving kingdom, it fell victim to the Haunting created by Grand Mother Silk.

Geography

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Moss Grotto, a lush area just outside of the Citadel's destructive influence.

The land of Pharloom covers a vast network of caves and tunnels in the middle of a wasteland. They are inhabited by both sentient and wild bugs, among other creatures. The Blasted Steps act as the main entrance and exit in the kingdom. It features various environments, such as the lush Moss Grotto and the cold Mount Fay, though its beauty has diminished.

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The Citadel, the kingdom's current most developed location.

At its peak is the Citadel, a large structure and the religious institution that governs it. [Missing information]

History

Before Grand Mother Silk

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The Sands of Karak in the past.

Pharloom originally featured many kingdoms and tribes such as the Sands of Karak's Order of Karak, Verdania's Verdanians, and the Hunter's March and Far Fields's Skarr. The Order of Karak were the most powerful, controlling over half the kingdom at their peak.[1][Missing information]

Grand Mother Silk and the Citadel

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A Pharlid evolving.
For more information on the history of the Citadel, see The Citadel § History.

Grand Mother Silk, a higher being, later appeared and displaced most of the existing kingdoms and tribes.[2][3][4][5] Using her silk, she evolved the Pharlids native to the land into Weavers.[6] However, she lied to the Weavers about their origins, telling them they were her daughters and that they were divine.[7][Missing information]

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Grand Mother Silk's cocoon

Initially, the Weavers served Grand Mother Silk,[8] but eventually decided to lull her to sleep so they were free to rule instead.[9][10] They used the Cradle as her cage and created the Citadel, using its songs and prayers as the system to keep her sealed in slumber.[9][Missing information]

The Citadel harmed the environments around it, such as Bilewater, which led to some bugs fighting back.[11][12] In the Whiteward, it placed Silk in the bodies of bugs to increase their lifespans.[13][Missing information]

The Haunting and the Weaver-Wyrm

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Envoys bringing an encaged Hornet to Pharloom.
For more information on the history of the Haunting, see Haunting § History.

Eventually, Grand Mother Silk was able to take control of the Silk inside bugs, beginning the Haunting.[14][15][Missing information]

Later on, Envoys of the Citadel are sent out to capture Weavers and their descendants, including Hornet, a half-Weaver half-Wyrm from Hallownest.[16][17][Missing information]

Beliefs

Holy Pilgrimage

The kingdom is dedicated to faith and pilgrimage, with pilgrims journeying towards the Citadel.[18] They are given harsh rules such as being forbidden from using weapons or "fanciful travel".[19][20] They are told that they must work in order to repent for their sins,[21] and believe that the Citadel will reward them for their devotion and hard work.[22][Missing information]

Pharloom's Folly

Pharloom's Folly is a text, part of which is shown during the opening sequence of Hollow Knight: Silksong.

They see your beauty, so frail and fine,

They see your peace, woven of faith and toil,

They forget your heart, bound in slumber and servitude,

When you wake they shall see your truth,

A beast's nature bare to all.

- From "Pharloom's Folly" by the Conductor Romino[23]

Gallery

For images of Pharloom's Citadel, see The Citadel § Gallery.

In the Past

Trivia

  • Pharloom was originally planned to be named "Loomland".[24]
  • Pre-release, Team Cherry called the gilded pin, described as what Lace wields, the "traditional weapon of Pharloom".[25]

Names in Other Languages

Language Name Meaning/Explanation
Image Brazilian Portuguese Fiarlongo Combination of fiar (to spin thread) and longo (long), pronounced similarly to Pharloom.
Image French Pharloom —
Image German Pharloom —
Image Italian Lungitela Farweb
Image Japanese ファールーム
Fārūmu 		Pharloom
Image Korean 팔룸
Pallum 		Pharloom
Image Russian Фарлум
Farlum 		Pharloom
Image Simplified Chinese 纺络
Fǎngluò? 		Weave Web, pronounced similarly to the English pronunciation of Pharloom.
Image Traditional Chinese 紡絡
Fǎngluò?
Image Spanish Telalejana Farweb


