A Queen-magnet and his wives

The Pale King is a higher being[1] who used to be the monarch of Hallownest, mate to the White Lady, and ruler of the White Palace. He is an ancient Wyrm who burrowed through mountains and across the wasteland until finally stopping in Kingdom's Edge.[2] Once there, the Wyrm shed its shell and transformed into the Pale King.[3] The pale, broken egg found within the Cast-Off Shell hints at this rebirth.[2] Consequently, the Pale King is often still referred to as "Wyrm", as this was his former body.[4][5][6] He reduced his form in order to match the bugs of Hallownest.[7] After his transformation, the Pale King expanded the minds of several species of bugs in Hallownest, granting them sapience.[8][9] The Pale King wanted these bugs to devote themselves to him, and in return, he promised them that the kingdom of Hallownest would last eternally.[10] The Pale King was often depicted as an imposing, gleaming figure with a fiercely horned crown.[11] He was bright and radiant in visage,[12] with the Delicate Flower's pure aura being no match for his light. 10]

Silhouette of the Pale King on his throne in White Defender's arena The Pale King was often depicted as an imposing, gleaming figure with a fiercely horned crown.[11] He was bright and radiant in visage,[12] with the Delicate Flower's pure aura being no match for his light.[13]

Although he was an elusive, reclusive figure who was rarely seen outside his Palace, the Pale King was deified by his citizens.[14] The bugs of Hallownest believed that he created their world and everything in it.[15] Worship was offered through King's Idols.[16] Even the Moth Tribe turned their backs on their creator, the Radiance, and started worshipping the Pale King instead.[17] The Pale King's ability of foresight,[18] the ability to see the future to some extent, caused the mushrooms of Fungal Wastes to accept his rule as well.[19]

He was responsible for much of the architecture found throughout Hallownest, most of it bearing a Hallownest Seal. He also built the Stagways[20] and the Trams. When the Radiance tried to be remembered again after being almost entirely forgotten, she ended up causing the Infection.[22] To combat this, the Pale King came up with the idea to use a Vessel to seal her away. These Vessels are the children of him and the White Lady, born in the Abyss with Void inside of them.[23][24][25][26]

Three bugs were asked to become Dreamers to form seals on the Temple of the Black Egg which would contain this Vessel. One of them, Herrah, only accepted his proposal if the Pale King had a dalliance[27] with her which would result in a child; this child ended up being Hornet.

Screenshot HK White Palace 13 The Pale King and the Hollow Knight in the Path of Pain scene Nevertheless, the chosen Vessel, the Hollow Knight, was unable to contain the Infection for eternity due to their purity being misjudged.[28] The Pale King raised the Hollow Knight and formed a bond with them, which may have resulted in their "tarnishing".[29][30]

At a certain point, after the Infection reappeared, the Pale King and the White Palace disappeared. The White Lady is a root higher being[2] who used to be the Queen of Hallownest[3][4] and the wife of the Pale King. During Hallownest’s prime, the Queen's Gardens were her well-guarded retreat.[5] This area used to belong to the Mosskin, but the White Lady claimed it to create her gardens.[6]

The White Lady is the mother of the Vessels.[7][8] Out of shame for her part in their creation, she bound herself in the Queen's Gardens to stop herself from having more offspring.[9] Dryya, one of the Five Great Knights, stood guard over her, although Dryya died after defeating numerous Mantis Traitors. The White Lady is not aware of her death.[10]

Herrah was the Weaver 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. Very little is known about the Weaver Queen.