Nikolai Krol

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— Samuel Ayers

**Nikolai Krol** (also spelled **Król**) is one of the love interests in The Smoke Room. He is a miner and one of Samuel's favorite clients.

## Appearance

Nikolai is a tall, burly badger with brown eyes. He has some gray facial scruff that resembles a mustache and stubble. He wears a pale yellow shirt tucked into jeans, with a brown belt. On the job, Nikolai wears a carbide miner's headlamp.

## Personality

Nikolai is a man of few words, although he is very perceptive. He is deeply caring and manages to project warmth and confidence despite the adversity he has faced throughout his life. Nik is very protective of those close to him, and terrified by the thought of losing them. He is quick to help others, even in the most precarious situations, and is resolutely committed to his friends and community. He is shown to be very affectionate with those he trusts, notably valuing physical closeness with Samuel more than sex, and can become very bashful in intimate situations.

Nik also has a good sense of humor, and in trusted company he often makes deadpan jokes that benefit from his normally taciturn demeanor.

### Early Life

Nikolai was born on January 2nd, 1877 in Lakhia, a nation in Eastern Europa. Nik recalls life in Lakhia as being defined by loss and uncertainty, due to its frequent invasions by hostile neighbors, but also by the convivial spirit of its people, who ensured that communities looked out for each other even as the borders around them changed. Nik has never known war personally but he has a keen fear of loss, partly because he no longer has contact with his family, and he does not often talk about his past. Nik has technical school credentials that are considered 'impressive' by the co-owner of Echo's mine, and he presumably attended this school in his home country.

Nik immigrated as a young man, seemingly with his family, who now live somewhere east of Echo. He has at least two sisters who may have left Lakhia with him, although he currently does not even know if they are still alive. Despite living in his new country for many years, he still sometimes struggles with feeling unwelcome. His name was 'anglicized' when he arrived; he is now legally Nicholas King, and the mine's management use this name for him exclusively, but he still prefers to go by Nikolai or Nik.

Nik settled in Echo sometime prior to 1914 and got a job in the mines. He shared a bunkhouse with several other miners, including Yao and Jack. He became a client of Samuel's in 1914, and unusually, didn't request sex and preferred simply holding Sam close and talking to him. After his third or fourth appointment, his earnings at the mine were garnished and he could no longer afford to visit. However, Samuel was able to convince Madam Dora to allow Nik to pay a third of the usual rate so they could continue seeing each other. Nik has come to care deeply for Sam, but is extremely discreet about seeking his company.

### Prologue

Early one morning, Nik finds a badly injured Samuel stumbling out of the mine. Sam brushes off his offers of help and goes back into town. Later, Nik is part of the group to discover Jack's corpse and bring it out of the mines, and is notably the first to notice the smell.

Although it is eventually revealed that he first tells William, the sheriff, about his suspicious encounter with Samuel at the mine, Nikolai also decides to question Samuel about it himself.

### Nikolai's Route

#### Chapter 1

Nik is scheduled for an appointment with Samuel, but runs late because of a demonstration organized by the miners' union. Nik comes into the Hip's saloon through the back entrance, trying to be discreet, and is surprised to run into Samuel and Cliff. Cliff bluntly asks whether he is looking for a prostitute and Nik feigns outrage to conceal his intentions, before Sam puts him at ease and sends Cliff away. Once Nik learns that Cliff was also seeking Sam's company, he relaxes.

In Sam's room, Nik apologizes for taking his time away from higher-paying clients, but smiles after Sam insists that he truly enjoys their moments together. While the two cuddle, Nik asks Sam why he was leaving the mines with a head wound on the day Jack died. Despite Sam's attempt to distract him with a handjob, after his climax Nik continues his questioning, even physically restraining Sam. Nik reveals he has known about Sam's guilt all along, but acknowledges Sam may have had a good reason to kill someone like Jack. Sam explains what happened, and Nik believes him because Jack previously tried to trick another miner, Yao, with the same con. Nik then offers to help Sam escape Echo and the two spend the night together.

Because of Nik's earlier tip about Sam's odd behavior, William comes to Sam's room to question them both in the morning. They are awoken by his knocking, and Nik is forced to awkwardly put his clothes back on in front of the sheriff. Nik tries to help Sam by lying about the events on the day of Jack's death, but Will is unconvinced and warns Nik not to cover up a possible crime, before leaving. Afterward, Nik explains to Sam that he decided to tell Will his suspicions initially because he trusts the sheriff to realize that Jack was the aggressor and Sam was a victim. As Nik leaves for work, he promises to look for the money that Sam lost in the mines the night Jack attacked him.

