Unpacking Karlach - A Baldur's Gate 3 Deep Dive

[@jendowns6175]

"Gortash looks like someone who groomed minors at warped tour" that observation was so on point I had to text my friend with a link to the vid because I don't think truer words have ever been uttered.

[@PocketLeaves]

akdhshdgsgs it was the first thought I had the first time I saw him

[@thesilliestgoose5990]

EXACTLY I’m seeing wayyyyyy too many Gortash Thirst posts on social media. It’s all just… gross.

[@Zombina638]

No

[@Zombina638]

@@thesilliestgoose5990its not gross if you have no proof of these weird head cannons ur making lol? Make it make sense kid bc we aint stopping

[@IndieDoodles]

OH MY FUCKING GOD. THIS. AND ALSO HE LOOKS LIKE NOCTIS FFXV HAD A MIDLIFE CRISIS. OH MY GOD?????

[@tinydarkjewel]

I think Karlach should set up base in House of Hope. I'm sure Hope would let her. Then I could visit her there.

[@vengefuljester2090]

The player can actually suggest this to her after defeating Raphael. But she responds with it wouldn't last. That it's only a matter of time before another devil would come along and take the house for themselves. That Hope doesn't last in hell

[@rroiboi125]

​@@vengefuljester2090damn, so the whole raphael fight will become pointless eventually. Thts rlly sad man, well at least we got hope some freedom for a bit. Lord knows she needed it

[@101Mant]

​@@vengefuljester2090true but if you persuade her to go back to Avernus it still feels like a better option than the alternative if just wandering around the hells.

[@jeremyleonjonas7657]

Absolutely what I was thinking whenn I insisted on her to go back at the ending. A) she isn't alone (Wyll accompanying her) and b) she has a genuine refuge. And well... c) she isn't dead, which is always a good start.

[@boianko]

@@vengefuljester2090 To be honest, I think that's a bit bullshit considering Hope's abilities. She can just straight up banish creatures from the house, including pretty powerful devils like Yurgir, so it's a defensible spot. Though Karlach being there would probably endanger Hope more, since Zariel is actively sending out her minions to recapture/kill Karlach.

[@robertbryant4669]

Spoiler: Something I just found out during my second playthrough: Gortash himself was sold to Raphael and spent his formative years in the House of Hope in Avernus. By selling Karlach to Zariel, he perpetuated a cycle of abuse in which he was caught himself.

[@DecScape]

You wonder how much Gortash "learned" from Raphael in tems of everything that went down since Raphael always wanted the Crown.

[@elnumbrotres]

Technically Gortash was sold to a warlock first. Even before he was sold though, he was an absolute monster according to his parents

[@boianko]

​@elnumbrotres Those are the parents that sold their own kid to an infernal warlock. Listening to what they say about him, it sounds more like they're just trying to justify themselves to you by saying Gortash was evil as a child.

[@fightingfalcon777]

@@elnumbrotresI forget how, but there is supposedly something in the game that reveals or implies that the Warlock actually was Raphael

[@elnumbrotres]

@@fightingfalcon777 in the house of hope, you can find someone whose job was to watch the jails until a prisoner escaped. The prisoner was Gortash. I’m pretty sure that the warlock that bought Gortash was indebted to Raphael l

[@TheKolboShow]

If you want an explanation on what the Blood War is : It's essentially an ancient and eternal war between Devils and Demons. Demons are basically murderhobos whereas devils are all about rules and decorum, and so they don't get along too well. Basically Chaotic Evil vs Lawful Evil. Imagine if Enver Gortash and Orin the Red were locked inside a room alone for more than an hour, it's kinda like that.

[@PocketLeaves]

Oooh, that's actually a really helpful explanation!!

[@zacharybosley1935]

I love the Gortash & Orin example, because their conflicting intentions for The Absolute pretty cleanly maps onto what happens if either side definitively "wins" the Blood War. If Demons overwhelm the Devils, then we are looking at the absolute destruction of all reality. If Devils win, then they will have amassed enough power and resources to subjugate the rest of reality. Which is why the Good outsiders, like Angels & The Good Gods don't intercede in the blood war itself, preferring to let them fight it out forever

[@bentarbbronze6048]

@@PocketLeavesI've also heard it described as 'a pissing contest over the right way to be evil'.

[@yoyohayli]

​@zacharybosley1935 I mean, of we're speaking pragmatically, I would prefer the reality where maybe there is still some semblance of society for me to survive in with the people I love, so I gotta root for the devils. Demons, y'all are neat, but if I kiss ass hard enough and study law hard enough, I might survive the devils. Whereas a demon will just immediately rip off my head and squeeze my guts through the throat hole like a nightmare Gogurt.

[@zacharybosley1935]

@@yoyohayli I think that's the trap, no? Life under Subjugation is better than life under Obliteration, but neither is preferable to what we have now, and so the blood war must continue forever, because its conclusion would damn us to death or worse.

[@GlizzardWizard81]

Karlach’s monologue after gortash’s death is the first moment in videogames that I can remember made me actually tear up. The voice acting and motion capture work is unlike anything else that I’ve seen. Cemented her as my favorite character in the game by FAR

[@morgan3392]

It made me, too. I think the first time that ever happened was a dream sequence towards the end of The Walking Dead Part 2, if you know you know.

