Please be aware that this article contains major spoilers for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a game brimming with unforgettable characters, be they comrades or adversaries, brought to life through the game’s stellar scripting. As you navigate the game’s complex storyline, it’s evident that not every storyline resolves neatly by the end. This open-ended conclusion leaves room for a tantalizing possibility of a third installment, with one particularly intriguing villain poised to take center stage in the future.
While Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 ensures that justice is served to key antagonists like Istvan Toth and Markvart von Aulitz—figures rooted from the original game—the destinies of some villains remain ambiguous. Otto von Bergow manages to escape during the siege of Suchdol once Sigismund withdraws to Hungary, leaving us with an unresolved main antagonist. Yet, the most compelling unresolved plot belongs to Erik, a commander under Toth and von Aulitz, who finds himself with unfinished business and an axe to grind by the game’s conclusion.
### Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Leaves Erik as a Narrative Catalyst for a Potential Sequel
Erik is a fascinating counterpoint to Henry, our protagonist, and his involvement in both Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and its predecessor has only grown. His backstory is steep: the son of a family slaughtered by Istvan Toth, Erik was later taken under Toth’s wing and essentially trained as a soldier. Rising through the ranks by honing his swordsmanship, he played a key role in several assaults against Wenceslas’ supporters.
The parallels between Erik and Henry are striking, as both are marked by the shared trauma of losing their families to Toth’s army. However, their responses diverge significantly; whereas Henry becomes a seeker of retribution, Erik aligns himself with Toth, growing attached to the very man responsible for his parents’ demise. After Henry successfully slays Toth to avenge Skalitz’s destruction, Erik’s narrative shifts as he becomes determined to seek vengeance against Henry for killing his mentor.
### Erik’s Pursuit in Future Installments
An intriguing aspect of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is the dynamic choice players have regarding Erik. Post-Sigismund’s pullback from Bohemia, players can opt to engage in a duel with Erik—a man who now fights with nothing to lose. The ferocity of this clash depends entirely on player choice, yet it’s an encounter without a definitive victor. In defeat, Erik provokes Henry to finish him off, that is until Markvart von Aulitz arrives with an army, forcing an abrupt end to their duel.
Regardless of whether players choose to confront Erik or not, it seems he survives to potentially exact revenge in a sequel scenario. The parting scene with Erik shows him alive but injured, as Henry rushes to alert the castle about the looming threat. This ambiguous conclusion suggests Erik might chase Henry once his strength returns, setting the stage for a possible Kingdom Come: Deliverance 3. With the game series deeply exploring themes of vengeance and the futility of war, Erik stands as a potential adversary who could illuminate the cyclical nature of revenge and its inability to alter past wounds.
### Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2—Setting the Stage for New Moral Challenges
The game’s intricate reputation system invites players to weigh their decisions carefully, blending layers of moral depth into the RPG genre. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 makes a compelling case for this nuanced approach, which might in future installments replace the conventional morality system entirely. As fans eagerly anticipate what’s next, it’s clear the stage is set for Erik to emerge in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 3, where he could become the vessel through which the narrative further explores the impact of revenge and its moral ramifications.