#ch: karlach

[galedekarios]

gale & karlach

i think out of all the dynamics between the companions, i've come to enjoy gale and karlach the most over my time with the game. karlach especially bc she's the only one who genuinely seems to care about and for gale.

she repeatedly checks in on him after the orb reveal and doesn't turn it into a joke about slurping carrots, or sipping wine, or wanting him to be gone entirely from the group.

not only does she advocate for him to stay three times, depending on which dialogue path you pick:

gale's background story reveal & the reveal about the netherese orb

Karlach: Come on. We all have our secrets - and our risks. If Gale leaves, we might as well disband completely. - Karlach: Absolutely. We're all risky in our own ways. We stick together anyway. Right? - Karlach: If having dangerous, otherworldly objects stuck in your skin is wrong, then Gale and I both have to go. We're not really splitting up, are we?

but she's also the only one who repeatedly asks him throughout the game how he is doing, to make sure how he's faring, both in general and with his debilitating condition:

act 2 - shadow-cursed lands banter

Karlach: Doing all right, Gale? Gale: Oh, you know... Still alive and kicking, despite being surrounded on all sides by an endless manifestation of darkness and decay... devnote: Almost with a sigh. That's just how things are - Grim humour to it. Karlach: I feel it too. Here if you need a pick-me-up.

act 3 - after mystra stabilised the orb

Karlach: How's the orb treating you, Gale? Gale: Oh, quite well as a matter of fact. Since it was stabilised, it's been humming along nicely. Gale: I have noticed one adverse side-effect. I seem to be losing hair in some, er, unexpected places. Karlach: I can only imagine.

i think it really bears repeating/stressing that no other companion does this. not one checks in on gale like karlach does, after his affliction has become known to his companions - with the exception of the protag potentially.

karlach also arguably has the strongest reaction in response to mystra's demands in act 2, showing again her care for gale, as well as her protective side:

Karlach: Aw, was that Gale's granddad? Player: That was Elminster Aumar - the most famous wizard in the realms. Karlach: Huh. Doesn't ring a bell. But all right! Must've had something important to say to Gale, if he came all this way. Good news, I hope. Player: I don't think it was. It turns out Gale has an explosive bomb in his chest - and Mystra has asked him to use it to blow up the heart of the Absolute. Karlach: Whoa, now. He's got a... well, I guess that would explain a little, but... Mystra... I mean, this is a lot to take in. Karlach: What's he going to do? - Player - Option 1: I think he's going to follow through with it. Karlach: Fuck me. There's devotion, and then there's stupidity. If the god of magic can't handle this without sacrificing Gale, she's no god at all. - Player - Option 2: I don't think he'd do that to himself, even if Mystra commanded it. Karlach: Good. I'm one hundred percent sure there's another way to bring down this cult. No true god would ask such a thing from her faithful. That's for certain. Karlach: Poor Gale. He must be in bits after hearing that. I'll distract him. Tell him I haven't read a book since secondary school, watch his face melt off. - Player - Option 3: I'm not sure. I think he's of several minds. Karlach: Well, tell him to pick the right one. Better yet, I'll do it. Fucking wizards, man! They always need help picking the simple, obvious option. Karlach: If Mystra can't think of another way to stop the Absolute than sacrificing Gale, she's no god worth worshipping. I'll say that to Gale - in, you know, gentle terms. - Player - Option 4: You know that bomb in Gale's chest? Mystra has asked him to use it to explode the heart of the Absolute. Karlach: She what?! Is she mad?! - Player - Option 5: Don't worry about it. Karlach: Karlach doesn't worry, she acts. So if Gale needs me, now's the time to tell me.

i particularly like that last response bc it really echoes throughout her relationship with gale ("karlach doesn't worry, she acts. so if gale needs me, now's the time to tell me.").

their banters are often playful, but also genuine. both karlach and gale tease each other, they joke with each other, showing how comfortable they are with each other despite their many differences, but there are also moments of understanding and care between them, allowing them to emphasise with each other:

Karlach: Man, it's good to be home. First round on who? Gale: She who thirsts buys drinks the first. devnote: Like it's a well-known saying Karlach: You won't pin me down with a rhyme, wizard! devnote: Jockeying with Gale (prob supposed to be Joking with Gale) Gale: She who declines gets the worst of the wines.

Karlach: Just when I was getting used to the sky again... Gale: Fear not, Karlach. Sun, moon and stars will still be there waiting for us. devnote: Reassuring Karlach: Meanwhile, this place is pretty spectacular, isn't it? Gale: No book or painting could ever do its strange beauty justice. But perhaps our stories might, when we return to the surface. devnote: Agreeing with Karlach, enjoying the sense of wonder as you explore

Gale: I've always felt flames to be a rather perfect expression of love, Karlach. Gale: Passionate, primal, capable of bestowing the most life-affirming comfort, or inflicting the profoundest damage. devnote: Listing the qualities of fire, Romantic, indulging in the poetry of the image Karlach: That's... pretty nice. Never thought about it like that. But now I will.

Karlach: Wouldn't mind a dancing axe of my own. Gale: A simple movement charm wouldn't be too hard to apply to such an object. I could conjure one up for you if you like? Karlach: Yes! I like! Gale: Very wel then. Once the city is saved, Karlach's Kinetic Cleaver will be first on my list.

