(not putting spoiler tags for Karlach story stuff since I assume everyone here is familiar with it)

I hate writing fanfiction about how I wish a story/ending could have gone (gamers, myself included, aren't writers), but y'know what was a direction I was sure her story was gonna go in and was shocked the game didn't explore more? The idea that she was actually doing some good in Avernus and may actually be needed there. I got that sense at the beginning of Act 2 when she runs into that tiefling kid* who immediately fanboys out about meeting Karlach in person, and how cool he thinks she is after seeing her kick ass in the Blood War. I can't believe we didn't get more scenes like that because i) it shows that there are other kind-hearted tieflings in Avernus beyond just Karlach, and more importantly ii) it sets up a story framing of "her heart was never the issue; even though she was doing some good (relatively speaking) in Avernus, it's still objectively terrible down there and she wasn't strong enough to keep going." NOW, with that little tweak, her ending becomes a choice of embracing a good life and dying early, or, having gone on a whole-ass adventure, now finding the strength to persist in literal hell and be a beacon for all the cool tiefling kids who look up to her--the latter being all the easier if you romanced her and can go back to hell with her.

*edit: kid's name is Mattis, and you may be able to run into him in Act 1 to trigger this fanboy reaction. He tries to scam you or something

Last edited by HexbladeEnjoyer; 13/08/23 05:53 PM. Reason: typo