[@IndieDoodles]

i very nearly fucking cried at that one. it cemented her as a woman i love as well. she's so real, and resonates DEEPLY with me as a person. she's like me if i was in DND, and reflects me in a way that makes me feel love for myself. i love my ride or die tiefling barbarian.

[@MauroEnfermoDeLepra]

It made me feel like I was there with her, with nothing I could say being enough to confort her. I have been in that position IRL with a loved one and it's so real.

[@JS-dz1uy]

Same here- I’m pretty sure I had to close the game then and there, and again after I barely dragged her to Avernus to fix her heart.

[@Amarrente]

12:39 Every single time the Paladins of Tyr are defeated, Gale gets downed by Karlach's fiery excitement. It's a canon event.

[@George_M_]

You mean she doesn't always conveniently have a bow equipped and spend ten turns shooting storage barrels?

[@kingofgrim4761]

@@George_M_they meant that gale the wizard gets downed after the fight by karlach, and that it’s “canon” because it happened in their playthrough and the video

[@wrath-2187]

In my playthrough. Karlach got pushed off a cliff and lost lost of her hitpoints, she went bqck and facetanked anders for a bit, before needing to get picked up from death saves. She ran through the house and got downed by her own fire damage at the end of her rampage, i laughed so hard it hurt me hahahaha

[@OnTheAlmondTree]

when minthara said wizards have the lifespan of a gnome in a war, she wasn't kidding

[@MegaManXPoweredUp]

Gale wasn't in my party when I experienced this. It was me, Lae'zel, and Shadowheart. So we got the hell out of there when we realized we could be damaged.

[@migrn]

As someone who romanced Karlach, you get to find out that what she really wants most is just a "normal" life. She wants to have kids with you and grow old, even if she doesn't trust herself to stay out of trouble. When you go on a date with her, she wants to pretend you're meeting for the first time so she can get the experience of a first date. And when she's on the docks with her engine failing, she says, "For you. And for the city and for myself blah blah blah. But most of all, for you." and that part makes me cry every time.

[@little_margay]

When she said "It isn't fair... I don't want it like this" I truly felt it. Oh boy. She just gave it her all and trusted people at every turn. Karlach deserves the world and I will protect her!!!

[@singincowboy]

I love the gender reversal of her and Astarion! Obviously men can be victims of sexual trauma and women can be used only for their strength/utility and then discarded, but they are so often core fears in people who were raised in toxic misogyny. I think that's why Karlach is such a compelling romantic partner to men who play and Astarion is so compelling to women. Seeing your own insecurities and worst case scenario fears displayed and empathized is so cathartic! Of course i say this as a tried and true Karlach simp!

[@IndieDoodles]

as someone who's had similar trauma to both (sexual and trauma with being used), i would lay down my life for both of them

[@eddatorres6722]

Karlach, my beloved TvT about the differences between platonic and romantic relationship, let's just say that the whole "I wil be dead soon" deal hurts her in a special way when you two are in love. There are some talks about the life you could have together... if only

[@PocketLeaves]

Ah, yeah, that makes sense. That is really heartbreaking to face, even as her friend, so I imagine it'd be gut wrenching as her partner.

[@KobKobold]

Like the love quizz with the dryad, where she shares how sweet it would be for the two of you to have a cozy home and kids. Though the kids could be replaced by a mean goat

[@fightingfalcon777]

@@PocketLeavesI romanced her in my first playthrough, and hearing Samantha Beart’s amazing performance as she laments over how our romance is doomed to be short broke my heart. I was so glad I was able to convince her to come with me to Avernus in the end along with our shared bestie Wyll, even after I became the rogue Mind Flayer

[@corvideer1738]

I forgot how hard her death hit me. I started crying while that cutscene played. She's such a wonderful character. I think I need to play her as an origin character.

[@PocketLeaves]

Playing her as an origin would be really fun!!

[@corvideer1738]

update: origin Karlach run made me cry (good cry)

[@SoralaxPlays]

Played Origin Karlach with a Shadowheart romance. Running into Avernus with Shadowheart by my side with a rock version of The Power playing in the background may just be the best video game ending cutscene I've ever seen.

[@shad03void99]

​@@corvideer1738Then I guess I shouldn't tell you about Origin Karlach with romanced Minthara

[@sapphibee]

the comment abt gortash looking like someone who would groom someone on the warped tour is so crazy but true

[@OakandIV]

Loved this analysis. But, no one becomes a mindflayer. It is confirmed in game by Withers that the “change” destroys the soul. The mindflayer is the tadpole, not the person whose brain it ate. A free mindflayer has some of the same memories and personality traits as the host, but that’s it. In the patch 5 epilogue, the Karlach Mindflayer shows up. It’s happy, and ethical, but no longer really her. Karlach’s best end is going to Avernus with Wyll. She even has a chance at grabbing a fixed engine (though we never see it, and it’s not certain).

[@PocketLeaves]

I hadn't seen the mindflayer outcome for the epilogue! Thank you for sharing that! I was basing my opinion based on the cutscenes I'd seen, and it seems I misunderstood some of what was going on with the whole transforming into a mindflayer option. But I do agree that going to Avernus with Wyll is her best ending. Especially now that the epilogue has confirmed they can do something about her heart (and she can come visit Faerun)

[@OakandIV]

@@PocketLeaves you are going to love Astarion’s (good) epilogue! :-) Karlach is probably my favorite character. All of the companions are wonderful, but Karlach is such a good person in a terrible situation. She’s the kind of person we hope we can be in the worst times, and the person we’d hope to protect.