Karlach: So, Gale - got any book recommendations for me?devnote: With concern Gale: You can read?! devnote: Taking the piss - knows full well Karlach can read, and that she's always claimed not to enjoy it Karlach: Very funny. Yes - I can read. School put me off big boring tomes. Sometimes I wonder what I'm missing. devnote: Friendly rather than flirtatious Gale: Say no more - I'll find the perfect book for you. I might even lend it to you from my library in Waterdeep. devnote: Jumping on the opportunity to give a book recommendation (a favourite hobby) Karlach: Ooh! Something with magic, please. And no devils.

even at his most vulnerable moments, karlach is there to support him:

before the stormshore tabernacle audience with mystra

Karlach: You can do this, Gale. And I'll be right here when you're done.

she allows herself to be protective of him and get angry on his behalf not after when it comes to mystra, but also when he is potentially kidnapped by orin:

karlach's reaction to gale being kidnapped

Karlach: That bloody freak won't get away with this. That's my wizard she took. And we're going to get him back.

once again, it's a good callback to her previous line: "karlach doesn't worry, she acts. so if gale needs me, now's the time to tell me."

she's willing to be needed by him - and he does need her. whether that is as a friend, or (if you chose to play so during an origin pt) as a romantic partner. it's a lovely dynamic either way.

[juniemoe]

BALDUR'S GATE 3 (2023) ▶️

[hartsvale]

[lanseax]

> Hang the future. I'll take whatever of you I can get.

[endless-oc-creations]

💕Oc Valentines Day Challenge 2024 💕 Day Four: Friends to Lovers

My personal favorite, when they go from friends to lovers. Their enemies know their worst sides, and the heroes know their best, but their friends know both and fall in love with them anyway. Show off an oc ship that was friends before lovers.

"The longer the wait, the sweeter the kiss."

Lilith was lost. Literally and figuratively, she somehow survived the crash of a mind-flayer ship. Now she was lost and alone, in the middle of a forest she knew nothing about. Not only that but she had also been infected with a mind flayer's tadpole. But then everything changed when she stumbled upon a fiery tiefling woman named Karlach. As the two adventure together, they become fast friends. Then they get even closer, wanting to be more than just close friends, lovers are what they wanted to be. But the two had to wait until they could find a way to cool Karlach down first and when it happened...the wait had been worth it.

💕 Everything Taglist: @bravelittleflower @sunlitscribe​​​ @eddysocs @raith-way​​ @waterloou @decennia​​ @hiddenqveendom @aaronhotchstuff @foxesandmagic @nejires-hado  @asirensrage  @lucys-chen @arrthurpendragon @daughter-of-melpomene @thatmagickjuju @ginevrastilinski  @oneirataxia-girl @ginger-grimm💕

[spellbooking]

[s0ftpining]

my tiefling monk merritt (they/them) and the bg3 gang!! i couldn't get the image of karlach frying eggs in her palms out of my head...

[torntruth]

‘  what  do  you  want  for  breakfast?  ’- for karlach

                             morning after starters, accepting .

karlach was feeling lighter than a feather -- which is quite the accomplishment for a 6 foot tiefling barbarian. she could have just stayed basking in this feeling all day, laying in bed, the flames just touching the vents a low blue. she was really only fussing about because her hand reached out to find dronia and hand did not immediately find dronia. eyes open, head leans up a bit. there's a little panic. it's premature though when dronia asks what she wants. karlach's head falls back to the pillow. a relieving breath in. eyes close again with a hum.

" just ... give me a few minutes and i'll come help you. "

[undead-potatoes]

I think one thing that really tickles me about Wyllach is how their romances are almost complete opposites in a way, and how that would clash were they to romance each other.

Wyll likes to be gentlemanly and take things slow, his romance filled with flowery language and the promise of something more in the future. He isn't just trying to sleep with you, he is courting you, as gentlemen ought to in his mind.

Karlach on the other hand comes on VERY strong from the get-go, not beating around the bush of what she wants and how soon she wants it. She is both desperate for intimacy after a decade in the hells, but she's also painfully aware that she might not have much time left, and intends to make the best of the time she does have.

Wyll's romance plans for a future Karlach will never see, and I love the idea that he eventually just has to throw all caution to the wind and let Karlach take him where she needs him, not in a year or after marriage, but now, while they still can.

There's also the element of them being close friends, and the pining that might cause. Do they just stay friends for the duration of the adventure, afraid of ruining what they already have? Do they go to Avernus together, tensions running high until they eventually end up in each other's arms? Or will one of them be brave enough to go to the other, to answer the question of "what if" before it's too late?

Doesn't matter, it's scrambling my brain either way, love them so much

[snikt111]

(chanting about the bg3 companions) make them fat! make them fat! make them fat!

[galedekarios]

#when the found family starts found family-ing

[karlaching]

yir'rel

[hartsvale]

SQUAD UP: Tav, Shadowheart, Gale, and Karlach.

[lanseax]

"You really know me, don't you? It's wild! In so many ways we barely know each other, but where it counts, you're deeper in my head than that tadpole."

[endless-oc-creations]

The way I am constantly pressing the record button on my PS5 during ANY dialogue or scene cuts happening during my first Balders Gate 3 playthrough so I can have future content for my Tav 💀

But look at my baby Lilith 🥺 She's so pretty!!!

And don't even get me started on her and Karlach's blooming relationship 😮‍💨😍

I apologize in advance...

[n0rmandysr1]

I am going Feral over the new karlach kisses im