On his lunch break, Nik is surprised to find Sam waiting for him near the mines, and introduces him to Yao. Sam insists on coming along to find his money, and the three make their way to the cavern where Jack died.

#### Chapter 2

Nik reassures Sam as they traverse the tunnels, and trusts in Yao's leadership. Sam tries to explain that there is an unnatural evil lurking in the mines, but Nik appears skeptical. Nik waits alone at the top of a long vertical shaft outside the cavern while Sam and Yao go to look for the coins, and when Sam returns empty-handed Nik comforts him. Yao then divulges that he knows the location of a hidden vein of gold but needs Nik and Sam's help to mine it without being caught. Nik is put off by Yao's secrecy, even grabbing him by the collar for withholding such life-changing information, but seems to resign himself to trusting that Yao is telling the truth and can lead them through the heist.

When the three emerge from the tunnels, William and the mine's co-owner James Hendricks are waiting for them. Will is suspicious to see Sam near the crime scene, but Yao bluffs that Sam was underground with them simply because he is interested in working as a miner. James is delighted and grants Sam a job interview, and Will lets them go. That night, Sam comes to meet up with Nik and Yao in the bunkhouse, and they encourage him to secure a position in the mines so they can all coordinate to steal the gold. Sam stays the night and Nik gives him his blanket to keep him warm. In the morning, Nik hugs Sam and wishes him well on his interview before leaving for work.

Sam is hired, but Nik is upset to find that he has been placed on regular mining duty despite his potentially dangerous inexperience. To explain this, Sam relays that James knows about Nik's involvement with the union, and likely placed Sam on his shift because Sam agreed to discourage Nik from organizing the workers. Sam begins to mention that James also seemed to know about Nik's visits to Sam at the Hip, but he stops upon realizing that mentioning their sexuality in Yao's presence has put Nik on edge. Yao departs after making a plan to meet Nik and Sam at The Stag that evening to discuss the union's next steps.

Alone with Sam, Nik admires Yao, saying that he is trustworthy and often accomplishes things others could not, but gives Sam a chance to back out of the plan for the gold. Sam wants to stay to protect Nik, which causes Nik to shout that *Sam* is the one in need of protecting. Nik insists that what scares him more than whatever monster might be in the mine is Sam being hurt, and he then tears up as he confides that he wants to be able to pay Sam enough to hold him forever. Nik kisses Sam possessively, and then returns to the mine.

Nik is surprised and delighted to see Sam at The Stag that evening, and buys him a drink before joining him in the loft with union miners Dimitri, Paul, and Felipe. Nik blushes while mentioning that aside from its importance to the union, the bar is also a place to find male companionship, and Yao discloses that Nik used to be too embarrassed by The Stag's reputation to come to their meetings. Nik reiterates that he has been targeted by management for being a member of the union, and Dimitri agrees to spread the word about what the bosses are doing. After Paul punches a disgruntled miner named Ben for antagonizing Dimitri and a fight breaks out, Nik uses his size to quickly escort Sam out of the bar with Chang and Yao in tow. Later in the bunkhouse, as Sam tries to memorize the route through the mine's tunnels that leads to the gold, Nik reminds him that no plan is perfect and they can adapt to whatever happens together.

In the morning, Nik heads into work without Sam to avoid arousing suspicion. He reappears while Foreman Beckett Moore is chiding Sam for not bringing any equipment, and offers to share his own tools so Sam is reassigned to his care. As they work, Sam comments on Nik's trademark miner's hat, and Nik says the headlight brings him comfort. Nik and Yao demonstrate the dangerous process of extracting ore, which requires one miner to hold a spike steady against the wall of the mine while another drives it in with a sledgehammer. Nik then insists that Sam learn the technique for himself, so he can perform it while he and Nik are apart.

Nik remains stoic while a miner named Nate tries to pick a fight with him, until Nate steals his hat, at which point Nik grabs him and slams him into a wall repeatedly. Sam is startled by the sudden violence, and remarks he has never seen Nik act so emotionally. During lunch, Nik tells Yao about the fight but leaves out the part about his hat. Later, Nik learns that Sam was nearly wounded by a careless or vengeful Ben during their shift apart and furiously insists that Sam either stops coming into the mine for his own safety, or finds a way to stay on the same shift as him and Yao so they can protect him.