[@zacharybosley1935]

It's worth noting that Withers is very specific in his language surrounding Mindflayer Souls. He says they don't have them, and then he refers to them as Apostilic Souls, meaning that ceremorphosis doesn't destroy the soul so much as he renders it useless to the gods of faerun.

[@robertbryant4669]

This is why I found myself distrusting the Emperor and his insistence that we allow ourselves to "evolve". Quite often in games of this sort I find myself wishing that I could insert my own dialogue; I want to tell him that becoming a mind flayer isn't evolution, it's usurpation.

[@zacharybosley1935]

@@robertbryant4669 I wonder if the Emperor believes itself to have ever been Balduran

[@torumakalig5692]

The fact that the song “I want to live” is playing while Karlach is expressing her continued desire to live at the very end is very narratively satisfying despite being deeply saddening. Surely that had to be planned

[@olinn_123]

I think the difference between the way Karlach and Astarion look at their new life, their opinion on good and heroisim is really intresting. One thing I would keep in mind is that Karlach remembers her life before Avernus. She remembers working for Gortash - a guy she really respected at the time - she remembers her parents, her childhood dreams and heros. She remembers a better time. Astarion can't even remember how he looked before he was a vampire. The only thing from his mortal life he remebers is propably the night this life has ended. A huge thing at play here is also their personality overall but this little fact just keeps me up at night. Would Karlach also be so bitter if she remebered Zariel, Hells and nothing more? Would Astarion be a bit more caring if he knew he had an old life in Baldur's Gate he can now go back to after 200 years of horrors?

[@PocketLeaves]

When you play as Astarion, there are answers to things that imply he does remember some things of his past, but again I'm sure much of it is lost because trauma can do that. I do think Karlach would retain her hope and optimism. It feels like a core aspect to her personality, but it is interesting to think about what she'd loose of herself if she also had been tortured for so long that most of her good days were lost.

[@IIIGioGioStarIII]

In my game, Karlach got the killing blow for Gortash. I felt that it was super deserving for her at the very least. Knowing full well that the act in itself was pointless. Now, with Astarion, in my playthrough, because my Tav was romancing him, I played it as my paladin seeing nothing but red when he pulled his staff and tried to sacrifice him. And Gale being the smart one trying to get Astarion out because the paladin had a barbarian moment.

[@PocketLeaves]

That's fair! I knew going into the game that Astarion would end up getting the final hits on Cazador in the cutscene, so I didn't worry about it, but with Gortash, I did want Karlach to finish him as well!!

[@dagwill4340]

I fully headcanon that the gang *eventually* figures out a permanent solution depending on how you play. By the end of the game there are plenty of powerful people that owe you. It was stated in the video, but the group has slain at the very least three avatars of the Dead Three and the Absolute, which is basically an entire god in it's own right (posed such a threat to all the realms that it's brought up by Elminster how nearly every god *needs* the Absolute to die). The party itself is powerful, and powerful people are in their debt. With as many resources and powerful connections we make as the party, at least one Wish spell is going to crop up somewhere.

[@PocketLeaves]

YES!!! One wish spell, or some other way to set things right with Karlach!! I do really like how in the epilogue party they make a point to let us know that Karlach and Wyll have found a promising lead on at least fixing the engine!

[@jooot_6850]

Isn’t there a Cleric spell accessible at level 13 that restores lost limbs and body parts..? Either way, in a world full of magic, Karlach’s life is by no means forfeit

[@DavidMonarres]

Ouch, the young are so brutal. When you said that some people wouldn’t think of 30 as too young to die, you killed me.

[@jasper_the_ghost]

I’m 20, and personally? If I live to 30 I want father Bhaal to tear me into bloody giblets.

[@Megirly-kq9wh]

Can't belive it took me 10 minutes to notice you had fake elf ears. I just saw the ears and subconsciously was like "ye that's normal"

[@lovelybones8071]

Karlach is the only romantic companion who asks what you want to do after dealing with the absolute is over. Every other companion to an extent is more worried about their own problems or wants like Astarion with ascension,Gale and the crown, Shady and her parents/ the cloister, Wyll and his father/the pact. In fact one of the options is to tell her you want to have kids with her it’s cute. I wish everyone else cared about what the PC wanted.

[@Cocaroach44]

Karlach is definitely one of the characters I never felt like romancing because being a veteran she puts off real brother/sister in arms vibes that makes her one of my favorite rpg companions ever

[@ToadimusPrime]

There's nothing wrong with banging your homies on the front lines

[@hadinizami7656]

"the loneliness, the FUCKING loneliness" during her post Gortrash monologue reached somewhere deep and tore my fucking heart out

[@mineflameblade8788]

One character I often compare Karlach to is Scorpia from She-Ra Princess Of Power. From both being very friendly and outward with their backstory and tales. Every time I see her good ending in Bg3. It always cracks me up and makes me wana cry. Hell. When I saw her in epiloge after my playthrough with Gilda and. Yeah. I had a good cry about it. Karlach is my favorite companion in Baldur's Gate 3. She's honestly the game's national treasure along with Gale and Astarion.

