Artemiy Burakh (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
drewtheline) wrote2013-04-17 04:30 am
drewtheline) wrote2013-04-17 04:30 am
Steppe Lore and Culture
The cult related to Bos Turokh and bulls, lead by the Order:
Bos Turokh: A bull deity, also known as "The Bull of the World". He is similar to Boddho in that he comprises the universe and is what everything is made of. There is some conflicting beliefs about whether Bos Turokh or Boddho is the creator of the universe, but even those who believe in Bos Turokh are still considered Children of Boddho and worship the Earth as sacred.
Bos Primigenius: The physical embodiment of Bos Turokh, a half-human and half-bull man. His corpse was desecrated by Elder Oyun in an attempt to offer Boddho a sacrifice, but Oyun screwed it up and now believes himself responsible for the progression of the Sand Plague.
Suok: Suok is the source of all evil and darkness, a black void that Bos Turokh drove back with his creation of the universe. Suok is not a person but a thing, and the Steppe people use the Circle of Suok to sacrifice blood to it to keep it at bay. Evil things are believed to be spawn of Suok.
The Order: The Order is the organization that is most directly tied to the lore of Bos Turokh. They consider bulls to be sacred, and are responsible for breeding, herding, and slaughtering these bulls. They are also involved with harvesting herbs and creating potent medicines from these herbs. The Order can be considered a representation of the working class, and consists of the Menkhu, the Worms, the Butchers, and a few ordinary people. The Order is lead by an Elder (it is initially Elder Oyun the half-bull man, but Artemiy becomes the new Elder by the end of the game either because Oyun surrenders the title or because Artemiy kills him). The Olgimsky family is closely tied to the Order.
Menkhu: "Those who know the lines." The lines can simultaneously be considered the lines to cut in order to properly dissect a body, as well as the sacred lines involved in fate and destiny. The Menkhu are people who inherit the right to cut open bodies (human or otherwise, living or dead), something that is forbidden to ordinary folk, and this right is passed down through family ties. Isidor Burakh was one of the Menkhu, a very well known and renowned member who used his knowledge of cutting open bodies to study medicine and become something of a makeshift doctor. He passed on this knowlege of and right to dissect bodies to his son, Artemiy.
Worms: Creatures who are humanoid but very clearly not human, who work for the Order. They are given difficult tasks considered, on some level, sacred, which includes harvesting herbs such as twyre and making medicine from these herbs as well as herding the bulls to the Abbatoir. Many of them live in yurts out in the Steppe. A Worm is also in charge of importing and exporting goods out of the Steppe on a special train, and is not allowed to let any other beings aboard this train. Also known as Odong (plural Odonghe).
Butchers: Workers in the Abbatoir who handle the slaughter of bulls and the processing of their meat, may or may not be human. While they are allowed to handle and cut apart the bodies of bulls, they are forbidden to cut up human bodies. (Despite this, within the game, they do this at least once for the Bachelor by the request of Rubin, but they pay the consequences for this shortly afterwards when caught by the guards.)
Brides: While these women appear to be human, it's implied that they're actually just female worms. (So male worms look really freaking strange, but female worms actually appear human, despite not being human.) These brides are capable of speaking to the earth and calling up twyre to grow for their husbands to harvest. One of these brides, Vera, was adopted by a hunchback known as the Hump and works in the Stamatin's tavern as a dancer. There are a few others in town who seem to have similar jobs as strippers or prostitutes, including one or two wandering the streets and another staying in Griff's hideout.
Aurochs: Half-bull and half-human hybrids with special blood that is capable of curing the Sand Plague. Oyun happens to be one of them. While Simon Kain was human, he had the blood of an auroch, and Klara is capable of transforming very special people's blood into auroch blood.
The Project of Bulls: Every building related to the Order (and owned by Big Vlad Olgimsky), including the train station, factories, warehouses, Abbatoir, and Apiary. The Project of Bulls also refers to the meat-making industry in the Steppe in general.