The next day, Sam shares his plan to rearrange the shifts in the mine in their favor, although Nik is reviled when he learns that it will involve Sam seducing James Hendricks to get preferential treatment. Before work, Nik gives Sam a lunch pail with three ducks painted on it, and calls it the 'gift of life' because it will help keep Sam fed. Nik later hears that Sam was involved in an explosion, and has to stop himself from hugging him in public when they are reunited. After learning the explosion was possibly caused by Ben and has injured Dimitri, Yao decides to bring Nik and Sam to the gold vein after work in case they need to carry out their heist faster than initially planned. Sam is worried about remembering Yao's complex route, but Nik pledges to keep him safe.

When they pass back through the cavern where Jack died, Sam clenches his fists so hard his claws cut his palms, until Nik gently opens his fingers for him to show him the blood. Nik also puts himself in between Yao and Sam while the three have to wriggle one after another through a narrow passage, and Sam is grateful to Nik for recognizing that Jack's betrayal is still fresh. Once they reach the cave housing the vein of gold, Nik is stunned by the amount of wealth on display. He and the others then hear a childlike voice asking for help from a stream deeper in the cavern, and Sam holds Nik back when he tries to rush over to assist. The voice begins to speak unnervingly about death and then warns them that a monster will soon be returning to 'feed' on it. After they hear a large splash, Nik and the others quickly flee back the way they came. Nik panics when his light goes out in the tunnels, but Sam takes the lead and tries to bring them to safety.

Back on the surface, Nik barely catches his breath before William appears and demands to know why he and Sam have been lying. Nik tries to explain that fixating on Jack's death is missing the bigger picture of all the crimes happening in Echo. Nik also asserts that it is important that he and Sam fight the power that Will represents, and seems to have a cathartic realization about how much he goes through to hide who he is. Will tells Nik and Sam to stay careful and survive, then leaves without arresting them.

Afterward, Nik behaves skeptically even as Sam begs him to admit they encountered something supernatural stalking the mines. Instead, Nik suggests that collaborators of Jack's could be trying to scare them away from the gold. Yao then leads Nik and Sam to Chang's tent, where the union is discussing how to respond to Dimitri's suspicious injury. Paul questions Sam's presence, but Nik vouches for him. A strike is planned, but Chang and Paul want to make their point by burning down the ranch belonging to Briggs, co-owner of the mine. Nik is adamantly against the arson, in case the fire spreads or innocent people are hurt, although he is also uneasy with Yao's advice to proceed with the strike and simply wait and see if the bosses escalate first. Paul storms out, and Nik dismisses Sam so he can speak to Yao and Chang in private.

Sam does not want to return to the bunkhouse, so Nik accompanies him to the Hip. When Sam asks that they share a nugget of gold that Yao gave him in the mine, Nik insists it belongs to Sam alone. Sam then presses Nik again about the unnatural thing they glimpsed underground, and Nik admits that when he looked back at the monster he saw a childhood classmate of his, who wandered off and died after eating a glowing poisonous mushroom and was then found with the fungus growing out of his body. The sight inspired a sudden anger in Nik that unlike the boy, he would not be able to die in his home country.

Back in Sam's room at the Hip, Nik decides to propose to him, but if Sam asks for more time to think about it Nik calls his decision reasonable. Whatever Sam answers, the two have penetrative sex for the first time, and in the midst of it Nik tells Sam he loves him. In the morning, Nik descends from Sam's room and encounters James Hendricks and his wife Cordelia, who have come to the Hip to watch a performance. Cordelia insists on being introduced to Nik, and when she learns he is affiliated with the workers striking against her husband she thrills Nik by inviting him and Sam to the Hendricks manor to civilly discuss the miners' demands, despite James' obvious discomfort.

In the Hendricks' dining room, Sam considers James' offer to try on one of his antique suits of armor, but Nik gently discourages him. In order to speak to Nik in private, James asks his wife to escort Sam upstairs; when Sam returns, the two are silent but the fork in James' grip is badly bent out of shape. Cordelia announces she is heading to the cellar to show Sam how ice cream is made and James suggests Nik accompany them. As Nik goes, he puts an arm around Sam and leaves with an innuendo about their relationship that elicits a humorless laugh from James.

In the basement, Cordelia begins organizing her walk-in icebox and tosses out a box that she remarks is out of place. Nik is confused to find that it is full of photographs of miners employed by CSCG, including one of Nik, Yao, and Jack, and pockets at least one of the pictures to show to the union.