[@PocketLeaves]

Karlach and Scorpia is such a BIG BRAIN COMPARISON! You're so right about that!!

[@mineflameblade8788]

@@PocketLeaves The two characters have quite a lot in common; especially since the 2 have their own issues and traumas. Also. An interesting moment you missed. If you side with Gortash against The Netherbrain. After watching Gortash get one shotted by the brain. She goes. "Ooooh. Wow! Yes! That's what you get fucker!" She exclaims it loudly as hell. One of my most memorable moments was the ending I got with Karlach was Alister [My dark urge was the default one. Reclassed into a cleric of Selune after rejecting Bhall.] Going to Avernous with her... Alister felt like he has finally redeemed himself at last. It was honestly a very touching moment. Also. Her ending theme in Avernus. Holy crap. It sometimes makes me wana cry.

[@daniellins4114]

“She’s been out here, just raw dogging life” My girl! I almost chocked with my dinner there! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@George_M_]

I'd say she's 29/30, thematically if nothing else. 30 is where me and a lot of people start worrying about mortality after all.

[@blueeyedwitch9840]

THANK THE GODS FOR PATCH 5 EPILOGUES

[@PocketLeaves]

YES!!!! I'm so glad to see the follow ups, especially for Karlach!

[@HallowCosmo]

Fun fact, on my first play through I met karlach before wyll so when we long rested after, wyll snuck into my camp to kill her. I was surprised he was a companion actually 😭

[@PocketLeaves]

OH! I didn't know he'd do that!

[@B-b-b-b-erneeAsh]

Karlach, has been my favourite character, as I could somewhat relate to her with my own life experiences. But recently my Step-Mum called me and explained that her heart was only working at 30% and she's only expected to live 5-15 years left and now Karlach's story hits so very different for me now

[@eedwards2859]

You can hug both Gale and Halsin platonically at the reunion post final fight

[@Jacen989-bf3gm]

Just a funny side note, Wyll isn't lacking in content because of being added later. He's lacking in it because of a change to his personality from early access. He used to be as morally ambiguous as Shadowheart and iirc even performed torture for information at one point. Evidently it was changed at some point during development but he used to be less of a perfect shining knight and there's still party banter that reflects it. Kinda like how they changed Daisy into The Guardian. Feels like a lot of stuff from EA that had a less than stellar response was changed.

[@ichi_san]

This was great, really saddened by Karlach's story. Sad seeing the moment where optimism cannot work anymore for her... Having to face the pain is so sad

[@Ema_Not_Emma]

[Spoilers!] I was so hyped when they did the epilogue update, I reloaded a save and chose to go to Avernus as a couple instead of letting her die. Apparently if she goes to the hells, there's a blueprint for an upgraded engine model that would let her live in Faerûn again. That's my favourite ending for obvious reasons lol

[@madhatter-dt3qd]

[SPOILERS!!] I did the same thing I am hoping that the dlc you actually fine the forge and fix her. I need to save her

[@completelyroundoak]

27:40 SPOILERS FOR GALE You can hug gale, but only his projection in the epilogue if you told him to fucking 😢blow himself up all alone

[@gengarultimate]

I’m doing a karlach origin play through rn and she is soo well written you can feel the rage against the world but not its people

[@Fenrirthewolfking66]

Karlach is the best companion! Don't even try to come at me on that. She has gone through literal hell and is still just the biggest cinnamon role. Ooh, and the Blood War, I don't know a lot of D&D lore, but I do know a bit about the Blood War. It is an ongoing war between Devils and Demons, two separate species that come from two different sets of planes. Easy way to separate the two Devils are evil but believe in rules and laws, thus their penchant for contracts, Demons on the other hand are all about chao and evil, they want nothing more than to conquer, destroy and move onto the next conquest.

[@_lost_paradise5089]

"isn't it mad... How good life is?"

[@michaelcox9855]

Hi all my fellow Karlach stans.

[@rodpagli1246]

I love how you explore the emotions of all characters. I would have never thought about them this way in my run.

[@pawprintssystem5481]

Literally every single one of the companions (maybe even the characters in general lol) are so endearing. I love them.

[@Hiya8partyz]

karlach is the only character to make me auidbly squeal in delight whenever she does anything

[@ygma1460]

My latest playthrough: I made a Druid of the Spore character, male human, max age. My story for this character was, he was so old, he had outlived his wife and children and only thing left for him was to wait for death to take him as well, so he joined the druidic circle of spore to embrace the natural inevitability, hoping in the near future to decompose close to his belowed family and return to the nature that way. That, however, changed when the nautiloid abducted him. From there on onwards, he refused any kind of intimate approach by the companions for obvious reasons, and even to amusement of Withers, was somewhat confused why these people, all younger than himself and much more to live for, have decided to take him as their leader, but decided to put his inevitable demise on hold until he managed to sort out the problems of this merry band of misfits. And uh... This was an interesting "good" playthrough. I did all the good deeds, but it involved killing enemies by draining out their very life essence and raising their husked out bodies as unwilling spore-infested zombies in front of their comrades. To get to the topic: My interactions with Karlach were borderline hazy. I wanted to help her, but every time she asked me anything about myself, my answers were "No, I don't want to touch anyone", "Let me be by myself" and "Yes, I love loneliness."

