Whispering Vaults & High Halls Complete Walkthrough

This comprehensive walkthrough covers Whispering Vaults and High Halls in Hollow Knight: Silksong. Learn how to find the Whispering Vaults map, obtain the Sacred Cylinder, unlock Vaultkeeper’s Melody and Conductor’s Melody, and defeat both Lace and Grand Mother Silk. Follow this step-by-step guide to complete both areas with all collectibles and secrets.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Estimated Time: 3-4 hours for full area completion
• Difficulty: Moderate to Hard
• Required Abilities: Clawline, Cling Grip, Needolin
• Major Rewards: Sacred Cylinder, Vaultkeeper’s Melody, Conductor’s Melody, White Key
• Boss Fights: Lace, Grand Mother Silk
• Important Items: Pale Oil, Spool Fragments, Threefold Music

---

---

Starting in Underworks After Trobbio

Unlocking the Trapdoor and Taking the Elevator

After defeating Trobbio head to the right. Go up and hit the switch. This will open the trapdoor connecting the vaults. Go to the right and get on the elevator and hit the switch.

Once the elevator reaches the bottom, head to the left and hit the switch. Go through when the door opens.

Platform Navigation

Crossing Platforms and Finding the Exit

In the next area cross over the platforms and drop down towards the left to find the exit.

You are back in the tunnels connecting to the Underworks now.

Bench Area

Activating the Switch and Resting

Keep going to the left and hit the switch next to the bench and pick up the shards. Go back up and rest at the bench.

Go to the left from the bench and drop down. Go to the right and drop down.

Glowing Corpse and Bridge Section

Unlocking Trapdoor and Extending Bridge

Something is glowing on a corpse on the right you can’t reach from this side. Go to the left and drop down. Drop down and go to the left. On the other side, use the switch unlock the bottom trapdoor, but there is nothing of worth down there.

Go up and hit the switch there to extend a bridge.

Activating Ventrica Tube

Run through to the other side, as the bridge is temporary. Go to the left here and activate the Ventrica tube.

Go out and hit the switch on the floor and drop down. Now move left and drop down the chute. Now get to the left.

Go up and down the other side. Hit the switch and get into the next room for a gauntlet.

Gauntlet Fight and Spool Fragment

Surviving the Gauntlet

Survive the gauntlet – a fat bug will break the floor somewhere close to the end.

Breaking Floor and Collecting Fragment

Go to the left and pick up the Spool Fragment.

Bottom of Underworks

Exploring Chests and Spike Jumps

Take stock of your location now. We are the bottom of the Underworks.

Go to the right and exit the area into central shaft. Hit switch to extend the bridge and go to the right. Go down and to the right. Follow the path back to the angular section.

Drop down and you can find two chests. Go back up and go to the right. Jump over the spikes and drop down.

Collecting Second Spool Fragment

Keep to the left and drop down. Clear the debris around the door and go through to find a Spool Fragment.

Elevator and Spider Area

Riding Elevator and Navigating Spider Section

Go back up and to the elevator that got you down here. Hit the switch and make it go up – while you hop off.

Go down the open space now. Keep moving to the right – past the spikes.

The next area is full of spiders and is quite challenging to navigate, but keep moving to the right, and you will eventually reach the end – this connects to the Whispering Vaults.

Steam Chute Puzzle

Timing Steam and Reaching the Vaults

In the next area, go up the chute when the steam stops. There is a cove on the left. Hide there till the steam stops again.

Go to the left and keep going up the right chute.

Keep moving up till you can exit back to the Vaults.

Sacred Cylinder

Unlocking the Door and Taking the Cylinder

Go to the left and stand on the switch to open the door. Take the Sacred Cylinder from the altar.

 Go to the left and exit. Or you can go to the right and to the end to rest at the bench, if you need to save or need to heal.

Choral Chambers – Pale Oil

Finding Pale Oil and Returning to Plinney

Now make your way to this location on the map above the entrance to the Stage (In the Choral Chambers) to find the Pale Oil.

If you take the oil back to Pinmaster Plinney in Bellhart, you can get a damage upgrade.

Whispering Vaults Map

Finding the Map and White Key

Now head to Whispering Vaults and you can pick up the map from the room here.

You can access this room by hitting the wall in the corner of the central shaft in the Whispering Vaults.

Once you pick up the map, go up to the roof and to the right you can pick the White Key.

Enter the chamber on the left.

Meeting the Caretaker

Ringing Bell and Receiving the Wish

Ring the bell inside and rest at the bench. Once you get out, you will meet the Caretaker.

The caretaker gives you the wish Song and Silk, which, once completed, starts the optional Act 3. However, bear in mind that you need to do all the available wishes in the game.

The Cauldron and Clawline

Lava Platforms and Craft Metal

Make your way to this location in the Underworks.

To get here you need to get to this point in the map first.

It’s the lowest entrance to the right in the main chamber. Drop down and keep to the right. You will see the exit.

Go to the right over the lava platforms and turn to the left once you reach the end and up to the exit.

Go up and to the left in the next area. Go across this area till you reach the room with a fat bug and pick up the craft metal.

Weaver Shrine and Clawline Ancestral Art

Go back out and go up and hit the switch on the left to open the path.

