Random Encounters (Dying Light)
Random Encounters are events that occur in Dying Light and Dying Light: The Following. Kyle Crane will receive an alert to a random encounter nearby while traversing the streets and alleys of Harran. Often, random survivors will need rescuing from infected or thugs. However, other times Crane will encounter survivors that will tell a story or provide him with information, or request an escort to safety.
Encounters in Dying Light
Lone survivor against infected
Crane will be alerted of a lone survivor either trapped inside a secure building or being mauled in the open. Should Crane rescue the survivor, they will provide a reward. Take too long and the survivor will be killed (if out in the open). A survivor caught in the open will then run off, often into more zombies by accident. A survivor in the building will remain there until Crane exits the area. It is possible for the survivor in the open to be killed by infected following the encounter.
Runners against infected
Crane will encounter usually two runners attempting to fight a small horde of Biters out in the open. Should Crane assist them and successfully clear out the Biters, one of the runners will provide a reward before they both run off, often times in different directions. Like the random survivor, both runners may be killed by infected following the encounter.
Taken hostage
There are two variants of this random encounter, one for the Slums and the other for Old Town. In the Slums, Crane will encounter a group of Rais' men holding two survivors hostage. In Old Town, only a single survivor is caught, being beaten by black cladded thugs for some sort of information. The version of this in the Slums is easier as there are less thugs to kill in total and less of them have firearms, while the thugs in Old Town deal more damage and there's usually more than one with a rifle. Either way, should Crane successfully kill the thugs without getting the hostage killed, upon being freed the survivor(s) will reward Crane. In the Slums, the survivors will run off and can be killed by Infected following the encounter. In Old Town, the survivor just stands there until Crane moves away. The survivor can then be killed if infected, particularly Virals, are lead to them.
Hostile survivors
Only encounterable after entering Old Town, Crane will sometimes come under attack by a, usually lone, hostile survivor. These people are desperate for some Antizin and will kill to get it. Identifying Crane as one of Brecken's runners, they will pursue Crane until he either escapes or the survivor is attacked by Biters. They will often ignore anything around them and focus solely on Crane, even when surrounded by a horde of zombies. If Crane is somewhere they can't reach i.e. a rooftop, they will throw knives or axes at him instead. They can be grappled by zombies and even killed by them and function identically to fighting one of Rais' men.
Demolisher fight
Only encounterable after entering Old Town, an encounter can be found at the various Demolisher 'arenas' around Old Town. These areas are often separated by tall walls and buildings to prevent Virals and Biters entering the area and a Demolisher can be found here. Occasionally, a group of around 3 survivors can be found fighting the Demolisher, often while being bombarded by a couple of Toads on higher ground. Should the Demolisher and Toads be killed before the survivors, one of the surviving ones will often award a weapon upgrade.
Traveling merchants
These survivors are, for want of a better word, traveling Merchants who can be found either inside a secure building or on top of a building rooftop. They will sell weapons and craft parts the same as any other merchant, though they won't move or reappear in a safe house anywhere. They do not sell unique items or anything and their inventory is the same as any normal safehouse merchant, except out in the world. They will despawn when Crane gets too far away, the same as other random encounters. The merchant can be killed if infected, particularly Virals, are lead to them, as they're otherwise in a place that Biters can't reach them.
Encounters in The Following
Car bandits
Two bandits can be found on the roads near a car, with the vehicle itself having died. Commonly at least one of the bandits will use a rifle firearm.
Bandit ambush
A group of Hostile Survivors will take over a police blockade and open fire upon approach.
Bandits looting corpse
Two bandits can be found looting a corpse, after killing them the corpse can be searched for a random reward.
Survivors and a demolisher
Two survivors can be found along the roads fighting against a Demolisher and a Toad, helping them results in a reward.
Survivor stuck in village
A survivor may be found in the village south of Bilal's Tar & Dust Workshop, cowering from infected. Slay the infected to receive a reward.
Survivor surrounded at Hunting Tower
While traveling through the countryside, a radio message may be heard of a survivor in distress from one of the hunting towers. At the site, there are typically three to five biters standing around down below the hunting tower. Dispatch them and climb up for a reward.
Traveling merchants
While traveling through the countryside, a radio message may be heard from a merchant located in a nearby hunting tower.
Altar of the Sun captive
While traveling through the countryside, a radio message may be heard of a survivor in distress about being ambushed by people who wish to desecrate an Altar of the Sun. Go to the Altar and dispatch the bandits to get a reward. Be mindful as typically at least one of the bandits will use a rifle firearm.
Escort missions
- Ahmet - A former bandit who leads Crane to loot.
- Babar Kizil - A self-perceived lycanthrope in need of herbs to cure him.
- Faruk Korkmaz - A cleaning product salesman who needs help finishing his deliveries.
- Nick Pesto - A tourist who needs his passport.
- Omar Boz - A fisherman who needs to get to his favorite spot.
Random survivors
The Slums
- Abdullah - A former businessman and owner of the Taurus gas stations. He laments his fall from grace to Crane.
- Albert - A civil engineer formerly employed by the city to work on the sewers. He encourages Crane to utilize them for travel.
- Bob - A former disease control worker who entered the city with the Hazmat team. Abandoned his suit and took to the rooftops.
- Gerritsen - A super-fan of Jade Aldemir who has lost her family.
- Ibrahim - A former prisoner who reveals information on Tahir.
- Macary - A drunkard who provides the A Baby is Born quest.
- Richie Vandercamp - A former public relations representative optimistic about the future.
- Yilmaz - A possible former thug who reveals information on Kadir "Rais" Suleiman.
- Haluk - A survivor who knows Spike and had rented him a room before the outbreak.
- Temel - A survivor who used to work in Brecken's Tower before the Harran outbreak.
- Suzanne - A survivor who was involved in the media related to the Global Athletics Games.
- Yakup - A Tower resident who has a crush on Lena.
Old Town
- Bill - An enterprising American tourist.
- Damla - A film enthusiast lamenting on her lack of a 'happy ending'.
- Johann - A German tourist abandoned by his friends while heavily intoxicated.
- Murat - A survivor unhappy with the upper class.
- Mrs. Braithwaite - A survivor who can occasionaly be found in locked closet rooms.
The Following
- Jamal - A former government official who may be found at Jasir's farm.
- Marwan - A drunk located in the attic at Jasir's farm.
- Qudamah - A survivor located at Bilal's Tar & Dust Workshop.
- Fudail - Another survivor located at Bilal's Tar & Dust Workshop.
Notes
- The 'taken hostage' random encounter will not happen in the Slums after beating the game. Since Rais' stronghold falls in the Slums, his men don't appear there anymore, so the random encounter can't happen.
- The 'taken hostage' random encounter in Old Town is the only way to get requisition packs, since looting the bodies of the thugs will give a requisition pack for each person.
- The traveling merchants always appear with a large duffle bag next to them, likely carrying their wares, but the bag can't be looted.