Editing Cazador

{{PageSeo
| title = Cazador
| description = Cazador is a Vampire Lord integral to Astarion's journey - a reminder of his time as a slave.
| image = Cazador Smile.png
}}
{{Combat tab}}
{{Infobox creature
| name = Cazador Szarr
| image = 
<gallery>
Cazador Smile.png|Image
Cazador Model.png|Model
</gallery>
| page image = Cazador Smile.png
| full name = Cazador Szarr
| va = [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0387422 Graham Hoadly]
| class = 
| title = Vampire Lord
| size = Medium
| race = [[Undead]], [[Vampire]]
| type = Undead
| hometown = [[Szarr Palace]], [[Baldur's Gate]]
| family = [[Amanita Szarr]] (niece) 
| ac = 16
| t ac = 17
| e hp = 145
| t hp = 270
| hp = 208
| movement m = 9
| movement ft = 30
| weight kg = 70
| weight lb = 150
| level = 12
| str = 18
| dex = 18
| t dex = 20
| con = 18
| int = 17
| wis = 15
| cha = 18
| dex save prof = yes
| int save prof = yes
| wis save prof = yes
| resistances = bludgeoning resistant nm, piercing resistant nm, slashing resistant nm, necrotic resistant full
| t resistances = bludgeoning immune nm plus, piercing immune nm plus, slashing immune nm plus, necrotic resistant full
| conditions = Ritual Sources, Ritual Drain: Yousen, Ritual Drain: Astarion, Ritual Drain: Violet
| t conditions = Legendary Resistance: Crowd Control, Ritual Sources, Ritual Drain: Yousen, Ritual Drain: Astarion, Ritual Drain: Violet
| passives = Alert, Arcane Enchantment (+1) @ Woe, Arcane Vampirism @ Woe, Improved Extra Attack, Opportunity Attack, Sunlight Hypersensitivity, Vampire Regeneration
| h passives = Alert, Arcane Enchantment (+1) @ Woe, Arcane Vampirism @ Woe, Improved Extra Attack, Legendary Action: Vampire Swarm, Opportunity Attack, Sunlight Hypersensitivity, Vampire Regeneration 
}}

'''Cazador Szarr''' is a [[vampire]] in ''[[Baldur's Gate 3]]'' and [[Astarion]]'s former master. He is the primary antagonist of Astarion's personal quest, [[The Pale Elf]].

==Overview==
===Quests===
* [[The Pale Elf]]
* [[Investigate Cazador's Palace]]

=== History ===
Cazador became a Vampire Lord in the year 1276,<ref name="VbV">''[[Vampires before Vellioth]]''—[[Lady Incognita]]</ref> claiming the position of master vampire of Baldur's Gate from Vellioth the Martinet.<ref name="VbV"/>

== Involvement ==
=== Act One ===

While not making an appearance within Act One or Act Two, Cazador's influence is still felt. If [[Astarion]] is chosen as player character, they can encounter a dream sequence involving Cazador, where he recites four rules he enforces amongst his spawn. [[Astarion]] as a companion may also show the party the scars on his back, which is revealed to be part of an Infernal Pact. What this pact entails is unknown, but he assumes it is extremely important to Cazador.

=== Act Two ===
While still not appearing in Act Two, Astarion can decipher the meaning of the pact with the help of [[Raphael]]. His scars are part of a ritual imparted to Cazador by [[Mephistopheles]]. When performed, the recipient of the ritual becomes [[Vampire Ascendant]], a creature that retains all the power of a Vampire, but none of the weaknesses, including their weakness to sunlight and thirst for blood.

