Vlad the Younger

Pathologic 2=

Vlad Olgimsky Jr, also known as Vlad the Younger, is the oldest child and heir to the Olgimsky family.

Description
"A failed reformer and “luckless weaver”. His life’s goal is an attempt to turn the Kin into the Town. In other words, he’s similar to those naïve landowners who sought to “enlighten” the peasants, teaching them French and the use of handkerchiefs. Vlad the Younger’s role in the plot is a middleman. His general manner is nervous, apprehensive and suspicious—but not cowardly, twitchy or paranoid. He’s clever, he’s the heir to the ruling family, and his selfcontrol is quite good."

- From the game's design documents

Vlad the Younger is a cautious man, keeping his business close to his chest. He is generally polite, preferring to look and sound the part of a perfect businessman. To him, his duty and his business comes before anything else. He believes that respect and dignity are the most efficient ways to control a workforce. Many of the Townsfolk see him as pleasant, though incompetent. He shows a deep interest in the lore and customs of the Kin.

Background
Vlad the Younger has a strained relationship with his family. He dislikes his father and is cited as one of the few people who did not love his mother. He has been moulded by his father into an heir to continue their families capital, to uphold the reputation and income of the Bull Enterprise. He disagrees with his fathers rule and with many of his methods, causing tension in their relationship. Some time before the beginning of Pathologic 2 Vlad the Younger was put in charge of The Town's water distribution.

Haruspex Route
"My path was called "The Blood of the Earth."' Well, I found out what comes from where… and the conclusions are obvious."

Vlad the Younger can be first met by the Haruspex on Day 2 in the Broken Heart. Talking to him reveals he envies the Haruspex for having Isidor for a father, and that he wishes he did not have the obligations his family (namely, his father) imposes on him. If the Haruspex has already been to Isidor Burakh's House and found the Note, he'll reveal he was the one to allow Isidor access to the old factory building, and ask that he not talk about it to Big Vlad.

Vlad the Younger employs a number of his workers to build a well in a Vacant House, curious to defy the taboo of digging within the Town. He becomes paranoid about what he may find beneath the soil, apprehensive of the Town's fears.

Prior to the outbreak Vlad the Younger locked up the Termitary, trapping the workers inside as he feared the wrath of an upcoming strike. Following the Sand Plague outbreak, however, unbeknownst to him, the Sand Plague has already infected the Termitary, killing most of the Kin inside. Following the arrival of the Inquisitor the Termitary is unlocked, revealing the fate of the Termitary to the Town. Upon finding this out Vlad the Younger goes gladly to the Termitary for judgement and, if he is not stopped by either Big Vlad or the Haruspex, will die.

In the Diurnal Ending Vlad the Younger can be found in the Cape, standing with Big Vlad by the statue of his mother Victoria Olgimskaya. He will reveal to the Haruspex that he plans to rework the Bull Enterprise by implementing eight-hour workday, forbidding child labour, giving his workers insurance, allowing for benefits for disabled workers, and increasing their pay.

In the Nocturnal Ending Vlad the Younger flees the Town with a number of the Utopians and Humbles.

Pathologic: The Marble Nest
"Olgimsky's heir works so much for the Committee that I barely see him."

Vlad the Younger is stated to still be alive but in danger in The Marble Nest, and works for the Committee.

Spoken Dialogue

 * → See Vlad the Younger/Spoken Dialogue

Description
"Appearance: He is not as big as his father, but he did inherit some robustness. Of average height, has a stocky build. A calm, resolute, inscrutable face. Large, heavy hands. Expressionless eyes. A large forehead. Vlad cuts his hair very short. Talks softly and insinuatingly. Pose: Standing with his hands folded at his waist, head tilted slightly to the side. Personality: Vlad's personality is a paradox. He loves money and measures everything by it, but at the same time, he is not a tightwad. He gambles, but always with an allotted amount of money. He doesn't dig himself into a hole. In his world view, money has remained true to its pure intent - an abstract system of putting a value to that which is dealt with on a daily basis. Vlad is one of the most willful characters in the game. He has phenomenal self-control. He has a very serious approach towards his responsibilities. He always keeps his word. If he decided to do something, he sees it through the end. Vlad is reliable. He is cynical, but very charming. He has a good sense of humor, though it’s tainted with cynicism. He often attracts the attention of women, and society generally views him as a pleasant fellow. He is very business-like."

- From original Pathologic character concepts 

Despite being set to inherit his family's power, the younger Olgimsky and his father, Big Vlad, have a very strained relationship. He is quite estranged from his sister, too, but both siblings still love each other.

The cause of this tension is his relations with the Steppe people: Vlad the Younger studies the local culture and language, treating them respectfully (for example, local Worms regularly visit his home). Big Vlad believes that treating the "half-animal" workers politely will result in a loss of power and control, which is dangerous for a potential heir. Despite his father's hostility, he does not reciprocate the negative feelings.

Though he is more humane than his father, he is capable of pragmatic cruelty if he feels it necessary.

Vlad Jr. shows a deep interest in the lore and customs of the local Steppe, and lives in the site of an ongoing archaeological dig.

Background
Vlad the Younger was born far away from the Town, in a place somewhere in the eastern region. Years later he along with his mother moved to the Town, where they resided in the Lump.

Learning about the outbreak of the Sand Plague, and believing it might have originated from the Termitary, Vlad the Younger attempted to convince his father to lock it up to prevent the outbreak from spreading. However, Big Vlad didn't believe there was an outbreak and refused to do so. Vlad the Younger then decided to take matters into his own hands, and fueled a riot inside the Termitary, resulting in a formal lock up that is implemented at times of unrest. This decision caused the death of many workers, who died of hunger or fell victims of cannibalism. The surviving workers disposed of the bodies by throwing them out the windows and into the river. Eventually, the Termitary is unlocked by order of the Inquisitor.

When Big Vlad learned of his son's scheming, he went into a rage, but in the event of having to give any explanation, he attributes the whole affair to himself.

Portrait Quotes
"Why does nobody notice how hardworking he is? He works all the time. Everything he does, he does for the family, even if his father won't admit it. Yes, he chose to study the Kin instead of the intricacies of economy—and he already knows it way better than his father. He'll grow to be a better manager and a better ruler that would make do without a whip, violence, abuse, victims, and riots..."

- Lara Ravel's take on him "A high-stepper. Instead of settling down and helping me manage the industry, he'd rather dabble in the local fairy tales. This loafer's most refined skill is wasting my money. He's rather quick-witted when it comes to business, I'll grant him that; all the more shame on him for casting everything on his father. And to think he took after me."

- Big Vlad's take on him

Spoken Dialogue

 * → See Vlad the Younger/Spoken Dialogue