The Latest on Karlach and Friends: A Tale of Happy Endings and Awkward Wizards

What’s New in the Forgotten Realms?

So, the newest entries in the Forgotten Realms saga are set after the events of Baldur’s Gate 3, and guess what? Our girl Karlach has found herself a happy ending! But as with all good tales, there’s a wizard lurking around who didn’t get the memo about consequences.

Now, the concept of a “canon” in RPGs is like trying to nail jelly to a wall. I mean, aren’t we all just making up our own epic stories as we go along? But lo and behold, with sequels, side quests, and all that jazz, certain endings get labeled as “the one true story.” Unless, of course, you’re playing Elder Scrolls, in which case, it’s like every ending happened at once. Confusing, right?

Karlach’s Adventure Continues

Jumping from Baldur’s Gate 2 to the glorious chaos of Baldur’s Gate 3, our friends from the past have indeed faced their share of shenanigans. Characters like Minsc and Boo got caught turning to stone, and Viconia made some questionable life choices. Fast forward to the latest adventures, and the timeline shifts from 1492 to 1501. We’re not just adding numbers here, folks; this means we’re diving into fresh lore!

Karlach shows up multiple times in the latest books, Adventures in Faerûn and Heroes of Faerûn, alongside her pals Astarion, Shadowheart, and Minsc. And let me tell you, in none of the fabulous illustrations is she a pile of ash or a mind flayer—two potential worst-case scenarios from Baldur’s Gate 3 that no one wants to see!

In fact, the best possible outcome for Karlach has her striding with confidence back to Avernus, her Infernal Engine still active within her. Sure, some players were a bit miffed about that, but the post-launch epilogue offers a glimmer of hope: she has blueprints for a device that might just save her from literal explosion! Jumping around Baldur’s Gate, slaying a remorhaz, and living her best adventurer life? That’s definitely a win!

Meanwhile, Shadowheart’s hair seems to have its own plot twist. In some artwork, she’s rocking dark hair with bangs, which goes against her “best outcome” in BG3 where she sports a fab white dye job. But hey, who knows? Maybe she just felt a change coming on. After all, one can’t take things too seriously in the world of fantasy!

As for Lorroakan—the not-so-great wizard—you might remember him from your adventures. You could have been the hero who revealed his dastardly plans to Dame Aylin, but according to the texts, he lives on, plotting away like the annoying villain he is. Sure, he faced a minor setback on his quest for immortality, but let’s be real: he’s still the wizard equivalent of that one letter you never wanted in your inbox.

On the brighter side, there’s an Astarion supplement floating around called Astarion’s Book of Hungers! This delightful add-on presents a chance to explore the world as a half-vampire dhampir and indulge in some adventures with our vampire spawn buddy. Talk about a character expansion that doesn’t mess with canon!

And lest we forget, the old heroes from the D&D cartoon make a comeback too, now looking a tad more mature, perhaps even competent! Elminster gets mentioned (though he’s mysteriously absent—convenient, right?). So whether you’re battling or just enjoying the company of friends, the adventures in Faerûn continue to thrive, weird wizards and all!