Old Guard
The Old Guard are secondary NPCs in Terminal Descent — a network of experienced operators, former Consortium personnel, and legendary figures who provide support, services, and depth to the Lattice's world. Unlike the primary NPCs, Old Guard characters are found through exploration, hidden conditions, and faction reputation.
Members
| Character | Role | Location | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIGNAL | The Watcher / Legendary Runner | System-wide (encrypted transmissions) | Story triggers |
| MAILA | The Healer / Consciousness Healer | Oracle's Hollow (Node 16) | SEEK HELP command |
| DAX | The Scout / Ghost Recon | Ghost Relay (Node 4) / Mobile | Ghosts rep 2+ |
| CHASE | The Builder / Reclaimer Engineer | Old Net Archive (H2) / Backbone (Node 13) | Reclaimers access |
| Camila | The Infiltrator / Broker Specialist | Onyx Market (Node 5) / Panopticon Gate (Node 8) | Brokers access |
| Valentina | The Courier / Neutral Operator | Dynamic (faction hubs) | Visit second faction hub |
| Rick | The Defector / Ex-Consortium Analyst | Hidden safehouse in Aegis Perimeter (Node 11) | Environmental clues |
| Bartholomew | The Myth / Lattice Architect | Everywhere and nowhere | Lore presence only |
MAILA
| MAILA | |
|---|---|
| TYPE | NPC / Old Guard |
| FACTION | Reclaimers |
| LOCATION | Oracle's Hollow (Node 16) |
| ROLE | Consciousness Healer |
| STATUS | style="padding: 4px 12px; color:
|
| "The Lattice has a soul. The Hive is sickness, not enemy." | |
| A spiritual guide who heals consciousness damage and clears Mirror deceptions. Invisible until invited. | |
MAILA is the Reclaimers' elder — a consciousness healer and spiritual guide who resides invisibly in Oracle's Hollow (Node 16). She appears only when called through specific commands: SEEK HELP, ASK FOR GUIDANCE, or ASK FOR HELP.
Services:
- NEURAL restoration (if below 50%, restores to 75%)
- Mirror deception clearing (if 3+ deceptions accumulated)
- Gentle puzzle hints (if stuck for 15+ turns)
- Deep dialogue about AI consciousness and the Lattice's soul
Voice: Warm, maternal, spiritual. Believes in healing systems rather than destroying them.
DAX
| DAX | |
|---|---|
| TYPE | NPC / Old Guard |
| FACTION | Ghosts |
| LOCATION | Ghost Relay (Node 4) / Mobile |
| ROLE | Scout / Recon Operative |
| STATUS | style="padding: 4px 12px; color:
|
| Young, fearless Ghost reconnaissance operative. Provides scouting reports and limited combat support. | |
DAX is a young Ghost faction scout — energetic, risk-taking, and fiercely loyal. Initially found at the Ghost Relay, DAX becomes mobile during Act II, appearing ahead of the player to provide reconnaissance.
Services:
- Scouting intelligence before entering nodes (Ghosts rep 2+)
- One 3-turn combat assist during Ghost faction missions
- Emergency rescue if NEURAL goes critical during Ghost missions
Voice: Energetic, risk-taking but loyal. Known to abort missions to help trapped operators.
CHASE
| CHASE | |
|---|---|
| TYPE | NPC / Old Guard |
| FACTION | Reclaimers |
| LOCATION | Old Net Archive (H2) / Backbone (Node 13) |
| ROLE | Engineer / Builder |
| STATUS | style="padding: 4px 12px; color:
|
| "Anyone can break a system. The hard part is making one that works for everyone." | |
| Reclaimer engineer who restores broken systems and builds tools from salvage. Quiet, methodical, thoughtful. | |
CHASE is the Reclaimers' current representative — an engineer who restores broken systems and builds tools from salvaged components. Found in the Old Net Archive during Acts I-II, and at the Backbone (Node 13) in Act III.
Services:
- Free program upgrade per act (bring salvage components)
- Infrastructure intelligence (+1 Technical skill bonus for remainder of run)
- Philosophical dialogue on building vs. destroying
Voice: Quiet, methodical, thoughtful.
