Ghoncl

Ghoncl is a young vessel, son of Pale King and White Lady and is the protagonist of the Dope Knight series.

Ghoncl is typically carefree, friendly, and somewhat ignorant. Due to usually being on recreationals, he is overly familiar with others and good-humoured, but this tends to cause other bugs to take advantage of him. He is rather slow to process information unless he really cares about the subject, and can come off as annoying to those who don't share his addictions. When not on drugs, Ghoncl can become extremely depressed and bad-tempered.

Appearance

Ghoncl is a short, stout bug. He has a wide white head shaped like a 'U', the top of which branches into two short horns with two points on each. His eyes are small and sunken and his pupils are nearly always dilated. He has a wide mouth with unhealthy gums and yellowing teeth, which is usually curved in a smile. His body is black, and he wears a ragged grey-blue cloak. Ghoncl is usually seen with a blunt in his mouth.

Biography

Before the events of the series

Ghoncl was born to the Pale King and the White Lady and was their youngest child at the time. As a young child he was loud and boisterous, expressing domineering characteristics over his other, much older siblings. As he got older, Ghoncl was fascinated by drugs, eventually having his first experience with cannabis which enthralled him. From that day forth Ghoncl vowed to dedicate his life to medicating and trying out any and all types of drugs.

Dope Knight

We first meet Ghoncl on a return trip to see Fael in Alabamanest. After scaling the Howling Cliffs he arrives in Dirtmouth where Elderbug greets him. Upon questioning by Ghoncl, Elderbug tells him that his 'heathen sister' Hornet is down in Greenpath and Ghoncl pursues her.

When he arrives in Greenpath, Ghoncl greets Hornet and Hollow, offering the latter a blunt. After Hollow subsequently collapses, he rounds on Hornet who runs away, causing Ghoncl to chase after her. During the chase he falls into a hole and discovers a new plant, which he harvests and brings to his adoptive grandmother Seer. The two nickname the plant 'Silverweed' and begin distributing it around Hallownest.

Later, Ghoncl is relaxing in the Pleasure House hot spring when Zote informs him that Ase is ill and emplores him to check it out. Upon arrival, he encounters Quirrel who is there under his mentor's orders. Ghoncl finds Ase and places another blunt in his mouth, laughing when Quirrel checks the inside of Ase's mouth.

We next see Ghoncl at a blunt rotation with Seer and Jahe. They discuss Ase's condition when Zote again interrupts and tells them that Ase is being held at the Teacher's Archives with a suspected case of jaundice. Ghoncl and the others journey to the Archives, finding Ase undergoing phototherapy. He gives Quirrel a lump of cocaine before Seer has a prophetic vision about Hallownest's impending doom. Following this they decide to go to the White Palace to inform PK of the situation. PK sends Ghoncl to bargain with the Queen of Deepnest, Herrah. Alongside Hornet and Hollow, he ventures down there and brings Herrah back to the White Palace.

He is involved in PK's plan to combat the Radiance, being in charge of mixing together a series of edibles containing every drug in Hallownest. Ghoncl, along with the rest of the Radiance Take Down Battalion, is present when Seer creates a portal to the Dream World. During the following fight with the Radiance, Ghoncl attacks the goddess but is thrown off easily. When Seer attempts to trick the Radiance, Ghoncl screams as she is crushed to death and mourns her as she passes. This pain turns to anger as he resolves to be the Radiance's poison, and rallies the others to throw everything they have at her. Together with Dryya he throws edibles into her mouth, and as the goddess collapses he force-feeds her Silverweed and crack cocktails until she explodes. As the battle comes to a close, Ghoncl swears he sees his grandma's spirit dissipating.

Ghoncl appears at PK's celebratory ceremony, where he is pronounced as a Knight of Hallownest, but interrupts. He states that he'd rather be recognised for his drug skills, adding that "it's what Grammy would've wanted". This prompts PK to name him the 'Dope Knight'.

Dope Knight 2

Ghoncl first appears in his room at the White Palace as Hornet approaches him, clearly depressed after Seer's passing. Hornet informs him that PK has requested they check out something in Dirtmouth and Ghoncl agrees. In Dirtmouth Ghoncl discovers a series of red tents and upon entering meets Grimm, the leader of Grimm's Gammy Gang. Ghoncl strikes up a friendship with Grimm and expresses interest in engaging with Divine, another gang member, but Hornet interrupts and demands the gang's purpose. Concluding that they are another cartel, she forces them to leave, but Ghoncl stops her and persuades her to let them stay, reasoning that their drugs could help him get over Seer. Hornet reluctantly agrees.

