I wonder if everyone here is content with her engine possibly exploding trope at all, personally I found it utterly boring to begin with. Do you guys want her story to be about saving the damsel from unstable heart to be fleshed out or something else entirely? I think it would lack nuance in the matter, you either help her if you like her or not, there is no room for debate or moral dilemma. They can introduce it of course that in order to save her you have to sacrifice someone else, we'll see.
I already made a point that I would like them to redo her questline from scratch from act 2 onward (there isn't much to scrap tbh), based on what is known about her and her engine:
- The engine gives power and martial prowess to the user and modifies their body (fire resistance, fiery skin) and personality a bit (makes her rage more) - The engine can be modified by an infernal smith with infernal iron and maybe something else - Zariel is very offended that her asset escaped Avernus and wants her back dead or alive - Karlach experience in Avernus is very traumatic due to almost constant warfare for a span of 10 years and initial betrayal of the person she trusted who sold her to Zariel
This are enough pointers to evolve her character on a basis of Revenge vs Freedom. In act 2 Dammon comes to her with a project of further improving her engine, pushing it beyond its limits. Some rare creatures or elementals must be hunted for the materials, but in result she gains more power and some unique abilities. Zariel lackeys then attack, but Karlach disposes of them alone and without much effort. However it becomes clear that overclocking the engine had an effect on her personality, she suddenly becomes more violent and irritable. She notices it too and makes an apology to the MC, but time is of the essence and we move forward to act 3.
In act 3 we travel to Baldur's gate so here we can find several unique opportunities to tune her engine. Untimately she can take one of three paths: - become a paladin of Torm (oath to fight demons in Faerun and defend people), her engine is cleansed from demonic corruption and retains some of its abilities, but she must follow the law of Torm who now powers her engine and should she step from it she dies. Her personality restores. - make the engine overpowered. Filled with rage and demonic might, Karlach leaves to Avernus to kill and overthrow Zariel and make the most of her newfound strength. Her personality takes a violent turn, influenced by the engine. But she would possibly rule Avernus. - restore the heart. Her personality restores, but she loses her awesome powers from the engine and must fend off Zariels killers by herself or with the help of friends
