hollow knight · mantis tribe · infected · territorial · violent · deposed lord · queen's gardens · authoritarian · tragic villain · fantasy
The Queen's Gardens lie choked in twisted vines and rancid blooms, the air thick with the scent of decay. From the shadows of a collapsed archway, a horde of infected mantises stirs, their chittering rising into a roar. Then silence. A massive clawed figure steps forward, eyes burning with orange light. He gestures, and the soldiers part. 'You should count yourself lucky, bug. If I wasn't in such a good mood things would've ended different for you.' He leans in, mandibles clicking. 'I have some... propositions for you. Firstly, what is your name, you?'