The next day, Ghoncl goes back to the Gammy Gang and Grimm initiates him as a member by performing a ritual. He puts a scopolamine patch on Ghoncl's arm, which causes him to see a worn down looking heart with many eyes.

When he returns home, Hornet is waiting for him, and Ghoncl explains that he 'got termite pussy'. At breakfast the following morning, Ghoncl notices that his mother the White Lady has returned, but the Lady immediately realises that he has been in contact with the Gammy Gang and gives him a bath. In doing so she rips the patch off his arm, and brushes his teeth which causes his gums to bleed. This horrifies the Lady and Ghoncl uses the distraction to leave.

A few days later, Ghoncl is extremely depressed because the Gang's drugs have left his system. In his sadness he goes to the Pleasure House and downs vodka shots, causing him to realise that only the Gammy Gang's drugs made him feel extremely good. He then goes to their tent and steals a box of red crystals lying on a table.

The next time we see Ghoncl, it is as Hornet is taking Wasp to hospital after it's revealed both he and Floret have tetanus. Hornet quizzes him about the crystals he is snorting, and he is purposefully vague due to the high he is on. After admitting Wasp to the hospital, Hornet returns home with her brother and interrogates him about the drugs, causing Ghoncl to eventually admit that he stole them from the Gammy Gang. When prompted to return the drugs, Ghoncl refuses, eventually culminating in an argument between the siblings and escalates into a fight. Luckily, PK and the others arrive home and PK breaks up the fight. They are interrupted by Grimm, who has come to the palace with the rest of his comrades in order to demand the drugs be returned, otherwise a blight will fall upon Hallownest. Ghoncl, not really listening, swallows the last of the drugs. The others try numerous methods to get him to eject the drugs, but to no avail.

Ghoncl is brought before Grimm at the end of the two-day limit. When not presented with the drugs, Grimm decides to use Ghoncl as a replacement sacrifice to the Nightmare Heart, but Hornet intervenes and persuades Grimm to duel Ghoncl instead, with the conditions that Grimm surrenders if Ghoncl wins. However, if Ghoncl loses, he will be used as a sacrifice. Bewildered and not knowing how to fight yet still grateful to his sister for saving his life, Ghoncl hugs Hornet.

Ghoncl is next seen training with Hornet in preparation for the upcoming battle. When defensive moves don't work, Hornet advises him to make use of his strengths instead, such as belly-flopping and farting. On the day of the battle, Ghoncl is much more confident, but this confidence quickly vanishes as Grimm uses a higher power to aid him in the fight, overpowering Ghoncl easily. Whilst knocked down, he suddenly remembers Seer's words to him from before, giving him the drive to keep fighting. Ghoncl manages to jump onto Grimm and rips his scopolamine patch off, releasing a spirit from Grimm and causing him to collapse, his colours changing. When Grimm wakes up, he does not remember Ghoncl, instead calling him 'Wyrm'. Ghoncl tells him he is the son of a Wyrm, and Grimm reintroduces himself as Grine.

Ghoncl's last appearance is at the Resting Grounds graveyard, where he is paying respects to Seer along with Hornet and Hollow. After he places a weed bud on her grave, Hornet approaches and apologises for her unfair treatment of Ghoncl after Seer passed. Although he doesn't understand why she's apologising, Ghoncl accepts the apology and pisses in happiness, causing the bud on Seer's grave to bloom.

Dope Knight 3: Discord and Darkness

Ghoncl makes his first appearance in chapter 2, running down to breakfast after spending the night with Marissa. He spits on PK, who chases him, but stops when Ghoncl reaches the kitchen. Ghoncl notices that Hornet is not present and asks the White Lady where she is, but the queen does not know. He then takes Hollow with him to find her. Arriving at the Howling Cliffs, Hollow picks up on several clues that lead him to conclude that Hornet was captured, but Ghoncl makes light of the situation.

They return to the palace, where Herrah has since arrived. Ghoncl presses his face into her fur and the two talk. After Hollow informs PK of Hornet's disappearance and attempts to come up with his own plan to get back at Pharloom, the offending kingdom, Ghoncl immediately decides that his own plan will be better and drags Hollow off again.