Abbatoir: The slaughterhouse, where bulls are taken and slaughtered to be made into meat. It is inhabited by both Butchers and Worms alike, with several odd entrances, and is often sealed off to outsiders. Deep in the Abbatoir is where the Elder Oyun resides.
Apiary: The Apiary is where workers of the Abbatoir live, somewhat of a dormitory or doss-house. It is a very large and complex structure consisting of two blocks, Long and Short. The Apiary is run by a five-year-old girl, Taya Tychik, whom has taken on the title of Mother Superior. She inherited this role from her father before her. Despite her mostly nonhuman residents, she is entirely human although very strangely wise beyond her years.
Bos or Boos: A respectful title for an owner or master, most notably used for Big Vlad Olgimsky by the Steppe people. Obviously also used for Bos Turokh, may even be derived from Bos Turokh's name.
Oinon: A title used by the Steppe people that may or may not be related to this cult and the Order, it is similar to calling somone "Doctor". It is reserved for those who study as doctors or scientists. Daniel, Isidor, Artemiy, and Rubin are all considered to be worthy of the title oinon. (There may be others who are called this, like perhaps Simon, but I can't remember all of them.)
*Extra notes on people within this cult:
Isidor Burakh: One of the lead Menkhu and father to Artemiy Burakh, he was extremely well respected in the Steppe. His use of his right to cut open bodies was a bit unconventional, as he was dedicated to discovering medicines and healing people. He was responsible for curing the first outbreak of the Sand Plague. Fancied himself as something of a doctor, and was good friends with Simon Kain. He was murdered by Oyun before the start of the game, and his son was initally blamed for his death.
Elder Oyun: Said to be half man, half bull, and is the leader of the Order and also murderer of Isidor Burakh. Artemiy may or may not kill him in revenge in either his scenario or in Daniel's scenario (as he can not die in Klara's scenario); either way, Oyun always gives up his title of Elder to Artemiy in the end. He is one of Klara's Adherents.
Mother Superior, Taya Tychik: While she is only five years old, Taya is an extremely wise and compassionate girl and cares deeply for the residents of the Abbatoir. Still, she is only a child and considers Kapella her superior. She enjoys stories and playing with dolls. She is one of Artemiy's Adherents.
Stakh Rubin: Isidor's loyal apprentice who was very close to and trusted by his teacher; he became Isidor's student some time after Artemiy left town. He was taught how to dissect bodies and make medicine, and is a strong believer in the Order and the cult of bulls. Despite his skill and intense studies, Rubin can not make the cure for the Sand Plague on his own and requires Artemiy's help. There may be some implied jealousy involved with Isidor's undying love for Artemiy over Rubin (and Artemiy getting all of Isidor's inheritance). He is one of Klara's Adherents.
The cult related to Boddho and the Earth, lead by the Saburovs:
Boddho: A female personification of the Earth as a mother (so literally Mother Earth), who is similar to Gaia. She created all life and considers everyone of the Earth as her children. Due to this belief about the Earth, the Earth is considered sacred. Children of Boddho sacrifice blood to her to help her thrive and let twyre herbs grow.
“They say that, down there in the darkness, the blood nourishes the earth, which is actually a living being they call an udurg: 'a body that contains a world.'"
Child of Boddho: Natives of the Steppe who are part of the Order, as well as some certain strange creatures that come from The Steppe, considered literal children to Boddho. Strangely, despite the origin story of Boddho being mother to everyone, only those from the Steppe who are part of the Order (or else supernatural entities thought to come from the ground) are called Children of Boddho. Outsiders (such as the Bachelor, Inquisitor, and General) and even many general townspeople such as the Kains do not fit this description. The Saburovs and their followers may or may not be Children of Boddho, it is unclear.
Mistresses: Women from the town's ruling families who have special prophetic powers. Originally they were Nina Kain, Victoria Olgimsky, and Catherine Saburov; however, since Nina and Victoria's deaths, they have been replaced by Maria Kain and Kapella Olgimsky respectively. They are not necessarily related to the Earth, though they know much about it. Catherine Saburov especially, while the least powerful of the three Mistresses, has visions about the Earth and the faith of Humility constantly. It is later revealed, though, that these visions were mostly brought on by the Rat Prophet.
