Sheo

"The wielding of a nail, the wielding of a brush... these things are not so different. We cut into the world so that we can peer deeper inside."

- Nailmaster Sheo

Nailmaster Sheo is one of three Nailmasters in Hollow Knight. Although retired, he teaches the Great Slash to those seeking him. Sheo also appears as a boss as Paintmaster Sheo.

Lore
Sheo learnt the Nail Arts from the Great Nailsage Sly along with his brothers Oro and Mato. Despite his aloof and kind demeanor, he was the most skilled disciple, driven solely by his desire for strength and the mastering of his skills. Yet, this passion faded over time, as he desired to explore new forms of arts that could move him. He still had a good relation with both of his quarreling brothers and respect for his master.

After the three of them became Nailmasters, Sheo hung up his nail to become an artist. He set a hut in a far corner of Greenpath where he experiments in peace various forms of creation art. He hopes to be able to show how far he came in his craft to his old teacher.

Hollow Knight
Sheo can be found in his hut in Greenpath. When the Knight comes by, the retired Nailmaster is having difficulties in painting an image from a bug skull. Facing the Knight's disinterest in his arts, Sheo finally concedes in teaching them his signature move, the Great Slash. He, however, chooses to do so using only his brush, explaining that it is the same as a nail to him.

After his lesson, Sheo will invite the Knight to stay and paint with him whenever they visit. He will recognize when the Knight has learnt a new Nail Art from his brothers, and hope that it brought happiness to them both. He also takes notices of the Nailsage's acknowledgement of the Knight as Nailmaster. This moves him, but not enough to make him stray from his current path of artist.

If the Nailsmith was spared after forging the Pure Nail, he will eventually find his way to Sheo's hut. Seeing the Nailmsith distraught about his own life, they talk and discover their common love of creation and honing a skill. From this point, Sheo gladly starts teaching the Nailsmith whichever art he experimented in so far. They will eventually move on to crafting models of the Five Great Knights of Hallownest. Sheo remembers them well, while mentioning Hegemol was his favourite.

Sheo's mind is summoned to Godhome by  the Godseeker's ritual. However he appears there not as the Nailmaster he was, but as the Paintmaster he became. As such, he battles the Knight with his brush and paints, expressing formidable strength in doing so, and will bow to them once defeated. While in Godhome, Sheo also takes inspiration from his host's motivation and quest for his own pursuit of arts. Paintmaster Sheo is mainly fought at the peak of the Pantheon of the Artist and later within the Pantheon of Hallownest.

Location
Nailmaster Sheo is found in Greenpath, at the end of a spike-filled tunnel. Having Crystal Heart is recommended to reach him.

Trivia

 * After a while, Sheo and the Nailsmith will move on to pottery and sculpting together little sculptures of the Great Knights: