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Karlach is an extremely passionate individual who strives to live life to the fullest. She tends to speak excitedly regarding any of life's simple pleasures, whether that be food, drinks, friends, or intimacy. Her demeanor is generally joyous and very forward, having no fear of loudly proclaiming her love of being alive and how much she cares for those close to her. Her positive disposition and infectious energy seem to allow her to make friends easily, even if her honesty can cause her to come off as somewhat naive at times.{{note|Interactions with those who knew her prior to the events of the game's story imply that she has always been this exuberant, even as a poor child growing up in Baldur's Gate.}} Karlach is also very protective of her friends and companions, taking a genuine interest in them, especially with Wyll should he have been transformed into a devil after defending her. | Karlach is an extremely passionate individual who strives to live life to the fullest. She tends to speak excitedly regarding any of life's simple pleasures, whether that be food, drinks, friends, or intimacy. Her demeanor is generally joyous and very forward, having no fear of loudly proclaiming her love of being alive and how much she cares for those close to her. Her positive disposition and infectious energy seem to allow her to make friends easily, even if her honesty can cause her to come off as somewhat naive at times.{{note|Interactions with those who knew her prior to the events of the game's story imply that she has always been this exuberant, even as a poor child growing up in Baldur's Gate.}} Karlach is also very protective of her friends and companions, taking a genuine interest in them, especially with Wyll should he have been transformed into a devil after defending her. | ||
Though oft friendly, Karlach is a very physical person and is not above getting into a brawl if provoked. She can be impulsive and easy to goad, and will lose sense and reason when confronting people she despises. Years in Avernus have made her lonely, compounded by the fact that her mechanical heart kept her from having physical contact with others, let alone intimacy. When talking about Gortash, beneath her outward rage, lies deep pain and a sense of betrayal, making her wary of trusting others as she once did. Despite | Though oft friendly, Karlach is a very physical person and is not above getting into a brawl if provoked. She can be impulsive and easy to goad, and will lose sense and reason when confronting people she despises. Years in Avernus have made her lonely, compounded by the fact that her mechanical heart kept her from having physical contact with others, let alone intimacy. When talking about Gortash, beneath her outward rage, lies deep pain and a sense of betrayal, making her wary of trusting others as she once did. Despite their moral differences, she gets along well with {{CharLink|Astarion}} due to them both wanting to live their life outside the shadow of their abusers. | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
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When found, Karlach explains that she too was on the nautiloid and was infected with a tadpole, but that she's not the monster she seems, and that her current priority is to get rid of the paladins hounding her and spreading lies. At odds with what the paladins, or Wyll, told the party about her, the group can press her further. Karlach explains that she escaped [[Avernus]] and the archdevil [[Zariel]], and that the paladins in the toll-house are nothing more than bloodhounds sent to bring her back to the [[Nine Hells|Hells]]. If Wyll was brought along, he confirms she's indeed his target and attempts to convince the party to aid him in slaying her. Karlach pleads that she's no agent of Zariel but rather her victim, and that she took the first opportunity she had to escape Avernus and return home. The tadpoles infecting the group will react to this, prompting Karlach to share her memories of recents events, seemingly confirming her story. Regardless, the party can decide to side with Wyll, and indirectly with the paladins, and kill Karlach claiming her head, or take her for her word and agree to spare her. Though initially intent on killing her, Wyll can be convinced to spare her after the visions were shared, and he will direct his anger at his patron for deceiving him. | When found, Karlach explains that she too was on the nautiloid and was infected with a tadpole, but that she's not the monster she seems, and that her current priority is to get rid of the paladins hounding her and spreading lies. At odds with what the paladins, or Wyll, told the party about her, the group can press her further. Karlach explains that she escaped [[Avernus]] and the archdevil [[Zariel]], and that the paladins in the toll-house are nothing more than bloodhounds sent to bring her back to the [[Nine Hells|Hells]]. If Wyll was brought along, he confirms she's indeed his target and attempts to convince the party to aid him in slaying her. Karlach pleads that she's no agent of Zariel but rather her victim, and that she took the first opportunity she had to escape Avernus and return home. The tadpoles infecting the group will react to this, prompting Karlach to share her memories of recents events, seemingly confirming her story. Regardless, the party can decide to side with Wyll, and indirectly with the paladins, and kill Karlach claiming her head, or take her for her word and agree to spare her. Though initially intent on killing her, Wyll can be convinced to spare her after the visions were shared, and he will direct his anger at his patron for deceiving him. | ||
