One of the strong points in any FromSoftware game is in their NPCs, from the iconic Solaire to the less-than-trusty Patches, regardless of whether they’re capable of moving their lips or not. They’re often basked in mystery with drip-fed lore teasing grander origins and wondrous tales, leaving plenty of wiggle room for speculation.
Karla is absolutely no different. She is a witch that you find in the wretched hell-hole that is the Irithyll Dungeon, trapped in a cage, awaiting rescue, a true damsel in distress. At first glance, she simply appears to be a vendor who dabbles in the dark arts, but here are 10 things you may have missed about her.
10 Her Name Means ‘Man’ Which May Reference The Dark
The name Karla comes from the Old High German word “karal” which simply means man. Given her affinity for the dark, her name directly liking to man itself is fitting, whether intentional or not.
After all, mankind is intrinsically connected to the dark as the one who found the dark soul was the furtive pygmy, humanity’s very own ancestor, long forgotten, unlike the other lords such as Gwyn.
9 Alluring Skulls Prevent Affinity From Firing
One of the many exclusive spells that can only be acquired from Karla is Affinity, a resurfaced hex that summons five dark orbs around your player, ready to fire out at enemies, whether they be artificial or other undead players.
It’s a powerful hex that can deal some major damage, so having it hurled your way can be intimidating, but you can actually save yourself a headache by simply throwing an alluring skull down which will prevent the orbs from firing altogether.
8 Karla Might Be Related To Manus
Karla’s ashes describe her as a “spurned child of the Abyss,” a reference that may place her alongside the likes of Nashandra and the other Shards of Manus. She may be a descendant of one of these shards or a direct descendant of the tough-as-nails Dark Souls boss himself.
He had a handful of daughters. They were Nashandra, who represented want, Elana, who represented wrath, Nadalia, who represented solitude and Alsanna, who represented fear. If Karla is amongst their ranks, what she represents is up for debate.
7 Karla Accepts Dark Miracle Tomes
You’ll have a tough time convincing your spell-clad vendors to read the dark arts, and your pyromancer buddy can’t read some that are limited to women, leaving you in the mud when it comes to a wealth of tomes.
Luckily, once you free Karla, causing her to pack her bags and head for Firelink Shrine, she will reluctantly read the Deep Braille and Londor Divine Tomes, giving you access to even more magic.
6 Dark Edge Continues To Track After Being Cast
There are a handful of spells like Dark Edge in Dark Souls 3, but this “forbidden dark sorcery” has a slight advantage. It behaves much like Soul Greatsword, albeit with a dark blade swinging outwards rather than a bright and cheery blue one.
However, what’s different about Dark Blade is that, after being cast, it will continue to track the enemy, albeit reducing your turning speed as a means of balancing things out.
5 She Is Based On Demon’s Souls’ Yuria
Dark Souls 3, for better or for worse, is filled to the brim with fan-service, from Firelink Shrine’s firekeeper, an obvious reference to the Maiden in Black from Demon’s Souls, to the hub itself being heavily based on The Nexus.
Karla is no different, with her armor looking near-identical to Yuria’s of Demon’s Souls. She even sells a few of the same spells and has an eerily similar personality.
4 Her Voice Actor Has Worked With FromSoftware Before
Karla not only looks like Yuria from the spiritual predecessor to Dark Souls, Demon’s Souls, but she also shares the same voice actor, Jenny Funnel.
Her work with FromSoftware doesn’t end there, though, as she also lent her voice to Quelana of Izalith in Dark Souls, the real Iosefka in Bloodborne, the Darkmoon Knightess in Dark Souls and Queen Annalise in Bloodborne.
3 Karla May Be Dark Souls 2’s Zullie The Witch
Karla in Dark Souls 3 appears to be intrinsically tied to Alva, a character who was birthed in Dark Souls 2, the game’s predecessor. He invades outside of the dungeon she is held within and has had his name changed, going from Alva the Wayfarer to Alva, Seeker of the Spurned.
With Karla’s ashes describing her as the “spurned child of the Abyss”, it is clear that he is searching for her, but why? One theory is that she is Alva’s lover, Zullie, who’s armor made an appearance in Dark Souls 2. She originally intended to deceive him but the two quickly fell in love, spending their lives together.
2 Alva’s Armor Can Be Found By Karla’s Cell
Another link that Alva has to Karla is in the location of his armor set which you can find outside of her cell once you have killed his invading spirit as you enter the accursed Irithyll Dungeon, ridden with its horrific jailers.
However, should you slaughter the big giant that is Yhorm before facing off against this red-tinted foe, the invasion will no longer be able to take place. So, if you want this nifty armor that became a staple of Dark Souls 2’s armory, then make sure to pop an ember before the first bonfire and get ready for a fight.
1 She Might Be Alva’s Daughter
Alva is no doubt looking for Karla as the use of the word ‘spurned’ is no accident, given how meticulous FromSoftware is with the little details, but what if Karla’s relation to him isn’t as a star-crossed lover after all?
One theory posited by fans is that Alva was, in actuality, looking for his daughter. This theory poses that Alva and Zullie, given their lifelong love for one another, had a child, and this child was none other than Karla.
She was imprisoned for whatever reason and her father set out on a mission to find her, only to fail, leaving her rescue at the hands of the very soul he invaded. It’s a decent headcanon that fits the bill, so it’s really up to you how you want to interpret her origins.
NEXT: Dark Souls 3: 10 Facts You Didn’t Know About Irina Of Carim
