Notkin

Pathologic 2=

Notkin (Ноткин) is the leader of the children's gang the Soul-and-a-Halves.

Description
"In opposition to Khan’s Dogheads, Notkin’s Soul-and-a-Halves don’t play with a “miracle” but with such simple, earthly values as dogs, birds and kittens. Large hands, covered abundantly in animal scratches. Very thin fingernails, almost cleanly bitten away. Plain and shabby clothes, with nothing to signal his status as leader. He frowns and adopts a serious manner, trying to be a grownup, but his face may brighten quite suddenly! That’s when he opens up and reaches out to a person. He can have this joyful, carefree expression when playing with his cat, Jester."

- From the game's design documents

Spoken Dialogue

 * → See Notkin/Spoken Dialogue

Description
He is blunt and short-tempered, but is easily appeased. He is good-natured at heart, and is well-aware of his social power and the consequences that could result from it.

Notkin is very fond of animals, as is a theme within his Soul-and-a-Halves. Notkin owns a large grey cat named "Artist".

Background
Once a close friend of Kaspar "Khan" Kain, the two boys eventually had a falling out, and Notkin was ousted from the Polyhedron. In retaliation, Notkin assembled his own group of homeless children, and took up residence in the southern section of the Warehouses. There is a dangerous rivalry between his gang and Khan's, and prior to the Second Outbreak each side was preparing for an open war.

Notkin has a badly sprained foot and suffers from limited movement. Despite his immobility, his Soul-and-a-Halves scour the city, acting in his command.

Soul-and-a-Halves
In Steppe lore, a "Dualsoul" is the name for an evil spirit which houses two souls inside one body. Notkin referenced this creature when creating his gang: the "half-soul" refers to an animal companion living with a member of the gang. They raise and protect a chosen animal in their youth—but when both are grown, the roles are reversed and the animal instead protects the owner.

Most of the gang's "half-souls" are dogs, though there have been some exotic examples: wolves, ferrets, crows, etc. Fifteen years prior to the outbreak, they also used beetles due to their wise appearance.

Future
"My path was called 'Soul-and-a-Halves'. I wanted to create a tight brotherhood of children and animals."

- Day 12 Following the "Termite Ending", Capella states that Notkin will become one of the rulers of the town, managing the relations with the Steppe and railway. There must be constant communication with the world beyond the Town.

His associated color will become "gold."

Portrait Quotes
"Notkin used to be Khan's best friend. I don't know what their quarrel was about, but most likely it was about Notkin not wanting to dance to his whistle. For what it's worth, they also say that he was banished from the Polyhedron by the Mother Superior—before she returned to the orphaned Termitary."

- Capella's take on him "After Mother left, we invited him back, but he, in his pride, refused. Instead he chose to dig a lair by the Warehouses and play the "Soul-and-a-Halves". A dangerous game, seeing how Grief isn't afraid of father in the slightest. Notkin took a risk, but that drew other misfits to him. And that's how they started their slummy society."

- Khan's take on him

Spoken Dialogue

 * → See Notkin/Spoken Dialogue