Hoolay

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.

Evil-doer

Hoolay
Foxian Guise
"Feixiao"

Full Name

Hoolay

Alias

Brood Lord Hoolay

Borisin Warhead: Hoolay
Father Wolf Hoolay
Lord of Wolves
Dog (By March 7th)
Prisoner in Deep Confinement
Shadow of "Feixiao" (Echo of War name)
Fulminating Wolflord (Apocalyptic Shadow)

Origin

Honkai: Star Rail

Occupation

Leader of the Borisins.

Warhead of the Eclipse Pack.

Powers / Skills

Supernatural Willpower

Genius Level Intelligence
Psychological Manipulation
Sword Proficiency
Master Swordsmanship
Multilingualism
Mastery of Strategy and Tactics
Shadow Manifestation (Requires Crimson Moon to be passed down to a certain warslave)
Summoning the Pack
Borisin Physiology

Immortality
Shapeshifting
Superhuman durability
Superhuman speed
Superhuman strength
Superhuman Agility
Superhuman Senses
Lupitoxin Virus
Crimson Moon
Fear Inducement

Goals

Preserving Borisin's Pride & Lunar Embryo.

Massacre the Wardance participants and the audience to spite the Xianzhou Alliance (& Jingliu).
Rematch against Jingliu as a revenge for his defeat.
Pass down the Lunar Embryo to Feixiao to make her embrace bloodshed. (All Failed)

Crimes

Attempted murder

Cannibalism
Mass destruction
Mass murder
Mass mutilation
Terrorism

Type of Villain

Sadistic Warlord

“	As the Wolf's Creed goes: Gift the wolf a dead end, where new paths arise. Raise him to a doomed fate, where satiation lies. The cowards, in forgotten corners, meet their unworthy demise. Yet the valorous, in brutal battles, embrace their eternal prize... That's why I'm keeping you alive for now. I want to show you how borisin truly respect their enemies. We will consume your flesh and blood, nourishing our own. We will crush your hopes and dreams, clearing a path for our hunt! Your feeble souls will witness a new future, a future that belongs to me!	„
	~ Hoolay threatens Jiaoqiu, The Red Warcry

Hoolay (Chinese: 呼雷), also known as the Lord of Wolves, was a major antagonist and boss enemy in the 2023 turn-based tactical role-playing science fantasy video game Honkai: Star Rail. He was the main antagonist of the Trailblaze Continuance: Finest Duel Under the Pristine Blue two-parter.

Hoolay was a mighty borisin Brood Lord who reigned as the Warhead, supreme leader of his people. As a Denizen of Abundance, he served the Aeon of Abundance Yaoshi and sought to exterminate the Xianzhou Alliance, the greatest followers of Yaoshi's archenemy the Aeon of the Hunt Lan, committing Ten Unpardonable Sins. He was a warhead of the Eclipse Pack.

He is voiced by Ba He in Chinese, Kamran Nikhad in English, So Jung-hwan in Korean, and Keikô Sakai in Japanese.

Appearance

As a Borisin, Hoolay has a large physique, with intimidating jaws and neck muscles. Hoolay predominantly sports white fur, wolf-like teeth and ears, and razor claws. So far, Hoolay is the only Borisin who does quadrupedal idle stance in battle. During Moon Rage, Hoolay transforms into having a darker color shade with crimson linings.

Story

“	He recalled the days when flesh and blood were not restrained. Children of the borisin, who carry Moon Madness in them, had broken through the limitations of flesh and blood. Their bodies erupted and deformed, yet no longer able to feel pain or fear. Guiding them was once a privilege and responsibility reserved only for the strong.	„
	~ Prisoner's Repressive Straitjacket item story

War with the Xianzhou Alliance

Hoolay's reign revolves around bloodshed throughout his life. He had taken countless lives by his own hand, devoured their bodies, and brought war and scourge upon all worlds he had ravaged. He took pride in ravaging other civilizations. He led his pack of Borisin Wolftroopers to make a name of himself and affirms his position in order to surpass his former leaders. At some point in 700 years ago, Hoolay was defeated by Jingliu, something he took offense to. He was then captured and imprisoned in The Shackling Prison. Then the Abundance Axis coalition greatly declined in strength. It was stated by the Prison Warden that Hoolay develops strong grudge against Jingliu, that mentioning her name is ill-advised.