[@elengul]

I don't know if someone else has said this already, but (from a table-top perspective) it's almost certainly within the realm of possibility for the group to level up to the point where they could pose a true and serious threat to Zariel, which could force her into a contract wherein the party gets a new heart for Karlach. Zariel would probably get the party to agree to leave Avernus and never come back (or to possibly undermine some adversary of hers? It would probably depend on the DM). Alternatively, the former Archduke of Avernus was a leveled-up Pit Fiend named Bel, and he still lives and serves Zariel (I think) as the head smith of Avernus, so maybe the party could convince him to do SOMETHING vis-a-vis giving her an infernal engine that wouldn't overheat outside Avernus. A third thing they could do focuses on Shadowheart (depending on how her storyline progresses ... failing that, some other higher level cleric that's close to the party). Cleric's get Divine Intervention ... in BG3 it's a one-time-only thing, and one has limited options. In table top, you basically literally ask your god for something, and you have a percentage chance of getting it that's equal to your cleric level (at 20th level, it succeeds automatically ... no roll required). One can do this every day until it succeeds (at which point you have to wait a week to use it again). It's open to DM interpretation, but if the cleric worships a good god, I suspect, "Can you pretty please bring my bestie to my side with a brand new heart in place of her infernal engine that exists through no fault of her own?" would probably get high five and a Karlach in Faerun with a new heart. I imagine there are a bajillion other ways to, in a table top game, make the "Karlach is fighting alongside Wyll (and maybe also Tav/[other PC name]) in Avernus" thing extremely temporary.

[@TheSoaringFire]

You can hug Halsin and Shadowheart (I romanced her) in the epilogue! :))

[@midnight7786]

I hope in a DLC goes this route. It’d be more in line if all of the group decides to go with Karlach, that’s assuming if the Fellowship of the Absolute are tightly close as a poly group, which I think they are. They’d go hells and back for each other and I think ALL of them could go with Wyll for Karlach, they’re family and I can see them wanting to take care of one another As for the romance, I think only you’d get a more thrilling story between Karlach and Wyll. As for the rest, Ik there’s more to Astarion and Gale, Shadowheart’s benefit for Tav/Durge specifically, and I think Lae’Zel has some deep layers through romance as well (I haven’t romanced Lae’Zel yet but as I’ve seen there’s a lot of story-beats you’d get for romancing her)

[@zacharybosley1935]

I killed karlach specifically as part of a Wyll Playthrough, for the roleplay of being bound and determined to maintain his infernal power to protect the gate. I only did so once, but fridging Karlach for Wyll's development isnt too dissimilar to what happens to Alfira during a Dark Urge run.

[@Thatguyovertherechil]

I also find it interesting that if you choose to let her pass on the dock, it's heavily implied that it's not her engine that held out, but it was her the entire time. I'd imagine she was suffering infernal BURNING pains within her chest, worsening day by day, but she pushed through until the end where she could no longer bear it. The "Engine is finally cooked, held on just long enough," was referring to HER being able to hold out long enough for the sake of the party and her friends, and not so much her engine. I think a key part of her character is the representation how to deal with a terminal illness; that part of the battle is the sheer willpower and mental endurance it takes day in and day out, that doing your best every single day until your body gives out is the best way to give yourself a chance in finding value in the short amount of time that you're given. It hurts so much more when you realize that the few times that Karlach lets her true emotions and frustrations bubble up, particularly in the Gortash scene, that she most likely struggles A LOT, but chooses to engage in endless positivity because it's how she's learned best to cope. Even when you get her engine upgrades, she doesn't even want to even hear the bad news, less it dampens the relatively minor positive quality of life change. A part me wishes that Larian expanded on her actual personality a little bit more, particularly on her poor coping mechanisms of being overly positive all the time to escape from any negative feelings. A common complaint I'll her about her from time to time is that she's almost unbelievable as a character because she's basically perfect with no inherent character flaws. However, it's understandable because she's only 1 out of a rather large cast, so resource and time constraints probably lead to her being a little bit more simpler as a character (She's still amazing though).

[@linkdude09]

So in my Astarion Origin run, I romanced Karlach and also did the House of Hope questline. (Awesome Boss Music btw) and my head canon is that when Astarion goes into Avernus with Karlach, his surface level selfishness eventually (or maybe quickly, who knows) allows him to convince Karlach to chill with Hope and use Rapheal's old house as a base/hideout and they live a mostly nice life there.

[@awolJAK]

:)c im so excited for your other bg3 vids

[@PocketLeaves]

thank you!! I'm really excited to make them!!!

[@Natar05]

So interesting tidbit. There is a way to get to karlach without even going into blighted village. There is a small spot right next to scratch to jump on rocks to cross the river and you spit out right next to where the blood trail is. That’s how I found her. Me over here trying to get fast travel points and trying to not hit major narrative points and accidentally find her.

