The Guardians of The New Camp

in early design docs called Noble Mercenaries (German: noble Söldner) (see Orpheus Guilds V1) and Paladins (e.g. in Roter Faden design doc)
in the final game release known as Mercenaries of New Camp
known as die Recken (“heroic” warriors) in German version of Sleeper’s Ban, and as Die Garde (GRD) (“noble” guards) in alpha builds
protect Alchemists of Water, farmers living in New Camp and Miner’s Association of Free Camp
- The miners from the Free Camp need our protection and we need their ore. (Inf_Grd_FL)
4 of them are bodyguards of Lee, with healing ability; absolutely loyal (design doc NPCs per Guild)
it’s said that all of them have military experience from times before their conviction
- I am Orik, chief of the mercenaries. My boys here are all former army soldiers, mercenaries and deserters
- SIT_1_NC_ORIK_EXPLAINMERCSANDMAGES from 0.94 alpha

The Armorer

German: der Waffenmeister
teacher of the Guardians (design doc NPCs per Guild)

Cord

former member of Royal Army / king's staff and old friend of Lee
I've been with Lee since I got here. We already knew each other outside. I heard the story of why he ended up here back then. I was part of the king's staff. I heard them talking about getting Lee out of the way. Lee had no chance. I wanted to speak up in his defense, but it was of no use. When the traitors found out that I wanted to speak for Lee, they framed me for a minor offense. A little later they took me to the cliff too. (Sit_1_NC_Cord_TrainFighters / alpha 0.94)

Gorn

muscular giant
Where I come from, opponents are invited for a feast before they are killed...
- he is dark-skinned, and from Sleeper’s Ban we know about a dark skinned tribe which does just that
- plot twist is that after being killed, these enemies participate in the feast in role of the meal
member of both Guardians Of The New Camp and The Masters

Lee, The Lord Protector

initially he was serving as a royal bodyguard
- source: alpha docs and Sit_1_NC_Lee_Dam from alpha 0.94
ex-general, war hero
also called Duke in design doc Story 3.3 draft
convicted for lifetime of forced labor for murder of the king's wife
- he insists that he’s innocent, and that he was framed by conspiring nobles
- according to earlier version of his story, his arest was related to some piece of correspondence written by another nobleman, again without him actually committing any crime
referred to as The Lord or The Lord Protector (German: der Lord-Protektor) (design doc NPCs per Guild)
- this may suggest that as a Royal General he used to be a member of Myrtanian Nobility
leader of Guardians Of New Camp
jealous of the dominance of the Healing Mages (design doc NPCs per Guild)
old friend of Cord from the times when they both served the king before getting falsely convinced

I was one of the best generals of this country. I’ve spent my whole life fighting for my country. But the nobles didn’t like me, because the King listened to my advice. And they knew I posed a threat to their dirty business. They used the King’s wife to get me. I was blamed for her pointless murder.

I served at the king’s court as leader of the king’s bodyguard... for many years. One stormy night the guards at the gate reported a mounted messenger sent by the Count of Meidheim. I led the messenger into the throne room and handed him over to the hall guards present. As I crossed the courtyard just a few moments later, I found a scroll, laying unsealed in the mud of the stable. I bent down and took a look at it. It was a message from the Count of Meidheim to the king. I was horrified. Not only the Count’s head would be at stake due to the content! When I still held the message in my hand, mouth open and disbelieving, I heard the messenger’s calls. ‘Guards! Seize him!’ My guards approached hesitantly. I followed them and they led me to the king. I was accused of treason and brought here, behind the barrier. So they thought they had silenced me. Only my years of loyalty to the king saved my life, but I had to give up my freedom for his intrigue.

Other games

[King's] sycophants betrayed me, because I knew something I shouldn't have known. They tossed me into the mining colony, and the King allowed it. (Gothic 2)
I know General Lee. I also know the circumstances under which he was condemned to forced labor in the colony. I consider him to be an honorable man. (Lord Hagen in Gothic 2)

The Merciless

German: der Gnadenlose
leads field operations
known for occasionally brutal acts; "the Lord" [Lee] repeatedly criticizes him for this

Orik

chief of the mercenaries according to 0.94 alpha
- unclear how does it play with the role of Lee

Strider

only appears in early alpha
wears what looks like Guru robes, but the comment in the script says that’ he’s actually wearing a leather armor (Lederrustung)
stands in front of the gate to the Castle of the Old Camp and helps the player when he enters (script comment)
sees Grunt (a Mercenary Of Old Camp) blackmailing and attacking the player character, and then helps to kill Grunt
can teach player advanced sword fight after Grunt is dead
- You see, here you have to be able to handle a sword. I can teach you a little sword fighting. Interested? Great, then attack me.
has custom AI which allows player to attack him without getting into trouble, after player accepted sword fighting lesson and before that lesson ends
could have been an early demonstration of hostility between members of the New Camp and the Old Camp