Imprisonment and Escape

Hoolay's was placed in straight jacket before being sentenced to imprisonment. He was held accountable for numerous acts of invasions, associated war crimes such as pillaging, long-term enslavement of the Foxians, and using their blood for alchemical purposes. The imprisonment of Hoolay became the foundation of the alliance between the Xianzhou and the Foxians, and individuals who objected to the sentence would be punished for "sowing discord". During imprisonment, Hoolay was subjected to the punishment by Forest of Swords, which involves many thousand cuts inflicted on him, and never be pardoned. His place of detention was changed on yearly basis to the new location that is unknown to any Xianzhou individuals aside Cloud Knight Lieutenants or Judge. While the punishment is fatal and Hoolay wasn't given any food, he was somehow able to survive for thousand years because of the Crimson Moon gave him immortality and being able to heal severe wounds inflicted from Forest of Swords.

Hoolay's imprisonment was meant to be a warning to prevent another repeat similarly to the sedition of Dan Feng/Imbibitor Lunae. However, some Foxians would visit him to unravel the secret of his Moon Rage to undo its effects on them. Unfortunately, it fails, and they resorted to violent methods.

At some point, Qingning, a Disciple of Sanctus Medicus attempted to free Hoolay from The Shackling Prison. The attempt failed and she was apprehended by the Realm-Keeping Commission in Sky-End's Cave. Her accomplice, Ruoming also was arrested in the same place later.

At some time, because of concerns about how Arbiter General of Xianzhou Luofu, Jing Yuan handling the Stellaron Crisis, Feixiao, Arbiter General of Xianzhou Yaoqing along with her lieutenants, Jiaoqiu and Moze were sent to transport the prisoner, Hoolay to Xianzhou Yaoqing. Unknown to the alliance, the group of Borisins, who are rallied under Phantylia (in her "Mangas" Persona), led by Mok Tok from Rhinohound Pack, infiltrates the Shackling Prison under the help of the invisible mara-struck soldiers provided by the dissident preceptors. The Borisin group managed to enter the cell and allows Hoolay to break free, though they were lamented that Hoolay also had a fellow Borisin Prisoner eaten as the first meal since his imprisonment. Hoolay also manages to inflict serious damage to Xueyi's body when he was free. The Borisin bowed him in respect and Hoolay spoke with Mok Tok wondered why they had to disguise themselves as "lowly beasts". Hoolay criticizes the reasons but accepts Mok Tok's attempt to break Hoolay out of Prison. Mok Tok also brought Jiaoqiu as a hostage. Hoolay initially suggested Mok Tok to kill Jiaoqiu after he served his purpose but when Jiaoqiu mentioned Jingliu's recent visit on Luofu, Hoolay changed his mind and take him as a slave despite Mok Tok's protests. The Borisins manage to break free Hoolay from the Shackling Prison and has taken Jiaoqiu hostage before they're vanishing without a trace.

Dawn Before the Wardance

A couple of hours before the Wardance, Hoolay and his group had a brief moment in Exalting Sanctum. Jiaoqiu rebut the Borisin Pack had come late to Hoolay's rescue as they had been broken by Merlin's Claw and the escape plan was not successful because the Borisins were dependent on the prophetic figure named "Mangas". Hoolay criticizes Mok Tok's reasons for carrying the plan because of the prophet "Mangas" promises them glory. He decides that the Borisin only follow the warhead instead of some false-prophetic figure showing that how much the Borisin's pride have fallen. Mok Tok then informs Hoolay that the Arbiter General of Xianzhou Yaoqing, Feixiao is once a war slave of the Eclipse Pack. Hoolay then tests Jiaoqiu's guts if he follows his orders like a cub listening to an alpha wolf, by let him have a chance to see the Cloud Knights close the ports, much to Mok Tok's protest. Jiaoqiu, being watched by the disguised Borisins, is forced to follow Hoolay's orders to ask if the port is closed. Should Jiaoqiu ask any bystanders of the Exalting Sanctum, either a Starskiff Pilot, a Cloud Knight Soldier, or a Realm-Keeping Orderly, Hoolay's group would murder them if Jiaoqiu asked them for help.

After Jiaoqiu informs the port is not yet closed, Hoolay scratches Jiaoqiu's shoulder with s finger so sharp that it tears off his flesh and the pain pierces down within his ribs, in attempt to prevent any sense of hope for Jiaoqiu. Hoolay then told Jiaoqiu about the story of the creation of Lunar Embryo to replace the heart of the Warhead to be immortal, which passes down from Duran by sacrificing the lives of the Foxian and Borisin lives with the help of genetic sorcery. Hoolay also heard from Jiaoqiu's story that Feixiao has a Borisin blood, which affected with Moon Rage, in which he has a plan to use her later on. When the Wardance Ceremony is about to start, Mok Tok informs the Xianzhou Alliance have discovered their operation at Stargazer Navalia and urged him to flee, but Hoolay saw this as a great opportunity for revenge. At a same time, Moze is watching from the rooftop and found Jiaoqiu when talking to Hoolay.

