 |
This Article Contains Spoilers -
WARNING: This article contains major spoilers. If you do not wish to know vital information on plot / character elements in a story, you may not wish to read beyond this warning: We hold no responsibility for any negative effects these facts may have on your enjoyment of said media should you continue. That is all. |
| “ | On the lake beyond this cave nest a ragged horde atop an old watermound. Their mastery of flight makes them dangerous. My shell will forever carry the score of their pins. | „ |
| ~ Shakra on the Craws' territoriality. |
| “ | Shiny, shiny, all for us! Our nest! Our clan! |
„ |
| ~ The Craws' Needolin Dialogue. |
The Craws are supporting antagonists in the 2025 indie metroidvania Hollow Knight: Silksong.
They are a species of mischievous and greedy bugs that inhabit the land of Greymoor, harassing travellers and stealing their valuables, with Hornet becoming one of their marks upon her arrival in Pharloom. Despite their affliction by the Haunting, the Craws retain basically all of their faculties and remain as irritating as before.
Appearance[]
The Craws are, as their name suggests, a species of crow-like bugs with beak-like proboscises. They have grey shells and dark brown, cloak-like wings which they often wrap around themselves. Said wings also form a hood, obscuring their eyes. The Craws tend to vary greatly in size: young Craws are rather small, while adult Craws either grow into the lanky Tallcraws or the stout Squatcraws.
During Act III, the Craws dye all of their cloaks black in mourning of Pharloom's fall. The Tallcraw and Squatcraw Jurors also don metal headdresses, preventing Hornet from striking them on the head.
History[]
How long the Craws have inhabited Pharloom is unclear, but it appears that for as long as they have existed, they have harassed the inhabitants of Greymoor, stealing the belongings of travellers and residents alike; most of their weapons and belongings are scavenged and stolen from passing bugs. Despite their animalistic behaviour, they have a unique culture and not only speak their own language, but possess a judicial system meant to punish and judge Craws and bugs that act against the codes of their species, headed by the Crawfather. Some even seem to be bilingual and can write in the script of Pharloom's national language. They roost throughout Greymoor in nests made of a twig-like material and are implicitly the creators of the many balloon-like objects attached to structures throughout the region. The Craws mainly reside around Craw Lake, where their court is also located. Despite the Haunting, their society functions as normal and they seem to retain their full sapience.
During Hornet's travels through Pharloom, the Craws attempt to rob her like they have done to many other pilgrims, harassing her during her travels and attacking her in droves. One of Greymoor's residents, an innkeeper named Creige, notes that Craws have begun swarming around the warmth of his establishment and attacking customers. As such, he tasks Hornet with collecting the pelts of Craws so he can construct a scarecraw to drive them away.
After Hornet unintentionally summons the Void unto Pharloom, the Craws all dye their cloaks black in mourning of Pharloom's predicted collapse and blame Hornet for this calamity. As such, they send her a Craw Summons to represent herself at their court, which they deliver randomly to Hornet when she rests at any bench in the regions nearby Greymoor or inside it. Hornet arrives at the Court of Craws and enters after handing over the Summons, causing her to find herself in the courtroom full of Craw Jurors and the Crawfather himself. Hornet is faced with a trial by combat, both by the Craw Jurors and eventually, the Crawfather himself, whom she defeats. The Crawfather drops the Craw Memento upon his defeat, effectively pardoning Hornet from all future judgement by the Craws. She can also pick up the Crawbell and install it outside of her bellhome. This causes Craws to occasionally deposit rosaries and shell shards into the bell, most likely recognising and respecting Hornet for her strength. Despite this, Greymoor's Craws continue to attack Hornet, most likely just to mug her again.
Members[]
Craws[]
The Craws are the most common and youngest members of the Crawbug species, being small, cowardly bugs with short antennae, wing-like cloaks and beak-like probosces. They will roost in the background and emerge to fight Hornet when she approaches. Craws will often horde around Hornet in flocks with their other kin, cautiously flapping out of reach before swooping down to attack her. During the events of Act III, some of the Craws become known as Craw Jurors, which now possess steel-lated beaks which can be nail-bounced off of. Aside from that, they are completely identical to their regular counterparts in behaviour.
Tallcraws[]
The Tallcraws are one of the two forms Craws can take on upon reaching adulthood, being lanky Craws that wield silver pins stolen from travellers. They spend more time on the ground than their fellows but are still capable fighters. Tallcraws attack by slashing at Hornet with their pins, dashing towards her to close the distance and taking into the air to avoid her strikes. During Act III, some of the Tallcraws become known as Tallcraw Jurors and while they share behaviours with their regular counterparts, they wear metal headpieces that prevent Hornet from striking them on the head, where they're most vulnerable.
Squatcraws[]
The Squatcraws are one of the two forms Craws can take upon reaching adulthood, being stout Craws that wield threefold pins in combat. They flap about erratically and generally try to avoid Hornet, occasionally pausing to fire their pins at her, which can offer her an opportunity to advance on them. While mostly airborne, Squatcraws will sometimes land to attack Hornet, though they never linger on the ground for long. During Act III, some of the Squatcraws become known as Squatcraw Jurors and while they share behaviours with their regular counterparts, they wear metal headpieces that prevent Hornet from striking them on the head, where they're most vulnerable.
Crawfather[]
The Crawfather is a boss enemy encountered in Act III and leader of the Craws, acting as their judge and justice. He executes criminals with his steel-plated beaks and commands his kin in battle. On his own, the Crawfather is quite agile and attacks by pecking at Hornet or summoning barbed chains. Upon defeat, he drops the Craw Memento which pardons Hornet from all future crimes and his body disappears afterwards, implying he may have survived his boss fight. More information on him can be found on his page.
Trivia[]
- Upon the Crawfather's defeat, all of the journal entries for the Craw Jurors will be unlocked, seeing as they do not spawn afterwards.
- The Court of Craws is likely a reference to the real life practice of crow funerals, which, despite their name, are actually sessions during which crows attempt to diagnose the cause of death of one of their kin, allowing them to avoid said danger in the future. This matches well with the Craws punishing Hornet for bringing about Pharloom's "demise".
- Thanks to her similarity in fighting style and appearance to the Craws, it's been theorised that the Pinstress (and by extension, the Seamstress), are part of the Craw species.
[]
 Villains
| ||
|
Hallownest The Infected Grimm Troupe Other Pharloom The Citadel Caste and its associates Silk Beings Others | ||