[@Kishin18]

Actually the mind flayer decision was the hardest one for me to make and i was literally stunned cause I decided to not work for Emperor and never used the parasites myself, when Karlach said she can become one i was like "no! Nobody is turning into squid here shush!" Thankfully raphael dropped me hammer and so the prince became one and something glitched automatically destroying the pact 😂

[@Kishin18]

In my first run i was romancing Shadowheart and did all her quest but did ended up with gut decision of going with my bestie Karlach to hell at the last moment which worked even better since i was a tiefling

[@bluevern904]

In my first playthrough I romanced Karlach and funnily enough my Tav was a silver Dragonborn druid with special focus on frost, so they had a kind of cute Fire/Ice dynamic. In fact, the idea to cool her down was Frost Breath right at her

[@cawilson1996]

My only I guess possible plot hole is that Karlach rightfully does not want to return to Avernus, but surely Zariel owns her soul? So either way she’s returning there, living or dead.

[@poloben9189]

The scene at 46:00 reminds my at the moment when the ten doctor decides to rescue wilferd Mott 😅

[@DevinSpeaks]

WE NEED GALE DEEP DIVE

[@PocketLeaves]

I literally just finished the script for it today!!!!

[@tellierbop]

I’m not one to trauma dump but the video kind of made me feel like it’s appropriate. I’m sorry in advence if this is wierd. I guess TW for cancer and abuse. I really love karlach. She reminds me of my fiancé. I’ve known her since we were early teenagers and we wanted to get married. However she suffered from cancer but even despite that and her abusive upbringing. She always was the sweetest and most caring women I ever met. Seeing her die from cancer only at 23 years old whilst I was 20 broke my heart and I’ve felt the same feeling of hope being turned into accepting that there’s nothing to be done. I wish I could swing a fire potion and hug karlach and i wish I could hug and cry in my fiancé’s arm. Once again sorry for trauma dump.

[@swizlerr]

The problem with turning her into a illithid is that karlach our karlach dies and a illithid is born,illithid dont have souls the person that was turned into one dies when the transformation is complete so she goes back to hell no matter how to spin it so the best option is just to go with her and fix it with her in avernis

[@PocketLeaves]

Ooh, I didn't know that. I know Withers does say that Illithids do not possess souls. But I got a bit confused when I learned that Illithids CAN become litchs, which require them to have a soul. And also it does seem like The Emperor retains who he was before hand. I came at it with the thought that the soul wouldn't be able to be claimed by the Gods but it's still in there, but I'm willing to admit I was totally wrong about that!

[@swizlerr]

@PocketCon ig saying they dont have "souls" is a little bit of a oversimplification its more like it isnt like the ones people in faerun have they are from the future and very far future so theres differences, pretty much what we know for sure is the soul of the previous resident of the body leaves as if they died and i dont want that for a pookie wookie bear so ill go to avernis with her any time any day

[@PocketLeaves]

Oooh okay! Thank you for explaining!

[@renaigh]

Wyll's introduction as Karlach is quite fun and losing control after killing the paladin's of tyr is a bonkers moment and the way she talks to herself is adorable.

[@WhitneyAllisonGG]

I had a play through where four of the companions wanted to ride me. I ended up sleeping alone.

[@justsomeferalminor]

Wish that you could just hug your companions whenever if you have good enaugh approval with them. They all need it so bad tbh.

[@bethanyburgos7197]

I'm just discovering your channel and omg 43:25 is some of your best references I've seen so far 😂😂😂

[@AlexBermann]

My understanding is that the mind flayer ending is the only truly bad one. First, there is the issue of the infernal contract. Gortash could only sell his own soul due to the fundamental rules of hell, so he probably sold Karlachs body. The difference is: if she dies, she escapes hell and goes to the respective paradise. Giving her a chance to find a solution (which is not that hard by D&D rules) by venturing into hell is the better option. If she is turned in a mind flayer, the process destroys her soul, so she will have no afterlife after she dies. The question if the resulting mindflayer even is Karlach or just has her memories is its own question. It is sad and unfair that Karlach is destined to die, but this is a world where the afterlife is a certainty. It still is a loss, but Karlach did everything to push this reality away from her and kinda missed saying a proper good bye because of that. There was no closure, she just projected her sadness into fury and did not give it the chance to heal. As for taking on Zariel... Raphael was a Cambion. All tbings considered, he is relatively small fry. The avatars and the chosen are only small fragments of a gods power. The group may succeed, but there would have to be many adventures on the way - perfect fuel for fanfiction ;)

[@11TwilightAlchemist]

My first playthrough was as a Red Dragonborn paladin and as soon as I meet her I knew who I was romancing. When I got to the end of the game I was ready to go smite devils, fix Karlach's heart, and then retire in Baldur's gate with her as a Traven owner. Edit: I also beat the game the day after the game added the epilogue so I was so happy with my ending because it ended on a hopefully note

[@mrowrmeow]

karlach is PEAK golden retriever gf energy

[@troddenleper8915]

I LOOOOOOVE KARLACH SO MUCCCCCCCCCCHHHH She's the best character ever huhuhu. Her positivity amidst all ehr pain is so pure

[@WGasmss]

party limit be gone is like the best way to play this game, take everyone on the journey. I also love this video great job karlach is suuuch a golden retriever

[@Emnms68]

This video made me cry. I love karlach and watching this breakdown of her character made me realize that she is me. I’ve been through a lot and had to work/fight really hard to get to a better place and instead of being cynical or bitter I try my best to enjoy the little things and be generally positive because I feel better when I am as opposed to being miserable. Sometimes it does get to be too much and I end up having a panic attack, but mostly I’ve been told by people that it’s a wonder that I am so joyful given everything I’ve struggled with. Life is hard, but I’m doing my best to enjoy the good things. Also, we are both adhd girlies 😂

[@Mailed-Knight]

pocket con; On this playthrough I'm doing this! Meanwhile I'm still on my first playthrough of 'Lies of P', I suck at video games.

