Astarion

Overview

Approval

Banter

Romance

Astarion is an Origin character and a companion in Baldur's Gate 3. He is a High Elf Rogue with the Charlatan background, specialising in Stealth and Sneak Attacks. He is portrayed by Neil Newbon and was created by Stephen Rooney.

And to think I was ready to decorate the ground with your innards. Apologies.

— Astarion, apologising after a misunderstanding

Overview

Background

Astarion prowled the night as a vampire spawn for centuries, serving a sadistic master until he was snatched away. Now he can walk in the light and has the chance at a new life, but how long can he keep his past buried?

Starting class

Astarion starts as a Rogue. Upon reaching level three, he will default to the Arcane Trickster subclass.

Companion quest

Main article: The Pale Elf

Astarion's companion quest is called The Pale Elf. His story unravels as Astarion explores his newfound freedom, coming to terms with the abuse inflicted on him, and that he has inflicted on others.

Recruitment

Recruitable in Act One.

Astarion can be found standing on a road west of the crashed Nautiloid in the Wilderness. When found, a scene will play where he asks for help defeating an Intellect Devourer. Afterwards, he can be asked to join the party.

Approval

Main article: Astarion/approval

Astarion approves of displays of power and cruelty, and appreciates snarkiness and mocking. He is inspired when the player gains access to areas or information by deceiving others. The player does not have to be "evil" to gain his approval, however — he approves when the player makes choices that support independence and autonomy, and when the player helps certain characters in need.

Astarion disapproves of displays of weakness and does not like acts of kindness or charity that offer no reward. He also disapproves when the player tries to rein him in or restrict him in some way.

Personality

Astarion has the demeanor of a charming and confident nobleman with a biting wit. He enjoys making sarcastic remarks and japes at other people's expense, all the while acting smug and haughty. His decades of being a vampire have left him with a lack of moral scruples compared to the more upstanding members of the party, making him come off as ruthless at best or outright sadistic at worst. While he does attempt to suck the player’s blood non-consensually during one of the first long rests after recruiting him, he does respect the player’s decision regardless of whether it is to allow him to drink or forbid him from drinking their blood.

At the beginning of the game's story, Astarion has recently escaped his abuser and discovered that sunlight no longer hurts him. As such, he comes off as reckless and hedonistic at times, wishing to enjoy his newfound freedom as much as possible. He shares this outlook with fellow party member Karlach. Once it is discovered that his immunity to sunlight is due to the Tadpole, Astarion is less excited than the rest of the party at the prospect of destroying the tadpoles, instead wishing to find a way to wield their power instead.

Tragically, his demeanour belies the trauma of decades of abuse. Astarion's sire, the vampire lord Cazador, performed horrifically depraved acts on Astarion that left both physical and psychological scars. He is utterly ruthless in his pursuit of revenge on Cazador and is not afraid to commit acts of cruelty or deception in the pursuit of that quest, being one of the few party members enthusiastic about making a pact with Raphael. The crux of his personal quest is whether he will follow in Cazador's footsteps and steal the power of the Vampire Ascendent for himself or kill Cazador and stop the rite.

Gameplay

Astarion's default class is rogue. He can cast the Fire Bolt cantrip as a high elf, and as a vampire spawn he has access to a unique Vampire Bite, however this action does not appear until after the party finds out about his vampirism.

Proficiencies

Equipment proficiencies

• Simple weapons
• Hand Crossbows
• Longswords
• Rapiers
• Shortswords
• Longbows
• Light armour

Save proficiencies

• Dexterity
• Intelligence

Skill proficiencies

• Acrobatics
• Deception
• Perception
• Performance
• Persuasion
• Sleight of Hand (x2)
• Stealth (x2)

Unlockable bonuses

The following bonuses and actions are unlockable through certain decisions in Astarion's companion quest:

•  Vampire Ascendant
•  Ascendant Bite
•  Misty Escape

History

Astarion was a young magistrate in Baldur's Gate, until one day he was assaulted and almost killed by a gang of Gurs. The vampire lord, Cazador Szarr, who had taken interest in him, approached Astarion and turned him into one of his slaves – a vampire spawn.

After being turned, Astarion and his vampire spawn siblings lived at the Szarr Palace in the city. Cazador held complete control over his spawn, able to "puppet" their bodies and bend them to his will. He used this power to torment Astarion, torturing him physically and emotionally for centuries. At his command, Astarion was himself seducing the nobility of Baldur's Gate, luring young aristocrats back to be fed on by his master.

Unbeknownst to Astarion, Cazador had secretly made a deal with the archdevil Mephistopheles to invoke the Rite of Profane Ascension. Szarr was to siphon the life force of seven thousand souls, Astarion's included, to become a vampire ascendant.

Before the vampire lord's plans could come to fruition, Astarion was kidnapped and infected with a special illithid tadpole. And so, Astarion's journey to freedom from his master could begin...

Achievements

Just a Nibble
Let Astarion bite you - ouch.

Gallery

• 

  Base model.

• 

  Camp model.

• 

  Underwear model.

• 

  Ascended Model.

• 

  Early Access model.

• 

  Appearance in the character creator.

• 

  Portrait by Edward Vanderghote.

• 

  Promotional art.

• 

  Appearance pre-release.

• 

  During Early Access.

Notes

• Can be spoken to with Speak with Dead.
• The inscription on Astarion's gravestone reads "Astarion Ancunín: 229 - 268 DR 468 DR -", as per the game's devnotes.
• Astarion was 39 years old when Cazador turned him.
• BG3 Senior writer Stephen Rooney is the creator & main writer of Astarion.
• Astarion's background changed throughout Early Access and the released physical character sheets: originally, his background was listed as "Noble", then it was listed as "Trickster Hedonist" in the Character Creation screen during the Release Showcase Panel, and then "Courtesan" on the physical character sheet, with "Charlatan" accompanying the game's official release.

External links

• Astarion on the Forgotten Realms Wiki
• Astarion's free D&D Character sheet PDF on D&D Beyond