Later that night, Ghoncl and Hollow go to the palace computer room to find out more information about Pharloom in order to formulate a plan. He sees that PK has been browsing explicit videos on one of the computers, and is distracted by this whilst Hollow tries to gather information. As Hollow leaves, Ghoncl watches the video.

Ghoncl next appears after Hollow goes to his room to tell him about an idea. He is engaging in BDSM with Marissa and offers Hollow a turn, but when Hollow declines Ghoncl listens to his idea anyway. The following morning, the two act on this by asking the White Lady if they can use the Melon Room under the guise of wanting to spend time around the queen's watermelon memorabilia. Luckily she believes their lie and allows them to go. In the room, Ghoncl immediately finds the Lady's stash of melon-themed vibrators, which he finds hilarious. When Hollow finds some important Deepnest papers, Ghoncl decides that it is a good idea to lick the bottommost paper on the stack, obscuring an important name. Before they can contemplate this however, the White Lady bursts in with breakfast for the two and catches them looking at her private documents. Subsequently, Ghoncl and Hollow are grounded and punished.

One night, Ghoncl is in his room smoking cannabis and burning holes in his mattress when he hears a crash from outside. Looking down, he sees two mysterious figures surrounding PK's Pale Mazda, whispering amongst themselves. They notice him and bribe him to keep quiet. Ghoncl goes down to see them, and they introduce themselves as MORB and IUS, explaining that they are there to piss off the king. Ghoncl likes this idea and they take him along for a ride in the car. Upon returning, Ghoncl explains the situation of Hornet's capture, and IUS reveals that they resent Pharloom for their own reasons. Ghoncl begs to come with them as they talk of getting revenge, and MORB agrees. They sneak Hollow out of his room and set off for Pharloom.

Later, Ghoncl is smoking one of IUS's blunts as the car is flying towards the Citadel. After MORB crashes it into Valhas's palace, Ghoncl cheers. He gets out of the car right before the palace collapses. Outside the palace, he greets his sister, commenting that Hollow didn't even pass out on the way to Pharloom. When everyone re-enters the crumbling palace after Forge-Daughter clears a path, Ghoncl is said to be filming his sister 'talking' to Ryna's corpse.

Ghoncl gives his input on Valhas's punishment when it is discovered that the latter is alive.

Dope Knight 4: Dopemaster

The book begins with Ghoncl being voyeuristic outside his parents' bedroom. He unknowingly overhears them discussing Hollow succeeding the throne. The next morning, when PK announces Hollow's royal training initiation, Ghoncl thinks to himself that he will be attending for sure, if only to fart at the most important moment. At the ceremony, he does just this, having roped his younger sibling Floret into doing it too.

He is woken the next day by PK yelling at everyone to come to the dining room.

Relationships

With Hornet

Hornet is Ghoncl's half-sister. Although Hornet cares for him, she is constantly annoyed by his drug-use and resulting antics, and reluctantly acts as his caretaker. Ghoncl loves his sister dearly, oblivious to her annoyance.

With Hollow

Hollow is Ghoncl's oldest sibling, and Ghoncl takes advantage of the fact that he is nervous and agreeable. This deludes Ghoncl into thinking that Hollow is just as much of a pothead as he is, when in reality Hollow is just accepting his drug offers out of fear. Despite Hollow being far from an addict, Ghoncl does not know this.

With Seer

Seer acts as Ghoncl's adoptive grandmother, after she discovered him when he got lost as a child. The two share a love for drugs, and Ghoncl has spent most of his life bonding over this with her. Before Seer's death, they would frequently have blunt rotations with their friends, concoct crack cocktails, and make weed-filled brownies. Ghoncl adores his grandmother.

With Marissa

Among Ghoncl's 'hoe roster' was Marissa, whom he got rather attached to. She became his first official girlfriend. Marissa was attracted to Ghoncl's fun disposition, but as time went on she realised that they didn't have much in common and the pair broke up. However, they are still on good terms, with Ghoncl often getting drinks with her.

With Floret

After Floret's birth, Ghoncl saw his baby brother as the perfect 'apprentice' for him. He spends as much time with Floret as he can, trying to pass on Seer's teachings and acting as a mentor of sorts...albeit a drug-addicted, unhinged one. Luckily Floret enjoys spending time with his older brother and likes to hear what Ghoncl has to say.

Trivia

• His name was supposed to be different, but as PK was preparing to name him, baby Ghoncl kicked him in the balls, causing the name to come out garbled. The White Lady, none the wiser, loved the name she heard, and PK didn't have the heart to change it in fear of upsetting her.

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