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DREADMOOR NPC Guide – Malcolm, Gill, Bozur & John the Fifth
Last updated: 2026-11-03 · Verified against game version Demo (Oct 2026)
Meet DREADMOOR's cast: Malcolm the player character, traders Gill and Bozur at Betsy and Sons, and engineer John the Fifth at the Dry Dock — who gives what, and what to bring.
Quick Guide — Key Takeaways
- Malcolm is the player character — a weathered fisherman with a debt and a damaged boat.
- Gill and Bozur run Betsy and Sons: Essence treatment, fishing contracts, the shop and the Carburetor.
- John the Fifth controls the Dry Dock — repair his Moonshine Still to earn the key.
- Betsy is not a person: she is the giant crab carrying the shop on her back.
- Bring contract fish whole; never process a delivery before hand-in.
The demo has a small cast and a long memory. These are the faces behind the contracts, the Dry Dock key, and the shop listing that decides whether your engine gets fixed.
Malcolm — The Player
Malcolm is a weathered fisherman with a past he does not explain and a boat that needs more work than he does. Voiced in first person, he is shown through his hands and tools rather than an avatar — you are not commanding the boat from above; you are standing on it, hauling lines and walking into ruins.
Gill and Bozur — Betsy and Sons
The traders at the trading post are the first people to offer Malcolm help — and the first to make sure he remembers it. Their Essence treatment keeps the Blight at bay but creates the debt that structures the opening act.
Services: Essence treatment, the Bunkhouse key, the three fishing contracts (5 Snappers, 3 Softgrazers, 3 Harpooners), bait blueprints, general goods, fish sales, and the Carburetor purchase (50, after the Harpooner delivery).
John the Fifth — The Dry Dock Engineer
John controls the Dry Dock, and when you meet him his Moonshine Still is broken and his patience is shorter than the repair list. He will not hand over the Dry Dock Key until the still works — which sends you to Angler's Island for Coral Fibers and onto the water for Bug Slime.
After the key, John becomes the boat progression guide: fuse box, hull cleaning, hull repair, the research tree, Hull Protection and the Upgraded Engine. If a crafted module seems missing, it is usually in the Dry Dock storage locker.
Who Gives What
| Character | Location | Role | Quests & Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malcolm | The boat and on foot | Player | Fishing, salvage, repairs, combat |
| Gill | Betsy and Sons | Trader | Essence, contracts, shop, Carburetor |
| Bozur | Betsy and Sons | Trader | Essence, contracts, shop, Carburetor |
| John the Fifth | Dry Dock | Engineer | Moonshine Still, Dry Dock Key, boat modules |
Ask about contracts, blueprints, the Carburetor and the next boat module. Bring whole contract fish, Metal Plates, Bug Slime and Chromatic Scales. Never process a delivery before the hand-in.
FAQ
Who is the main character in DREADMOOR?
Malcolm, a gruff fisherman voiced in first person. The game shows his hands and tools rather than a third-person avatar — you are standing on the boat, not commanding it from above.
Who are Gill and Bozur?
The traders at Betsy and Sons. They administer the Essence treatment, record it as a debt, hand out the fishing contracts, and run the shop that sells the Carburetor after the Harpooner delivery.
Who is John the Fifth?
The engineer who controls the Dry Dock. He withholds the Dry Dock Key until his Moonshine Still is repaired, then guides the hull work, Hull Protection and Upgraded Engine objectives.
Is Betsy a character?
Betsy is the giant crab that carries the trading post — the shop Betsy and Sons is named after her. The speaking traders inside are Gill and Bozur.
Sources
- DREADMOOR — official Steam page
- Verified in-game, October 2026 demo build
Related Guides
Beginner
DREADMOOR Beginner Guide – Your First Hours in the Submerged Lands
Start DREADMOOR the right way: the Abandoned House, Betsy and Sons, the Bunkhouse, your first fishing contracts, and the mistakes that cost new players their catch.
Walkthrough
DREADMOOR Demo Walkthrough – Every Quest from the Abandoned House to The Throat
Complete DREADMOOR demo walkthrough: all main quests in order — the five-Snapper contract, Moonshine Still, Dry Dock repairs, Hull Protection, Upgraded Engine and The Throat gate.
Guides
DREADMOOR Trading Guide – Fish Prices, Selling & What to Buy
How trading works in DREADMOOR: fish values per kilogram, when to sell vs process your catch, and the shop items that matter — the Carburetor and Torn Pages.