#### Chapter 3

Cordelia shrieks at the sight of a bug frozen in the ice and Nik rushes to help her. He inspects the icebox upon her request, but finds nothing broken. The potential contamination means Cordelia cannot continue her demonstration, so she glibly notes that they have been in the dingy basement for too long and should head back to the sun. This seems to strike Nik as absurd considering his profession, and he points out that it has only been a few minutes. Sam notices that Nik acts stiffly, as if bothered by something, while they are in the Hendricks house. Once upstairs, they find that James has just left on an errand, and Cordelia bids them farewell.

On the walk back to the mines, Nik suggests that those who claim to be interested in the occult, like Cordelia, are mostly just those who have an excess of free time and money. Sam insists that they saw something real in the mines and Nik agrees, however, and says they should talk with Yao about how to proceed with their heist. Suddenly, he notices Sam's demeanor change and gives him some water to drink. Sam calls Nik his best friend, then confesses that he has been hearing a cruel voice in his head that does not sound like his own. Nik assumes that it must be the result of the head injury Sam sustained, and looks worried but tries to lift Sam's spirits.

Nik and Sam come upon the miners' strike, which is being observed by a number of armed men, and meet up with Felipe and Paul. Nik apologizes for being late and shows them the strange, invasive photos from the Hendricks house. Beckett appears and asks for a private audience with Nik and Sam. Nik refuses to speak to management until he has debriefed with Dimitri but Sam agrees, which shocks Nik until he realizes that Sam is doing it to keep the foreman busy so Nik can look for Yao.

Yao is nowhere to be found, however, and when Sam returns he insists on speaking with Dimitri, so Felipe and Paul lead the way to the clinic where he is recuperating. As they walk Sam mentions he is surprised that they did not see Will at the strike, and Paul quips that the law is usually close at hand whenever the workers demonstrate against the mine's management. In a playful tone, Nik projects unworried confidence, reminding the others that the sheriff is busy with a case and telling them not to fret about things that have not happened yet.

At the clinic, Nik commends Dimitri for the strong turnout at the strike, but Dimitri credits Yao's contacts at the press. Sam then divulges that Beckett met with him to accuse him outright of tampering with the dynamite, which surprises the assembled miners. Ben still seems to be the most likely saboteur, but Nik realizes that if the explosion really was Ben's doing as they suspect, then the foreman's genuine confusion must indicate that he was not involved and Ben either acted alone or on the orders of someone else in the mine's management.

Dimitri suggests that they all go to The Stag and Nik agrees with conspicuous eagerness, then nervously insists to Sam that it is simply a good place to have a private conversation. Nik and Sam step aside once they arrive and Sam raises the possibility that Yao skipped town without them. Nik confidently asserts that he is a good judge of character, and so knows that Yao would never leave without talking to him first. Nik adds that he was also correct about Sam's good character and praises himself, and Sam flusters him by flirtatiously reminding him how much he seems to like being praised.

The two then catch a glimpse of Yao and follow him out into another barn nearby where the miners maintain a communal gym. A weightlifting contest is ongoing, and Nik cajoles Sam into competing to see who can hold up a barbell for longer. Nik heckles him and showboats, and Sam remarks that he has never seen Nik so comfortable. Sam is forced to concede in the face of Nik's effortless strength, although afterward he observes that Nik was simply masking his strain.

Sam tries to pursue Yao so they can talk about their plan but is frustrated to find him aloof and uninterested, and he then snaps at Nik for 'messing around' despite the stakes of the upcoming heist. Nik apologizes, but reminds Sam that the strike has given the miners a rare excess of free time away from their brutal work schedule.

Yao then invites the two to come swim in Lake Emma, partly so they can have a private moment together. Nik agrees, and enjoys himself while Sam insists on waiting on the shore. Afterward Sam brings up what they encountered underground the night before and Yao abruptly asks if he is afraid of death. Sam and Yao both mostly say they are not, but Nik confesses that he is deeply afraid of losing the life and community he and his friends have built together. Yao tells him sadly that things will not stay the way they are for long, even if they don't leave Echo, and reminds him of the weapons caches that are already in place for a looming conflict between the union and the mine's leaders that seems nearly inevitable. As Yao leaves, he tells them that he will protect himself whatever happens, and that they have the choice of getting the gold and coming with him or not.

Sam is incredulous that the situation is so dire but Nik confirms it. He then opens up to Sam about life in Lakhia, and how the fear and fallout of war defined much of his life even if battle itself was never something he knew personally. He shares his fear of continuing to lose people for the rest of his life, and perpetually starting over anew only to then abandon what he has built. Nik also admits that he worries what his years in the mines have done to his health.

