Editing Investigate Cazador's Palace

There is a [[Gur Camp]] in {{Coords|102|-12|Rivington}} led by [[Ulma]]. Ulma tells the party that Cazador has done immense damage to her tribe and even stolen their children. She wishes to have them back, or at least revenge taken if the children are already dead. If Astarion is in the party, he can be told that it's the least he can do to get vengeance for the Gur, which he will agree to. Ulma states that the Gur have tried and failed to infiltrate [[Szarr Palace]] but that a spawn could do it.

=== Potential Abduction ===

Several of Astarion's fellow vampire spawn attempt to kidnap him after the party has entered the Lower City and long rested. Failing to stop them before they drop Astarion to 1hp results in Astarion being kidnapped and sent to Cazador's palace. Once there, he is tortured by [[Godey]], who uses magic to attempt to force Astarion to obey Cazador. This starts a saving throw, but even if it's failed, the tadpole within Astarion emits a psionic wave that disrupts the spell. Godey becomes hostile after failing to collar Astarion and must be defeated. The party can regroup with Astarion in the kennels.

=== Cazador's Palace ===

Cazador's Palace can be accessed via the Central Watch Tower (X:-53, Y:-64), near the [[Lower City]] Central Wall [[Ancient Sigil Circle|Waypoint]], by climbing up the stairs. A number of charmed guards try to stop the party, but can be persuaded or intimidated into standing down. Alternatively, casting {{SAI|Calm Emotions}} on the guards will cancel the charm effect and cause them to leave the area. Follow the way north to reach the door to Cazador's Palace. Once inside, the palace will be surprisingly empty of vampires, but holds a conspicuously large ballroom door that is locked.  

The way forward is through the ballroom. Two things are needed to enter: a [[Szarr Family Ring]] and a passphrase in the Kozakuran language.

[[Vilhelm]] can be persuaded or deceived into revealing that Godey has the signet ring that can unlock the door. Godey is in the kennels in the lower floor. Godey is waiting in ambush (X:-1289, Y:982), but a perception check reveals him and he can be called out. If Astarion is in the party, Godey asks what he has brought him:

A note upstairs on the Chamberlain's desk (X:-1243, Y:976) suggests that one of the spawn has misplaced the dictionary used to decipher the passphrases.  

The [[Kozakuran Dictionary]] can be found on the lower floor in the guest room, which is brimming with deadly necrotic magic (X:-1299, Y:967). Here, the the [[Cursed (Condition Type)|cursed]] corpse of [[Victoria]] afflicts {{Condition inline|Vitality Drain}} ({{DamageText|4d6+4|Necrotic}} per turn) upon anyone entering, Casting {{SAI|Remove Curse}} on Victoria's body will end her {{Condition inline|Sapping Curse}} and make the room safe. Alternate solutions include use of [[Elixir of Necrotic Resistance]] or [[Jump]]/[[Flight (Condition)|Flight]] to cross the hazard. The dictionary is in a mahogany wardrobe to the west of the bed. Reading the book gives the phrase to enter the ballroom.

 

===Cazador's Dungeon===

After descending the elevator, a hallway to the west connects to Cazador's chambers. It contains the skull of Cazador's former master, [[Vellioth]], and by interacting with the skull and passing three DC 15 Wisdom checks, the party can gain more information about him. They will also receive the [[Black Mass Scroll]], whether the checks are passed or not.

To the north, there are several people in cages, who will call out to the party. If Astarion is in the party, one man recognizes him. It turns out that this is Sebastian, the first victim Astarion brought back to Cazador. Sebastian can be persuaded or deceived into revealing how to unlock the cages - Cazador's staff. The cell across the way can also be interacted with - it contains several Gur children who were captured and turned into vampire spawn. If they are told that Ulma sent the party, they also share that the staff is the key to opening the cells.

==== A Special Weapon ====

Within Cazador's dungeon, a lower level can be reached using [[Feather Fall]], [[Misty Step]], or [[Fly]] to jump down the hallway to the northwest of the elevator. Alternatively, a button below the western room can be activated with a range weapon, causing a massive chandelier to begin travelling up and down: this can be used an an ersatz elevator to travel to and from the lower level.  

On the lower level, the {{ItemIcon|name=Pelorsun Blade|size=20|show_name=1|show_rarity=1}} can be found in a room to the east, in a buried and trapped rosewood casket {{Coords|1=-1926|2=853}}. This weapon deals radiant damage, which is highly effective against Cazador. Additionally, there is a locked (DC 30) crypt gate here connecting to the [[Lower City Sewers|Lower City Sewers - Gloomy Ascent]]. The dungeon cannot be reached from the sewers until the gate has been unlocked from this side.

===Confronting Cazador===

[[Cazador]] is in the ritual chamber north of the prisoners' cells.  

