𝐿𝒶𝓃𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒶 🌱

Absent shiver of uneasy discontent.

The lack of greenery in this snowy place really wears the nerves thin after a while.

//

// “I’ll leave this one’s bio intentionally basic, otherwise it’ll come off as even more niche than Hallow, and I want them to be as accessible as possible—” WRONG ten million words about the extensive setting details and character nuances I’ve been rattling my cage about for weeks.

// I have exactly one free slot left for a carrd site. I think we know what needs to happen next

‘Memories of ‘how’ are lacking. As are many other things, you may find.’

Ominous, at first, but they tap the underside of their head-mask as though to indicate a lack of voice—explaining the telepathy—then wave that hand before their eyes—implying an apparent lack of clear vision, if any at all.

‘You ask of wounds before nature?’ Such an opinionated creature, this one, but rarely disagreeable. They simply find his order of curiosities fascinating; little glimpses into where his priorities may lie.

‘Not combat,’ the guardian answers the original question unconcerned, ‘but illness.‘

//

‘The privilege to meet any scholar this far from the city is a rare one. Your knowledge is of interest to me. What was it which compelled you to assume me such a being?’

The bug makes a rumbling noise, something akin to a hum of acknowledgement and perhaps mild disapproval. ‘Debate for another time, then.’

Hardly offended, though. Instead they offer a warm right hand to shake. The left, from the uneven way their layered cloaks hang, is altogether missing, it seems.

Modestly inquisitive, then, as though too polite to outright ask what they wish to. ‘What specialty? A baker? Stews or meats? Perhaps a generalist…’

The laughter concerns them a bit. Maybe nervous, they surmise; as tall as they are, that’s not uncommon. Their head lowers, just a bit, to come off as less… everything.

‘Lantana,’ the bug provides their name in turn. ‘Your appearance I cannot easily discern, but the air of a chef I know well.’

// I feel like I’m spoiled for choice in terms of potential interactions over here. The difference even in who I’m comfortable following from this guy vs from a super niche introvert (Hallow) is kind of making my head spin. I’ve been playing on ultra hardmode this whole time with Hallow as my main 😭

Slowly, they crouch down to better meet his eye level. ‘Lantana. A being of Root and Soul. And you, Mattias—traveller or scholar?’

‘Soul-speech,’ they provide another term, not with an air of condescension, but with good-natured helpfulness.

‘A Leshy I may not be, but you guess my nature correctly.’

Something they seem quite warmed by, in actuality. He’s won this odd bug over just with that.

Quite the large bug, in fact, once they stand up; easily close to double the height of the average human.

‘You have a pleasant scent about you. A cook?’

Harmless, though. Polite and quiet and… telepathic, apparently.

Calm in tone, patient, and perfectly androgynous.

‘Your term is unfamiliar. Explain it, and you may have a better answer.’

Previously squinted closed, what look to be the eyes of the tall being open as they tilt their head down to regard him properly.

Definitely not a hat, it seems.

‘A guardian,’ they supply softly, murmuring through some form of telepathy alone.

Extra cold today.

Stood firm at their post, the wind up here is fierce, whipping through the settlement with a bitter sting and making their cloak stick to their side. There’s a dense fog in the forest below; even less to look at than usual.

They’ll be looking forward to a hot meal after this.

// ACCOUNT
❀ Interactions from canon characters/alternates are 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 welcome, but as this is an independent timeline, please do not assume Lat will recognise your bug unless we discuss it first.
❀ MDNI; nothing explicit is intended to be featured, but mature themes will still be present!

// CONT'D.
A lot of work went into the behind-the-scenes, so I'm happy to chat about it if you want a deeper look regardless!

For a more faithful adaptation of THK, please visit my other guy: @hallowed-hollow.bsky.social

Or find me elsewhere:
❀ @bellhearted.bsky.social
❀ @pale-dream.bsky.social

// FORWARD
Timeline is a hundred or so years post-HK1 and pre-Silksong.

Don't worry too much about the finer details in relation to canon; Lat is meant to be a relaxed take on Hollow instead of heavily introspective. This is done in the interest of writing a more approachable guy for the fun of it.

// SETTING / HOOKS
This moderately-sized village is placed strategically along the way to a major city, making it a popular stop for travellers and merchants.

Is your character hurt or lost? Trying to sell something? Desperately cold? Just passing through? Lat will no doubt find or greet them.

// ABOUT
❀ Goes by Lantana/Lat/Latna
❀ Any pronouns
❀ Blind, but can use Soul to maintain some degree of sight
❀ Uses a form of telepathy to communicate, provided they have the Soul to spare for that too
❀ Serves as guardian to a settlement within a snowy area that is neither Hallownest nor Pharloom

// Independent portrayal of the Hollow Knight in which they're mainly Root-aligned.

Heavily canon-divergent to enable them to be as close to a regular character as possible, but core story is still the same.

❀ Alternate-friendly and multiverse encouraged
❀ Open to all genres
❀ #HKRP / #MVRP

⇣