[@PocketLeaves]

I am just no lifing the game. I have sat down and played for like 12 hours straight on more than on occasion

[@Mailed-Knight]

@@PocketLeaves That sounds like it could be fun.

[@KollbjornYT]

Karlach's character and story is honestly amazing! So happy I fell for her before getting the game and downloaded a map so I can find/recruit her ASAP. I even have a video showing the route. KARLACH IS BEST GIRL! HANDS DOWN! IT'S JUST FACTS! I only ever romance her because I love her so much and she's fucking earned it after all she's been through. I REALLY wish Larian would let us offer Karlach a hug and let her cry into our chest or shoulder after killing Gortash.

[@g-saviour6581]

"She's out here raw dogging life" LOL now that's a quote

[@thisstatementisfalsenothin5312]

What sucks about Karlach (not story wise just meta wise) Regenerate is a 7th level spell. You could regrow her heart if you were ONE level stronger Second Gale has a scroll of true resurrection, which brings someone back to life fully, including replacing any missing limbs and organs. Vlakith (cant spell) Has wish, which lets be real is more than powerful enough to instantly fix that. Divine intervention is EVEN STRONGER than WISH There’s SO MANY options that realistically can fix all of her problems. I just cant help but feel that if it was Astarion there would be 3 quest lines dedicated to fixing his problems. It just upsets me that there’s so many options that make perfect sense, that the player has access too that you just CANT do So basically my head canon is 5 seconds after the epilogue party Shadowheart does a Mortal Kombat fatality and just rips the engine out before regrowing it

[@PocketLeaves]

That is really upsetting! I know people have said similar things to Astarion's spawn ending though. There's many options in DnD to allow him to walk in the sun, but none are presented in the game. But sounds like there's EVEN MORE ways to fix things for Karlach, and we all know she deserves it.

[@thisstatementisfalsenothin5312]

@@PocketLeaves see, letting a vampire spawn walk in the sun isn’t something I know how to do off the top of my head. I didnt even have to research ways to fix Karlach. Thats just general knowledge I already had. Another option might be stealing a steel watch infernal engine. Because they’re more stable than karlachs. Seeing as they see her as a defective model. In general I just feel there’s better options that we weren’t allowed to explore. Love the content by the way

[@jooot_6850]

@@thisstatementisfalsenothin5312Plus, the Gondians are indebted to Tav for literally bringing them back from extinction. Larian did an awesome job with Bg3, but not being able to call a favor from one of the party’s many allies for Karlach is a missed opportunity

[@the_nutsacker]

Shadowheart next pls queen

[@sam-wy8kn]

i found out about karlach online and dropped EVERYTHING I was doing to go and find her. i NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED her

[@BLEMFIDEM]

Imagine saying no to Karlach when she asks us to give the smith the infernal iron 😭

[@calisto490]

god hearing Karlach's monologue post-Gortash was not easy the first time and oh boy it was not easy now. Samantha Beart did so phenomenally there.

[@Jenn-lq9yu]

To explain the Blood War in detail, in effect it's a war that began ages ago in the Dungeons and Dragons setting between demons and devils. It first began when the Heavens were seeking a way to keep the demons contained, as they were spilling out across the planes from the ever expanding layers of the Abyss where demons dwell, (Effectively chaotic evil hell). So Asmodeus approached the Heavens and the Gods and offered them a plan to deal with the demons in which he would be given free rein to create his own plane that would border the Abyss and would be able to recruit mortal souls to aid him in the conflict. He didn't really explain to the gods that the conflict would inherently twist the souls that were recruited into it, and so in true Lawful Evil fashion, he tricked the Gods of the Heavens into a contract that essentially created the Devils and the Hells as a third faction that would do battle with the Demons and the Abyss for all eternity. Ever since, the Devils have been using their tricks to get one up on the Demons where they can in order to keep the conflict equal, as Demons are essentially truly endless and can never really full be stopped as a threat.

[@someone_8078]

I want to give her a big hug (⁠づ╥⁠ ﹏⁠╥)⁠づ

[@kurai0kami541]

When I did my evil Durge run, I couldn't bring myself to off Karlach. I attacked the grove, and she left on her own.

[@Longshot-qv8is]

Petition for a DLC where we can go fix her engine permanently. Big K immediately endeared me, and the pain you help her walk through in this story is gut wrenching and beautifully written.

[@juanleuschner7457]

19:50 I think that's burn wounds. Maybe severe third-degree burns (basically frying the three layers of her skin and sometimes going deeper). Although im no medical expert, so please correct if i got anything wrong

[@LainKaplan]

I was Karlach’s partner and took Wyll with me to Avernus. And she got to come back! She got to be with her beloved and keep living. And I didn’t see Avernus as a bad destination. It wasn’t even the first time I had agreed to go there at the end of the game (hi there, TNO). Karlach is by far the greatest romantic partner I have had in my gaming experience, and I am a fairly old woman.