Shabnak-Adyr: A creature of the Earth made out of clay that takes on the appearance of a female and eats human beings. She was initially spotted by Isidor out in the Steppe, which is likely what prompted him to send a letter to Artemiy requesting his immediate return to the town. Shabnak-Adyr is believed to carry out the wishes of Boddho by spreading the Sand Plague and cleansing the town of the Utopians who dared defy the Earth. Eventually it is revealed that Klara was supposed to be Shabank-Adyr, but denied this destiny and chose the path of a hero instead, causing her to somehow split into two people. Her other half became the one she called an evil twin, and this is how Klara received the title of Thief and Impostress, for stealing the destiny of a hero when it was not hers to take. Klara must chase Shabank-Adyr away from several areas in town several times in the game; if she fails to, her twin will infect those districts.
Albino: A very odd looking creature made out of clay that resembles something like an African tribal sculpture. The Albino calls himself Klara's brother, as he was also created by Boddho with the same intents and purposes as Shabnak-Adyr. While Shabnak-Adyr spreads the plague, the Albino is the physical manifestation of the Sand Plague. They spread it together, in tandem, and Klara must also chase him out of certain areas in town.
Rat Prophet: A strange creature of the Earth who lives under the Theater, he has the body of a man but the head of a rat. While he is prophetic, this does not always mean that he is honest, and is in fact known to spread lies. Like Shabnak-Adyr and the Albino, he is also tasked with carrying out the wishes of Boddho, primarily by visiting Catherine Saburov in her dreams and influencing her prophecies. (Embodiment of Catherine's fears?)
Sand Plague/Sand Dirt/Sand Filth: A mysterious bacterial plague that came from the Earth. There are several theories as to its origins, but members of the cult believes it was sent as a punishment to cleanse the town due to the Utopians and their tower. The plague can only survive in living tissue, and quickly dies out once the person it has infected has died. It is only contagious in its second stage, though it is still harmful to the body in its first stage regardless. The Sand Plague is embodied within the Albino and spread by Shabnak-Adyr. It can be prevented with proper protective gear and immunity boosting vaccines and medicines. It can be controlled but not eradicated by strong antibiotics. It is cured by both Powders and the mysterious Panacea.
The Law: Mentioned several times throughout the game in each playthrough, especially Klara's, the Law is described as being something akin to the laws of nature. Trying to overcome human limitations and create perfection is seen as breaking the Law, and supposedly the Utopians are being punished via the Sand Plague for breaking this Law. Because of Klara's relationship with the earth, and how she was born, she is considered above the Law.
*Extra notes on people within this cult:
Catherine Saburov: She is the most prominent leader and believer of Boddho, and does not tend to believe in Bos Turokh. Around the start of the game, Catherine had been having many dreams and prophecies (influenced by the Rat Prophet) telling her that the Earth is mad at the Utopians and that the only way to save the town from the Sand Plague is for the people of the town to repent to the faith of Humility. Eventually, Catherine discovers that these prophecies weren't entirely true, and that they were meant to influence her hatred of Utopian ideas. She is one of Klara's Adherents, and considers Klara a daughter and the one who will inherit her title of Mistress.
Factions in the town:
The Humble/The Faith of Humility: Represented by Klara and the Saburovs, these people revere the Earth as the origin of everything. Much of the poor and impoverished people, as well as ironically criminals like thieves and robbers, are part of this faction. Klara's Adherents mostly lie within this faction, and her Adherents are all those who wish to repent for sins and failures and sacrifice their lives for the sake of others.
The Termites/The Faith of Formation: Represented by Artemiy Burakh and the Olgimskys, these people value the town above all else and hold extremely conservative values. They consist of the Order and the general working class, as well as the children in town. Artemiy's Adherents are in this faction, all children who will inherit the town and rebuild it in its former glory and get rid of the tower.
