Karl

Karl
Trials of Mana HD artwork Trials of Mana
First appearance	Trials of Mana (1995)
Latest appearance	Trials of Mana HD (2020)
Homeland	Duskmoon Forest
Role	Support
Gender	Male
Species	Wolf
Status	Alive

“Rrroof...slurp!”

—In-game dialogue

Karl is a minor NPC in Trials of Mana.

Background

The primary reason this is because he was rejected by the human race. Also, both Kevin and Karl share a similar trait with each other: neither of them had a mother growing up. Kevin had found Karl as a baby with no mother one day and the two were friends ever since.

History

Trials of Mana

“Karl -- Karl the wolf pup was left behind when his mother was killed. When Kevin met Karl, he finally opened his heart to the world. By a cruel twist of fate, it was also his fight with the pup that awakened his beastman powers.”

—In-game dialogue

One night, a strange fellow came to the castle to offer his services. Gauser dismisses at first, but is intrigued by the jester's claim of wielding dark magic. He puts him to the test and the stranger successfully manipulates both Karl and Kevin to fight each other so the young prince can transform into his werewolf form. This event kills the young pup, who leaves a distressed Kevin wandering the forest in sullen desperation. With the usefulness of Goremand proven, the King of Ferolia is conviced the beastmen would get his long-awaited payback at humans and orders his troops to invade the nearest town of Jadd before heading to the holy city of Wendel. While discussing the matter with Goremand, the two of them are interrupted by an enraged Kevin who heard about them manipulating the outcome of the fight with this best friend earlier. Jubilating at this aggressive display the King of Ferolia encourages his son to channel his wrath and bending it to his beastman power. The son lunges at his dad, but his knocked back into the forest by Gauser's strength. The king asks Goremand to eat his son's soul should he can find him. At the end of Kevin's opening gambit in the HD remake, the King of Ferolia can be seen visiting Karl's grave the young prince made in Duskmoon Forest to honor his friend.

Gauser is not seen again until the protagonists manage to open a portal to the Sanctuary of Mana. He is unphased by Goremand's giddiness of rallying his troops to take the Sword of Mana before everyone else and leaves the invasion to him. He is not even interested by the holy blade even when Goremand forces the main characters to give it to them in exchange for their kidnapped friend retreating into his private quarters. If Kevin is in the party, he can confront his father about indirectly killing his pup friend Karl. However, the little wolf is found at the King of Ferolia's feet, alive and well. Gauser explains that Goremand's illusions merely made Karl's body lifeless at the time. Gauser saved him from the grave Kevin dug up before departing for Wendel. The furry monarch is still disappointed to see his son falling for his feeble emotions, saying he needs him stronger physically and mentally. He tells the truth about his mother passing away from illness and the reason he kept it a secret from him. He also tells Kevin he created the kingdom of Ferolia as he could not tolerate the pitiful state the beastmen were in. He entrusts his son into defeating Goremand and the source of evil.

During Kevin's epilogue, The young pup is seen reuniting with the half-beastman in the Duskmoon Forest.

Circle of Mana

Karl makes a cameo appearance in the online game, along with several other characters from the Mana series. He appears in 2 sets of cards.

Rank	Attribute	Name	Classes				Quote
UR	魔	カール	孤狼	ケヴィンの友	[光]ケヴィンの親友	[闇]断ち切られた絆	「くぅぅぅん……」 "Kuuuun..."
SUR	力	ケヴィン[慟哭]	グラップラー	バシュカー	[光]デルヴィッシュ	[闇]デスハンド	ケヴィンは、罠とはいえ大切な友であるカールに手をかけてしまった、自分の中に流れる野性の血、獣人の血を呪った…。 Kevin cursed the wild blood flowing within him, the beastman blood, for having set a hold on his precious friend Karl, even though it was a trap...

Trivia

• Karl's role is similar to that of Eagle, Hawkeye's best friend: both attack their friends due to the antagonists' actions and both are mortally wounded by their friends.
• The difference, however, is that Kevin was not in trouble for killing the mirage Karl, and Hawkeye was blamed for Eagle's death. To differentiate them further, Karl "dies" from injuries right afterward, and Eagle was slain by Belladonna.

Gallery

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  Trials of Mana sprite

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  Trials of Mana HD screenshot