Want to earn a place inside the Old Camp castle? You cannot just walk in and demand respect. Casting Shadows is the quest that decides whether the Shadows of the Old Camp actually trust you, and it stands between you and your audience with Gomez. Here is everything confirmed about how to start it, every supporting quest involved, and how to wrap it up successfully in Gothic 1 Remake.
How to Start Casting Shadows
Before Diego will give you the quest, you need to go through Thorus first. Here is the sequence:
- Speak to Diego at the start of the game or once you reach Old Camp.
- Head to the castle gate and talk to Thorus, the knight guarding the entrance.
- Tell Thorus you want to join Gomez’s crew and that Diego sent you. He will explain that someone important to Old Camp needs to vouch for you before he lets you inside.
- Return to Diego, who will give you the rundown on what it takes to join. This is what officially starts Casting Shadows.
Diego’s shack sits conveniently right by the castle gate, so this entire opening sequence does not require much backtracking.
What the Quest Actually Asks of You
The in-game objective for this quest reads “I need supporters among the Shadows.” It sounds vague at first, but in practice, it means earning support and vouches from influential named NPCs around the Old Camp’s outer ring. As you complete their individual tasks, the quest tracker updates automatically.
Here is a breakdown of every NPC involved, organized by area:
| Area | Related Quest/Task | NPC |
|---|---|---|
| Old Camp | Whistler’s Sword | Whistler |
| Old Camp | A Ring for Fingers | Fingers |
| Old Camp | The Vanished Warder | Sly |
| Old Camp | Impressing Scatty (unmarked) | Scatty |
| Old Camp to New Camp | Out of Sight | Thorus |
| Old Camp to New Camp | A New Fence for Fisk | Fisk |
| Old Camp to Swamp Camp | The Cult’s Recipe | Dexter |
Step by Step: Completing Each Supporting Quest
Whistler’s Sword
You can find Whistler near the market area, sitting on a bench past Gravo’s shack. He needs his sword bought back from Fisk in the market. Whistler initially hands you 100 Ore Nuggets, but the sword actually costs 110. You can choose to pay the difference yourself or pocket the extra Ore Nuggets instead, since Diego apparently does not mind a little swindling. It is worth holding onto your Ore Nuggets carefully early on, since they are scarce and useful across multiple quests on this list.
A Ring for Fingers
Head toward the arena entrance to find Fingers. Mention that Diego sent you, and he will ask you to lockpick Scatty’s chest and steal his ring. Delivering the ring earns his support and doubles as a handy introduction to the lockpicking mechanic, so it helps to carry a few lockpicks before attempting it.
The Vanished Warder
Sly is usually found near the north gate. He asks you to track down his missing friend, Nek, whose corpse turns up in a small cave near the south gate, in a molerat-infested area. Recovering Nek’s amulet and returning it to Sly completes the quest.
The Cult’s Recipe
Dexter waits in the Market area among the cloth hangings. He sends you to the Swamp Camp to steal a recipe from Cor Kalom’s chest. You can ask Baal Parvez to escort you there safely, and bringing along a few lockpicks is a smart move since the recipe is locked away.
Out of Sight
Keep pressing Thorus for a job, and he will eventually task you with removing Mordrag, a New Camp thief hanging around a shack near the market. You have a few ways to handle him:
- Fight him directly (risky early on, since he hits hard and can drop you fast without decent gear or preparation).
- Convince him to escort you to the New Camp, which removes him from Old Camp just as effectively.
Whichever route you pick, loot him afterward for some strong early gear before reporting back to Thorus.
A New Fence for Fisk
This one only unlocks after completing Out of Sight. With Mordrag gone, Fisk needs a new fence and sends you to recruit Sharky from the New Camp’s cave settlement.
Impressing Scatty (Unmarked)
This is not a formal quest, so it will not show up as its own entry in your log. Scatty, the Arena manager, can usually be found at the arena’s second floor, behind the arena, or in his nearby hut. Once Casting Shadows has started, ask him if there’s anything you can do to help your reputation, and he will point you toward the arena fighters.
Scatty currently manages three fighters:
- Kirgo (Old Camp Shadow): the easier opponent and a safe pick if you are still gearing up.
- Kharim (New Camp Merc): tougher, but the fighter Scatty actually wants you to challenge for a bigger reputation boost.
- Gor Hanis (Swamp Camp Templar): not available as a contender early on.
To fight Kharim specifically, you need to goad him during dialogue. Choosing the line about kissing Gomez’s ass triggers his acceptance. Win or lose, report back to Scatty afterward, since the outcome of the fight does not seem to matter much for earning his support.
Test of Faith: What Comes Next
After completing roughly three of the above quests, Diego hands you an additional task called Test of Faith. This sends you to the Old Mine to track down a man named Ian and bring back a supply list. It runs alongside the rest of Casting Shadows and feeds into the broader Admission to the Old Camp quest line, so do not be surprised if it pops up before you have finished everything else on this list.
How Many Quests Do You Actually Need?
You do not need to complete every single task here. Reports vary slightly, with most players needing somewhere between five and six completed objectives, including Scatty, before Diego is satisfied. However, your mileage may vary, since some quests appear to carry more weight with him than others.
If Diego still considers you “too green” after finishing the quests, two additional requirements typically come into play:
- Reach Level 5.
- Learn a skill from a trainer (a hunting skill from Drax is a commonly recommended option).
Wrapping Up Casting Shadows
Once you believe you have done enough, return to Diego and ask, “How is my reputation in the camp?” He will run through everyone who has vouched for you and confirm whether you have impressed him. If so, Casting Shadows is complete, which also ticks off a key objective in the Admission to the Old Camp quest line. Note that completing this quest by itself does not reward experience points directly, since the value comes from the individual side quests you finish along the way.
It is worth keeping in mind that committing to the Old Camp through this path closes off the easier routes into joining the New Camp or Swamp Camp later on, so treat this as a meaningful, somewhat permanent decision rather than something to rush through.
A Quick Note on Early Bugs
Some players reported progression issues shortly after launch, including instances where Diego failed to recognize completed quests properly. Later patches, including Patch 1.0.2, addressed several of these tracking problems, so keeping your game updated to the latest build helps avoid unnecessary frustration here.
Quick Recap
- Quest giver: Diego, after first speaking with Thorus
- Goal: Earn support from a set number of Shadows around Old Camp
- Key NPCs involved: Whistler, Fingers, Sly, Dexter, Thorus, Fisk, and Scatty
- Bonus task: Test of Faith, given by Diego partway through
- Additional requirements: Possibly reaching Level 5 and learning a skill
- Consequence: Locks you toward the Old Camp path, closing off easy entry into New Camp or Swamp Camp later
- Reward: Progresses the Admission to the Old Camp quest line and unlocks your meeting with Gomez
Once Diego gives you the green light, you are cleared to head into the castle for your audience with Gomez, the next major step toward officially joining the Old Camp.
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