References

  1. ↑ Snail Shamans: "Up top of those caves lost to wind and sand rests a crusted old ruler, a once great warrior king. In their prime, they and their order held half of Pharloom under hardened claw. Some bugs relished that strength. Most lived in fear of it."
  2. ↑ Snail Shaman dialogue: "Pharloom was not born of that monarch, Old One. Power existed in these lands even before she bound them beneath her. Seek the old hearts of our kingdom and the last successors to bear their strength. They're still out there, hidden away, much faded by the pale one's long dominion."
  3. ↑ Snail Shaman dialogue: "Up top of those caves lost to wind and sand rests a crusted old ruler, a once great warrior king. In their prime, they and their order held half of Pharloom under hardened claw. Some bugs relished that strength. Most lived in fear of it."
  4. ↑ Snail Shaman dialogue: "Through their march, at the far border of these lowlands, seek the last queen of the ant hunters. We can sense her still... just. In youth, her voice united the wild tribes. Gave them the strength to resist the pale monarch's will... longer than most at least."
  5. ↑ Coral Tower Needolin dialogue: "All to bow... All lost to fear... Now none to resist... But us... Alone... against the pale light..."
  6. ↑ First Sinner post-fight cutscene.
  7. ↑ First Sinner post-cutscene dialogue: "...She called us daughters... Called us divine... She lied..."
  8. ↑ Widow post-fight cutscene.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Hornet and Mask Maker dialogue: 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."
  10. ↑ Grand Mother Silk Hunter's Journal entry: "long lulled to slumber and desperate to wake."
  11. ↑ Shakra: "Even this swamp's inhabitants seem spawned of its noxious nature."
  12. ↑ Bloatroach Hunter's Journal entry: "Obese offshoot of the Muckroaches, born of the Citadel's exhaust smog."
  13. ↑ Hornet and Caretaker dialogue:
    Caretaker: "Have you done it yet, bellringer? Wriggled deep? Discovered the depths of obsession that brought this place so low?"
    Hornet: "If you speak of this Citadel and its Silk, Caretaker, then yes, I now know the start of it. In the ward down below, I saw it clear, the hollowed husks, and the many torturous implements... machines to instill a bug with thread, that would see their life extended."
    Caretaker: "Aye! That's it, in part! But there's more scale to it than all that. Just think of'em greedily shoving the Silk into their shells, the madness that overcame them, eternal life for mortal bugs! Then think on how long it's all gone on..."
  14. ↑ Hornet and the Caretaker dialogue:
    Hornet: "No wonder Pharloom's bugs proved such easy prey for that haunted thread. It had only to seek for itself to reach them."
    Caretaker: "Ho ho! Now you're seein' it, bellringer! These poor pilgrims, all born bound to the cruel system of our world, now stricken in its new cursed web."
  15. ↑ Screenshot showing Grand Mother Silk's cocoon in the Cradle.
  16. ↑ Hollow Knight: Silksong opening cutscene
  17. ↑ Choral Commandment: "Full Chamber to the kingdom of the White Wyrm. Claim the Weaver, in half part. Last of their line. Sensed strong with Silk. Resistance anticipated. Quell with rune cage."
  18. ↑ Pilby: "Hm? A fellow pilgrim, are you? About to start your great journey to the holy Citadel up top?"
  19. ↑ Horned Pilgrim: "Alas... for a pilgrim, that's sin you speak of, sister. We arm ourselves with prayer, garb ourselves in faith, and hope they prove enough to reach the Citadel's glory. Such is our way..."
  20. ↑ Fearful Pilgrim: "Surely such fanciful travel would be a sin for us pilgrims. We must walk and climb and crawl using only our own meagre claws... Only thus can we prove our devotion."
  21. ↑ Underworks Lore Tablet: "You have confessed a sin most grave and must by works cleanse yourself.
    Return to your task and work off-cycle, neither eating nor supping until new-cycle begins.
    By the grace of Pharloom eternal, may you never tire. Toil, and be forgiven."
  22. ↑ Loam: "And when us works enough, thems see it... Hrrr... thems see it, and us gets us holy reward..."
  23. ↑ Hollow Knight: Silksong Gameplay - Nintendo Treehouse: Live | E3 2019
  24. ↑ Early July 2017 Pharloom sketch
  25. ↑ Team Cherry blog post of March 19th, 2019
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