As I played throughBaldur’s Gate 3, avoiding certain things was impossible. Though I was able to duck major spoilers, some things slipped through the cracks. One of these was thatKarlach’s ending was the subject of much fan ire, so as I struck my winning blowwith Karlach (as always) by my side, I feared the worst. But I quickly realised I had nothing to worry about.
It turns out it didn’t really matter if I took Karlach. Instead, it was Lae’zel and Shadowheart who had something to say as I stood on the precipice of my glory. Once it was all over, the whole gang met at the docks to toast our victory. There are a few variants of each character’s ending, but for me, Lae’zel returned to her people with Orpheus as its saviour, Astarion was scorched by sunlight and retreated into darkness, Gale became a god, and Shadowheart wanted to build a home to finally find her place in this world.
Whether because they’re more missable companions, a bug, or low approval,Jaheira was there but did not get an ending, and Minsc was absent completely. Halsin is dead. That leaves Wyll and Karlach, who share by far the most impactful and thematic ending. Loving Karlach as I do, I think her ending (while tragic) is perfect both for her and the game itself.
When we meet Karlach she is on borrowed time. Her infernal heart is burning up, and it’s only by the control of her tadpole that she is able to survive outside Avernus without exploding, much as Astarion can only withstand sunlight thanks to his parasite. Across the game, we’re able to repair her heart enough that existence is no longer painful (which in turn allows her to be touched, and with it, romanced), but it’s a temporary fix. The game, and Karlach herself, makes it very clear that she is still dying, and fast.
She’s so aware of her own mortality that as you face the choice between becoming Ilithid or forcing Orpheus to, she can intervene and offer it herself. Exceedingly high approval is needed for this, however. If you kill Gortash as one of your final acts before taking on the brain, you’ll see this reflected in her demeanour too, as she feels nothing after slaying the one who wronged her, instead losing herself to anger and bitterness. Admittedly, the impact of this is lessened if you slay Gortash early then spend another 15 hours swanning around on unrelated side quests, but the throughline for Karlach is obvious.
She fears death, but has accepted it. The five stages of grief are a little out of order (she bounces between acceptance and anger readily), but it all feels realistic and heartbreaking. And it’s the final moment that ties everything together.
The five stages of grief are typically denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Karlach has moved past denial when you meet her, but feels shades of the other four consistently.
As you sit on the pier, Karlach falls to her knees, sweat dripping, skin aflame. She cannot survive in this world. She can only survive in hell, and she vowed never to return. Even the brief visit to the House of Hope upsets her. But Wyll begs her to return to Avernus with him, planning to embrace his new devilish look to become the Blade of Avernus rather than the Blade of Frontiers.
Karlach faces a choice, one you can guide her on. She can stay here and die, or live in hell. Having elected not to end my own life despite becoming Ilithid, I offer to join them, and to hell we go. Karlach’s story is not over. Whileeveryone else confronts their trauma, Karlach never faces Zariel. In her ending, she can.
Goodbye, sun. Goodbye, sea. Goodbye.
Likewise, Wyll begins the game chasing Karlach, intent on killing her, but ends it fighting by her side. For your own character, hell might be the best place for an Ilithid in any case. It gives three characters a connected, thematic ending that continues their story rather than wrapping it up neatly, and they even get the epic ‘run, freeze frame, credits’ shot. It’s the perfect finale, but some want her to have a tacked on happy ending where nothing ever matters. Where there are no consequences. That’s not how Baldur’s Gate 3 works.
‘Why don’t the Gondonians fix her heart’ is the‘why aren’t the Avengers in Spider-Man 2’ of textual understanding. Because that’s not the story. Because nothing matters if everyone gets a happy ending. Because an ending that hurts can still be a good ending.
Next:I Can’t Take Karlach Or Jaheira Anywhere In Baldur’s Gate 3