Suddenly, Murdoch wanders up to them, disheveled and delirious, and begins vomiting. Nik gives him water and they lead him back to The Stag to recover. Nik brings him milk and a honey bun to eat, and as Murdoch becomes more lucid he explains that the last thing he remembers is being down in the mines and having a supernatural encounter. This leads the other miners present to begin sharing inexplicable experiences they have all had while underground, and eventually it is Nik's turn to speak. He balks when put on the spot, attempting to remain vague so he does not give away the heist plan by revealing what they saw the previous night, and so Yao quickly cuts in to redirect the conversation.

After Dimitri buys the miners drinks, Nik asks Sam to dance with him. Sam tries to refuse, but ultimately accepts after Murdoch overhears and offers to play something special for them and Nik reminds him that it could be their final night at The Stag. During Murdoch's performance the atmosphere in the bar is convivial and joyous, and Nik dances with Paul and then Sam. Nik breaks his promise not to step on Sam's foot, but they enjoy themselves nonetheless.

The festivities wind down and Nik and Sam get ready to meet up with Yao and carry out the heist. Before descending into the mines, Nik makes a detour to the bunkhouse to get his miner's hat, only to discover that it has been stolen. Sam comes inside to find Nik on the floor in an uncharacteristically despairing state, yelling and sobbing inconsolably that "his light" has been taken.

Ben appears and flaunts the fact that he knows who took the hat, causing Nik to begin advancing on him aggressively. Calling himself simply the messenger, Ben explains that Briggs ordered the hat confiscated and now wants to meet with Nik. With grim determination, Nik sets off and finds Briggs waiting in his office, holding the hat.

During their meeting, Briggs dismisses Nik's Lachian birth name as “unpatriotic” and, with the thinly veiled threat of framing him as a foreign conspirator, pressures him into only answering to Nicholas King, the new legal name he was issued upon emigrating. Nik agrees dutifully, while clenching a hand in his pocket into a hidden fist. Briggs then surmises correctly that Nik's hat was made abroad, since its gas canister is thicker than the local standard, and claims that it represents a fire hazard because of this. Nik asks for the hat back, describing it as one of the only things in the world that irrefutably belongs to him, and Briggs initially gives him hope by agreeing to return it, only to then forbid Nik from using it while on the job ever again.

Nik points out that not having his trusted equipment will only put him more at risk and make his job harder, and asserts that such cruel inflexibility is the reason the miners are striking. This leads Briggs to explain his vicious conviction that any prosperity in the industrial era necessarily comes from competing with and crushing others, and that Nik's belief in the worth of individual lives and the spirit of collaboration between workers is a naive utopian fantasy. Briggs tells him to either “do better” or starve, and muses that if Nik now wants to kill him then he is already in the right mindset.

Nik leaves without another word and Sam finds him outside the office refilling his helmet with oil. Nik admits that Briggs' calm cruelty scared him badly, and says he did now know a man so evil could exist. Sam is carrying an envelope he has been asked to deliver by Miranda, the CSCG secretary, and Nik asks him to open it; inside is a telegram confirming that the National Guard has been called to break the strike by force and will be arriving in the morning. Nik wants to warn Will about the imminent violence, but decides they will do it together after Sam has first satisfied his obligation to deliver the message. Nik plans to wait with Yao in the meantime, and kisses Sam deeply before telling him to come back soon.

Nik smiles brightly when Sam returns, and along with Yao they head for the mines. Sam hesitates at the entrance, back on the same route he once took with Jack, and so Nik and Yao work to reassure him. If Sam and Yao have grown close to each other, then the three share a moment of solidarity, affirming that they are like family and pledging not to leave each other behind no matter what happens underground. If Yao and Sam are still standoffish towards each other, however, the two are more focused on their mutual suspicion instead. Nik offers to let Sam stay aboveground by bringing back his share of gold for him, insisting that Sam has already taken care of him in ways money cannot, but Yao urges them to press on.

They return to the cavern with the gold vein and the underground stream, and are able to spend several hours filling bags with ore. Nik and the others begin making plans to say their goodbyes to everyone in town, and how to best stash the gold in the meantime. Sam may distrust Yao's offer to hide their treasure for them, offending him badly and leaving Nik to try and broker an uneasy peace between them. Otherwise, the three make plans to travel together after escaping Echo, and Yao admits that he wants to try and convince Chang to come as well. Nik mentions he hopes to keep in touch with Will, and says he believes that the sheriff will be able to keep everyone in town safe despite the threat of the National Guard. If Sam and Yao have previously been intimate then Yao alludes to it vaguely, and Nik appears confused for a moment but then puts his thoughts to rest.

