Gothic 1 Remake: How to Join the Old Camp - Complete Casting Shadows Quest Guide

The Old Camp is the first faction you encounter in the Gothic 1 Remake, and its iron grip on the colony's ore trade makes it an attractive home for any aspiring warrior. But earning a place among Gomez's Shadows isn't as simple as walking through the castle gates. You'll need to prove your worth to Diego, complete a chain of six (or five, depending on your choices) quests, and survive an audience with the ore baron himself, where two wrong words can end your game instantly.

Whether you want the fastest route to Shadow armor or want to avoid a permanent death sentence, this walkthrough covers every step of the Casting Shadows quest line.

What You Need Before Starting

Before Diego will even consider vouching for you, you must meet two key prerequisites. First, you need to reach at least Level 5. Multiple guide sources from GameRant, Space4Games, and GAMES.GG confirm this level requirement; learning a skill is not required, and any unverified claims to the contrary should be disregarded. If you are below that threshold, Diego will brush you off until you gain more experience.

Second, you must earn the trust of Old Camp members by completing side quests for them. Helping out characters like Cavalorn, Mud, or any of the camp's residents builds your reputation. Once Diego's dialogue opens up, he will offer you the Casting Shadows quest chain, your ticket into the faction.

There is an alternative shortcut: pay Thorus 1,000 Nuggets at the castle gate to bypass the entire quest chain. This lets you become a Shadow immediately, but you forfeit the experience points and reputation gained from completing Diego's tasks. Consider this only if you're in a rush or find the quest chain too time-consuming.

Remember that joining the Old Camp locks you into the guard/Shadow path. This is a permanent faction choice that cannot be undone. Make sure you are ready to commit to Gomez's rule and forgo the New Camp or Swamp Camp.

The Casting Shadows Quest Chain, Six Key Tasks

Diego will task you with a series of assignments to prove your loyalty and capability. While sources list six primary quests, one of them, A Ring For Fingers (Scatty's Chest), can be skipped if you complete enough other tasks to meet the threshold. Below is how to handle each mission, along with time-saving tips integrated from the fastest-path advice.

Whistler's Sword

Whistler has misplaced his sword and wants you to retrieve it from Fisk, a shady merchant. You have two options: pay Fisk 110 nuggets for the sword, or try to swindle Whistler by keeping both the sword and the money. The latter requires a bit of fast talking or a pickpocketing skill, but Diego will be impressed if you pull it off. This quest is quick and gives solid XP, a good first task to tackle.

A Ring For Fingers (Scatty's Chest)

Scatty lost a ring and believes it is in a locked chest near the arena. You can lockpick the chest and return the ring to her. However, PC Gamer reports that this quest is optional; if you have completed enough other tasks, you can skip it entirely and still progress. I recommend doing it anyway for the extra experience and reputation, but if you are short on time, feel free to move on.

The Vanished Warder

Nek, a warder from the Old Camp, has gone missing. Diego wants you to find out what happened. Travel to a cave south of the Old Camp, watch for scavengers and wolves along the way. Inside, you will find Nek's corpse. Loot his amulet and return it to Sly, who is waiting near the camp's entrance. This quest is straightforward and keeps you close to home.

A Cult's Recipe

This task sends you to the Swamp Camp, the faction of the Brotherhood. You need to steal a recipe from Cor Kalom's room. Sneak into his quarters behind the alchemy tables, lockpick a chest (lockpicking skill required), and grab the recipe. The Swamp Camp is hostile territory for an outsider, so be prepared to either sneak carefully or fight your way out. This quest is a good opportunity to explore another region, but it carries risk if you are low on health or equipment.

Test of Faith

Diego will offer this quest after you complete a certain number of side quests, sources disagree on the exact threshold. IGN states it becomes available after three completed side tasks, while The Phrasemaker reports a requirement of five. The discrepancy may depend on which specific quests count toward the total. To be safe, check with Diego after every one or two completed tasks. The quest itself is a simple task to reinforce your loyalty, often involving a delivery or a small fetch objective.

Out of Sight

This is the final quest of the chain. Mordrag, a member of the Old Camp, wants you to help him disappear. You can resolve this in three ways: fight him, kill him, or convince him to let you escort him to the New Camp. The escort route is the cleanest, it avoids a fight and ensures Mordrag leaves peacefully. Killing him removes him permanently, which may lock you out of minor interactions later. Fighting and sparing him works but can be tough at lower levels. Choose wisely based on your combat strength and roleplaying preferences.

Bonus Task: The Arena Fight

Speaking to Scatty at the bottom of the arena triggers an optional task: defeat a fighter in the arena. Kirgo is the easiest opponent and a good choice for testing your combat skills. Winning gives you extra experience and reputation with the camp. It is not required for joining, but it is a quick way to gain an edge.