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Astarion: Difference between revisions

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=== Act Three ===
=== Act Three ===
In [[Rivington]], Astarion and the party may encounter {{CharLink|Ulma}} and the other members of the local Gur tribe. Ulma recognizes Astarion and reveals him as one of the vampire spawns who stole their children away in the night under Cazador's orders. She offers Astarion a chance for redemption, asking him to help save their children from Cazador's clutches and bring them back home. If Astarion and the party agree to help, this starts the quest {{Quest|Investigate Cazador's Palace}}. If Astarion and the party refuse to help, Ulma and the other members of the Gur tribe become hostile.
In [[Rivington]], Astarion and the party may encounter {{CharLink|Ulma}} and the other members of the local Gur tribe. Ulma recognizes Astarion and reveals him as a vampire spawn who stole their children away in the night under Cazador's orders. She offers Astarion a chance for redemption, asking him to help save their children from Cazador's clutches and bring them home. If Astarion and the party agree to help, this starts the quest {{Quest|Investigate Cazador's Palace}}. If Astarion and the party refuse to help, Ulma and the other members of the Gur tribe become hostile.


Later on, in [[Fraygo's Flophouse]], Astarion encounters two of his "siblings", {{CharLink|Dalyria}} and {{CharLink|Petras}}{{Ref|This encounter will be interrupted if someone is wielding the Blood of Lathander, making the spawns vanish.}}. They discuss Cazador's ritual, falsely believing it will set all of them free. Astarion interrupts them and calls them foolish for believing Cazador's lies, and he demands to know where the ritual will happen. Dalyria and Petras then reveal it is happening in a secret defiled chapel underneath Cazador's Palace before returning back to Cazador. Astarion then continues to ponder if he can usurp the ritual for himself.
Later on, in [[Fraygo's Flophouse]], Astarion encounters two of his "siblings", {{CharLink|Dalyria}} and {{CharLink|Petras}}{{Ref|This encounter will be interrupted if someone is wielding the Blood of Lathander, making the spawns vanish.}}. They discuss Cazador's ritual, falsely believing it will set them free. Astarion interrupts and calls them foolish for believing Cazador's lies, and he demands to know where the ritual will happen. Dalyria and Petras then reveal it is happening in a secret defiled chapel underneath Cazador's Palace before returning back to Cazador. Astarion then continues to ponder if he can usurp the ritual for himself.


Upon reaching the [[Lower City]], some of Astarion's other "siblings," {{CharLink|Leon}}, {{CharLink|Aurelia}}, {{CharLink|Violet}}, and {{CharLink|Yousen}}, come to the party's camp in the night to capture Astarion. Astarion attempts to sway them to his side by lying and saying if he controls the ritual, they can all name him their new master and they will be set free. The player character can intervene and reveal the truth, but either way, Cazador's compulsion takes control of the spawns and they become hostile. If Astarion is downed in combat, he is taken to Cazador's Palace and needs to be rescued. But if the spawns are defeated, Astarion remains with the party and emphasizes the need to find Cazador.
Upon reaching the [[Lower City]], some of Astarion's other "siblings," {{CharLink|Leon}}, {{CharLink|Aurelia}}, {{CharLink|Violet}}, and {{CharLink|Yousen}}, come to the party's camp in the night to capture Astarion. Astarion attempts to sway them to his side by lying and saying if he controls the ritual, they can all name him their new master and they will be set free. The player character can intervene and reveal the truth, but either way, Cazador's compulsion takes control of the spawns and they become hostile. If Astarion is downed in combat, he is taken to Cazador's Palace and needs to be rescued. But if the spawns are defeated, Astarion remains with the party and emphasizes the need to find Cazador.
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After finding and entering Cazador's Palace through a side entrance protected by charmed guards, Astarion finds out that the ritual is already underway, and he presumes that the way to the ritual will be through the ballroom. However, the ballroom is sealed by an [[Arcane Lock (Condition)]] spell that will only open if a key is inserted and a set of words are spoken to it. Astarion then concludes that {{CharLink|Godey}}, one of Cazador's servants, has the key, and suggests the party find him along with something that will help the party discover the passphrase. After obtaining the {{SmRarityItem|Szarr Family Ring}} from Godey and the {{SmRarityItem|Kozakuran Dictionary}} from one of Cazador's guest rooms, Astarion and the party may proceed into the ballroom where they encounter a multitude of [[Werewolf|lycanthropes]], [[Wolf|wolves]], [[Bat|bats]], and [[Rat|rats]]. The creatures are hostile, as they wish to turn in Astarion to Cazador to gain favor with him. After defeating them, Astarion and the party can proceed to Cazador's study, where they find a lift nearby.
After finding and entering Cazador's Palace through a side entrance protected by charmed guards, Astarion finds out that the ritual is already underway, and he presumes that the way to the ritual will be through the ballroom. However, the ballroom is sealed by an [[Arcane Lock (Condition)]] spell that will only open if a key is inserted and a set of words are spoken to it. Astarion then concludes that {{CharLink|Godey}}, one of Cazador's servants, has the key, and suggests the party find him along with something that will help the party discover the passphrase. After obtaining the {{SmRarityItem|Szarr Family Ring}} from Godey and the {{SmRarityItem|Kozakuran Dictionary}} from one of Cazador's guest rooms, Astarion and the party may proceed into the ballroom where they encounter a multitude of [[Werewolf|lycanthropes]], [[Wolf|wolves]], [[Bat|bats]], and [[Rat|rats]]. The creatures are hostile, as they wish to turn in Astarion to Cazador to gain favor with him. After defeating them, Astarion and the party can proceed to Cazador's study, where they find a lift nearby.