Suddenly, an explosion rips through the cavern, causing a rockfall, and Nik tackles Sam to the ground to shield him with his body. All three survive, but subsequent events play out differently depending on the level of trust between Sam and Yao. If Sam has come around to trusting Yao, then Yao is trapped alongside Nik and Sam during the cave-in, but if not, then Nik and Sam are sealed inside together but Yao is cut off from them and able to escape, and leaves with a promise to come back with help.

Ben and Nate appear, and it becomes clear that the blast was caused by Ben's incautious use of dynamite. He is unbothered, however, and intends to continue using it over Nate's objections and despite the fact that another of their companions seems to have died in the collapse. Ben explains they are working late to make up for the slump in productivity the strike has caused, and demands to know what Nik and the others are doing in the mine after hours.

If Yao is present then he tries to negotiate, urging Ben and Nate that the best way for them all to escape is to work together. Nate seems open to this, and to Yao's bluff that they are on an errand from management, but when he starts walking towards the others Ben kills him suddenly, stabbing him in the back with a pickaxe for undermining his claimed authority. Ben reveals that he never trusted them because he saw Nik still wearing his contraband helmet and so knew at once that they could not be in the mines on official business. He reveals a pistol and at gunpoint orders Nik and the others to kill each other until there is one survivor, whom he will allow to escape with him.

If Yao is not present, Nate takes advantage of the confusion to sneak behind Nik and once again steal his mining helmet. Claiming revenge for the time Nik physically overpowered him, he throws it towards the cavern's fast-flowing underground stream. Sam manages to catch it but falls into the water, and clings to a stalagmite to just barely avoid being swept away by the powerful current. Nate begins jeering at Sam and throws rocks to dislodge him, which leads Nik to confront him. After shrugging off two punches that Nate slings with Ben's encouragement, Nik strikes back and Nate crumples to the ground after receiving a single powerful blow to the head. Nik saves Sam from the river, tossing his hat aside in order to embrace him, but Sam takes the hat and places it back on his head. Nik laughs, then cries briefly, only to be interrupted by an announcement from Ben that Nate was killed by the punch, not just knocked unconscious. Immediately full of terror and remorse, Nik futilely shakes Nate to try and rouse him. Ben then shows his gun and gives Nik and Sam the choice to decide which one of them will die, since he only needs the help of one to escape.

Before Ben's ultimatum can proceed, however, the spider-like monster returns, descending from the ceiling of the cavern to land silently just behind him. Ben whirls around and is so horrified that he stumbles backward, leading him to twist his ankle and then fall into the river, where the current drags him under. Sam appears transfixed by the monster, which begins apparently consuming something from the air around Nate's corpse. If Nik has just killed Nate then he watches the monster as well, or otherwise attempts to pull Sam back from it.

### William's Route

#### Chapter 1

Nik arrives at the Hip just as Samuel and Murdoch are about to depart for the mines under William's supervision. He sees Will leading Sam away and is able to infer from what he saw on the day of the murder that Sam must have killed Jack. Nik immediately becomes confrontational and protective of Sam, but Will claims that Sam is simply a witness. Nik then agrees to come along when Will asks for his help navigating the mines.

Due to his size, Nik opts to remain behind when the group reaches a narrow underground passage, and they find the evidence of Sam's story without Nik present. He then abruptly departs from the rest on the way back into Echo. Nik is clearly hurt that Sam tried to hide the truth from him, and he shuts down Sam's attempts to talk things over but promises to see him again in a few days.

#### Chapter 2

At the end of a long day in the mines, Nik comes to play poker at William's office with Todd and the rest of the main cast, and brings a large sack of bottle caps to use for bets in place of money. He is surprised to see Sam there, but things become less tense once the game begins. When a gunshot suddenly rings out, Nik lunges at Sam to push him to the floor, then helps calm Cliff down as they treat Murdoch, who has been grazed by the bullet. He then escorts Cliff and Murdoch home, along with Todd.

Nik reports to Lake Emma several days later on Will's invitation, in order to investigate whether the CSCG mine can be implicated in a potential body dumping incident witnessed by Murdoch. He still sounds upset when he greets Sam, but things appear to be slowly returning to normal between them. Once inside the cavern Murdoch directs them to, the group discovers a minecart much like the one Murdoch heard being used to transport the body down to the water for disposal. Nik has never been inside the chamber before, but is able to identify it as a disused part of the CSCG mine, which has dire implications for who the perpetrators could be.

