massimilianogoi on 9/11/2009 at 15:51

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We know a few about his past, we just know that he was a Hammerite graduate, first (maybe bishop?). But we have no knowledge about what were the path that Karras took to become that man who wanted to erase all the organic forms and substitute them with metal and mechanic. I'd like if you try to imagine what was his past, who was his family, parents, in what ambient he grew to get that point of view, et cetera.

Goldmoon Dawn on 9/11/2009 at 18:44

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Here we go again!

I know this was discussed at length, hopefully jtr or someone can find it. Either way, good topic! Lets get this beast rollin' then, shall we? :ebil:

The Phantom on 9/11/2009 at 19:10

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I remember Chiefdream's FM 'The Abominable Dr. Dragon' giving quite an interesting background for Karras, being the assistant of doctor Dragon :ebil:
Great mission btw.

PotatoGuy on 9/11/2009 at 19:58

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And Antimatter_16 tells us where Karras was born in 'Bonds of Mine'. :laff:

jtr7 on 10/11/2009 at 05:58

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He was a Hammerite. We have no idea what his rank was.

He was a genius, in spite of the conservative Hammer Order.

He was made fun of openly and often, and he couldn't bear it.

Based on what is known from in-game and devs' comments:

When the Pagans, specifically the Trickster, laid siege to the Hammer Temple--reminding of what he did during the Cataclysm--and finally got ahold of The Eye like he tried before, The Eye was then freed, and seeing how the Trickster's Dark Project nearly undid the Builder's works and the Hammerites themselves, and with the Trickster dead, Karras was enraged against the Pagans, and knew he and his brethren had the skills and knowledge to make sure nothing like that could ever happen again--seeking to wipe the Pagans out once and for all time.

At some point, either just before or after, two critical things happened:
1. Karras convinced many of his brethren there was a better way to serve The Master Builder, take back control of The City, and destroy the vile Pagans.
2. They discovered Karath Din. It's unknown if Garrett's opening of the secret tunnel, or exiting through the the second cave entrance, brought KD to the Brothers' attention.

In a radical gesture, Karras devised the Mechanical Eye, possibly a prototype for his future Eyes of Karras, and gifted Garrett with it in hopes the wily Master Thief would ally with him, having seen his skills--and possibly seeing him as his biggest threat, but not necessarily, in his Napoleonic overdrive to show everyone up. Either Garrett was not handed the mech-eye by Karras himself, or Karras was somehow not memorable at that point.

Moving very quickly, he and his followers took over the churches. It's unknown how long Karras had been wooing his brethren with a radical and excitingly progressive new thinking. There was a great explosion of invention and innovation once they were freed from the conservatism and intentionally slow progress of the Hammerite Order. The Mechanist Movement surged rapidly and the flood was unstoppable. Knowing they needed more funding, they began to make promises and gifts of goodwill towards the Nobility. The Nobility probably continued to mock Karras openly until they were mesmerized by his fantastic gadgets. Soon, they were groveling at Karras' feet, hoping for more of his favor and wonderful toys, throwing money into the Mechanist coffers.

At some point Gorman Truart was elected Sheriff. It's possible the election was rigged through Mechanist influence after finding how greedy Truart was and seeing he could be bought. This allowed the Mechanists to gain even more secret control of The City. Karras paid Truart very well, and easily persuaded him to remove all Pagans who entered The City, and ensure they never left The City alive.

Not too long later, when Karras discovered the Precursor technology of the Masks and mind/body control, he began to experiment on prisoners and other criminals like thieves, pagans, the wretched homeless, and prostitutes. Once he got rolling along, Truart was happy to round these unclean persons up for Karras for a price.

At some point, before or after Karras gained understanding of the Masks, he experimented with the Necrotic Mutox, apparently discovering how to reproduce it. Soon Cavador brought him a Cultivator from the excavations, and so Karras had all the pieces: The Masks, the citizens unworthy to live, The Rust Gas, and the Cultivators. His grand vision coalesced, and the future was set in stone.


We don't know specifics about Karras's place in the Hammerite Order, when Karath Din was discovered and excavated, or when the Mechanists took power.