Hollow Knight

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Plot Synopsis

A mysterious bug braves the ruins of an infected kingdom, and a warrior princess seeks those who kidnapped her to a faraway land.

How is it plural?

Masks, Faces, and Identity

A recurring theme throughout both Hollow Knight games is that of faces being in some way equivalent to identity. While details are scarce, it is said that a mask can serve as a substitute for a face for bugs who lack one, granting them some form of more stable identity and potentially sapience; however, when a bug who does have a face wears a mask, their personality may be suppressed and replaced by one matching the mask, even to the extent of losing their memories should the mask be removed. The exact mechanics of this are not known, but examples do exist that suggest this theory is in fact correct, such as those of Styx or of Brumm and Nymm (discussed below).

The Infection and The Haunting

Similarly, both games revolve around a "higher being" controlling the various creatures of the world through some form of mind control. In both cases, this seems to partially or fully overwrite the victim's original personality, bending them to the higher being's will, and various hints are given that they may remain conscious during this process, but be driven to actions they would not normally take by mental commands received from the one controlling them, in a way reminiscent of passive influence.

Hornet / Eva

— Major spoiler warning! —

Throughout the world of Pharloom in Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hornet can find and absorb various "Crests" which change her available tool slots and basic moveset, as well as seemingly having some level of effect on her personality when equipped. After finding Weavenest Atla and speaking to the NPC known as Eva, it becomes clear that Crests are not simply a game mechanic, but rather a diagetic concept used by Hornet's mother's species, the Weavers, to refer to "the imprint upon [a bug's] soul", a metaphysical manifestation of their life and personality. Eva is shocked that Hornet is able to contain multiple crests simultaneously, calling her "a shifting, blended thing" and "a multitude within a single shell".

From these and other descriptions, it is fairly clear that the way Hornet gains abilities throughout the game, Crests included, is by absorbing the memories and experiences of others and binding them into a part of herself, leading many fans to speculate that she is something akin to a median system. In her final conversation with Eva, she also agrees to perform this process on Eva herself, warning the latter that "[her] mind will cease to be in any independent sense", which the latter accepts and becomes the Sylphsong ability; should Hornet refuse instead, she claims to worry what Eva's mind will do to her own if they merge, further strengthening the theory that Hornet's identity is in some ways an amalgam of those whose memories she has absorbed.

Styx

During the events of Hollow Knight: Silksong, it is possible to find an NPC known as Styx, who is being harassed by several enemies. After Hornet saves him, he swears his loyalty to her despite her protests, and from then on will periodically provide her with Silkeater items when revisited. In Act 3, however, it is possible to enter a hidden room above Styx which appears to be a cocoon of some sort, littered with various masks; playing the Needolin in this area will reveal a specter of Styx singing while pondering which mask to wear, questioning "who to be, who is me" and referencing several apparent alternate personalities represented by the various masks – "the one who serves", "the one who breeds", and "the one to fear".

In addition, when visiting Styx's room in Steel Soul mode, he is replaced by a character known as Skynx. What appears to be Styx's corpse is left in his original room, but his exact fate is left unclear, and many fans have theorized that Skynx may in fact be a different version of Styx himself, in which case the "corpse" would be something akin to a molted shell instead.

Brumm/Nymm

— Major spoiler warning! —

Near the end of the Grimm Troupe DLC for Hollow Knight, you can find the accordion player Brumm hidden away in the Distant Village. While previously seeming to be loyal to the Troupe, Brumm harbors doubts about the Troupe's activities, and offers the Knight a choice – to continue on assisting with the Troupe's plans, or to work with him to banish the Troupe for good. Should you accept his offer and banish the Troupe, he is later found in the town of Dirtmouth, having drastically reduced in size and lost his memories, now calling himself Nymm. It is heavily implied that the mask Brumm wore was used as a form of mind control by the Troupe, and in banishing the Troupe, Brumm was freed from their control and lost his memories of his time with the Troupe, reverting back to the personality of Nymm from before joining the Troupe.

The Godseekers

— Major spoiler warning! —

During the Godmaster DLC for Hollow Knight, the Knight can encounter an NPC known as the Godseeker, a surviving member of a cult who seek to attune themselves to the gods through focus. Upon entering the Godseeker's dreams, it becomes clear that her situation is not quite so simple as being the last of her kind; rather, she is the vessel for the Godseekers' entire society, which has apparently moved into the Dream Realm using her as a sort of vessel or conduit. This is not the only instance in the game in which multiple entities exist inside another via the Dream Realm – most notably that of the Radiance being sealed inside the Hollow Knight – but is the most drastic example by quantity, so has been selected to represent the others for this list.