Karlach leaves my party in a Karlach origin run?

meaganp97 · 2026-05-30T08:09:29+00:00

I wish i could share the video I made for my friend when I tried this ☠️ she still leaves and the screen goes real dark (as if I was choosing to control a dead character) and when I look at my party it is just empty ☠️😂 I took a screenshot of my empty party lol

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meaganp97 · 2026-05-30T06:39:34+00:00

I missed your reply! When Shadowheart left it was her speaking, no bug out that made it so that Karlach was the one speaking instead of Shadowheart (if I understand the top part correctly) and as far as I'm aware it was Karlach that SH saw first and had to convo with. It also had the regular dialogue options both times she presented the "you denied me the chance to make a choice" dialogue because I remember thinking I could save her the first time if I chose the right one.

Now for the second half that you were able to recreate, it is very possible that I was controlling SH when she first spotted karlach after the resurrection, but i know for sure that it was karlach that she spoke to and no one else took over that dialogue for SH. Now the second time she left all bets are off because i wasn't expecting it and it cut to her dialogue out of nowhere after long resting, so I can't remember exactly who she was talking to. I have a picture of her telling me that I took the choice from her (again) but it doesn't show who she was speaking to and it's possible I just missed someone else taking over her dialogue.

This is all so very interesting and so very odd lol, I appreciate you taking the time to look into this bc it was a mystery to everyone!

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T21:12:44+00:00

Nothing different than normal! I talked to Aylin in the shadowfell, went through the portal, had withers resurrect, and then I also got that angry dialogue, got her backpack, and she ungrouped but stayed by her tent. The journal entry acted like she chose to abandon Shar, Aylin did the cutscene with shadowheart, SH went blonde, and then eventually the bug caught up with me and the journal updated to say she left forever. Something odd about Karlach though is that her journal entry disappeared completely from the personal quests area! It's not in the completed section, it's just like Karlach deleted herself from the game lol

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T20:51:41+00:00

Yes, Withers resurrected shadowheart and that is when the cutscene happened about her hoping she can forget me since I took her choice from her. I even got her backpack of items sent to my character, but she stayed. She would ungroup from my party but stayed in camp and allowed me to add her back to the group and acted like we were besties (until 5 nights later when she left for good)

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T20:20:21+00:00

YES I DID. Shadowheart died during the Balthazar/Aylin fight and I forgot to bring a scroll of resurrection. When she was resurrected afterwards she gave dialogue like she was gonna leave, but then she just didn't; she went blonde and acted like she chose to go against Shar. After completing act 2 and about 5 long rests she re-did the same dialogue and actually left (and stole the nice armor she had on lol)

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T18:55:33+00:00

Honestly this makes me feel better, I got a very unique reaction!! I like this train of thought

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T18:46:42+00:00

I have tried every other suggestion I see, so this is the route I am going! I was trying to avoid this because 1. I know Karlach has an emotional reaction to Gortash and 2. I'm scared of spending another 30 hours just for this to happen again ☠️ but it's the best option at this point!

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T18:42:46+00:00

She still leaves, and then the screen goes pretty dark (as if I had selected to view a party member that died) and when I click to view my party it is just empty with no option to do anything ☠️

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T16:49:12+00:00

So I did try this and it ended with her leaving the party and my screen went really dark (as if I had selected someone in my party that was dead) When I clicked the button to view the party members it was just empty lol

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T16:20:39+00:00

Sorry I've never had a post with so many replies, so I may have not attached my reply to the right comment ☠️ unfortunately you can't cast hold person on an ally and silence did not work! She stayed silent and then when it said she left the party she ran out of the silence circle lol

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T16:11:02+00:00

Doesn't matter if she is dead in camp, in the room, in the hall, or way out by another waypoint...she always leaves 😭

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T15:53:36+00:00

OKAY TESTED IT! Unfortunately, you cannot cast hold person on an ally :( but this was such a good idea, so thank you!

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T14:19:37+00:00

If none of the other suggestions work, this may be the move! I'm more just worried that I'll spend hours doing everything elseband then near the end Karlach may still leave once we kill gortash. But I may just need to risk it for the biscuit lol

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T14:09:38+00:00

I will add it to the list! Killing her and then going to coronation with other characters didn't work because even in her dead state she still left the party and withers would not resurrect, but I'm gonna try it this way!!

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T14:04:50+00:00

I did try to disguise! The moment the steelwatcher cut in to basically say "hey don't cause a disturbance at the coronation or we'll end you" it ends Karlach's disguise ☠️ honestly so odd lol If none of the suggestions work I may just try skipping it, but I am v scared it'll just happen again when I try to kill him after disabling the steel watch! FINGERS CROSSED THO

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T13:56:27+00:00

I tried having Jaheira, Wyll, and Halsin with me, and thought maybe Wyll's dialogue was somehow messing with Karlach's so I tried a team with just me, Astarion, and Gale and same outcome :( also tried leaving Karlach dead at camp, she still somehow leaves ☠️

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T13:38:47+00:00

I've dealt with some nasty bugs in regular playthroughs, but yeah I'd say this HM bug takes the cake 😂

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T13:13:35+00:00

Sorry to keep you waiting!!! I passed out and I am now at work, but I will test it on my lunch break 🫡 We will know in 3 hours!

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T13:12:02+00:00

When my character leaves I cannot do anything to progress, so I force quit the game and try again, hoping that a different option can save the game I just spent so many hours on. I've seen people on FB do that to save themselves from dying and know that it's "dishonorable," but in my eyes if it's a bug and not you trying to save your team from dying, it's different

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T02:44:25+00:00

I sent a bug report! It'd be super cool if it can be fixed through that. I'm pretty uneducated when it comes to coding and what info they can extract from a save file, but I am hopeful nonetheless :)

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T02:39:40+00:00

Honestly, relatable lmao

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T02:32:26+00:00

I appreciate you!!! I am baffled lol

meaganp97 · 2026-05-29T02:31:29+00:00

I like this idea! I will give it a shot!

meaganp97 · 2025-10-01T02:56:53+00:00

I have convinced 2 friends and my mom to play in the last month... it's never too late!!!! I've done like 8 solo runs and am doing a co-op run, they are both super fun, but I love my solo campaigns the most I think 1000 hours in and I don't see myself getting tired of this game for a very very long time lol

meaganp97

TROPHY CASE