Editing Astarion/romance

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| title = Astarion's Romance
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{{CompanionTab|Astarion}}
'''Astarion''' can be [[romance]]d.

The following sections explain Astarion's romance-specific storyline and unique mechanics.

==Storyline==
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===Act One===
*After the cutscene of Astarion sneaking away at night triggers, the player can find an exsanguinated boar at the bridge before the [[Blighted Village]], to the far right path of the signpost saying 'Moonhaven' (north of the village), or just after the dialogue with Auntie Ethel at the entrance of Sunlit Wetlands (south of the village). The following long rest, the player will wake up to Astarion trying to drink their blood. He will approve of the player saying they trust him, and further approve of them letting him drink their blood. Note that if the player doesn't successfully stop him the '''second''' time the choice is presented, the player will die. They can simply be revived using a revivify scroll later. Note that players do not need to be aware Astarion is a vampire to sleep with him later on; not triggering this scene will not affect the romance.

*Getting a substantial lead, either the location of the Githyanki Crèche from [[Zorru]], Priestess Gut from [[Sazza]], or learning about Halsin's possible whereabouts from [[Nettie]], will trigger a scene with him later in camp when you talk to him. He remarks how he likes the player, and the player can respond in a flirtatious manner. No approval changes from any options. Note that you may want to wait to trigger this scene till later since the dialogue makes it sound as if he and the player have been travelling together for a while, but that's preference.

*A scene can be triggered at camp where Astarion says he has fed on a bear, the following conversation nets no approval changes but he makes a few playful quips to the player and they can do so in turn. The parameters for trigger this is unclear at the moment (possibly average-good relationship), but you need to know he is a vampire.

*When you come across [[Gandrel]], the Gur monster hunter found to the left of the [[Riverside Teahouse]], you can progress your relationship with Astarion by allowing him to kill the Gur. In order to trigger this dialogue option, you need to have found out that Astarion is a vampire beforehand. In conversation with Gandrel, ask him what he is hunting, then choose "Only a spawn? Pity. Not like he's a real vampire." The first and second subsequent choices will trigger Astarion to reveal himself to the Gur and a fight will ensue.) After this scene plays out, you can speak to Astarion.

*A similar scene with the same outcomes should trigger when the player reaches Good approval with Astarion, even without dealing with the Gur{{verify}}.

*Once you have had the conversation with Astarion where he invites the player to spend the night with him, the scene itself will trigger on the next long rest. If you choose dialogue options that indicate distrust, he will become upset and leave{{verify}}. You can gain approval with him by "playfully offering your neck." The player will wake the next morning to Astarion standing shirtless with his back turned to them; scars visible. The player can make a playful quip before asking him about the scars on his back. You can pass an Arcana check to determine the language the scars are written in (Infernal), but there are no approval changes.

*As early as [[Act One]], a scene can trigger where Astarion is looking into a mirror. The player may compliment him on anything to effectively “flirt” with him, aside from his moles and smile lines (this will lead to him being upset and leaving).

*At either the goblin or the Tiefling party, the player can agree to sleep with Astarion afterwards. If this is the first time the player sleeps with him, it will trigger the cutscene mentioned above. 

*If the player has already slept with Astarion, then talking with Astarion at the party will result in a much more familiar conversation, where he can even tell the player he loves them, though he is just using shallow charm (no approval changes). Agreeing to sleep with him again will result in the dialogue choice "Astarion" becoming available once you head to bed, and the player then seeks him out. There is no additional sex scene, it's simply implied.

===Act Two===
Heading into Acts 2 and 3, it is important to note that some choices you make, Astarion will disapprove of, but they may be for the 'better'. Disapproval of an action will not lock you out of romance scenes, and he may even change his outlook on your actions later on.

*The next substantial scene with Astarion happens after the player goes to bed after talking to [[Araj Oblodra]] with Astarion in the party. She is a vendor located on the main floor of [[Moonrise Towers]]. Players can pick whichever option they feel suits how they want their relationship with Astarion to be. Picking options that manipulate Astarion into having sex with you simply for pleasure will be followed by a cutscene where Astarion breaks up with the player.

A similar scene with the same outcomes will trigger if your approval with Astarion is at least 70 (High Approval) in Act 2, even if you don't talk to Araj.

*Once the party successfully completes [[Kill Raphael's Old Enemy]], Raphael will inform Astarion about the nature of his scars and the player can then talk with Astarion about the information revealed. It is important to ponder how you want to proceed with this, as it will change Astarion's fate and the dynamic of his relationship with the player.