Karlach | If Karlach was recruited before Wyll, he will arrive at camp during a [[Long Rest]] to kill his quarry. In this scenario, the party can still side with Wyll and kill Karlach, or convince him to stand down and join the party. Alternatively, the can instead decide to challenge Wyll to a fight. Karlach will try to stop this, as she does not want Wyll dead. The party can still recruit Wyll as normal, or choose to go against Karlach’s wishes and attack Wyll anyway, much to her [[Approval|contempt]]. If Wyll died in this instance, Karlach will mention that someone likely misguided him. | ||
Bringing Karlach to the paladins leads to a confrontation where Anders eventually drops the act and confirms her words as true: the paladins are servants of Zariel, and the archdevil wants her favorite attack dog back. After slaying them, a frenzied Karlach rages around the toll-house, setting it ablaze. When talking to her after she cools off, she confesses that she has an infernal engine for a heart that allows her to burn as hot as the Hells, though it's been running overdrive since leaving Avernus. She wants to find someone who has experience with infernal machines, and that she heard one of the paladins let slip that one is in the area. This begins {{Quest|The Hellion's Heart}}. | |||
This infernal mechanic turns out to be {{CharLink|Dammon}}, a tiefling from [[Elturel]] that learned his trade when the city was taken to Avernus by Zariel and was forced to work on infernal engines for her army. Dammon explains that in order to stabilize her heart, the party needs to find some {{SmRarityItem|Infernal Iron}} for him as it's the only material able to withstand the heat of the mechanical heart. When delivered, Dammon upgrades Karlach's heart, stabilizing it while still providing a boost to her abilities. He warns, however, that the solution is not perfect, and that he needs more time to research and prepare a more permanent repair. Should they cross paths again, he promises to have a solution by then. | This infernal mechanic turns out to be {{CharLink|Dammon}}, a tiefling from [[Elturel]] that learned his trade when the city was taken to Avernus by Zariel and was forced to work on infernal engines for her army. Dammon explains that in order to stabilize her heart, the party needs to find some {{SmRarityItem|Infernal Iron}} for him as it's the only material able to withstand the heat of the mechanical heart. When delivered, Dammon upgrades Karlach's heart, stabilizing it while still providing a boost to her abilities. He warns, however, that the solution is not perfect, and that he needs more time to research and prepare a more permanent repair. Should they cross paths again, he promises to have a solution by then. | ||
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==== Act Three ==== | ==== Act Three ==== | ||
After reaching the [[Wyrm's Rock Fortress]] outside Baldur's Gate, the party will be notified of Gortash's grand ascension as Archduke of the city taking place soon. When approached, Gortash will briefly interrupt the ceremony in order to parlay with the party, and greets | After reaching the [[Wyrm's Rock Fortress]] outside Baldur's Gate, the party will be notified of Gortash's grand ascension as Archduke of the city taking place soon. When approached with Karlach in the party, Gortash will briefly interrupt the ceremony in order to parlay with the party, and greets her nonchalantly. Karlach immediately wants to get back at him, and if not stopped, will be seized by [[Steel Watcher|Steel Watchers]] and thrown into the [[Wyrm's Rock Prison|dungeon]]. If convinced against attacking Gortash, the party can listen to his proposition to an alliance. Karlach will be against it, but can be persuaded to check her hatred for the good of the city. | ||
If the partnership with Gortash is mantained up until the first encounter with the [[Netherbrain]], he will be killed as the party attempts to control the brain. Karlach will let out a celebratory laugh and mock his ignominious end, but the threat of the Elder Brain forces her to focus once more. | If the partnership with Gortash is mantained up until the first encounter with the [[Netherbrain]], he will be killed as the party attempts to control the brain. If in the party, Karlach will let out a celebratory laugh and mock his ignominious end, but the threat of the Elder Brain forces her to focus once more. | ||
Should the party antagonize Gortash, ally with Orin instead or simply wish to help Karlach get revenge, it will have to face the Archduke and his minions. When confronted with Karlach, Gortash will coldly dismiss any of her grievances with him further incensing Karlach, until the quakes caused by the Netherbrain's attempt at freeing itself force Gortash to attack the party for their netherstones in order to subdue it. After the battle, Karlach will come down from the excitement and be visibly upset. Though she finally managed to kill the person who betrayed her and caused her so much pain, she doesn't feel any better: Gortash isn't any more sorry dead than he was alive, and her mechanical heart was still set to combust at any time. Her impending doom and difficulty in coping with a feeling of senselessness will drive her to rage at the circumstances, and she will leave for camp. | Should the party antagonize Gortash, ally with Orin instead or simply wish to help Karlach get revenge, it will have to face the Archduke and his minions. When confronted with Karlach, Gortash will coldly dismiss any of her grievances with him further incensing Karlach, until the quakes caused by the Netherbrain's attempt at freeing itself force Gortash to attack the party for their netherstones in order to subdue it. After the battle, Karlach will come down from the excitement and be visibly upset. Though she finally managed to kill the person who betrayed her and caused her so much pain, she doesn't feel any better: Gortash isn't any more sorry dead than he was alive, and her mechanical heart was still set to combust at any time. Her impending doom and difficulty in coping with a feeling of senselessness will drive her to rage at the circumstances, and she will leave for camp. | ||