Taking on the forces of the Absolute inBaldur’s Gate 3isn’t an easy task, so putting together the best party possible is important. One potential party member isKarlach, whom you can recruit in Act 1 after finding her near the Toll House on the Risen Road to the north of the map. Karlach is wonderfully refreshing and straightforward, with her quickly explaining that she isn’t an agent of Zariel and actually seeks freedom from the Archdevil.
EachBaldur’s Gate 3companion questtouches on something deeply personal to that character and Karlach’s is no exception.The formidable barbarian will reveal that Zariel replaced her heart with an infernal engine, which is overheating now that she’s back in Faerûn. You’ll need to find pieces ofInfernal Ironto help, but it’s only a temporary fix, which Karlach knows all too well.
Karlach’s Time In Faerûn Was Always Going To Be Short
There Was Never A Way To Repair Karlach’s Engine
Karlach’s quest spans all three Acts, but it doesn’t have the same depth of content as other companion quests, such as Shadowheart or Halsin.Infernal iron can be found in locationsthroughoutBaldur’s Gate 3, and you can take it to Dammon for Karlach’s engine to be repaired.Dammon can upgrade the engine twice, so it is very important that you keep him alive by not raiding the Grove or allowing the Last Light Inn to fall.
However, it’s made very clear early on in Karlach’s quest that these repairs will not fully fix the engine. Asit was forged in Avernus by Zariel to replace Karlach’s heart, the metal it’s made of just can’t handle the temperature change. It is simply too hot to remain stable on this plane, which leaves Karlach facing a bleak future.
Karlach was sold to Zariel by Gortash in exchange for the plans to build what would become the Steel Watchers.
However, Karlach’s story does a great job of showing that not everyone gets to have a ‘good’ ending, which is heartbreaking but also realistic in many ways. There are three paths open to Karlach at theend ofBaldur’s Gate 3,none of which are the happy ending this bright and wonderful character deserves. Once the Netherbrain is defeated, unless she volunteered to become a mind flayer, Karlach can either stay in Faerûn and die, or return to Avernus to survive.
What Happens If Karlach Returns To Avernus
The Fight Goes On, But Karlach Won’t Be Alone
The first option might seem counterintuitive if you’ve been paying attention to Karlach’s story and listened to her talk about how much she hates Avernus. However, you cansuggest to Karlach that she should return to Avernus. Karlach will be resistant to this at first, with additional persuasion needed to make her see that she won’t be alone this time around.
If Wyll is in the party and hasn’t been encouraged to become the next Duke, he will offer this solution or offer to come as well. This will unlock theshared epilogue for Wyll and Karlach, which sees Wyll and, when relevant, the player character, return to Avernus with Karlach. Immediately,the infernal engine in her chest will start to cool and start to calm down, allowing it to function as normal.
After a quick moment to get your bearings, a group of imps will start to approach, prompting Karlach to give some quick advice on how to deal with them. Life in Avernus isn’t easy, butone of Karlach’s biggest issues had been how lonely she wasthe last time she was in the Hells. With you and Wyll, things will still be tough but somewhat easier as your small party faces demons and Zariel’s forces together.
What Happens If Karlach Stays
The Engine Will Finally Overheat, Taking Karlach With It
The other option, as Karlach sits on the dock, is tolet her remain in Faerûn, either saying goodbye to her or simply staying with her at the end. The first time I played throughBaldur’s Gate 3, I chose this option and sobbed through the entire cutscene. Almost immediately, Karlach’s engine overloads, hinting that she had been holding it back to some degree to help her friends and say her goodbyes.
Kneeling on the docks of Baldur’s Gate,Karlach will erupt into flames, which will rapidly overtake her body. Then, with a flash of fire, Karlach will be gone. This is a brutal death for such a sweet and caring character, but it also feels surprisingly fitting that Karlach got to go out on her own terms in her home city.
In the epilogue, Withers will speak fondly of Karlach, mentioning that her soul burns brightly in the Fugue Plane. He speaks of how brave and bold she was and how Karlach found a family with the party. If asked why he didn’t bring her back for the party, Withers will reply that Karlach would not come,hinting that she has found peace and rest.
What Happens If Karlach Becomes A Mind Flayer
Karlach Saves The World, But At A Cost
There is a third option, which must be decided earlier inBG3, before the battle with the Netherbrain. After the first attempt to control the Absolute fails,the Emperor determines that an illithid is needed to use the Netherstones. This is where the party can choose between theEmperor or Prince Orpheus. Then, either the Emperor will need to eat Orpheus’ brain to gain his abilities, you will have to transform into a mind flayer, or Orpheus will need to become a mind flayer to use the stones.
However, with Karlach in the party, another option becomes available, and she will volunteer to turn into a mind flayer.Karlach’s reasoning is that she is on borrowed timeand wants to be the one who saves the world, not viewing this choice as a sacrifice. However, this transformation comes with a cost later down the line, as seen in the epilogue.
When speaking with mind flayer Karlach at Withers’ party six months later,her personality is already very different. She is much colder and already viewing the world as an illithid rather than the person she once was. I personally feel that this is theworst ending for Karlach, as she still dies, but it is far slower than her death on the docks.
Why You Should Let Karlach Return
Returning To Avernus Buys Karlach Precious Time
Ultimately, I think the best thing for Karlach is to let her return to Avernus. While this might, on the surface, seem like throwing her back into a situation that she fought so hard to escape, there is a key difference this time around. The most important thing, and the whole reason Karlach will even consider going back, is thatshe won’t be alone anymore.
Whether she is with you, or Wyll, or both, Karlach isn’t alone, and that keeps her going and gives her hope.Going back to Avernus also buys her time to find a more permanent solution, one that is hinted at during the epilogue when she is spoken to. When spoken to, Karlach will mention a cambion dropped a map with directions and blueprints for Zariel’s personal forge.
This provides some reason to believe thatKarlach would be able to find a permanent fix for her engineor even replace it with a better one that would allow her to leave Avernus. The thought of a happy ending on the horizon for Karlach long after the events ofBaldur’s Gate 3fills me with hope. This potential outcome for her feels more fitting for Karlach, who has fought so far for everything she has and will ultimately get to save herself.
