Polyhedron

The Polyhedron (Многогранник) is a joint project of the Stamatin architects and the Kain family. It is said to be a miracle—that it breaks the established laws of the Earth and physics.

Description
"A materialized miracle, a work of art, our game’s MacGuffin. It can include “urban decay” elements, but these should leave it open to interpretation whether it is, in fact, shabbiness—or the structure is still growing. It’s often compared to a rose. The Polyhedron is made of paper—it was built out of its own blueprints, as well as outlines and sketches of our game’s universe. Implying that a miracle can only be built out of its own idea. At night, the Polyhedron glows from the inside. The color of this glow may vary—from a cozy, “lampshadey” tone to a disquieting scarlet."

- [from the game’s design documents]

It is located in the western part of the town on the other side of the Gorkhon river. It looks like a hornet's nest impaled on a pin. With one glance at the Polyhedron, it's obvious that it overcomes the laws of gravity. The Polyhedron is the embodiment of a miracle overcoming the inevitable. The Utopians believe it such a valuable and unique creation that they are ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of its preservation. It lies on the opposite side of the town as the Abattoir and can be considered the antithesis of the ancient structure.

It is said that the Polyhedron can make dreams a reality; it can take the unique feelings of childhood and allow people to relive them. Others, however, say it is capable of holding a soul.

Creation
The Polyhedron was commissioned by the Kain family, designed by Peter Stamatin, and built by Andrey Stamatin. It described as a building of mirrors and reflected light, allowed to stand upright with a giant steel-woven "stem" buried deep into the earth; the spring is five-and-a-half meters in diameter and more than 300 meters long. To secure the pin in the ground, they had to mobilize the Kin at the command of Big Vlad.

The land was punctured more deeply than ever before, and even the creator of the tower called it a violent crime against nature. Rumors say that pools of blood sometimes well up near the base of the Polyhedron, though no one can find a reason.

The Republic of Children
It is said that Simon Kain built the Polyhedron for himself, but, until it is needed, allows the children to play there. The Polyhedron houses about 700 children and still has enough space to let more people inside.

Children see the Polyhedron as a glass tower, but for adults it appears more like paper—because they are not able to understand its secrets. Only children can view the "miracles" of the tower. Children can visit the “facets”, which transport them to a notional dimension that allows them to “maintain their dream” or their “game” — their fictional universe.

Khan considers the Polyhedron the gift of his mother, Nina Kaina, and his own possession. Children under his leadership call themselves Dogheads. Throughout the first outbreak of the Sand Plague, there was not a single case of infection inside the Polyhedron. Khan strictly observes the quarantine measures. According to Capella, there is a device in the Polyhedron which prevents its from letting in any external evil—only hold the evil that it carries in itself.

Capella also says, in accordance with the philosophy of the Termites, there is a price to the miracle of the Polyhedron. The wisest children left the Polyhedron—Notkin and Taya Tycheek among them. Naturally, those who remained inside did not share this view.

Children entering the Polyhedron are forbidden from bringing nuts with them, as they seem to cause dissonant resonating within the structure.

Pathologic 2
"The tower of children. Defies the laws of physics."

- Haruspex's map hover

The Polyhedron is inaccessible to the Haruspex until Day 8 after two children at the Train Station inform him that the structure is open for him to climb. There is very little to be seen on the structure but once he climbs it the Haruspex notes that the world is rather beautiful.

On Day 9 the children on Isidor Burakh's list retreat to the Polyhedron as it is currently the only place in the Town free of infection. Khan, should he be alive, will bar the Haruspex from entering, claiming that he cannot risk the infection the Haruspex might bring inside. If Khan has since perished Capella will stand in his place.

Destroying the Polyhedron on Day 11 will lead to the Diurnal Ending.

Pathologic: The Marble Nest
"There is no death."

- Bachelor's Pathologic: The Marble Nest map hover

The Polyhedron cannot be accessed in The Marble Nest: the bridge is barricaded and two soldiers stand guard. If spoken to the soldiers say there are several hundred children inside.

Interestingly, when hovering over the Polyhedron on the map, it is named "the Focus" rather than "the Polyhedron".

Gallery
Pathologic 2=