Nutshell

The **Nutshell** *(Скорлупа)* is an abandoned house in the Spleen district of the Knots Quarter. During the events of *Pathologic 2*, it is the temporary residence of Khan.

## Description

The Nutshell, named as such "because it's empty", is a meeting place for the Town's children - most notably those who prefer it to the Polyhedron. The Nutshell is close to the Train Station where children gather after dark. It is considered unusual for adults to enter the Nutshell and children attempt to conceal its existence from the Haruspex.

## Plot

### Pathologic 2

##### Day 2

The Nutshell becomes accessible to the Haruspex on **Day 2**. Its location will be marked on the Haruspex's map after a conversation with one of the Town's children, who informs him that Capella has forbidden them from entering the house until evening. Should the Haruspex choose to go there, he will find Capella and Maria Kaina inside in the middle of a disagreement. He is asked to leave by both. When he steps outside, he will find the Changeling, who warns him that he should not get involved with the business of the girls (ignoring her warnings unlocks the "Mute Curse" achievement). If the Haruspex re-enters the building, he will find the Changeling's twin sitting in a corner.
##### Day 3

Starting from **Day 3**, the Haruspex may find two children sitting around a broken turner inside of the Nutshell. They will ask the Haruspex to fix it for them, which he can accomplish with a piece of Metal Scrap.
##### Day 4

If the Haruspex completed the House of Death event on **Day 3**, then he may learn that Khan has moved from the Polyhedron to the Nushell on **Day 4**. When asked about this, Khan will explain that he is quarantining himself before returning to the Polyhedron, for fear that he could spread infection by returning too soon. However if the House of Death was neglected, then Khan will remain in the Polyhedron, not to appear in the Nutshell until **Day 10** (which will spare him from risk of infection on **Days 5** and **9**.).
After 07:30 on **Day 4**, a Doghead named Maera can be found in the Nutshell. Maera explains that in order to prove herself to the Dogheads, she must give them a Leash as evidence of her "battlefield glory." In her desperation for a Leash, Maera offers the Haruspex a Shmowder in exchange for one.

Residents of the Nutshell will be under threat of being infected with Sand Plague on **Day 5**, **Day 9**, and **Day 11**.

### Pathologic: The Marble Nest

The Nutshell is located across the river in the condemned part of Town, making it inaccessible during *The Marble Nest*. When hovered over, the Nutshell shows Capella's icon, rather than Khan's, placing her in danger.

## Gallery

* The exterior of the Nutshell
* The exterior of the Nutshell
* Capella and Maria Kaina in the Nutshell
* The interior of the Nutshell
* The interior of the Nutshell
* The interior of the Nutshell
* Children's drawings inside the Nutshell
* Children by the turner inside of the Nutshell
* Khan in the Nutshell
* Doghead in the Nutshell
* Doghead trading screen in the Nutshell
* Changeling outside of the Nutshell
* Children outside of the Nutshell
* Paintings featured in the Nutshell
* Transparent image of the Children's Lantern projection

## Notes

* The Nutshell is a location exclusive to *Pathologic 2*. Khan is met within the Polyhedron during the events of *Pathologic*, with much different requirements to speak with him. Additionally, while there is no Nutshell, several abandoned buildings are mentioned to be occupied by children, such as Sticky's House.
* The soundtrack that plays within the Nutshell is *Childhood Grave*.
* It's likely that the intended word in the Haruspex's hover text for the building is "gleam" rather than "glean", but glean is the word used in the game files.
* According to design notes and an article by level designer Elena Alt, the storytelling lantern in the left corner of the Nutshell was created from childhood memories of special children hideouts in Belarus, where children would share scary stories together.

## References

1. ↑ How art solutions influenced the gameplay of Pathologic 2 - Teletype