2023-08-26 16:00:00
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It is common that video games have to separate from certain sometimes major portions of their content in order to be able to be deployed on time. Baldur’s Gate 3 is no exception as we explained recently, yet it greatly harms certain characters in the game who ultimately suffer from a conclusion that one would easily consider sloppy. The players are gradually realizing this and don’t appreciate it, unfortunately.
SPOILERS !
This article contains major spoilers about the Karlach storyline (and the game as a whole). If you haven’t finished the game at least once, or you value the story of it, we strongly advise you not to continue reading.
Karlach, victim in spite of herself in Baldur’s Gate 3
While most of the protagonists of Baldur’s Gate 3 received a rather warm reception, with the exception of Lae’zel, it is undeniable that Karlach is among the most appreciated fellow travelers. This Barbarian Tieffeline that players can meet fairly quickly from Act 1 has, like the other recruitable companions, a very particular narrative arc that evolves throughout its journey by your side.
The problem with this narration is that in her case everything rests on the Infernal Machine that the Archdevilness Zariel has placed in the place of her original heart. As a result, the poor woman is originally condemned to die in excruciating pain unless she manages to remove it, or at least stabilize it. A particularly important quest for his survival which leads him, and you too, to go in search of protagonists who can help him, in particular a certain Dammon in Act 2.
Unfortunately for Karlach, despite the possibilities that seem to present themselves to her during the first dozen hours of play, it turns out that the conclusion of her story is only destined to suffer a sad fate. Throughout your adventure, you indeed discover that she is unable to stabilize or remove the infernal machine that serves as her heart, a rather dramatic revelation.
At the very end of the game, during the “debriefing” with your traveling companions, you unfortunately find that despite all your efforts she is condemned to three major possibilities, and none of them are truly satisfactory:
Karlach returns to Avernus to fight against Zariel and his legions in the company of Wyll or yourself to kill the Archideness Zariel to free the Tieffeline. It’s the best possible ending, although we imagine it doesn’t bode well. Karlach becomes a Mind Flayer in order to fight the Infernal Brain. Her infernal heart then disappears, but she is condemned to have the appearance of an octopus for the rest of her life, and therefore to live as a recluse. She will also gradually lose her soul, condemning her to wander like a common mind flayer. Karlach refuses to return to Avernus and become a mind flayer. Her infernal heart crumbles before your eyes, and she is literally reduced to ashes in excruciating pain after a heartbreaking exchange between her and you. Karlach dies.
A truncated and singled out story
The least we can say is that the future of Karlach is far from bright. And although she is the only one to be in such an extreme narrative position, she is not the only one to be entitled to a rather disappointing end to the course. In fact, this is likely due to content removed from the game by Larian Studios prior to the release of Baldur’s Gate 3.
To resume the story of Karlach, we know for example that there was a positive alternative ending reserved for him. You were indeed supposed to be able to discover a way to repair his infernal heart, allowing him then to live without this time bomb in the body. Unfortunately, to achieve this you had to go to the upper part of Baldur’s Gate, and if you have reached Act 3 of the game you know that this is not possible at this time in the game that we are told. propose.
This is normal: this entire area, like others, was completely removed from the game before its official release. There are quite a few snippets of it left here and there (it’s both amusing and sad to realize this as you go along), and Karlach is undoubtedly the most notable victim of this content removal. It goes without saying that it leaves a little bitter aftertaste when we learn that one of the friendliest characters in the game turns out to be condemned to suffer and/or die in appalling conditions simply because content has been removed. due to lack of development time.
But all hopes are not in vain! Perhaps we will be entitled to this Upper Town in the Enhanced Edition of Baldur’s Gate 3? Who knows ? In any case, we sincerely hope to be able to have the opportunity sooner or later to save this Tieffeline but also to discover all the intrigues left in suspense because of this missing region!
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