Hallownest

Hallownest is an underground kingdom where a species of insectoids reside and are ruled over by one known as the Pale King. Once a thriving kingdom in the middle of a wasteland, it has fallen into ruin in the wake of the Infection. It is also the neighboring kingdom of the Underground, the land of the monsters beneath Mount Ebott although Hallownest is directly below it.

## Description

The land of Hallownest covers a vast network of caves and tunnels in the middle of a wasteland. They are inhabited by both sentient and wild bugs, among other creatures.
On the surface, the lonely town of Dirtmouth is safely nestled in a valley between the Howling Cliffs and the Crystal Peak. Most travelers to the kingdom reached Dirtmouth via the King's Pass, before the bridge up to it crumbled away. The caverns below the town were heavily transformed into crossroads to allow transportation of bugs and goods across the land.

The caverns expanding below the cliffs are overgrown with luxuriant vegetation, and each with its own ecosystem. The leafy caverns of Greenpath and the groves of the Fungal Wastes were once tamed by the construction of roads, with the Pilgrim's Way as the main path leading from the Crossroads to the kingdom's capital.

Below the lake is the largest cavern in the lands occupied by the City of Tears, the kingdom's fallen capital. The lake's water pours down from cracks in the roof causing the city to be submerged in continuous rain. It rests upon the Royal Waterways, a network of pipes and cisterns to manage the city's wastes

## Overview

The kingdom of Hallownest was more or less an isolated realm that did not wish to concern itself with the surface world or its inhabitants. It is revealed through Gaster that the monsters, along with the humans, were able to utilize the power of the soul from the ancient and mystical denizens of Hallownest.

Long before the Kingdom of Hallownest was founded, an ancient civilization existed in its place. Instead of worshipping any power or lord, this civilization worshipped the Void, a substance which is found at the bottom of the Abyss. Due to unknown causes, the ancient civilization eventually disappeared.

At a certain point in time, a Wyrm arrived in Kingdom's Edge where it shed its shell. This Wyrm then transformed into the Pale King in order to match the form of the other, lesser bugs. Similar to the Radiance, the Pale King was a higher being who was known as a light. He expanded the minds of several species of bugs in Hallownest, which granted them sapience, and in return the Pale King expected them to worship him. The Kingdom of Hallownest was founded, which the Pale King ruled as a god-king together with his Queen, the White Lady.

During the time when the monsters that resided on Earth made a home for themselves to co-exist alongside humanity, the Pale King and his subjects wanted no part in their affairs and instead focused on their own. However, the Pale King and the White Lady made a pact with Asgore and Toriel to have both their kingdoms live together in harmony and that they would aid one another whenever they required assistance. By having the resources of Hallownest and the monster kingdom be traded and combined a truce was formed between the two.

Unfortunately, due to an incident, the monsters were banished by humanity and imprisoned within Mount Ebott where the kingdom of Hallownest resides far beneath. Some of the monsters held animosity and resentment towards Hallownest for not coming to their aid despite the accomplishments they created together not knowing that the Pale King was going through dire situations that required him to keep his kingdom intact. Although, their collaboration gained many advantages by having them study the power of the soul to break the barrier that kept them at bay. The denizens of Hallownest were not bound by such a barrier, however.