[@BIGESTblade]

Blood War is the ancient war between Devils and Demons. It's gigantic in scale to such a degree that it spills out into almost every plane of existence and almost all resources of both Devils and Demons are devoted to it. Almost everything either side ever does is to further the war effort, which includes what Raphael does because him gaining more power will make the devilkind more powerful. It's technically the single most important thing happening in D&D across all of its settings despite rarely being a part of the plot.

[@ToadimusPrime]

Karlach was a last minute introduction, the others were all planned. She's the final companion added to the game, and she wasn't even originally planned. That's why her story is unfinished. We do have hints from the newest patch that brought in new endings, that there is a way to fully fix her heart problem in Avernus. Does that mean we'll get a small quest in Avernus at some point, similar to the House of Hope? I HOPE we do. Also, the way the portray Zariel in this game is just wrong. Sure, Karlach was bound to her, but Zariel is not a villain, just an angry angel. Her story is great. Demons want to conquer the Nine Hells, but Zariel and her armies are so insanely strong that they've brought the demons to a halt. So no wonder she wanted a juiced-up Karlach.

[@candleribbons]

I was annoyed there was no path to repair through the Gondians as thanks for rescuing them. They built the steel watch, which are canonically confirmed to be engineered similarly to her engine, so they know how to work with infernal metal, and I'm sure they would be glad to help save the life of one of the people who freed them from slavery and imprisonment. It's a personal headcanon I have at this point because I hate sending her and Wyll to hell while everybody else gets to celebrate the victory over the Absolute at home. it put a huge damper on the happy ending for me, though I am grateful now for the epilogue they added.

[@Aaroc200]

I actually had Karlach bail on me when I decided to burn the Druid Grove. Wyll too.

[@DeadBunny7878]

Haven’t finished the video, but I pray she comments on the mage hand interaction between Karlach and Gale. lol.

[@samflood5631]

Karlach is a lot like Shionne from Tales of Arise. Both of them suffer from a terrible curse in where they inflict pain onto anyone who touches them. They are doomed to die as their curse makes them a ticking time bomb. But with the help of Alphen and Tav, both Shionne and Karlach are able to lift the curse from them and now in a happy romance with the main characters of each story.

[@TheOneandPrime]

Karlach is the most likeable/lovable game character of all time (Vivi from FF9 being a distant a second)

[@ViruZ42]

I was so happy with my redeemed urge x karlach run until the very end why did larian decide the mindflayer self destruct should be before karlachs burn out? Why!?

[@E3AloeLi]

I could see her and my oc calling each other siblings. I see my oc being engaged to Raphael due to their Archdevil father and helping her getting her heart back. I can see them living a happy life as siblings.

[@IndieDoodles]

you can hug shadowheart in act three!! there's a scene that uhm. i'll put below as to not spoil anyone, but it's possible!! there's a scene after her parents pass where she's praying to selune. there's an option to comfort her with a hug at some point in that scene!! i've gotten it and done it and man does she fucking need it. i believe she cries into the player chara's arms, if i remember right, so... if that doesn't tell you how bad she needs it, i don't know what will.

[@leoyakafudy]

no way a 1hr+ video all on karlach has less than 1k views. i will bring the view count up dw dw o7

[@eddyangstman]

About waiting until act 2 to upgrade her engine: i dont know if later patches changed it but when i waited until act 2 it locked her romance for me she needs the first upgrade in act 1 for the romance. And its not too hard to get infernal iron theres the piece in the blighted village and theres a few pieces in the underdark(which you can traverse without ending the grove quest one of my favorite things to do is free barcus before the tiefling party because he has some fun dialouge there) im not sure if you can do both upgrades in act 1 but you should do the first one if youre planning on romancing karlach.

[@Idontgiveaduck]

my personal HC is Wyll and best girl Karlach are living the best buddy cop comedy down in the Hells. Just waiting for BG4 to happen and the gang goes to the hells...

[@PocketLeaves]

YES! I love that sm!

[@squidlivers5677]

I consider my runs lost if gortash isn't killed by dark urge (rendemetion ) or Karlach (VENGEANCE )

[@blueeyedwitch9840]

I feel like while Minthara is your "evil" companion, Karlach is your "good" companion. Minthy doesn't really get a "good" ending where shes like a hero and saving baldurs gate with you, and unless your playing Karlach as Origin, she doesn't have a "bad" ending where she gives into the cycle of abuse and becomes like, a new gortash. I think its interesting how they have such sympathetic dialogue towards each other despite being on opposite sides of the spectrum

[@zogkuma]

Yeah, Gortash may not care what he did to Karlach even in death, but he's definitely suffering for all eternity in Bane's hands. So there's that! Also the creepy dude who grooms teens at Warp Tour vibe comparison on Gortash made me laugh so hard, dude! Cheers! 😂🤣

[@no.future]

I've been binge watching your videos about all the bg3 characters! Will you do an updated version for the new evil endings?

[@inquisitivemind8061]

There are spells in D&D that would let her get a new body as well.

[@drew6145]

I think Karlach romance is fantastic maybe my favorite even (possibly biased0 cause was 1st). Having said that I think her story and role is a bit more of a rock or the backbone of the group. It's not as enhanced by being romanced but it says a lot about her character to me. Be it romantic or platonic she just has the biggest heart despite it being mechanical