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Astarion

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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.


Portrait Astarion.png
“
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 two centuries in Baldur's Gate, enslaved by a sadistic vampire lord named Cazador Szarr until he was snatched away by the mind flayers on the Nautiloid and tadpoled. Now he can walk in the sunlight, wade through water, enter homes uninvited, and resist his master's compulsions. Astarion now has a chance at a new life where he can make his own choices, and possibly gain the true freedom and safety he so desperately seeks.

Starting Class

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

Special Features

Companion Quest

Main article: The Pale Elf

Astarion's companion quest is called The Pale Elf. His story unravels as he explores his newfound freedom and how he can keep it, as well as coming to terms with the abuse inflicted on him, and the harm 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

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, are understanding toward his past, 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 restrict him or deny him his autonomy.

Romance

See main article: Astarion/Romance

Astarion can be romanced by characters of any gender. His romance deals heavily with his personal character growth, his relationship with intimacy, his discovery of what he wants in life, and the reclaiming of his autonomy. Astarion's romance also has different outcomes depending on the choices made at the end of his companion quest.

Description

Appearance

Astarion is a high elf vampire spawn that appears to be in his late 30s despite being multiple centuries old. He is approximately 5'11" tall, physically fit, and has sharp facial features. He has pale, pallid-looking skin with dark circles and bags under his crimson red eyes, as well as smile lines around his mouth and a faint beauty mark on his right cheek. He also has long pointed ears, well-manicured nails, and medium length, white-silver curly hair that is styled with pomade and curls around his ears. He has a bite-mark scar on the right side of his neck from when his old master Cazador Szarr originally bit him to turn him into a vampire, and covering most of his back, Astarion has a myriad of scars that were carved into him by Cazador. When it comes to clothes and shoes, Astarion's choice in attire is usually on the fancier side, choosing often to wear elaborate doublets and leather chaps with embroidered leather shoes. He takes meticulous care to embroider and repair the clothing that he owns, keeping it in good condition as best he can. Astarion is also very mindful of his hygiene and physical appearance overall, especially regarding his hair, nails, skin, and clothing.

Personality

Astarion's personality at the start is very much influenced by his own background as an upper middle class high elf magistrate and his time spent as a vampire spawn slave under Cazador Szarr. Astarion is very charming, eloquent, cunning, witty, sarcastic, and practical. But, having been forced to be out for himself and having felt abandoned by the world and its heroes, Astarion is also very bitter, cynical, self-centered, manipulative, distrustful, prejudiced, and vengeful. His top priorities are his own autonomy, his own safety, and his revenge on Cazador. He is largely apathetic toward the feelings of others and has little interest in helping them for no reward, as he feels that if he didn't get help, nobody else should. He also holds prejudices against the Gur people and small races such as gnomes.

Astarion at the beginning is also very fear-motivated and has a low self-worth, despite his confident and arrogant persona. He will attempt to manipulate others with sex to get them on his side so that he has protection from Cazador, as he believes sex is all he is good for and it is one of few ways he knows how to form relationships with other people. He is also willing to do almost anything to gain power or advantage so that he can secure his own safety and avoid being under Cazador's control again, even if it means trampling over others or doing something he finds personally distasteful. Although, he has reservations about sacrificing his bodily autonomy even if it means he can gain an advantageous power.

However, as the story progresses, Astarion can develop and change his personality depending on how he is guided during his questline, just like other companions. If Astarion is guided down a good path where his fears, beliefs, and unhealthy behaviors, are not wholly validated, he will grow into his best self by beginning to deconstruct his cynical worldview, learning to truly value and stand up for himself, showing empathy and care toward others, reconciling with those he has hurt in the past, developing a healthy relationship with sex and romance, forming genuine bonds with other people that he trusts, breaking the cycle of abuse, and healing from his trauma. But, if Astarion is led down a bad path where his behaviors, fears, and beliefs are validated and encouraged, he will instead become the very worst version of himself, a fearful, power-hungry, and abusive man who has repressed his trauma and continued the abuse cycle.

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

Save proficiencies

Skill proficiencies

Unlockable bonuses

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

History

Pre-Vampirism

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

Life as Cazador's Spawn

After being turned, Astarion and his vampire spawn "siblings" lived at the Szarr Palace in the Upper City. And being vampire spawn, Astarion and his "siblings" were completely subservient to Cazador, bound to him through the bond of creator and creation. Cazador could use this power to completely control Astarion and the others, and he imposed three main commands onto his spawn. 1. "Thou must not drink from thinking creatures, 2. "Thou must never leave my side, unless commanded," and 3. "Thou must obey me in all things." Astarion and the other spawn could not physically refuse these commands. Cazador would then use this power and these "rules" to physically and emotionally abuse and torture Astarion for centuries, and any form of attempted resistance or escape was met with harsh punishment. For example, Astarion was once sealed away in a coffin, starving, for over a year because he had tried to disobey one of Cazador's commands. Also, the abuse inflicted onto Astarion and the other spawn was brutal and frequent. They were physically tortured and had "poetry" carved into their backs by Cazador, they were frequently emotionally abused as Cazador would play mind games on them, they would be fed dead rats and bugs, they would be commanded to physically torture themselves and the other spawn, they would be starved for long periods of time, and also be forced to venture out into the Lower City to seduce people and engage in sexual activity with them so that they could lure them back to Szarr Palace to later be fed on by Cazador.

However, while out in a city tavern seducing a young noble to bring back to Cazador, Astarion was abducted by the rogue Nautiloid and was tadpoled alongside other victims.

Story Involvement

The Pale Elf

See main article: The Pale Elf
The Pale Elf is Astarion's personal quest. It is added to the journal upon recruiting him, and it spans all three acts of the game.

Act One

Act Two

Act Three

Endings

Quest Rewards

If Cazador is defeated:

If Cazador is defeated and Astarion does not complete the Rite of Profane Ascension:

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

Interactions & Scenes

In-Party Interactions & Scenes

As a companion while out traveling, Astarion has unique dialogue interactions available during and after certain events. Whenever one is available, he will have a floating [ ! ] icon above him.

Act One

Act Two

Act Three

Camp Interactions & Scenes

As a companion, Astarion has unique dialogue interactions and cutscenes available at camp. Whenever one is available, he will have a floating [ ! ] icon above him.

Act One

Act Two

Act Three

NPC Interactions

Either as an origin, or in the party as a companion, Astarion has unique interactions and special dialogue with the following characters, listed by the act they are first encountered in:

Act One

Act Two

Act Three

Loot

Astarion can be killed and looted upon meeting, and he will drop the same loot as starting equipment.

Achievements

A-Just a Nibble.jpg

Just a Nibble
Let Astarion bite you - ouch.


Gallery

  • Base model.

    Base model.

  • Camp model.

    Camp model.

  • Underwear model.

    Underwear model.

  • Ascended Model.

    Ascended Model.

  • Early Access model.

    Early Access model.

  • Appearance in the character creator.

    Appearance in the character creator.

  • Portrait by Edward Vanderghote.

    Portrait by Edward Vanderghote.

  • Promotional art.

    Promotional art.

  • Appearance pre-release.

    Appearance pre-release.

  • During Early Access.

    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


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