#karlach deserves better and i would LOVE to see an Avernus expansion one day

[so-no-feint]

(ACT3/ENDING/KARLACH SPOILERS BELOW; YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED)

I finished the game and had some thoughts about stuff and things.

After finishing the game yesterday, I sobbed for a good 15-20 minutes about Karlach's ending. My party consisted of tav, Astarion, Shadowheart and Karlach. Astarion's waning sunlight protection was predictable, but still sad. I had romanced Shadowheart, so happy ending there.

But Karlach?

After everything she'd been through - 10 years of slavery under Zariel, her heart gone, unable to get close to anybody - and her closure is kicking the bucket anyways? Fuck, man. That was brutal.

Hours searching for the infernal iron to repair our favorite barbarian's engine-for-a-heart, gentle words, loving hugs, affirmations. I wasn't ready for her dialogue after we killed Gortash. Her anger and despair were so, so, SO excellently voiced by her actress and it absolutely fucking broke my heart to hear the ever-strong Karlach shatter like glass in front of us.

Her last request from us, the player, in camp before you venture off to fight the Absolute (assuming you progressed her enough to see the dialogue) being that she wants us to be there with her in her final moments just killed me, man.

Karlach deserved better (not really a dig on Larian - I understand she was the last character to be designed and added). She deserved her escape from Zariel's claws; she deserved the happiness we gave her in our adventures throughout the campaign; she deserved all of it and most of all she deserved to fucking live! We cool off her engine just enough to give her the first hug she's received in over a decade.

We give her that happiness, and its robbed from her anyways. All because of Gortash and Zariel. And we could be there for her, in her final moments; but never close enough to save her. Not really.

Sure, we have the choice to send her back to Avernus with Wyll; sparing her the painful, burning death she'd face if she stays with us in this plane. But did you speak with Karlach at all through the campaign? You'd know that she'd rather die than go back, even if Wyll could be with her. I, personally, couldn't rob her of that. I couldn't take away more from her than she'd already lost; that choice was hers and hers alone.

I'm glad, at least, that before our fight with the Absolute, Karlach is able to find some solace in us. The party, your avatar, whoever you so decide to attribute Karlach's contentedness to. But after Gortash, Karlach realizes that no matter what, she had been happy because of you. You, who broke her untouchability, showed her love and grace and kindness and adoration.

Our bright, bubbly and burning-hot Karlach. Fueled by her emotion and her rage and her wants and her love.

I think that, despite everything being against her, our favorite tiefling was happy. We made her happy. She expressed her love to and through us. And us being there for her as she faced the last ultimatum she would have to decide on gave her all the strength she needed.

Carry on, soldier. You did so well. Thanks, Karlach, and thank you Larian for creating one of the most unforgettable experiences I've had in a long, long time.