10 RPG Character Deaths That BROKE You
4. Karlach (Baldur's Gate 3)
Karlach is, in many ways, the perfect RPG companion. She's a feisty, hard-hitting, high-energy Barbarian who can dish out plenty of damage and always keeps the good vibes up. Sadly, what's not so perfect about her is the Infernal Engine sitting in her chest, a sad terminal condition that cannot be cured - in essence, Karlach is destined to die.
The weight of her tragic circumstances is always hanging over her head, as none of the party's joyous moments and happy victories will be able to save her, despite every effort. This eventually comes to a head in the epilogue scene, where the fan-favourite Tiefling bids farewell to the world, to you, and to life as her engine is finally cooked, leading her to burn away.
A pre-release patch altered this ending, allowing you to save Karlach by encouraging her to return to Avernus, possibly even with a companion. However, there are still some who refuse to let Karlach return to the Hells, seeing this absolutely devastating conclusion to her story as a tragic yet fitting end for this literal firestorm of a character.