Herrah the Beast

...Bound... For brood... For child...
...Fair bargain made...
...Give all...
...For her...

– Herrah the Beast

Herrah the Beast is an NPC in Hollow Knight. She is one of the Dreamers and is involved in the Knight's quest to destroy the Infection.

Lore

Herrah was the queen of the Spider Tribe of Deepnest and is the mother of Hornet.^[2]^[3] Her partner was part of the honoured caste, while Herrah herself is only a common beast.^[4] At a certain point, her partner died, leaving Herrah without an heir.^[4]

The Spider Tribe and Herrah herself never accepted the Pale King and his rule.^[5] When the Infection first appeared, the Pale King asked Herrah to become a Dreamer to seal the entrance to the Black Egg in the Temple of the Black Egg. She only agreed if the Pale King would have a child with her, which ended up being Hornet.^[6]^[7] After Hornet was born, Herrah and Hornet were permitted little time together as Herrah went into an eternal sleep.^[7]

In-game events

Herrah appears as a projection together with the other Dreamers in both Greenpath and the Resting Grounds. While Lurien the Watcher wants their Seals to remain and Monomon the Teacher wants their Seals to break, Herrah does not voice her opinion on this.^[8]^[9] She and the other Dreamers attempt to lock the Knight in the Dream Realm after the Resting Grounds encounter.

Once the Knight reaches her physical body in Beast's Den, her mind can be entered by using the Dream Nail. She can then be attacked in her Dream after which Focus can be used to break her Seal. Her physical body has disappeared when the Knight wakes up. Hornet appears at Herrah's former resting place if she was fought in Kingdom's Edge before Herrah's death.

Dream Nail Dialogue

...Bound...For brood...For child...
...Fair bargain made...
...Give all...
...For her...
...For her...
...For her...

Location

Herrah's physical body is located in Beast's Den in Deepnest.

Gallery

Achievements

	Beast
	Destroy Herrah the Beast

Trivia

Early in development, Herrah was called Hegemol. This name was reused for one of the Five Great Knights.^[10]

Herrah has several unused lines of dialogue which can still be found in the game's files.
When trying to attack Herrah's physical body in Beast's Den, a Seal appears over her body.

References

↑ Resting Grounds Lore Tablet: "In her Den, amidst the deep darkness beyond the kingdom."
↑ Deepnest Whispering Root: "...Sleeping Queen..."
↑ Hornet after Herrah is killed: "We do not choose our mothers, or the circumstance into which we are born."
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Fungal Wastes Lore Tablet: "This border bounds the twisting, scratching things. Their dead sire, once of honoured caste. Their sealed mother, but the common beast."
↑ Quirrel: "Supposedly, there's a village deep in the warren. Its inhabitants never accepted Hallownest's King."
↑ Midwife: "Hers is a tale of tragic exchange. Cost her and her people greatly, though I suspect she bore no regret in making it."
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 White Lady: "It faced the Gendered Child? She's a fierce foe, strong in mind and body, striking reflection of her mother, though the two were permitted little time together. I never begrudged the Wyrm's dalliance as bargain. In fact, I feel some affection for the creature birthed."
↑ Lurien Dream Nail dialogue: "...Bonds must remain..."
↑ Monomon Dream Nail dialogue: "...the Seals, must break..."
↑ The Making of Hollow Knight - Gameinformer interview with Team Cherry.

[1] Resting Grounds Lore Tablet: "In her Den, amidst the deep darkness beyond the kingdom."

[2] Deepnest Whispering Root: "...Sleeping Queen..."

[3] Hornet after Herrah is killed: "We do not choose our mothers, or the circumstance into which we are born."

[sire-4] 4.0 ^4.1 Fungal Wastes Lore Tablet: "This border bounds the twisting, scratching things. Their dead sire, once of honoured caste. Their sealed mother, but the common beast."

[5] Quirrel: "Supposedly, there's a village deep in the warren. Its inhabitants never accepted Hallownest's King."

[6] Midwife: "Hers is a tale of tragic exchange. Cost her and her people greatly, though I suspect she bore no regret in making it."

[whitelady-7] 7.0 ^7.1 White Lady: "It faced the Gendered Child? She's a fierce foe, strong in mind and body, striking reflection of her mother, though the two were permitted little time together. I never begrudged the Wyrm's dalliance as bargain. In fact, I feel some affection for the creature birthed."

[8] Lurien Dream Nail dialogue: "...Bonds must remain..."

[9] Monomon Dream Nail dialogue: "...the Seals, must break..."

[10] The Making of Hollow Knight - Gameinformer interview with Team Cherry.

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Hollow Knight Wiki

Herrah the Beast

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