Astarion: Difference between revisions

| role = [[Origin characters|Origin character]], [[Companions|companion]]|va=[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0627667 Neil Newbon]|initiative=+3|movement m=9|weight kg=75|level=1|str=8|dex=17|con=14|int=13|wis=13|cha=10|prof bonus=+2|dex save prof=yes|passives=Darkvision, Fey Ancestry|size=Medium|type=Humanoid|int save prof=Yes|actions=Vampire Bite}}

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 ===

=== Companion quest ===

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.

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 [[The Pale Elf|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.  

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...