The Return of the Valley’s Most Annoying Digger
If you are exploring the wooden huts and muddy pathways after deciding to join the Old Camp, you will eventually run into Mud. He is one of the colony’s many key characters, but not for a good reason. Mud is a companion NPC who takes an instant, obsessive liking to you. Once he approaches and starts speaking, he will follow you everywhere, commenting on your actions, blocking your path, and generally making your life in the colony miserable.
Unlike typical RPG companions, there is no polite dialogue option to dismiss him. Telling him to go away does nothing. To get some peace and quiet, you will have to resort to more creative—or violent—measures.
How to Get Rid of Mud
There are two primary methods to free yourself from Mud’s company:
Method 1: The “Convincing” Beatdown
If you do not want to become a murderer but still need him gone, you can fight him. However, you must be careful where you initiate the brawl:
- Avoid the Guards: Do not attack Mud in the middle of the marketplace or near the castle gates. The Old Camp guards will immediately intervene and beat you down for disturbing the peace.
- Find a Secluded Spot: Lead Mud away from the crowd. A quiet corner behind some huts, the outer rim of the camp, or even a secluded cave outside the camp walls works best.
- Knock Him Out: Draw your weapon or fists and attack him. Since Mud is weak, he will fall quickly. Once he gets back up, he will be angry and refuse to follow you anymore.
Method 2: The Permanent Solution
If you want to ensure Mud never bothers you again, you can choose to kill him.
- Lead him out of the camp and attack him with a lethal weapon.
- Alternatively, you can lead him toward wild beasts like Scavengers or Wolves outside the camp walls. Let the local wildlife do the dirty work for you. Just make sure you can handle the beasts yourself once Mud is out of the picture.
The Achievement Trap: Don’t Act Too Early
While your first instinct might be to draw your sword the moment Mud opens his mouth, achievement hunters should exercise restraint. The remake includes a hidden achievement called “Mud Freak”.
To unlock this achievement, you must listen to all 24 of Mud’s unique dialogue interruptions. These lines trigger dynamically as you explore the world, talk to other NPCs, or make choices while Mud is following you. Beating him up or killing him before exhausting all 24 lines will lock you out of this achievement for the rest of your playthrough.
If you want 100% completion, keep Mud around for a few hours, trigger all his dialogue, and only then choose how to dispose of him. If you are just trying to survive the harsh environment with our beginner tips, however, getting rid of him early is highly recommended.