It's worth noting that while Artemiy's Adherents are called "Termites", this isn't a reference to the insect. Rather, it's a historical reference to Terman, creator of the IQ test, and a group of children he'd tested to have an average IQ of over 150, which he referred to as "Termites".
The Utopians/The Faith of Utopia: Represented by Daniel Dankovsky and the Kains, these people work for progress and shoot for the unreachable goal of human perfection and immortality. Much of the higher class is in this faction, and they all revere the Polyhedron as the miracle that they stand for, something completely invaluable. In order to save the Polyhedron and get rid of the Sand Plague, the Utopians wish to destroy the town and rebuild it on the opposite side of the Gorkhon River. All of Daniel's Adherents are in this faction and believe in perfecting humanity.
Miscellaneous Rules and Culture of the Steppe:
Regarding the Earth: Because the Earth is considered to be sacred, digging deep down into the Earth is forbidden and considered a punishable offense. That is why wells are not allowed in the town, and why Vlad Olgimsky does his best to hide the excavating he'd been doing in his home. The nature of the Polyhedron also defies the Earth, as the structure stands only because its foundation was dug very, very deep into the Earth to help it stand, which is one of the reasons why Boddho is so angry about it. In Daniel's playthrough, he believes that the Polyhedron's structure released the hidden pathogen underground, while in Artemiy's playthrough it is believed that the Polyhedron's structure is contaminating the blood sacrifices to the Earth.
Regarding the cutting of bodies: Like the Earth, bodies of creatures, especially humans, are considered sacred, and therefore it is forbidden to cut open bodies except by qualified Menkhu. Cutting open bodies is an even worse offense than digging into the ground, punishable by death, which is why the Bachelor must request help when he needs tissue samples. Even though the Menkhu are allowed to cut open bodies, often they are still looked down upon for it; Artemiy even gains the awful nickname The Ripper because of his occupation as a surgeon.
A dictionary of general names and terms within Pathologic, translated from Russian into English: http://ice-pick.com/translate/glossary.html
Bos Turokh: A bull deity, also known as "The Bull of the World". He is similar to Boddho in that he comprises the universe and is what everything is made of. There is some conflicting beliefs about whether Bos Turokh or Boddho is the creator of the universe, but even those who believe in Bos Turokh are still considered Children of Boddho and worship the Earth as sacred.
Bos Primigenius: The physical embodiment of Bos Turokh, a half-human and half-bull man. His corpse was desecrated by Elder Oyun in an attempt to offer Boddho a sacrifice, but Oyun screwed it up and now believes himself responsible for the progression of the Sand Plague.
Suok: Suok is the source of all evil and darkness, a black void that Bos Turokh drove back with his creation of the universe. Suok is not a person but a thing, and the Steppe people use the Circle of Suok to sacrifice blood to it to keep it at bay. Evil things are believed to be spawn of Suok.
The Order: The Order is the organization that is most directly tied to the lore of Bos Turokh. They consider bulls to be sacred, and are responsible for breeding, herding, and slaughtering these bulls. They are also involved with harvesting herbs and creating potent medicines from these herbs. The Order can be considered a representation of the working class, and consists of the Menkhu, the Worms, the Butchers, and a few ordinary people. The Order is lead by an Elder (it is initially Elder Oyun the half-bull man, but Artemiy becomes the new Elder by the end of the game either because Oyun surrenders the title or because Artemiy kills him). The Olgimsky family is closely tied to the Order.
Menkhu: "Those who know the lines." The lines can simultaneously be considered the lines to cut in order to properly dissect a body, as well as the sacred lines involved in fate and destiny. The Menkhu are people who inherit the right to cut open bodies (human or otherwise, living or dead), something that is forbidden to ordinary folk, and this right is passed down through family ties. Isidor Burakh was one of the Menkhu, a very well known and renowned member who used his knowledge of cutting open bodies to study medicine and become something of a makeshift doctor. He passed on this knowlege of and right to dissect bodies to his son, Artemiy.
