Simon Kain

Simon Kain was the eldest of the Kain family. He was claimed to be immortal, though, oddly, was much older than his "twin", Georgiy Kain. He was often considered the true ruler of the Town, superseding the split power between The Ruling Families.

Background
It is thanks to Simon that the Kains studied and practiced their magical arts without incurring the wrath of the people or provoking idle curiosity. Simon's strength of character and personal aura acted almost hypnotically on anyone who dealt with the Kains.

An authoritative politician and a prominent figure in business circles, Simon was a natural mediator between the family affairs of the Kains and the Town. His name served as a guarantee to society of due respect and trust in the Kains. Simon was a representative of the Kains in the construction of the Polyhedron: on behalf of his family he oversaw the development of the architectural ensemble. Simon's death was not only a terrible blow to Georgiy, it also carried great symbolic meaning, as his name had been the banner of a new city and a new order.

The children of the town adored him, calling him Grandpa Simon, and often played with him with games he invented. He was close with Isidor Burakh, as both men represented the opposing sides of the townspeoples' beliefs: mysticism of philosophy and the soul, and spirituality involving the Earth and the body. They were regarded as rivals among others, but they held each other in esteem as each other's natural opposing force.

Magic
Simon himself wrote:

"Magic&mdash;if you prefer to use this term&mdash;has nothing to do with those conceptions of it which are widely disseminated. The magic of which you accused me is a heavy, bulky, long-lasting art that requires the simultaneous involvement of dozens of difficult-to-organize factors, devoid of any kind of spectacular effects!

Yes, I regret to admit that among these factors is often the energy of human will and the predetermination of human destiny. To produce a magical construct sometimes requires tens or even hundreds of people. They must be close at hand, and they must be predictable. To take their life line, read them, learn to make a match: that's an art that you call magic. But it works. It is not as represented by children, dreamers and visionaries, but it works. Get ahold of them, and you get a palette with colors that will allow one to draw truly fabulous things, and not in your imagination, but in reality, my friend. This is proven and has been documented.

[...]

The same distinguished author, B., defined magic as an invisible combination of causes, leading to moderately predictable consequences. It doesn't have the slightest thing to do with fireballs, pink lightning, crystal balls or cauldrons of frog legs. Repeat similar nonsense one more and I'll be forced to admit that I am disgusted by your society.

I hate being called a magician or sorcerer; I do not like when the activity in which I am engaged is called magic."

Many in Town continue to hold Simon in regard as some force of superior power; either as a leader or a representation of ability. Simon's "magic" is rooted in the belief of a living Soul, transforming humanity into a living concept. His philosophies are shared among his family, especially with the powers of Nina Kaina — though a woman from the Capital, Nina displayed tremendous control and influence among the townsfolk, including the truth of her visions and tremendous nature.

The concepts of Simon's magic can be seen in the beliefs of the Kin, though it is portrayed as two halves of the same truth, where neither side 'took' anything from the other, but came to become one's truth through belief. The most obvious example of his ability is through his immortality, which is ultimately the cause of the Soul living through memory and a physical vessel to carry the Soul between vessels. According to the Kains, Simon is not simply reincarnated through a physical birth, but by taking the body of another.

The true nature of Simon is intentionally shrouded in mystery. Though the Bachelor Route involves the reincarnation of Simon (and Nina), and the story treats Simon as a living person who once existed, it also treats him as a metaphorical concept. "Was Simon real?" is a question the player is encouraged to ask while experiencing each route’s story.

Death
On his last day alive, he met with Isidor Burakh, perhaps to discuss the impending arrival of famed scientist Daniil Dankovsky. Afterwards, he informed his family to fast for a week, which Victor Kain suggests was done as his brother, knowing he would die, "wanted to be mourned beforehand--as [was] the custom with the local people". He was found dead the next day, body twisted and mangled.

Several people in the town suggest Simon's sudden death was an inevitable result of his unnatural longevity, or divine punishment for seeking to unite the disparate factions of the town. However, Georgiy Kain remains convinced that he was murdered.

Bachelor Route
The Bachelor is invited to the Town by the invitation of Simon, but is informed upon his arrival to the Crucible that Simon passed the night before. While the Kain family is in mourning, both Georgiy and Victor ask the Bachelor to investigate the death of Simon. This soon involves the Bachelor discovering Isidor Burakh was murdered not long after speaking with Simon, and discovers an impending outbreak of the Sand Plague.

Pathologic 2
When the Haruspex visits the Kain family to receive the deed to his father's house, Victor Kain informs him that the family is in mourning, as they too have lost someone recently.

As the Kains do not play a central role in the Haruspex Route, little is revealed about Simon; the Haruspex only has memories of him from childhood and recalls that his father was very close with the man. When Alexander Saburov claims to have found the culprit responsible for Isidor's death, the suspect, a Kinsman, says that he saw Simon and Isidor burying something in the Steppe several days before their deaths and that he reported it to Overseer Tycheek.

Should Georgiy survive through the Diurnal Ending, he will explain to the Haruspex that the Kains plan on building a new Town across the river, in order to further practise their own beliefs. He asks, almost in mourning, why he can still hear his twin brother, if he is meant to be two weeks dead.

Quotes
""He created a city in which it was possible to work wonders.''

He created an art that allows you to convert dreams into reality, surpassing the dream itself.

He has shown by example that people are capable of creation.

He created a society that nurtured two generations of people who und this simplicity.

He learned how to live forever.

He was ahead of his time in many ways.

He used not one-hundredth or even one-twentieth of his intellect--of whom else can one say that?

He pushed the limits of the possible wider than any other historical figure of whom that is said.

He's one of those people who you'll read about, say, in a thousand and five years: Now, look at him! Here is a man who stepped through humanity itself.""

- [Leo. CL]