After Will pursues a sound that Nik and Sam cannot, Nik assumes it is due to the coyote's superior senses and follows him deeper into the mines. Nik and Sam find Will beside an old rickety bridge across a chasm. Will wants to cross it to follow the sounds he hears, but Nik warns him it is rusted through and not fit for use. The bridge crumbles when Will tests it and Nik then threatens to remove him bodily from the tunnel if he tries to press on, noting that the cavern's walls show signs of potential collapse, but Will relents and they leave. As they walk back to the others, Sam observes that Nik looks like he has aged a year. Nik reassures Will, who feels bad about the way he has behaved, and joins Murdoch and Cliff at the picnic.

Murdoch invites William and Sam to The Stag and Nik initially cautions against it, since the bar is a meeting place for miners affiliated with the union who may not take kindly to a lawman's presence, but then decides that Will can come as their friend instead of the sheriff, as long as he does not wear his badge. As the group disperses, Nik recommends that Cliff remain under police protection in case he is still a target.

#### Chapter 3

If William opts to investigate The Stag in the evening, Nik comes along and vouches for him. Nik tells the other miners present that he was shot at by the perpetrator Will is pursuing, which causes them to be less wary of the sheriff. Afterward, Nik shares with Will that he feels spurned because Sam never trusted him with the truth about Jack's murder.

The next day, Will is surprised to find an obviously uncomfortable Nik sitting in the parlor of the Hendricks mansion and having tea with Cordelia. Nik looks grateful to see Will, and gives him a sidelong look when James tries to assert that the three of them are all friends. Nik is quiet as Will speaks to Cordelia and James, only to suddenly break his silence with a "boo" after James speaks disparagingly about the picketing miners in his presence.

There is a loud knock at the door, and James excuses himself to hold a meeting with Briggs elsewhere in the mansion. Nik stands up and steps away from the hall until they both pass by, then lies to Cordelia that he hid himself out of simple shyness. Nik then accompanies Will during his investigation of the mansion.

In the foyer, Nik explains to Will that the union encouraged him to accept the invitation to the Hendricks house since they want to keep negotiations open. Nik also shares his suspicion that James is interested in him not because of his association with the union but because of his relationship with Sam, and emphasizes that James is clearly attracted to Sam. Nik seems slightly hurt that Sam is spending more time with Will lately, and changes the subject when Will points out that Nik's decision to confess Sam's crime is the reason for that.

While Will goes to speak with his ex-wife Hattie in the kitchen, Nik remains in the parlor with Cordelia and she offers to tell him a story about her "old home." Their talk occurs off-screen but when Will returns she and Nik seem to be in deep conversation.

Nik eventually offers to lead Will upstairs, and when the two are alone together Nik notices that Will seems more strained after his talk with Hattie. Will is concerned about her safety but Nik firmly points out that leaving his wife means he can no longer have input in her decisions. He also reminds Will that whoever orchestrated Hattie's relocation to Echo likely did it to derail his investigation and upset him, and so by dwelling on it Will only ensures their plan succeeds.

Nik then encourages Will to search James' office, and conspicuously seems to know both exactly where in the mansion it is. When asked about this, he tells Will an obvious lie that James mentioned it to him earlier. Nik also correctly assumes that James leaves it unlocked, although he claims this is a guess based on the fact that James is unlikely to see himself as doing anything wrong. Inside the office, they find several photographs and personnel files of CSCG miners, including Nik. Nik's dossier calls him passive while alone but a threat when communicating with union organizers.

Nik also directs Will to the keys to James' filing cabinet, and inside they find a form of company scrip that James apparently intends to push as a replacement for money in Echo, which would devastate the local economy. Nik admits he just wanted to see the scrip with his own eyes, and explains that James' secretary has already leaked word of the scheme to the union. Nik seems satisfied that Will finds the idea equally ridiculous and horrifying, and says that the world needs to know James is crazy.

Afterward, Nik and James politely decline Cordelia's invitation to stay for dinner and depart the mansion. Not long after they exit the front gate, a gunshot rings out and Will tackles Nik to the ground. It turns out to simply be Will's son Andy, who is practicing firing a gun at a can placed irresponsibly close by. Nik is helped back up to his feet by Will, and then the two split up so Will can go back to the Hip in search of Sam.