Worms: Creatures who are humanoid but very clearly not human, who work for the Order. They are given difficult tasks considered, on some level, sacred, which includes harvesting herbs such as twyre and making medicine from these herbs as well as herding the bulls to the Abbatoir. Many of them live in yurts out in the Steppe. A Worm is also in charge of importing and exporting goods out of the Steppe on a special train, and is not allowed to let any other beings aboard this train. Also known as Odong (plural Odonghe).
Butchers: Workers in the Abbatoir who handle the slaughter of bulls and the processing of their meat, may or may not be human. While they are allowed to handle and cut apart the bodies of bulls, they are forbidden to cut up human bodies. (Despite this, within the game, they do this at least once for the Bachelor by the request of Rubin, but they pay the consequences for this shortly afterwards when caught by the guards.)
Brides: While these women appear to be human, it's implied that they're actually just female worms. (So male worms look really freaking strange, but female worms actually appear human, despite not being human.) These brides are capable of speaking to the earth and calling up twyre to grow for their husbands to harvest. One of these brides, Vera, was adopted by a hunchback known as the Hump and works in the Stamatin's tavern as a dancer. There are a few others in town who seem to have similar jobs as strippers or prostitutes, including one or two wandering the streets and another staying in Griff's hideout.
Aurochs: Half-bull and half-human hybrids with special blood that is capable of curing the Sand Plague. Oyun happens to be one of them. While Simon Kain was human, he had the blood of an auroch, and Klara is capable of transforming very special people's blood into auroch blood.
The Project of Bulls: Every building related to the Order (and owned by Big Vlad Olgimsky), including the train station, factories, warehouses, Abbatoir, and Apiary. The Project of Bulls also refers to the meat-making industry in the Steppe in general.
Abbatoir: The slaughterhouse, where bulls are taken and slaughtered to be made into meat. It is inhabited by both Butchers and Worms alike, with several odd entrances, and is often sealed off to outsiders. Deep in the Abbatoir is where the Elder Oyun resides.
Apiary: The Apiary is where workers of the Abbatoir live, somewhat of a dormitory or doss-house. It is a very large and complex structure consisting of two blocks, Long and Short. The Apiary is run by a five-year-old girl, Taya Tychik, whom has taken on the title of Mother Superior. She inherited this role from her father before her. Despite her mostly nonhuman residents, she is entirely human although very strangely wise beyond her years.
Bos or Boos: A respectful title for an owner or master, most notably used for Big Vlad Olgimsky by the Steppe people. Obviously also used for Bos Turokh, may even be derived from Bos Turokh's name.
Oinon: A title used by the Steppe people that may or may not be related to this cult and the Order, it is similar to calling somone "Doctor". It is reserved for those who study as doctors or scientists. Daniel, Isidor, Artemiy, and Rubin are all considered to be worthy of the title oinon. (There may be others who are called this, like perhaps Simon, but I can't remember all of them.)
*Extra notes on people within this cult:
Isidor Burakh: One of the lead Menkhu and father to Artemiy Burakh, he was extremely well respected in the Steppe. His use of his right to cut open bodies was a bit unconventional, as he was dedicated to discovering medicines and healing people. He was responsible for curing the first outbreak of the Sand Plague. Fancied himself as something of a doctor, and was good friends with Simon Kain. He was murdered by Oyun before the start of the game, and his son was initally blamed for his death.
Elder Oyun: Said to be half man, half bull, and is the leader of the Order and also murderer of Isidor Burakh. Artemiy may or may not kill him in revenge in either his scenario or in Daniel's scenario (as he can not die in Klara's scenario); either way, Oyun always gives up his title of Elder to Artemiy in the end. He is one of Klara's Adherents.
Mother Superior, Taya Tychik: While she is only five years old, Taya is an extremely wise and compassionate girl and cares deeply for the residents of the Abbatoir. Still, she is only a child and considers Kapella her superior. She enjoys stories and playing with dolls. She is one of Artemiy's Adherents.
