#At least that is strongly implied by Brumm's dreamnail dialogue

[littlebittyhollowbugs]

Grimm/nightmare heart theory

It's the Halloween season, so I thought it would be a good time to share my take on Hallownest's very own vampire clown nightmare demon, Grimm!

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The nightmare heart is all that remains of an ancient god. In order to keep itself from completely fading from existence it made a contract with it's worshipper, Grimm.

Grimm gave his body up as host for the dying God, to keep it alive.

Basically he is the vessel of the heart. (This is stated in canon.) And gained immortality through means of the nightmare hearts ritual.

The flames which I would guess represent nightmares/fears or death (Sort of like essence which represents hopes or wishes, for nightmares rather than dreams) Feed the heart, and keep Grimms body growing and immortal.

Grimm is reincarnated into Grimmchild everytime the lantern is lit. With outside aide. Bugs who aide in the hearts perpetuation (such as Brumm) are forced to serve the heart for eternity. I imagine this would have eventually happened to little Ghost. (Had the endings not played out as they did.)

Why is he a circus troupe master? Because Grimm and his servants, a large group of especially peculiar bugs who travel the world, fit in best under the guise of being travelling circus performers. Basically it's their cover.

And maybe even before giving up his body to the nightmare heart Grimm was some sort of performing type.

Anyway Brumm's dialogue here and here

Implies that it is truly the best outcome for Grimm for the ritual to end and for him to be separated from the heart. Not only for Brumm's sake but for his own.

(I did not do this in my game, because I love my Grimmchild too much but narratively this is the ultimately good ending for everyone.)