Saman

"One of Her Holiness’s earliest converts, Saman is a pure believer in a naturalist creed that all but demonizes high technology. He feels that Her Holiness has strayed from the original message of the group. So far, his dissension has taken the form of an amicable debate, with support for his viewpoint centered around the church’s German shard, over which he is the presiding luminon. Some feel that the conflict within the church more closely resembles a schism than a debate and that Luminon Saman has formed inappropriate ties with outside groups, but no one knows for sure."

- Description of Saman, 2072

Saman is introduced as the "Luminon" (regional leader) of the Order Church for Germany, and the head of a fundamentalist faction which threatens a split as the game begins. Later in the game he is revealed as also the leader of the Knights Templars, which he appears to have rebuilt from scratch. As such he is the primary antagonist through roughly the last 3rd of the game, though it is possible to join his faction before the last set of levels. As a Luminon, Saman calls for stricter interpretation of the Order's original scripture, opposing perceived compromises made by Her Holiness towards the materialistic and global symbol the WTO represents. As Grand Master, he is building and equipping a secret army and preparing a full power grasp, which is nearly complete by the end of the game.

In person, Saman is a very calm, affable and erudite man, fond of quoting philosophers and speaking in a bookish manner. Saman quotes extensively from the allegories of John Bunyan and Bertrand Russell - whom he physically resembles. In some aspects, Bunyan's novel, Pilgrim's Progress parallels the journey of Alex D, as both are fraught with decisions and plays of morality. He often using archaic analogies and biblical allegories, such as referring to Alex as the "Young Pliable". He has an extremely forceful and charismatic personality, having converted many Order followers to his cause, turned Billie Adams (and possibly Alex D) against her own best friends, and even managing to get the better of the obnoxious "Talk Bullet" show host Brett Steed.

Saman's exact motives are confusing. In his role as a Luminon, he appears pious and refers constantly to the original doctrine of the Order, which he believes Her Holiness has drifted away from. As Grand Master, he preaches the "purification" of the human race through cleaning the world of biomodification, and exterminating other intelligent species, and will go to any lengths to achieve it. It is Saman who is responsible for the terrorist attack on Chicago, destroying an entire city and killing 8 million people to destroy one ApostleCorp facility, a deed he brushes away remorselessly in a conversation with Alex D. He also claims in a radio interview to be avenging the persecution of the original Knights Templar by Philip IV of France. One of the possible outcomes of the game is his triumph, and the cut-scene which illustrates it shows him already promising further purges in his victory speech, heard to a background of hanging bodies and cheering crowds.

In the game's finale at Liberty Island, Saman is the only leader who actively pursues and attempts to kill Alex if the player ends up opposing his faction. Saman is very tough, able to survive as much damage as biomodified agents like Billie Adams or Paul Denton.