Stakh Rubin: Isidor's loyal apprentice who was very close to and trusted by his teacher; he became Isidor's student some time after Artemiy left town. He was taught how to dissect bodies and make medicine, and is a strong believer in the Order and the cult of bulls. Despite his skill and intense studies, Rubin can not make the cure for the Sand Plague on his own and requires Artemiy's help. There may be some implied jealousy involved with Isidor's undying love for Artemiy over Rubin (and Artemiy getting all of Isidor's inheritance). He is one of Klara's Adherents.
The cult related to Boddho and the Earth, lead by the Saburovs:
Boddho: A female personification of the Earth as a mother (so literally Mother Earth), who is similar to Gaia. She created all life and considers everyone of the Earth as her children. Due to this belief about the Earth, the Earth is considered sacred. Children of Boddho sacrifice blood to her to help her thrive and let twyre herbs grow.
“They say that, down there in the darkness, the blood nourishes the earth, which is actually a living being they call an udurg: 'a body that contains a world.'"
Child of Boddho: Natives of the Steppe who are part of the Order, as well as some certain strange creatures that come from The Steppe, considered literal children to Boddho. Strangely, despite the origin story of Boddho being mother to everyone, only those from the Steppe who are part of the Order (or else supernatural entities thought to come from the ground) are called Children of Boddho. Outsiders (such as the Bachelor, Inquisitor, and General) and even many general townspeople such as the Kains do not fit this description. The Saburovs and their followers may or may not be Children of Boddho, it is unclear.
Mistresses: Women from the town's ruling families who have special prophetic powers. Originally they were Nina Kain, Victoria Olgimsky, and Catherine Saburov; however, since Nina and Victoria's deaths, they have been replaced by Maria Kain and Kapella Olgimsky respectively. They are not necessarily related to the Earth, though they know much about it. Catherine Saburov especially, while the least powerful of the three Mistresses, has visions about the Earth and the faith of Humility constantly. It is later revealed, though, that these visions were mostly brought on by the Rat Prophet.
Shabnak-Adyr: A creature of the Earth made out of clay that takes on the appearance of a female and eats human beings. She was initially spotted by Isidor out in the Steppe, which is likely what prompted him to send a letter to Artemiy requesting his immediate return to the town. Shabnak-Adyr is believed to carry out the wishes of Boddho by spreading the Sand Plague and cleansing the town of the Utopians who dared defy the Earth. Eventually it is revealed that Klara was supposed to be Shabank-Adyr, but denied this destiny and chose the path of a hero instead, causing her to somehow split into two people. Her other half became the one she called an evil twin, and this is how Klara received the title of Thief and Impostress, for stealing the destiny of a hero when it was not hers to take. Klara must chase Shabank-Adyr away from several areas in town several times in the game; if she fails to, her twin will infect those districts.
Albino: A very odd looking creature made out of clay that resembles something like an African tribal sculpture. The Albino calls himself Klara's brother, as he was also created by Boddho with the same intents and purposes as Shabnak-Adyr. While Shabnak-Adyr spreads the plague, the Albino is the physical manifestation of the Sand Plague. They spread it together, in tandem, and Klara must also chase him out of certain areas in town.
Rat Prophet: A strange creature of the Earth who lives under the Theater, he has the body of a man but the head of a rat. While he is prophetic, this does not always mean that he is honest, and is in fact known to spread lies. Like Shabnak-Adyr and the Albino, he is also tasked with carrying out the wishes of Boddho, primarily by visiting Catherine Saburov in her dreams and influencing her prophecies. (Embodiment of Catherine's fears?)