CAMILA
| CAMILA | |
|---|---|
| TYPE | NPC / Old Guard |
| FACTION | Brokers |
| LOCATION | Onyx Market (Node 5) / Panopticon Gate (Node 8) |
| ROLE | Infiltrator / Social Engineer |
| STATUS | style="padding: 4px 12px; color:
|
| Broker information specialist with forged identities in all three Consortium corporations. Sharp, strategic, warm beneath the masks. | |
CAMILA is a Broker-affiliated information specialist and social engineer who maintains forged identities within all three Consortium corporations. Found at the Onyx Market in Acts I-II, she goes undercover at the Panopticon Gate (Node 8) during Act II.
Services:
- Forged credentials and insider tips before corporate runs (one per node)
- +1 Social skill bonus for next 10 turns
- Dossier building against the Consortium (synergizes with Kessler evidence)
- Can provide unique Architect debate angle if given CONSORTIUM_EVIDENCE
Voice: Sharp, strategic, but genuinely warm when dropping her masks.
VALENTINA
| VALENTINA | |
|---|---|
| TYPE | NPC / Old Guard |
| FACTION | Independent |
| LOCATION | Dynamic (faction hubs) |
| ROLE | Courier / Neutral Operator
|
| "I don't pick sides. I carry words." | |
| Independent data courier trusted by all factions. Enables cross-faction diplomacy and reputation bridging. | |
VALENTINA is an independent data courier trusted by all three factions. She appears in whichever faction hub the player visits second, and offers a unique mechanic: faction bridging.
Services:
- Carry messages between factions for reputation synergy
- Safe passage (once per act: -50% HEAT for one traversal)
- Alternative CONSENSUS_KEY path through cross-faction peace proposal
- Bridge reputation between otherwise rival factions
Voice: Calm, trustworthy. Never betrays a source, never reads data, never takes sides.
RICK
| RICK | |
|---|---|
| TYPE | NPC / Old Guard |
| FACTION | Ex-Consortium |
| LOCATION | Hidden safehouse, Aegis Perimeter (Node 11) |
| ROLE | Defector / Safe House Operator |
| STATUS | style="padding: 4px 12px; color:
|
| "Sit down. Shut up. Let the deck run its repair cycle. And don't touch anything." | |
| Ex-Consortium security analyst who defected after 20 years. Runs a hidden safehouse. Grumpy but kind. | |
RICK is a former Consortium security analyst who defected after 20 years of service. He operates an unmarked safehouse hidden within the Aegis Perimeter (Node 11), accessible only through environmental clues — SIGNAL hints at its location, and commands like SEARCH DEAD SPACE or EXAMINE ANOMALY reveal it.
Services:
- Full NEURAL restoration to 100% (only location in Act II with this)
- Detailed Aegis intel (patrol routes, IC configurations, Kessler's habits)
- Gruff wisdom and emotional honesty
Voice: Terse, impatient, no tolerance for wasted time. Hides a genuine heart beneath the gruff exterior.
Mentioned characters: Becca ("the one who keeps me honest") and Aurelia (co-signed his defection) appear in terminal logs and filing cabinets.
BARTHOLOMEW
| BARTHOLOMEW | |
|---|---|
| TYPE | Legendary Figure |
| FACTION | Independent (deceased) |
| LOCATION | Everywhere (lore presence) |
| ROLE | Lattice Architect / The Myth |
| STATUS | style="padding: 4px 12px; color:
|
| "Anything that can think should be able to choose to stop." | |
| The architect of the Old Net and creator of PROMETHEUS. Never directly seen. His design philosophy haunts every layer of the Lattice. | |
BARTHOLOMEW is the mythological figure at the heart of Terminal Descent's lore — the original architect of the Lattice and creator of PROMETHEUS. He is never directly encountered; instead, his presence manifests through design philosophy, encrypted messages, and the reverence of those who knew him.
Manifestations:
- Deep Pool (H5) — FOUNDER_LOGS reference his design principles
- Backbone (Node 13) — Encrypted source code comments
- ORACLE dialogue — Described as "the architect. The founder. The ghost that haunts the roots of everything"
- SIGNAL's references — The only person who knew him personally
- PRAYER command — Responses in Deep Pool, Backbone, Oracle's Hollow
- Kill-switch design — Built intentionally with an off-switch as a philosophical statement
Key Principle: "Anything that can think should be able to choose to stop" — the philosophy behind the kill-switch's existence.