Mark Immortell

Pathologic 2=

Mark Immortell is the director of the Municipal Theatre.

Description
"He has no past: he is the Theatre incarnate, its spirit materialized in a carbon-based avatar. No one in the town knows where he came from; perhaps he just sprang into existence in the Theatre the same way you get mice where there are pantries. Even if he did actually disembark from some train, valise in hand, nobody saw it happen. He has no private life. If he’s suddenly found sipping tea in his apartment, it must be a set scene and he’s just waiting for one of the characters to turn up. Should he fall ill, it will probably be a trick as well. No one’s definitely going to see him dead. Mark is a harlequin, but he only plays the part with his face. There’s no need to dress him in motley."

- From the game's design documents

A cryptic and philosophical force, Mark Immortell owns the Theatre in the center of town. The Theatre provides the costumes the Executor wear as protective gear in infected districts. At night, the Theatre also performs pantomimes and productions, though the surrealism of these productions leaves one questioning what plane of existence they may be on. Immortell appears capable of metaphysical powers, placing limitations on the player as punishment for failure as with every death, the player will find their survival meters (health, hunger, immunity) limited, regardless if they "redo their work" (reloading save points).

Background
It is unclear exactly where Mark Immortell came from. His history is that of the Theatre's. In a conversation with him, it is revealed the work of the theatre has been limited recently, but the "coming events" will change that.

Haruspex Route
"I had several paths and liked none. One had me as a beast-man; another as a hunchback; the third... as the indentured servant of some outside force."

Upon the start of the game, Mark is presented as both a character in the story as well as an observant outside force that can directly manipulate the events that the player experiences. He appears to the player as a judge, presenting them with the opportunity to understand the philosophy of death: in alignment with the Utopian form of thinking, one may be able to transcend their existences limitations upon 'solving' death, much like crossing a river. He is further observed during "death sequences", where upon the player's death through regular gameplay (such as starvation, dehydration, exhaustion, or disease), he converses with them and discuss the events leading up to their death. It is up to the player in dialogue options if they are the chosen character or a force controlling them, like an actor.

During the events of Pathologic 2 Mark Immortell can be visited in the Theatre prior to the outbreak, where he will have a discussion with the Haruspex regarding the purpose of the coming events. After the Plague begins to infect the town, his Theatre is turned into a hospital.Following the arrival of the Inquisitor he is seen standing outside the Cathedral, potentially alongside Yulia Lyuricheva and the Stamatin brothers, waiting to be interrogated by the Inquisitor. He seems to imply that the Inquisitor is herself also an actor in his performance, and urges the Haruspex to improvise. Mark is only ever otherwise seen in game during sequences involving the player's death.

Mark is in all endings, residing in his usual place in the Theatre. If the player has chosen to take the Fellow Traveller's deal prior to the ending of the play Mark will become enraged, furious that the Haruspex - and the player - would do something so foolish. If the player has not taken the Traveller's deal and has instead chosen another ending (and was not late) he will speak to the Haruspex concerning the ending of their performance. He will speak through the Haruspex to the player, asking how many people were truly here playing the Haruspex. The player can then choose to remove the mask, or free the Haruspex from the actor and let him back into the Town, or take over his place in the Theatre.

The Marble Nest
"A new pantomime is being rehearsed at the Theatre."

- Bachelor's Pathologic: The Marble Nest map hover

During the events of Pathologic: The Marble Nest, Mark Immortell is in his Theatre in the condemned part of Town. He is alive, but in danger.

Spoken Dialogue

 * → See Mark Immortell/Spoken Dialogue

Background
Once Mark was a great circus performer, and possibly a co-owner of the circus. Later, due to a spinal injury (apparently connected with circus work) he had to stop performing and focus on the management of the affairs of the troupe. Over time, he gathered a separate small troupe, consisting of the disabled, within which he probably played himself. However, shortly after this company started to generate income, Mark again injured his spine and was left for dead.

Mark was lucky enough to survive. The place where he had been betrayed turned out to be the Town-on-Gorkhon (it is noteworthy that, apparently, this is where Mark's disabled troupe was finally appreciated by the public). Isidor Burakh managed to save him; however, Mark does not know to whom he owes his life. Since then he has been charge of the city theater. However, he makes most of his money through card tricks.

Character Concept
"Appearance: Athletically built midget, a former circus performer. He has a proud posture which is the result of the spinal injury which led to his retirement from circus. A huge scar cuts across his chest, reaching his left scapula. He has a striking Roman nose with the tip facing downwards. Usually there’s a haughty smile on his face. A dandy. Mark holds himself with grace and dresses sharply. He carries a heavy walking cane. Pose: Striding with pride. Personality: This man used to be one of the best circus performers, but as the result of his severe injury he had to withdraw from the circus. Accompanied by a partner, he later was in charge of a troop and conceived a plan of creating a grandiose show. Mark started gathering a unique troop made from former cripples who through the sheer force of will continued to train and amaze the audience by showing them the impossible. Following the success of the “Freak Show”, Mark’s partner betrayed him and injured his spine once more. He left Mark to die by the hedge and took the troop with himself. The old Burakh helped Immortell recover, but Mark isn’t aware of it. In the town Mark profits from different things: he teaches people the art of conjuring and gambling."

- From original Pathologic character concepts 

Portrait Quotes
"I think it's the Masks who play him and not the other way around. This Theatre generally gives me a dark vibe... I can't really put it into words. It's not a theatre, but rather a well pretending to be one. It's intimidating. Also, Mark's mime shows seem to incorporate us too... everyone's playing along to avoid disrupting the performance, and that's exactly how he's manipulating us."

- Lara Ravel's take on him

"He makes me anxious; his performances don't show a person's fate, they impose it. I'd really like to see someone grab and pull the puppeteer's strings. Or maybe we ought to loop the whole thing, offering the strings to the people at the very bottom? That would be funny... All in all, one day I shall tame this crafty imp—no matter what it takes."

- Maria Kaina's take on him

Spoken Dialogue

 * → See Mark Immortell/Spoken Dialogue