Make your way across the lava here to get to the weaver shrine.

This is where you can pick up the Ancestral Art – Clawline.

Use your new power to make your across to the right.

Make your way up to the top slowly. Pogo and clawline your way up to the right till you this room where you can clawline and hang from a ring.

Post-Clawline Gauntlet

Once the light pops out from you hanging on the chain – a gauntlet will start.

Once its done, go up through the opening in the top. Hit the switch and go through in the next area.

Back at the main area of the Underworks, head to the left to rest at the bench. Use the ring here to gain access to the platform on the right.

The Twelfth Architect

End Game Gear

Hit the switch, enter and talk to the Twelfth Architect.

He has a plethora of end game gear. There is also a locked door on the top bearing the Architect’s sigil that can be opened with the key he sells.

Music Pieces

The 3 music pieces that you need are in these 3 locations.

Head back to the elevator leading to the Stage.

Vaultkeeper’s Melody

Playing the Sacred Cylinder

Make your way back to the Whispering Vaults and head to the location marked on the map.

Talk to Vaultkeeper Cardinius and give him the Psalm Cylinder. Play the Sacred Cylinder.

Use the Needolin to learn the song – Vaultkeeper’s Melody.

Now make your way to the Cogwork Core.

Architect’s Melody

Return to Cowgwork Core

We need to climb up the central channel to get the next melody. Hang from the ring here.

Once you get up there, go to the left and drop the panel down by hanging from the ring there.

In the next area, hang from the ring to go to the right and hop off to make your way up to the top.

This is a pretty challenging platforming section – so have patience and slowly make your way to the top.

Architect’s Melody Puzzle

Once you reach the top you will find four columns with musical notes on it.

There are switches on the side that will rotate the musical signs. You need to align the lines properly.

1^st Column

2^nd Column

3^rd Column

4^th Column

Once you match all the lines on all the towers you can learn the song on your Needolin.

Choral Chambers

Go to this location in the Choral Chambers.

Drop down, go left and make your way to this location on the map.

Make your way up to the dome on the top left corner. You will reach the High Halls.

High Halls

Exploring the High Halls

Explore High Halls but the goal is to make it to this location on the map at the bottom of High Halls.

High Halls Gauntlet and Conductor’s Melody

Inside the room on the left is a gauntlet. Survive that and you can learn the Conductor’s Melody from Conductor Ballador.

Now go back to the Gate and play them the Threefold music.

Prepare for the final boss fight.

Boss Fight – Lace

Check out our boss guide for Lace here!

Phase 1

In Phase 1, she has the same moves as before, except she is a lot faster. Just repeat what you did when you fought her last.

Phase 2

In phase 2, her new moves include a 3 step spinning attack.

She rises then shoots down. Overall, she is super aggressive. She can also do a flurry of thrusts from any angle if she parries you.

Keep the dodging up and press her whenever you have a shot and she will go down.

After Beating Lace

Once you’ve defeated her, head up to meet her mother.

Make your way to the giant ball of silk and challenge her.

Boss Fight – Grand Mother Silk

Check out our guide for Grand Mother Silk here!

Let’s break it down.

Phase 1 Moves and Attacks

She will use here three scissors to attack from left or right.

Or top and bottom.

She will summon a silk cage.

If you get caught in this she will take 3 health off.

Phase 2 Moves and Attacks

In phase two she will stab twice in any direction with her scissors.

Phase 3 Moves and Attacks

In Phase 3 the whole stage will start to break down.

Along with all the previous moves, you have to contend with falling rock and spikes in the ground.

Dodge everything and hit her body – there will long stretches where you can’t even get close to her. Just be patient and eventually she will go down.

Enjoy the ending.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Whispering Vaults?

Access Whispering Vaults from the lower section of Cogwork Core. Navigate through the Underworks, past the spider-filled area, heading right until you reach the Vaults entrance.

Where is the Whispering Vaults map?

The Whispering Vaults map is in a hidden attic area. After the gauntlet battle, defeat the Scrollreader, attack the ceiling contraption to drop a ladder, climb up, and purchase the map for 70 Rosaries.

How do I get all three melodies for the gate?

You need three melodies: Vaultkeeper’s Melody (give Sacred Cylinder to Vaultkeeper Cardinius), Conductor’s Melody (complete gauntlet in High Halls bottom area), and Architect’s Melody (obtained earlier in the game).

What is the best strategy for defeating Grand Mother Silk?

Dodge her three scissor attacks (horizontal and vertical patterns), avoid the silk cage trap (costs 3 health), and focus on attacking her body during openings. In Phase 3, watch for falling rocks and ground spikes.

Where do I find the Pale Oil?

The Pale Oil is located in Choral Chambers, in the upper area above the Stage entrance. Take it to Pinmaster Plinney in Bellhart for a damage upgrade.

---

This concludes this Hollow Knight: Silksong Walkthrough of Whispering Vaults and High Halls.

Check out more interesting articles below!

• Heartworm Review
• Into Indie Games Homepage
• Hirogami Walkthrough Hub
• Whisper of the House Walkthrough Hub
• Metal Gear Solid Delta Walkthrough