Hoolay senses Moze's presence when he's approached by him, he told him to inform Feixiao that the Borisins would create a massacre on Xianzhou Luofu as a declaration of war. He, along with the rest of his pack, begins to convert hapless Foxians into Borisins to form an army. And he departs to Skysplitter to enact the Wardance massacre to restore Borisin glory, leaving Mok Tok lead the massacre at the Aurum Alley. The Borisin attacks at Luofu were thwarted by Feixiao, Yukong, and Moze, but Hoolay had departed into Skysplitter, where March 7th and Yunli were attending the Wardance, joined with Yanqing soon after, and he also manages to severely injure Jiaoqiu beforehand.

Wardance: Wolfhunt Showdown

Hoolay announces the Wardance massacre at the Skysplitter as the Cloud Knights were prepared to take action. When Yunli, Yanqing, and March 7th finally arrives at the arena, Hoolay had the Cloud Knight squadron decimated, leaving Yanqing, Yunli, and March 7th fend off Hoolay and his Borisin pack. During a formidable battle with March 7th, Yunli, and Yanqing, Hoolay is grown impatient to face Feixiao as he was stalled by the three heroes. However, Jiaoqiu's poison is suddenly take effect, resulting Hoolay felt colder than usual. Hoolay recognizes that Jiaoqiu had planned for a deliberate self-poisoning gambit in order to make him drink his blood to weaken him. Despite being poisoned, Hoolay continues to endure it but then starts to lose the fight against Yanqing, who uses a technique taught from Jingliu. Weakened, Hoolay then attempted to kill Yanqing as he caught off-guard before was intervened by Feixiao in timely arrival.

Having recognized the familiar attack, Hoolay then admitted for he had enough time to learn Jingliu's movement but concedes after Yanqing had bested him using a sword technique, learned from Jingliu and respects him. However, when Feixiao planned to imprison him in Xianzhou Yaoqing, Hoolay instead shred his heart out, defiant to the Xianzhou Alliance in the end, reducing him into only his heart with Crimson Moon energy to wreak havoc the Foxian Wardance guests. To prevent the escalating chaos, Feixiao had to summon Flying Aureus to devour Hoolay's heart, resulting her becoming possessed in a process. Maddened, the possessed Feixiao later attacks Yanqing, Yunli, and March 7th as they retaliate.

Inside her mind, Feixiao is approached by Hoolay, who admitted to her that his rage was the only taste of battle he remembered. He had anticipated his defeat and intends to make her his successor before dying. He acknowledges her strength and doesn't care what she had done to his pack as long as she accept the warhead to continue restoring Borisin glory. He attempted to convince her to accept his deal by exploiting her doubts that plagued her when she was young. Feixiao initially agreed when she and Hoolay were both beasts to live in war but rejects his offer to be his succesor to make the world the Borisin hellhole. Realizing she had rejected his final offer before his death, Hoolay had lost his respect and decides to kill her in anger, by forming a shadow based on her in attempt to take her body. However, Feixiao ultimately defeats Hoolay and regain control of her body, destroying his consciousness along with his soul, putting the warhead's plan to an end.