===Act Three===
*At [[Circus of the Last Days]] there is a dryad, [[Zethino]], who will conduct a love test for the player for a fee. You can ask Astarion to take part in it and you will be transported to a woodsy area and asked questions about him. You may choose to respond however you wish, but choosing two or more from 'I don't think he's ever been happy.', 'He's happy right now, look at that smile!', 'Me', 'A nice, tasty rat.', and 'Sharp, wooden sticks.' will result in Astarion being upset. Note that picking more 'genuine' options 'Freedom', and 'Forever feeling like a slave to someone', will result in an 'Astarion Disapproves' message popping up, but are still considered correct answers.

*The player can find Astarion's fellow spawn in [[Fraygo's Flophouse]] near the Southspan of Wyrm's Crossing waypoint. If the player did not interact with them, then long resting a couple times in the area should trigger a scene where they come talk to you at camp. The player is free to choose any responses they want, but may see disapproval pop up at certain choices. His siblings will attack the party, and afterwards he will talk to the player. Again, you may choose to respond however you feel. If you tell his siblings 'You can take him' when they come to camp at night, and then choose 'I wish they had', 'I panicked in the moment!', or fail the check for 'I was only teasing you.', Astarion will break up with you.

*Once the player confronts Cazador, they may choose what outcome they want. They can convince Astarion to simply kill Cazador instead of performing the rite himself, or he can perform the rite and become a Vampire Ascendant. Note that if he goes through with the rite, everyone in the cells will die. 
**  If Astarion becomes a Vampire Ascendant, his behaviour will change considerably.{{ref|name=changed1}}{{ref|Player: "Come on, you're still the same Astarion, just stronger." Astarion: "Oh, I wouldn't be so sure. The very composition of my blood has been altered..." - post Black Mass dialogue with Astarion.}} Some players may be uncomfortable with his and their character's subsequent romantic dynamic. {{note|Ascendant Astarion is arrogant,{{ref|"Very arrogant Vampire Lord Astarion can't believe you're trying to break up with him" - dialogue node context when breaking up with Ascendant Astarion.}} controlling, and threatening.{{ref|"slightly abusivey/threatening" - dialogue node context when breaking up with Ascendant Astarion.}}{{ref|"I can take anything I want. I should have made you a spawn just to teach you that." - post break-up dialogue with Ascendant Astarion.}} The player also has numerous occasions to comment on his changed behaviour; that he is "controlling [and] manipulative",{{ref|Breakup dialogue with Ascendent Astarion.}} that he "scares" them,{{ref|Post Black Mass dialogue with romanced Ascendant Astarion.}} and that he has changed from the person he was.{{ref|"The ritual has changed you so much.", "There's nothing of the man I loved left in you." - Post Black Mass dialogue with Ascended Astarion.|name=changed1}} }}
** Players romancing Ascended Astarion as [[Karlach]] will also ultimately break up with Astarion, as he will be unable to turn Karlach into his spawn. If he attempted and failed to turn her, Astarion will blame Karlach and become derisive towards her. {{note|After failing to turn her, Ascended Astarion will call Karlach "pathetic", "broken", and pointedly; "doomed".{{ref|"Savouring "doomed"" - dialogue node context when breaking up with Ascendant Astarion as Karlach.}}
}}

*After the conclusion of the rite, a scene with Astarion will be triggered depending on the outcome. If he went through with the rite, the player can tell him they would like to be a vampire like him, and he can and will turn the player into his spawn. Choosing not to become a vampire will result in him breaking up with the player. If you choose to spend one last night alive with him (become his vampire spawn and sleep with him), you will get the option to kick him in the balls when he tells you to get on your knees. Doing so will result in him permanently leaving the party. If you agree and go through with becoming his spawn, he will thank you for giving him everything. After awakening, the player will have received the Bite ability. 

*If he did not go through with the rite, he will tell the player he would like to show them something outside the city, and take them to see his grave. You're free to choose any options you want, but note that accepting to sleep with him will result in an extra bit of dialogue where he tells the player he loves them.

