Gate Guard
Residents · Groups and unnamed characters
"Hm ... fine, go on in - see it as a welcome gift. But you better start earning some ore."
Gate Guard watches the approach to the Old Camp's castle and treats entry as a privilege granted by the camp's hierarchy. Inside the castle, that hierarchy ultimately belongs to Gomez, so Gate Guard protects a chain of command he does not control. He is blunt, tired of repeating the same warnings, and ready to turn a visitor away when there is no permission from above.
The role is more than standing beside a gate. Gate Guard explains who controls access, what the camp expects from its workers, and how quickly a harmless request can become a threat when someone crosses the wrong boundary.
Permission comes first
Gate Guard sends the Hero to Thorus when the castle has no reason to admit him. Later, a claim that Thorus has granted permission is enough to change the answer, although Gate Guard remembers the Hero's face and warns that trouble inside will have consequences.
The exchange shows how the castle operates through delegated authority. Gate Guard does not decide who matters; he checks whether someone higher in the Old Camp has already decided.
A price for belonging
At other points Gate Guard lets the Hero pass as a welcome gift, then immediately reminds him to start earning ore. The welcome is conditional and practical: the camp will tolerate a newcomer who contributes, but it has little patience for someone who only wants access to its protected spaces.
That attitude connects the gate to the Old Camp's wider economy. The guard's warnings are about more than trespassing; they are reminders that safety and status are paid for through work.
The gate as a line of defense
Gate Guard also reacts to people moving in and out of the camp, including Dusty when the Hero tries to bring him away. His attention is therefore not limited to the castle door. He notices who belongs, who is being moved, and whether a visitor is quietly changing the camp's balance.
The result is a small but clear portrait of Old Camp security: permissions are personal, entry is conditional, and a guard's memory can matter after the gate has opened.