Powers & Abilities

Powers

Borisin Physiology: Hoolay belonged to the borisin, a sentient wolf-like humanoid species feared for their martial power and aggression. Since ancient times, the cells of the borisin were infused with the power of the Aeon of Abundance Yaoshi. Hoolay was the mightiest of the borisin, possessing power that eclipsed the ordinary warrior and rivalled the greatest in the cosmos. In recognition of his strength, in place of his own heart, Hoolay possessed a blessing (called a "plaguemark" by the Xianzhou people) that was bequeathed on the borisin people by Yaoshi. The plaguemark in question was passed down from one Warhead to the next.
- Immortality: Thanks to the Crimson Moon which was created by Duran to pass on the future warheads, Hoolay is immortal. The Crimson Moon grants him a superhuman healing to withstand punishments in Forest of Swords. He attempted to pass down the Crimson Moon to Feixiao, who was a Borisin warslave named Saran, to instate her as his successor while manipulating her for his own ends.
- Shapeshifting: Hoolay was able to shapeshift into foxian guise. However, his Foxian guise has a distinguishing feature unlike any other borisins, save for Mok Tok who has a scar in his face.
- Superhuman Durability: As mentioned above, Crimson Moon allows Hoolay to endure any punishments. Hoolay would never go down without a fight in spite of being poisoned.
- Superhuman Senses: Hoolay was able to sense Moze when he tortures Jiaoqiu, and Feixiao when fighting Yunli, Yanqing, and March 7th.
- Superhuman Speed: Hoolay has a rapid fighting style that made him a fierce fighter, combined with his durability and strength in his boss fight, in spite of being poisoned by Jiaoqiu earlier.
- Superhuman Strength: Hoolay was able to use his strength to lift the ground in one of his attacks and leap massive distances further, shown in one cutscene in Skysplitter.
Lupitoxin Virus: Hoolay's blood may contain a "blessing" of Abundance. In which works like a virus that can infect any Foxians by inhaling the contaminated air or physical contact such as bite when he's in Foxian Guise. While the first symptom of the virus is the individual has a feeling of fear after inhaling the pheromone, the physical contact on the other hand, can make individuals like the poor Foxian instantly converted into mindless Borisins via bite.
Leadership: Hoolay, being the warhead of the Borisins can led his subordinates for marauding. In his boss fight, he periodically summons Borisins to gain irate stacks faster.
Crimson Moon: The Plaguemark that was passed down by Borisin Gladiators at the ceremony to determine the Borisin's chosen warhead. It was created by a Borisin Warhead Duran, passed down into any generations of Borisin warheads like Hoolay, and warslaves like Saran, who known as Feixiao and currently obtained the Crimson Moon after defeating Hoolay within her mind.

Abilities

Multilingualism: Hoolay was fluent in both the borisin language and the common tongue.
Master Swordmanship: Hoolay was one of the Borisin that explicitly skilled at swordmanship. It's shown that he was outmatched by Jingliu before he was imprisoned.
Master Planning: Hoolay is also capable of planning such as ordering his Borisin lackeys in disguise to watch any bystanders to prevent Jiaoqiu reporting the message towards Xianzhou Luofu authorities. He also prepared Crimson Moon when he saw the target, Feixiao is nearby and intends to make her as a successor while being the adviser.
Summon the Pack: Hoolay periodically summons the Borisin wolftroopers to aid him (1 in first phase, 2 in second phase, and 4 in last phase (Simulated / Divergent Universe only), to gain bloodlust and irate stacks faster.
Barrenness of Earth Gouged: Hoolay pounds his claws to the ground so hard that it causes shockwaves when he lifts his hands. In which deals massive lightning damage to all enemies and reducing their speed. In addition, allied targets (Like his Borisin lackeys) inflicted with increased damage and potentially kills them.
- In Apocalyptic Shadow, it doesn't raise his irate stacks while his Wolftrooper reinforcements were instantly killed.
Moon Rage/Crimson Moon's Ire: Transforms Hoolay into having a much darker color palette to emphasize his own killing intent. He will gain additional Irate effect by either him attacking or his allied Borisins attacking. Should his irate stack match an approximate limit, Hoolay will unleash Lupine Chase Calls Bloody Gleam.
- Lupine Chase Calls Bloody Gleam: Hoolay inflicts an overkilling slash to an enemy, dealing severe Lightning damage to a single target.
Lunar Devourer State: Exclusive to Apocalyptic Shadow variant. Hoolay's alternate Moon Rage state that will instead be going one-on-one with a single target depending on the character You had chosen. He will perform Lupine Chase Calls Bloody Gleam before ending Lunar Devourer state. However, you can make him abruptly ending Lunar Devourer State by successfully breaking his Toughness Bar.
- Full Moon's Furor: While in Lunar Devourer state, Hoolay cannot be slowed down.
Sanguin Hunger Howls: Exclusive to Apocalyptic Shadow variant. Hoolay's toughness cannot be reduced if he's not reaching Lunar Devourer state. He'll gain irate stacks whenever him attacking and either his Wolftrooper reinforcements attacking or be killed in action.
Shadow Manifestation: Hoolay attempted to convince Feixiao to join with him after having his Lunar Embryo consumed by Feixiao's Flying Aureus. When Feixiao rejects his offer, Hoolay will transform into a manifestation of Feixiao's inner moon rage to forcibly take her body.

Gallery

Trivia

Hoolay's combat stance and design bears similarities to Elden Ring's Maliketh the Black Blade. Both are gigantic wolf-beings in white fur, having a gutturally deep voice, wearing a headwear that covers their eyes, & long thin beards. In combat, both of them wields a gigantic sword and has similar effects and animations, and even Hoolay's idle animation resembles Maliketh's iconic phase 2 pose.