 

If [[Astarion]] is in the active party, he will conclude the dialogue by attacking Cazador in a rage, only to be trapped in a ritual circle ({{Condition inline|Sacrificial Lamb}}). Cazador will then attack, along with several bats, werewolves, and fallen Gur hunters. Astarion can be rescued from imprisonment via the [[Help]] action, allowing him to rejoin the fight -- in which case Cazador and Asterion will engage in additional repartee during the battle. If Astarion is not released in three turns, the ritual succeeds, and Cazador becomes a Vampire Ascendant.  

If Astarion is not in the party, then Cazador can be persuaded to allow the party leave so they can bring Astarion back, or they can simply start the fight with him without Astarion. If Astarion was never recruited, or if he was killed (such as staking him in camp), then he will be at the ritual as a zombie.

Note that if Asterion is in the party but kept well back out of sight (e.g. up at the top of the stairs) then the fight will begin without Asterion. However as of Patch 6 if Asterion attempts to join the fight later and Cazador is still alive, the battle will be interrupted by the cut scene in which Cazador traps Asterion in the ritual.

[[Cazador#Combat|This fight]] can be very challenging. Cazador is a high-level spellcaster and gains power from the ritual victims, inflicting high necrotic damage to nearby party members. However, his profound weakness is {{Condition inline|Sunlight Hypersensitivity}}, which can easily be caused by {{SAI|Daylight}} cast prior to the battle and then reapplying it in new locations as he tries to escape from the sun's rays. Protecting the party's Daylight caster with {{SAI|Sanctuary}} can help keep the situation from getting out of control. On lower difficulty levels he can also be pushed off the platform to his death; unlike most enemies, he will then return to his coffin, where he can be looted or otherwise interacted with.  

[[File:Astarion Ritual Trapped.jpg|thumb|Astarion is trapped by the ritual's runes.]]

Once Cazador is defeated, he returns to his coffin in an attempt to enter a healing sleep. Interacting with the coffin has Astarion pry Cazador out of it. Astarion will attempt to use the ritual for himself, and requests the player for assistance. The player can agree, attempt to persuade Astarion against using the ritual, or simply refuse to help. If Astarion was not recruited or died, the only option is whether to kill or release the prisoners.

If the player agrees to assist Astarion, he completes the Rite of Profane Ascension by carving the runes into Cazador's back and sacrificing the six spawn and seven thousand souls. He becomes a [[Vampire Ascendant]], gains new powers and arguably warps his personality. When Ulma and the Gur arrive, they find him responsible for the deaths of their children and only one can come out alive - Astarion or the Gur - although this encounter can theoretically be avoided by sneaking out through the lower level of the dungeon.

===='''Ending 2: Astarion is persuaded not to complete the Rite of Profane Ascension'''====

If Astarion is persuaded not to use the ritual, he kills Cazador without performing the Rite of Profane Ascension, then he remains a vampire spawn for the rest of his days.

Astarion has the choice to kill the seven thousand victims, release them, or leave them in the cells. If the prisoners are freed, the other spawn lead them to live in the Underdark. Astarion sees killing the victims as mercy, as they never learned how to control their hunger. If he decides to leave them, Astarion breaks Cazador's staff and says that he is done with this place and done with all of them. Breaking the staff renders it inavailable as a quest reward. Regardless of the choice, the Gur do not attack Astarion and see him as having redeemed himself. If any other vampire spawn was killed during the Cazador fight, the ritual cannot be completed and Astarion kills Cazador without attempting to perform the ritual, and moves onto the choice regarding the imprisoned spawn. The dialogue with the Gur and the other companions will proceed as if Astarion chose to give up on the ritual himself.

===='''Ending 3: Astarion is refused or cannot be persuaded to stop the rite'''====

Astarion can leave the party permanently during this quest. If the player fails to persuade Astarion or refuses to help him with the ritual, he will leave the party after deciding to keep the spawn locked up, stating that he is done with Cazador, this place, and the party. If Astarion was allowed to start the ritual, the player can interrupt him by killing Cazador while the ritual is in progress, doing so will stop Astarion's ascension and cause him to become hostile, attacking the party.

* {{MdRarityItem|Rhapsody}} as loot from Cazador

*Aid of Ulma and the Gur for [[Gather Your Allies]]

''If Cazador is defeated and Astarion completes the Rite of Profane Ascension:''

*Aid of Astarion's servants of the night for [[Gather Your Allies]]

*Astarion gains the passive feature [[Vampire Ascendant]] which grants the actions [[Ascendant Bite]] and [[Misty Escape (Vampire Ascendant)|Misty Escape]], and an additional {{DamageText|1d10|Necrotic}} damage to weapon and unarmed attacks

==Notes==

*As of Patch 1, there is a glitch where the vampire spawn will not take Astarion if he isn't in the party. The spawn will keep attacking him even though he's downed, making the only way to end the fight defeating the vampires.