"Fool's Gold"/Lore

**Norton Campbell**, also known as **"Fool's Gold"**, is one of the **28** playable Hunters added to Identity V. He is the Hunter identity of Prospector.

This page is a compilation of lore and story content for this character.

## Backstory

### Character Introduction

The accident brought Norton Campbell "Golden Luck," but it was not enough to heal his crumbling health, which caused him to weaken easily and his lungs to become more and more diseased. How over, the physical pain was nothing compared to the "infection" that spread from those tiny wounds.

Every time the "infection" starts, he would experience a fear of falling into the endless void. The feeling of fear is growing more and more pronounced in the darkness, as if he were stuck again in the deep, bottomless mine of which he had tried to escape all his life.

### Character Trailer

Identity V - “Fool's Gold” Background Story"Fool's Gold"'s backstory trailer
### Trailer Transcript

*If the father is a miner*

*So shall the son*

*If you want it*

*come and get it!*

*I once thought the same*

*Kind child*

*Please do not abandon me*

*No*

*Norton*

*damnit*

*you hypocrite!*

*Poverty is the worst curse*

*But sometimes*

*There are ways*

*To make a change*

## Deduction Quests

*All completed Objectives reward the player with +335Logic points for the Logic Path. After the character's deductions are completed, their Worn Clothes will be available.*

## Letters

This page contains the letters received after completing all quests part of the Norton's Character Day/Birthday event on March 19th each year. Each is removed from the player's mailbox in a week, but can still be accessed from the deduction quest menu. These letters are shared with his Survivor Persona, Prospector.

* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

## Lore Connections

### An Unsent Letter (2020)

To Norton:

You rascal!

Why did you leave without saying goodbye and disappear?

I just can't stay in this dump any longer.

I'm dreaming of returning to the mines day and night, looking for that sparkling gold ore.

You wouldn't...

You wouldn't...

You wouldn't...

You wouldn't have gone by yourself, would you?

If you did then you're, you're...

Don't leave me behind, I beg of you.

What kind of person are you behind your polarized facade?

Even to an old man... You wouldn't trick an old miner who'd spent half his life crawling in mines, right?

Norton, my good boy, show some respect to your father.

Don't leave his old pal behind.

No!

No...Norton, dammit, you fool's gold!

"Iron Chisel" Benny

## Lore Connections

### The last page of the notes (2021)

(Aged handwriting)

Account entry: Payment to be settled before August, 30% paid

Location: Oletus Manor

Keep the transportation receipts! Lease to be renewed. Find another place to stay upon return.

(New handwriting)

Such a large amount of money!

I've never seen so much money before, not least in a mine. I'm sure many people will risk their lives to grab it!

This is simply unfair. The poor find it difficult to lead a comfortable life, while all the rich need to do is wave their banknotes around.

Over the last 20 years, I lived like a rat in the gutter. I spent days under the ground in the dark just so I could earn a minimal living. Scars from the blasts crawled all over my face like maggots. The constant scorn and ridicule... I endured it every time just so I'd get a chance to climb up the ladder.

It's ridiculous how much effort I put into this—anyway, I've finally managed to crawl out from the rat hole. I no longer have to pick and pull on the disgusting ash. Those who did nothing but laugh at me deserve to stay underground and be stepped on like maggots forever.

I and only I deserve that money! Think about it, Norton Campbell. There won't be a better chance. Such a simple "game", such a generous employer. Clear an obstacle and you'll get a load of money. Isn't this much simpler than what you used to do?

No life is more precious than others. Just think about that woman, think about how arrogant she is!

Get rid of her before she takes any action!

## Lore Connections

### Mentioned Playable Characters

* Melly Plinius
* Alice DeRoss (Writer)

### Investigation Records (2022)

...

The report on the mining incident mentioned the sole survivor—Norton Campbell.

According to the report, the illegal use of explosives caused a cave-in that led to a few dozen workers being trapped. The complex structure of the mine impeded search and rescue efforts.

The police report claimed the search and rescue team was at the brink of giving up when a survivor dug his way out through a mountain creek a few dozen meters away from the mine. Compared to the bloodied state the other victims were in, he'd suffered minor burns... That's all the information in the newspaper.

I suspected that there was more to it, so I spent time investigating Norton Campbell.

His father, a former miner, died of black lung many years ago, and his educations records are blank too. Like most of the poor, there's no choice but to labor. That's all the information I could get from his former colleagues and employers. He was a gloomy person who rarely spoke about himself. Norton Campbell was invited to this manor as a guest, and I finally got an opportunity to interview him today, but all I got were vague answers.

Question: Were you part of the illegal blasting that led to the cave-in last year?

Answer: It's a common thing in the mining industry. It doesn't take a genius to know explosives produce much faster results than drills.

Question: According to the investigation, you enter the mine 30 minutes earlier than everyone else...

Answer: It's just a habit of mine. Those slackers know only to follow me and wait for money and ores to fall into their arms.

Questions: All the others died beneath the rubble after the collapse, but you got away with minor burns on your face. Is it because you were closer to the source of the explosion but had time to hide somewhere safe?

Answer: Why don't you ask the police? Their investigation is much more detailed than anything I can describe.

The money I had was only enough to pay for 3 questions. Just like how he was when I spoke to him, Norton Campbell wasn't friendly at all during the interview, and he left in a hurry once he got paid. He didn't even try to conceal his hatred for the rich. After that I only met him once during dinner. He didn't speak much to the other guests, but his face was much gloomier than before. Mrs. Plinius did warn me to stay away from him, but I personally think his hatred is reserved for the rich.

