Guard

Guards are high-HP peacekeeping NPCs stationed throughout human settlements in the Starting Meadows, serving as the primary enforcement presence in Zone 1's civilized areas. They are distinguished from Settlers and Merchants by their armor, weapons, and aggressive patrol routes that cover settlement perimeters and key buildings. Under normal circumstances Guards are neutral toward players, but they maintain strict behavioral boundaries that, if crossed, turn them hostile and trigger a settlement-wide alert.

In terms of gameplay mechanics, Guards become hostile if a player draws a weapon in their presence, steals from settlement inventories, picks locks on buildings, or commits violence against other NPCs nearby. Their high HP pool means that a hostile Guard is a serious threat to early-game players who lack proper Warrior skill tree defenses, and the entire settlement becomes dangerous until the alert status expires. Uniquely, Guards can also be engaged in non-hostile combat practice: challenging a Guard to a sparring session awards experience points that contribute to character progression without triggering hostility, making them a useful early-game training resource.

Guards represent the last line of law and order in a world otherwise dominated by the Mortivar, Grimverd, and Steamer civilizations that threaten the floating island settlements. Players who antagonize Guards risk losing access to Merchant trading and Settler quest-giving in that settlement until their reputation recovers. Building a positive relationship with the settlements of the Starting Meadows, including respecting Guard boundaries, ensures access to the trade networks and resupply options that remain useful throughout the entire game's progression arc.