Astarion/Romance: Difference between revisions

* Early in the [[Act Three]] the party may visit the [[Circus of the Last Days]] in [[Rivington]]. One of performers there is a dryad by the name of [[Zethino]], who will offer to conduct a love test for the player character for a fee. The player may ask Astarion to take part in it. Zethino will transport both the player character and Astarion to a woodsy area and ask questions about the the spawn. The player may choose to whatever answers they wish, but some of them are considered 'correct', some are not. Choosing two or more incorrect answers will result in Astarion being upset. Note that some answers bring a minor disapproval from Astarion, but for the purposes of the test are still considered correct. The list of correct answers (both that gains approval and disapproval) can be found at [[Astarion/Approval|Approval]] section in correspondent [[Act Three]] subdivisions.

: Whether they do it or not, after a couple of long rests in the area a scene will trigger where other four spawn assault the party at camp with clear intentions: either to convince Astarion to return or to kidnap him should he refuse. In the subsequent dialogue with the spawn the player is free to choose any responses they want, but certain choices will result in Astarion disapprove of the player character and even break relations if partnered. If the player chooses to take Astarion's side, his siblings will attack the party, but teleport away as soon as they reach 1 HP.

* Once the player confronts and defeats Cazador in his [[Cazador's Dungeon|dungeon]], they may choose what outcome they want. They can convince Astarion to simply kill Cazador and remain a spawn, or help him to perform the Rite and become a Vampire Ascendant. Note that the latter decision will cause not only the death of Cazador and other 'sibling' spawn, but every single captive spawn in the dungeon cells around.  

**  If Astarion becomes a Vampire Ascendant, his behaviour will change considerably immediately after the Rite.{{note|'' "The very composition of my blood has been altered…", "I hear how all the lowly creatures <…> are begging to serve", "The world will stir in fear" '' - post Black Mass dialogue with Astarion in the dungeon.}} Some players may be uncomfortable with his and their character's subsequent romantic dynamic. {{note| Astarion the Ascendant becomes arrogant, controlling, and threatening. Dialogue node context lines when breaking up with him run like '' "Very arrogant Vampire Lord Astarion can't believe you're trying to break up with him" '' or '' "Slightly abusive/threatening" ''}} The player also has numerous occasions to comment on his changed behaviour: they might tell him that he is now controlling and manipulative, or that there's nothing of the man they loved left in him. However, Astarion himself feels these changes are right when (and if) he admits them.

If the player long-rests after the Rite concludes, an additional scene with Astarion will be triggered. There are two different cutscenes depending on the outcome of the [[The_Pale_Elf#Ending_1:_Astarion_completes_the_Rite_of_Profane_Ascension|Rite of Profane Ascension]]. Both include a dialogue and - possibly - a subsequent romance scene.  

* If the player chose to help Astarion become an Ascendant, they will have an option to become a vampire spawn. This proposal may come straightaway from the player character, but if the player does not use this line, Astarion himself will eventually try to seduce them into becoming a spawn. During the course of conversation, multiple dialogue options can lead to Astarion telling the player character he loves them (with allowance for his ''new'' understanding of the 'love' concept).

:* If the player eventually consents to becoming a spawn, they can then choose to sleep with Astarion again or not. However, neither choice here will impact the new-sprung Ascendant's decision to turn the player character, the only difference is whether another scene of sexual intercourse is shown. If Astarion's approval hasn't come up to 100 yet, agreeing to sleep with him will raise it a bit.

:: Regardless, the cutscene proceeds into another background (depending on the location of the player’s camp) and another dialogue with Astarion, where he will ask the player to kneel. At this point the player may roll a {{Ability check|Wisdom|18}} to unearth Astarion's true attitude towards the player character. Successful check will reveal that as Ascendant, he considers even his beloved one belonging to the lower order of creatures and will ever treat them accordingly. Nevertheless, the player might still kneel, or refuse to do it, or choose to kick Astarion in the balls {{note|Doing this will cause Astarion to permanently leave the party}}.

:: Agreeing to kneel will trigger the process proper of turning the player character. Before delivering the last bite, Astarion will thank them for giving him ''everything'' (though it remains unclear whether he means everything ''he himself'' ever wanted to obtain, or everything the character ever had, including their own life). After awakening, the player will have received the [[Vampire Bite|Bite]] ability which provides the [[Happy (Condition)|Happy]] condition {{note|However, the character's condition infobox will still have the formulation '' "Astarion's vampiric hunger has been sated…" '' in it}}.

* If Astarion was successfully convinced not to perform the Rite, he will tell the player he would like to show them something outside the camp. He will take them to the Lower City [[Graveyard]] and show his own grave {{note| In general walkthrough the player cannot find his tombstone at the cemetery, but by other landmarks it seems to be located under the huge willow, next to Karlach's parents' graves}}. After the initial discussion, Astarion will chisel a new 'birth' date on the tombstone and confess his love to player character. Through the dialogue, even ironical and sarcastic lines won't make the spawn to break up with the player character. After that, the player can consent to sleeping with Astarion or not; again, neither option impacts the further relationship. If the player agrees, the scene will proceed into romance intercourse right nearby Astarion's grave.