==Romance mechanics==
This section contains information regarding the unique in-game mechanics and interactions for Astarion's romance.
===Relationship stages===
Like the other major romance options in the game, Astarion's relationship progression can be divided into specific stages: friendly, flirting, partnered, and ex-partnered:

# '''Friendly:''' The friendly stage begins at medium approval, and is the default stage for non-romanced companions.
# '''Flirting:''' Once the player sleeps with Astarion during Act 1, you will enter the flirting stage.
# '''Partnered:''' In Act 2 with high enough approval, and if the player is not in the partnered stage with any other companion, you will be able to partner with Astarion during the long rest following speaking with [[Araj Oblodra]] at [[Moonrise Towers]] if you do not coerce him to bite her. This stage comes with unique party/camp interactions.
# '''Ex-Partnered:''' Once partnered with Astarion, the player can break up with him anytime by selecting the appropriate dialogue option. The player will return to the friendly stage with Astarion for greetings/interactions.
===Unique dialogue===
====Greetings====
Players who romance Astarion will hear unique greetings dependent on the stage of the romance and approval/game progression:
* '''Flirting:''' 
:* "It's always a pleasure to see you sauntering over."
:* "Yes, darling?"
:* "Hello, beautiful."
:*"I did miss that face, you know."
:* "Hello, my sweet."
* '''Partnered:'''
:* "Gods, you're beautiful."
:* "Is there something you want to talk about, my dear?"
:* (As the Dark Urge) "Precious little Bhaal-babe!"
If broken up with (ex-partnered), Astarion's greetings return to his regular, friendly greetings.
====Party/camp interactions====
While in the partnered stage (following his relationship progression scene in Act 2), Astarion will have the following unique dialogue options that are always available when interacting with him both in camp and while he's in the player's party, which can be instigated by selecting "Can we talk about the two of us?":
* The player can inquire about Astarion's feelings regarding the relationship ("What are we to you?"). His response will vary depending on recent major events in his questline.
* The player can ask for a kiss ("Could I kiss you?).
* The player can break up with Astarion ("Whatever is between us, we need to end it").
If the player breaks up with Astarion, or if Astarion breaks up with the player for whatever reason, these options will no longer be accessible when speaking with Astarion.
===Romancing other characters===
This section contains information regarding how the player's relationship with Astarion impacts other romance options/scenes and vice versa.
The player can be in the flirting stage with other companions while in the flirting stage with Astarion (typically encompasses all Act 1 romance scenes and minor flirting scenes during Act 2 prior to the companion's major romance progression/partnering scene). Astarion considers the player to be in a relationship (partnered) with him after his relationship progression event in Act 2 (following meeting [[Araj Oblodra]]) if the correct options are selected during this interaction. If you have entered the partnered stage with another companion prior to this scene triggering, the player will need to interact with Astarion in camp (prior to meeting with Araj) to trigger the dialogue where you must choose between the partnered companion and Astarion if the player wishes to pursue a romance with Astarion. While Astarion is not a monogamous companion, the player can only be in the partnered stage with one origin companion.
* '''Romancing [[Halsin]]''' - The player is able to romance both Astarion and Halsin at the same time in Act 3. Upon attaining high enough approval with Halsin, Halsin may approach the player and express interest while acknowledging the existing relationship with Astarion. He will suggest that he share you with Astarion but only if Astarion approves. When approached by the player with Halsin's suggestion, Astarion will accept. The player's relationship with Halsin does not affect their relationship with Astarion. Following this interaction, only Halsin will bring up the other during unique party/camp dialogue options (specifically when the player asks Halsin about their relationship).
* '''Romancing [[Sorn Orlith]]/[[Nym Orlith]]''' - When approached in [[Sharess' Caress]] in Act 3 while the player is in a relationship with Astarion, the twins Sorn and Nym will offer the player the option to be with both of them at once, but only if both the player and Astarion both participate. The results of this interaction depend on whether or not Astarion's companion quest [[the Pale Elf]] has been completed yet or not:
:* Before the completion of Astarion's companion quest, Astarion will express hesitation at the proposition and will tell the player he's not ready for that again. Assuring him that you would never ask that of him will award the player with his approval (if not maxed out already.
:* After the completion of Astarion's companion quest, Astarion is willing to participate in the twin's proposition.
:* If the player is romancing both Halsin and Astarion and both are in the party when the twins are approached, Halsin will enthusiastically volunteer for the task and can be included either with just the player and the twins (if Astarion does not want to participate) or with the player, Astarion, and the twins (if Astarion does want to participate). Regardless of options chosen, this will not affect the player's relationship with Astarion moving forward.

== Footnotes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

<indicator name="1-article">[[Astarion|Main article]]</indicator>
<indicator name="approval">[[Astarion/approval|Approval]]</indicator>
<indicator name="banter">[[Astarion/banter|Banter]]</indicator>