Hornet climbs alone, but Pharloom is full of pilgrims, hunters, and merchants who shape her journey.
Silksong moves the story from Hallownest to Pharloom, and with it comes an entirely new cast. Hornet is the protagonist this time, and the bugs she meets fall into merchants, wanderers, quest-givers, and pilgrims.
Some are friends, some are foes, and a few are both. The wiki groups the Silksong NPCs by the service or role they play, from shop owners who take Rosaries to the rivals who block Hornet's climb.
A handful of faces carry the plot: the fencer 
Lace, the hunter Shakra, the devout pilgrim Sherma, and the Green Prince among them.
This guide rounds up the characters worth knowing, grouped by role, with the story figures and key merchants you will rely on most.
Hornet is the playable protagonist this time. Lace is the recurring antagonist who blocks the Citadel.
Shakra and Sherma are standout friendly faces.
Pinmaster Plinney and Bell Hermit sell key upgrades.For the first time, you play as Hornet, who carried a supporting role in the original game. Silksong follows her after she is captured and taken to the distant kingdom of Pharloom.
She fights with a needle and silk rather than the Knight's nail, which gives Silksong its faster, more acrobatic combat. Her journey is a climb toward the Citadel at the top of the kingdom.
Everyone else in the cast is defined by how they help or hinder that climb, which is the lens this guide uses to group them.
Hornet talks far more than the silent Knight did. In actual play, her dialogue with NPCs is one of the main ways Silksong tells its story, so read it rather than skipping.
These are the bugs the plot turns on. They recur, give major quests, or stand directly between Hornet and the Citadel.
| Character | Role |
|---|---|
| Lace | Recurring fencer rival |
| Shakra | Hunter and ally, also a boss |
 Sherma | Devout pilgrim Hornet keeps meeting |
 Green Prince | Mysterious questline figure |
 Garmond and Zaza | Wandering hunter duo |
 Second Sentinel | Citadel figure and boss |
Per the wiki, several of these double as bosses, including Lace, Shakra, and the Second Sentinel. Our Silksong bosses guide covers their fights.
Pharloom runs on Rosaries, and the merchants are how you spend them. These NPCs sell the tools, upgrades, and conveniences that keep Hornet moving.
| Merchant | Sells |
|---|---|
| Pinmaster Plinney | Pin tools for ranged attacks |
 Bell Hermit | Crests and crest slots |
 Sprintmaster Swift | Movement training |
 Mask Maker | Mask shard upgrades |
The wiki lists many more, including Forge Daughter, Frey, Grindle, and Pebb. The full set of equippable gear they support is covered in our Silksong tools guide.
A few characters bridge the two games, mostly as cameos or spiritual successors. They reward players who finished the first game.
The clearest is 
Mister Mushroom, the wandering fungal traveler who returns from Hallownest. The Mask Maker and the Snail Shamans also echo roles from the original, reframed for Pharloom.
Per the wiki, the cast leans new rather than nostalgic, so most faces are fresh. The returning ones are deliberate easter eggs rather than central to the plot.
Pharloom is a kingdom of pilgrimage, and the road is dotted with pilgrims climbing toward the Citadel. Most are flavor, but a few tie into quests and lore.
The standout is Sherma, a devout pilgrim Hornet crosses paths with repeatedly, whose warmth makes him a fan favorite. 
Eva and the various Skarr and Flea wanderers round out the roadside cast.
The wiki also tracks a long list of generic pilgrims by mood, from the Weary Pilgrim to the Fearful Pilgrim. They set the tone of the climb more than they drive the story.
The cast ties into Pharloom's bosses, tools, and map. These guides cover the rest of Hornet's journey.
Game data and screenshots adapted from hollowknight.fandom.com, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. Original content remains the property of the wiki contributors and Team Cherry.