Upon taking the lift, it descends into [[Cazador's Dungeon]], which was kept secret from all in the palace, including Astarion. It is here that Astarion and the party encounter a large amount of people being held in prison cells. One of the prisoners, a man named {{CharLink|Sebastian}}, recognizes Astarion and speaks up. He says he remembers Astarion luring him back to the palace, where he was then turned into a vampire spawn by Cazador alongside many others in the cells. In another cell, {{CharLink|Chessa}}, one of the Gur children, also recognizes him and speaks of how Astarion and the other spawns kidnapped them from their camp and brought them to the palace where Cazador turned them to spawns. Astarion then recognizes the people in the cells who bear his mark are previous victims he brought to Cazador, either through lure or capture, but thought they were long dead, as Cazador told them he was feeding on those they brought back. It is after meeting the prisoners and seeing how they are marked with the same Infernal runes that Astarion realizes Cazador intends to sacrifice not just him and his siblings, but the 7,000 souls they brought back to him under his command. He starts to understand the true scope of the Rite of Profane Ascension and begins to struggle with his previous plans of trying to usurp the ritual.
Upon taking the lift, it descends into [[Cazador's Dungeon]], which was kept secret from all in the palace, including Astarion. It is here that Astarion and the party encounter a large amount of people held in prison cells. One prisoner, a man named {{CharLink|Sebastian}}, recognizes Astarion and speaks up. He says he remembers Astarion luring him back to the palace, where he was then turned into a vampire spawn by Cazador alongside many others in the cells. In another cell, {{CharLink|Chessa}}, one of the Gur children, also recognizes him and speaks of how Astarion and the other spawns kidnapped them from their camp and brought them to the palace where Cazador turned them to spawns. Astarion then recognizes the people in the cells who bear his mark are previous victims he brought to Cazador, either through lure or capture, but thought they were long dead, as Cazador told them he was feeding on those he  brought back. It is after meeting the prisoners and seeing how they are marked with the same Infernal runes that Astarion realizes Cazador intends to sacrifice not just him and his siblings, but the 7,000 souls they brought back to him under his command. He starts to understand the true scope of the Rite of Profane Ascension and begins to struggle with his previous plans of trying to usurp the ritual.


After leaving the main part of the dungeon, Astarion and the party confront Cazador in his lair where the ritual is being prepared. Cazador gains control of Astarion through blood magic during the confrontation and forces him into the ritual, and combat begins. If Astarion is not rescued, Cazador ascends and Astarion is killed. But if Astarion is saved from the ritual, he joins combat.  
After leaving the main part of the dungeon, Astarion and the party confront Cazador in his lair where the ritual is being prepared. Cazador gains control of Astarion through blood magic during the confrontation and forces him into the ritual, and combat begins. If Astarion is not rescued, Cazador ascends and Astarion is killed. But if Astarion is saved from the ritual, he joins combat.  
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==== Life as a spawn vigilante ====
==== Life as a spawn vigilante ====


If the party stopped the ritual peacefully by persuading him to be better than Cazador or by killing one or more of his trapped "siblings" during the battle, Astarion's sunlight vulnerability spontaneously returns a few minutes after defeating the Netherbrain, ending the hope that his immunity from the tadpole might be permanent. After quickly saying goodbye he is forced to run away and find shade as another companion calls out to him, but the narrator reassures the player character he will be safe. Back to a normal vampire spawn, Astarion continues adventuring on his own as a nighttime assassin but a heroic one who only kills "the right people" that deserve it. Instead of grieving over his inability to be in the sun, he develops a renewed sense of self, accepting the dark as a part of him and being driven by his newfound inspiration of hope rather than fear.
If the party stopped the ritual peacefully by persuading him to be better than Cazador or by killing any trapped "sibling" during the battle, Astarion's sunlight vulnerability spontaneously returns a few minutes after defeating the Netherbrain, ending the hope that his immunity from the tadpole might be permanent. After quickly saying goodbye he is forced to run away and find shade as another companion calls out to him, but the narrator reassures the player character he will be safe. Back to a normal vampire spawn, Astarion continues adventuring on his own as a nighttime assassin but a heroic one who only kills "the right people" that deserve it. Instead of grieving over his inability to be in the sun, he develops a renewed sense of self, accepting the dark as a part of him and being driven by his newfound inspiration of hope rather than fear.


If spawn Astarion is romanced, the player character can join him in these adventures and explore [[Faerûn]] together. At the reunion party, he happily encourages the player character to mingle with their old friends and check in on their wellbeing, and he reaffirms to the player character that he loves them and will always be there for them.
If spawn Astarion is romanced, the player character can join him in these adventures and explore [[Faerûn]] together. At the reunion party, he happily encourages the player character to mingle with their old friends and check in on their wellbeing, and he reaffirms to the player character that he loves them and will always be there for them.
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