### Cliff's Route

Nik does not appear in Cliff's route, but is mentioned several times. The day before Sam leaves on Cliff's expedition, James Hendricks III comes to the Hip and books Sam for sex. Afterward, James requests confidentiality from Sam and reveals to Sam's horror that he knows all about Sam's relationship with Nik. The implication of this weighs heavily on Sam, and he is wracked with guilt as he plans his escape, because he realizes leaving Echo will mean leaving Nik at James' mercy.

### Murdoch's Route

While Nik is largely absent from Murdoch's route, he does receive a few key mentions. When Murdoch and Sam drop off the crime scene photos to William, Sam asks him about Nik's whereabouts. William says he's seen Nik several times around town, and Sam wonders why Nik hasn't visited him since the night of the riot. A few days later, after visiting a series of tunnels under Echo that connect to the mines, Sam again thinks of Nik and misses his company. Sam feels anxious about not seeing him, and longs for his help.

Murdoch eventually reveals that he overheard Nik confessing his suspicions about Sam's role in Jack's murder to William, and Sam understands why Nik has been avoiding him.

Later in the route, Blithe and Melissa encounter Nik running through the mines in a panic, yelling the word "podpalacz," or arsonist. He is shocked to see the girls, and tells them that the area is not safe and they must escape immediately.

## Relationships

### Samuel

Samuel is one of Nikolai's closest friends and the two have a physically and emotionally intimate relationship. Nikolai is very protective of Samuel and is quick to offer him assistance. Nik's desire to keep Sam from harm sometimes drives him to conceal things that Sam would likely otherwise prefer to be told outright, but they nonetheless share a deep trust. This blossoms into romantic love in Nik's route, culminating in Nik's proposal of marriage to Sam.

In William's route, Nik becomes notably distanced from Sam after realizing he kept his crime a secret for weeks, and resents that Sam could not confide in him.

### Yao

Yao is Nikolai's longtime friend and coworker, and Nik feels close enough to him to think of him family. Nik considers Yao a trustworthy man of character, and says that if he had been the one to find gold in the mines he would have shared it with Yao just as Yao does with him.

### William

Nik and William are good friends, and occasionally play cards together. According to Sam, Nik and William agree on 'pretty much everything' and during Will's route Nik expresses gratitude for their strong friendship. Nik thinks Will is a good man and has faith in his peacekeeping abilities, but during his own route Nik is willing to betray the sheriff's trust in order to protect Sam.

Nik shows admiration for the way that William can read people, and compares Will's strong interpersonal skills to his own proficiency in the mines.

### Cliff

Cliff is an acquaintance of Nik's, and the two have brief encounters with each other throughout the game. While Nik is put off by Cliff's bluntness in his own route, he makes polite conversation. He later remarks that the stoat should be more careful, lest he get killed.

### Murdoch

Nik and Murdoch do not interact often, but seem well acquainted. During his own route, Nik comes to Murdoch's aid and brings him food in order to nurse him back to health.

## Trivia

* Nik's sprite used to be somewhat larger, but it was later "nerfed" in order to solve graphic display issues regarding formatting.
* Nikolai finds it difficult to become aroused unless he's near someone, and given his shy nature the only people he allows to get close to him are those he knows quite well. This may indicate that he is demisexual on some level.
* Nik does not yet appear in Cliff or Murdoch's routes, making him the only member of the main cast not to be present in every one of the game's four storylines.
* Nik is also currently the only member of the main cast (consisting of Sam and the four love interests) not to have a portion of the story told from his first-person point of view.
* Nik is extremely protective of his miner's helmet, which he saved up his meager earnings to buy for himself, and reacts drastically when it is stolen at one point during his route. It is unclear if this strong attachment is sentimental or purely practical in nature.
* Nik has decorated the area around his bunk in the miners' cabin with several photographs, possibly showing glimpses into his old life in Europa. These pictures include a cityscape with ornate buildings, a large woman and three smaller badgers, and a selection of "frilly, delicate desserts." Nik also keeps a wooden sculpture of a duck on his shelf.
* Nik shows a notable affinity for ducks, and claims that the first sentence he ever learned to say in English was "There is nothing foul about a bathing water fowl."
* Nik mentions at one point that his parents wanted to name him Mikołaj, the real-world Polish equivalent of Nikolai, but decided not to because of cultural pressure from Ruthenia, which had taken over their country. This explains why he bears a Russian name despite coming from Lakhia, a country heavily inspired by Poland.
* Nikolai's favorite book is *The Count of Monte Cristo*.

## References

1. ↑ GeorgeSquares' CuriousCat
2. ↑ GeorgeSquares' CuriousCat