=== Act Three ===
Once in Baldur's Gate, the party can hunt down Cazador at [[Szarr Palace|Cazador's Palace]]. He is eventually found in [[Cazador's Dungeon|his Dungeon]], revealing that the ritual required not just the seven Vampire Spawn he sired, but also thousands of others. The "meals" [[Astarion]] brought Cazador were not for him to feed on, but rather prepared and turned into spawn for use in his ritual. Upon encountering Cazador, he will reclaim [[Astarion]], and begin his attempt to use him for the ritual. Should the party free [[Astarion]], and defeat Cazador, [[Astarion]] readies himself to take over the ritual, and absorb the power for himself - only for Cazador to reveal that if he were to continue the ritual himself, he would simply be consumed for it, as he has the marks of the pact on his back, and the ritual will still take his soul as a result, as it requires an exact amount of souls. The party must then make an important choice.

==The Black Mass Ritual==

===Let Astarion finish the Ritual===

Should the party allow Astarion to finish the ritual, he will connect to the player character's parasite, and copy the scars on his back onto Cazador's own flesh, therefore fulfilling the requirements for the ritual, while allowing himself to remain alive. Astarion will then consume Cazador's, and all of the thousands of Vampire Spawns' essence to successfully become the Vampire Ascendant.

===Convince Astarion to kill Cazador and stop the Ritual===

If the party succeeds on a [[Persuasion]] or [[Insight]] check, Astarion will choose not continue the ritual for himself, and instead stab Cazador to death, falling to his knees, and sobbing, finally free from Cazador's tyranny. If even one of the vampire spawn died during the fight, the Vampire Ascendent ritual cannot be conducted and Astarion will default to this option.

===Refuse to help Astarion===

If the party outright refuses to help Astarion without convincing him, or fails the skill checks above and still refuses to help him, Astarion will kill Cazador in the same sequence as above. But he will then destroy Cazador's [[Woe|Staff]], leaving the Vampire Spawn to rot. After this, he will permanently leave the party, stating that he hopes they "die screaming."

===Kill Cazador without Astarion in the party===

The player character can stab Cazador while he is in his coffin if Astarion was not brought to the fight. Mentioning this to Astarion afterwards will infuriate him, and he will permanently leave the party unless the party convinces him not to do so.

===Interrupt the ritual===

The party can choose to interrupt Astarion partway through the ritual. If they do so, the player character will throw Cazador's [[Rhapsody|dagger]] at him, killing Cazador and making the ritual impossible to complete. Astarion will then destroy Cazador's staff and attack the party, forcing the party to kill him.

=== Break the ritual ===
Killing one or more of the sacrificial vampire spawn during the fight with Cazador will result in Astarion killing Cazador and staying with the party without complaint. Astarion's remaining siblings will flee the scene, skipping their normal cutscene. Several NPCs, including the Gur party, will react as if Astarion voluntarily forfeited the ritual.


No matter which choice the party decides on, Cazador ultimately dies.

==Notable Loot==
* {{MdRarityItem|Woe}}
* {{MdRarityItem|Szarr Family Ring}}
* {{MdRarityItem|Rhapsody}}

==Quotes==

{{Q|
First, thou shalt not drink of the blood of thinking creatures. 

Second, thou shalt obey me in all things. 

Third, thou shalt not leave my side unless directed. 

Four, thou shalt know that thou art '''mine'''.

|Cazador's four rules he enforces upon his vampire spawn, including Astarion}}

==Gallery==
<gallery heights="250" mode="packed">
File:Cazador Early Access Model.png|Cazador's 3d model during Early Access.
Cazador Model.png|Cazador's model.
Cazador.png|Cazador's concept art.
Cazador placeholder portait.png|Cazador during the ritual.
Edward-vanderghote-cazador.webp|Character art by Edward Vanderghote.
</gallery>

==Notes==
{{notebegin}}
* During the Early Access, Cazador appeared with a beard. This is no longer the case, as Elves are unable to use Facial Hair options.
{{noteend}}

== References ==
<references />

== External Links ==
* {{FRWiki|Cazador Szarr|long}}

{{Szarr Palace}}
[[Category:Vampires]]
[[Category:Undead]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Characters in Szarr Palace]]
[[Category:Characters in Act Three]]
[[Category:Bosses]]