After the interview and investigation, my theory grew clearer. All the guests seemed plagued by shocking rumors that can't be proved, and all these games seem to have a similar objective. However, he was an exception...

## Lore Connections

### An Old Letter (2023)

My brother,

What have you been up to lately?

This break of yours is taking way too long. Even the work at the mines will be done soon!

I was looking for some work clothes two days ago, and I found a pretty neat set.

I'll get someone to modify it into a winter quilt for that brat of yours.

Colin fell ill during your absence.

What the heck! It's like these issues creep up on you when you're underground, and there's no escape!

But it's time for days like these to end. I have a new idea once we're done here.

It's like you said. There are mines everywhere, and we can mine anywhere. Why is it that only the rich are allowed to mine for gold?

Just think about it. We'd get to live a better life. Our children will get to enjoy bread, cake, and dessert every day.

That brat of yours can go to school and wear clean clothes like a rich man's boy.

We can get a nice house with glass windows to enjoy the sun.

When the kids grow up, their memories will be filled with a comfortable life surrounded by servants. Mines? Coal? Bah!

I can't wait to tell you the rest when you return, my brother.

This is all I can say about my golden plan in this letter!

Come on back so that we can do great things together.

Let's change our lives and the lives of our children.

Benny

### Letter Summaries

These summaries are found in the Character Relations menu after the letter has been received.

***An Unsent Letter***
According to the letter, Norton swindled an old friend of his father to acquire clues about a gold mine.

***The Last Page of the Notes***
The notes recorded a transaction: Norton is contracted by his employer to assassinate a woman for a sizeable payment.

### Rewards

Every letter comes with 30 Fragments, and depending on how many years the player has participated and completed the Character Day Event would determine which letter they receive and the extra reward. As Prospector has celebrated four Character Days before the introduction of "Fool's Gold", there are currently no available rewards for "Fool's Gold", despite having four letters.

## Character Resources

The additional in-game and external documents for this character include:

* Character Relations
* Quotes & Media
* Event Appearances
* Mentions

The Character Relations menu shows how certain characters are connected and how they feel about each other. It also contains other personal information on characters that cannot be found anywhere else. It can be found in the Notebook, under the "Clues" tab. "Fool's Gold's" connections to other characters are as follows:

* As Journalist
* As "Nightmare"

**"Fool's Gold"** has been mentioned in the following documents for other characters:

## Canon Manor Game

We can gather who was in a canon Manor Game together by information in Letters and Diaries, and very occasionally from character quotes during events.

**Game Location: Darkwoods**

**Date: July 15th**
 "Fool's Gold" | Norton Campbell (Prospector)
 Unknown | Melly Pliny (Entomologist)

Edits to this table can be made here.

## Compiled Overview

The following section contains an overview based on canon information.Please note that some information may be missing as it may not have been provided from official sources. See the given references for further information.
TBA

## References

1. ↑ See Time of Reunion.
2. ↑ Backstory from the official Identity V website - https://idv.163.com/character/index.html
3. ↑ Originally written as "Don't leave the old man behind."
4. ↑ Originally written as "No...Norton, dammit, you fraudster"
5. ↑ Note that both alternate options for each character relation are offered in the table, as the game has not clarified which option is "correct."

### Manor Game Table References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Both Melly and Norton are seen as "monstrous" beings on Orpheus's point of view from the Go Hunting Promotional Video

### Deduction Quest Changes

1. ↑ Previously: *Basic Objective: Use Collapse to knock down Survivors 1 time(s).* / *Advanced Objective 1: Use Collapse to knock down Survivors 2 time(s).* / *Advanced Objective 2: Use Collapse to knock down Survivors 3 time(s).*
2. ↑ Previously: *Basic Objective: Deal Collapse damage to Survivors who are 20 meters away 1 time(s).* / *Advanced Objective 1: Deal Collapse damage to Survivors who are 20 meters away 2 time(s).* / *Advanced Objective 2: Deal Collapse damage to Survivors who are 20 meters away 3 time(s).*
3. ↑ Previously: *Basic Objective: Use Magnetic Rock to deal Collapse damage to Survivors 1 time(s).* / *Advanced Objective 1: Use Magnetic Rock to deal Collapse damage to Survivors 2 time(s).* / *Advanced Objective 2: Use Magnetic Rock to deal Collapse damage to Survivors 3 time(s).*
4. ↑ Previously: *Basic Objective: Knock down Survivors near a Rocket Chair that is eliminating a Survivor 1 time(s).* / *Advanced Objective 1: Knock down Survivors near a Rocket Chair that is eliminating a Survivor 2 time(s).* / *Advanced Objective 2: Knock down Survivors near a Rocket Chair that is eliminating a Survivor 3 time(s).*
5. ↑ Previously: *Basic Objective: Use Collapse to simultaneously deal damage to multiple Survivors 1 time(s).* / *Advanced Objective 1: Use Collapse to simultaneously deal damage to multiple Survivors 2 time(s).* / *Advanced Objective 2: Use Collapse to simultaneously deal damage to multiple Survivors 3 time(s).*
6. ↑ Previously: *Basic Objective: Eliminate 1 Survivor(s).* / *Advanced Objective 1: Eliminate 2 Survivor(s).* / *Advanced Objective 2: Eliminate 3 Survivor(s).*