Sand Plague/Sand Dirt/Sand Filth: A mysterious bacterial plague that came from the Earth. There are several theories as to its origins, but members of the cult believes it was sent as a punishment to cleanse the town due to the Utopians and their tower. The plague can only survive in living tissue, and quickly dies out once the person it has infected has died. It is only contagious in its second stage, though it is still harmful to the body in its first stage regardless. The Sand Plague is embodied within the Albino and spread by Shabnak-Adyr. It can be prevented with proper protective gear and immunity boosting vaccines and medicines. It can be controlled but not eradicated by strong antibiotics. It is cured by both Powders and the mysterious Panacea.
The Law: Mentioned several times throughout the game in each playthrough, especially Klara's, the Law is described as being something akin to the laws of nature. Trying to overcome human limitations and create perfection is seen as breaking the Law, and supposedly the Utopians are being punished via the Sand Plague for breaking this Law. Because of Klara's relationship with the earth, and how she was born, she is considered above the Law.
*Extra notes on people within this cult:
Catherine Saburov: She is the most prominent leader and believer of Boddho, and does not tend to believe in Bos Turokh. Around the start of the game, Catherine had been having many dreams and prophecies (influenced by the Rat Prophet) telling her that the Earth is mad at the Utopians and that the only way to save the town from the Sand Plague is for the people of the town to repent to the faith of Humility. Eventually, Catherine discovers that these prophecies weren't entirely true, and that they were meant to influence her hatred of Utopian ideas. She is one of Klara's Adherents, and considers Klara a daughter and the one who will inherit her title of Mistress.
Factions in the town:
The Humble/The Faith of Humility: Represented by Klara and the Saburovs, these people revere the Earth as the origin of everything. Much of the poor and impoverished people, as well as ironically criminals like thieves and robbers, are part of this faction. Klara's Adherents mostly lie within this faction, and her Adherents are all those who wish to repent for sins and failures and sacrifice their lives for the sake of others.
The Termites/The Faith of Formation: Represented by Artemiy Burakh and the Olgimskys, these people value the town above all else and hold extremely conservative values. They consist of the Order and the general working class, as well as the children in town. Artemiy's Adherents are in this faction, all children who will inherit the town and rebuild it in its former glory and get rid of the tower.
It's worth noting that while Artemiy's Adherents are called "Termites", this isn't a reference to the insect. Rather, it's a historical reference to Terman, creator of the IQ test, and a group of children he'd tested to have an average IQ of over 150, which he referred to as "Termites".
The Utopians/The Faith of Utopia: Represented by Daniel Dankovsky and the Kains, these people work for progress and shoot for the unreachable goal of human perfection and immortality. Much of the higher class is in this faction, and they all revere the Polyhedron as the miracle that they stand for, something completely invaluable. In order to save the Polyhedron and get rid of the Sand Plague, the Utopians wish to destroy the town and rebuild it on the opposite side of the Gorkhon River. All of Daniel's Adherents are in this faction and believe in perfecting humanity.
Miscellaneous Rules and Culture of the Steppe:
Regarding the Earth: Because the Earth is considered to be sacred, digging deep down into the Earth is forbidden and considered a punishable offense. That is why wells are not allowed in the town, and why Vlad Olgimsky does his best to hide the excavating he'd been doing in his home. The nature of the Polyhedron also defies the Earth, as the structure stands only because its foundation was dug very, very deep into the Earth to help it stand, which is one of the reasons why Boddho is so angry about it. In Daniel's playthrough, he believes that the Polyhedron's structure released the hidden pathogen underground, while in Artemiy's playthrough it is believed that the Polyhedron's structure is contaminating the blood sacrifices to the Earth.
Regarding the cutting of bodies: Like the Earth, bodies of creatures, especially humans, are considered sacred, and therefore it is forbidden to cut open bodies except by qualified Menkhu. Cutting open bodies is an even worse offense than digging into the ground, punishable by death, which is why the Bachelor must request help when he needs tissue samples. Even though the Menkhu are allowed to cut open bodies, often they are still looked down upon for it; Artemiy even gains the awful nickname The Ripper because of his occupation as a surgeon.
A dictionary of general names and terms within Pathologic, translated from Russian into English: http://ice-pick.com/translate/glossary.html