Astarion: I'm more than that

Astarion's post Araj confession scene from act 2.
Baldur's Gate 3, Patch 7.

[@ŻebrowskizRivii]

The soothing voice when he said „But I’m more than that” with that eyes hits me

[@serpent_seed]

His 'really' gets me every time. He is so surprised to understand that someone truly cares about him. But I think he never truly believes it. Not in a real way.😢

[@Zaraya7]

✨️*act 3 spoiler*✨️ In the spawn scene before the epilogue party, when he asks if "this" is still what Tav wants...even after everything he's still questioning if Tav really wants him, and it's just to heartbreaking. Poor little Star🥺

[@iamkittybg3]

@@serpent_seed yeah, maybe. But I think he believes in this after his ascension😊❤️

[@serpent_seed]

@Zaraya7 not just this. The scene with Ascended Astarion turning Tav into a vampire, where you can pass a check to read his thoughts. There's an ambiguous line, which different people treat differently 'he will always see you as degrading yourself, but maybe you want to be degraded'. To me this means that even after the ritual he is still insecure and thinks Tav deserves better, which is also mirrored by his usual surprise, when you choose him over another romanced companion.

[@serpent_seed]

@@iamkittybg3 I hope he will in the future, but I feel that he is more sure of him being an amazing seducer and lover, that the person you choose for life. This is a totally new concept for him. But I hope Tav will make sure he melts at some point.

[@yuttasparrow0private]

@@serpent_seedyeeees, I have the same feeling about him ❤

[@minashepard1255]

Underneath all that charisma is truly a broken soul who didn't deserve that treatment from Cazador. Astarion just like any other being is worthy of love neutral evil or not. I adore this vampire and will always choose him.

[@iamkittybg3]

@@minashepard1255 ❤️

[@silverink1824]

T this is the key point of why I don't think he's canonically evil. He talks about his emotions about being disgusted with what he had to do or what he's forced to do

[@SweetieEvie]

I think this is the point he starts seeing his self-worth. He’s in a situation where all he has to do is bite Araj, we receive a useful potion after. He chooses not to himself but she turns to us to make him because we “own” him obviously (understandable with Drow culture and I refuse to believe otherwise on why she assumes so). Our decision is pivotal for him and shows where he really stands with us: an individual who is allowed to decide for himself or, like for Cazador, a means to an end. Do we force him/trick him into deciding to do it or do we back him up and say if he doesn’t want to do something then he doesn’t have to because he doesn’t belong to anyone? He learns if we care about him or not. I hate this scene because he’s uncomfortable but it’s a moment of realization we support his choices for how he uses his own body and not using him like he’s used to. We can get the confession scene through Yurgir or her, but I want him to see his choice matters to us. She can offer us the key to save the world without having to go through getting the stones and deciding between Emperor or Prince, or deciding to control the brain ourselves. I still would refuse to make Astarion do anything he doesn’t want to do. In fact, in that situation he might agree but I’d tell him it’s okay to say no and we will find another way, our companion’s anger of the refusal be damned. I’d rather stay with him than people who would push and pressure someone to do something they are not comfortable with. It might be a small trade off but it means something to him, that’s all that matters. The world or his autonomy? As leader, his autonomy. He deserves to know what his choice means to us. Even if it means making the journey harder and/or longer. His journey resonates with a lot of people, me included. It’s so real. His ascended path can come off as triggering for some people and their dislike of that path is valid because their irl experience has weight to them and if Ascended makes them feel how they felt from their experiences, that’s okay. It’s understandable. If someone hates him without reason and doesn’t look at him beyond his actions and why he’s doing them, those people deserve to be argued with and tried to be shown they are wrong because they don’t look beyond the superficial and misinterpret things that really isn’t easy to misinterpret, it’s just them being too stubborn in their opinion to think differently. Heck, the scene we can pass the check to read his mind before turning us, I found an authentic source that describes every detail behind his motivations and what he really thinks with each dialogue we chose during his quest. I don’t remember where. I do have the important parts saved that people use to say the negative things he says and does. I went into the Ascended path with everything I’ve read from those who hate him without valid evidence to support their claims, so I’m fully assuming that path will be an awful experience. I found the things they said are wrong. I’m invested in this character and look at things openmindedly. My only dislike is the kiss animation where we have a scared face as it doesn’t match up with anything and there being no reason to have that expression. Fixing it was smart, it makes more sense to not show fear and was perfect ammo for the people who hate him to use to back up their claims.

[@iamkittybg3]

@@SweetieEvie Wow, thanks for writing this. Well said ❤️

[@Nakumiya]

Oh very well written! I also went into the ascended path thinking I'd hate him and boy was I wrong. He is so loving, protective and careful towards Tav.

[@SweetieEvie]

@ best way to go in I think. You go in expecting one thing and it turns out to be the opposite. Appreciate him more for being the opposite.

[@TF2CrunchyFrog]

There is a parallel there between Astarion and Gale (and both's lack of feeling of self-worth, Astarion tying his "worth" to his beauty, while Gale ties it to his magical prowess): We can use Astarion as a means to an end to get a powerful potion... as Cazador no doubt would have done in that situation. We can use Gale as a means to an end and persuade him to sacrifice his life to destroy the Netherbrain to save the world. But that is the easy way out (for us), and the path Mystra pushed him to take because she fears what Gale might do if he gets the Crown of Karsus. Sure, compared to Gale blowing himself up in a burst of Netherese magic (which likely obliterates his soul as well, as Withers can't resurrect him afterwards), Astarion's "sacrifice" of drinking Araj the drow's tained blood and getting temporarily ill seems insignificant, as are the stakes of getting a highly useful but not gamechanging +2 Strength potion not obtainable otherwise. (Ignoring for a moment that forcing Astarion to drink her tainted blood, or persuading him to force himself to overcome his revulsion, would be the equivalent of telling i.e. Shadowheart to gulp down sewer water - "Hey, we have healing spells to cure disease." - to get a magic item.) But it's still a matter of "using them" out of convenience. "Are you trading me for a potion?" Astarion asks incredulously.

[@Nakumiya]

@@SweetieEvie true, just sad that Spawn Astarion's playthrough ended up being so sad and I had so high hopes before. I just saw the graveyard scene beforehand and thought it looked so great (and it is, it's the only thing I do like about this path), but the rest was so freaking depressing.

[@raelaurenmccoy803]

The second he says that he wanted to thank me....(HUG) Now, you can continue telling me everything else while I keep my arms around you and give you all of my love and positive vibes. ❤

[@iamkittybg3]

@@raelaurenmccoy803 he thanks Tav constantly 🥹❤️

[@CristinaGarcia-xx4gy]

My Tav of choice has made it one of her missions in life post-game not only to embark on an epic quest with him to try and find a way for him to walk in the sun again, but to also to shower him with love and affection every step of the way and spoiling him like a pampered house cat. And he deserves every last bit of it.

[@ŻebrowskizRivii]

After playing for quite some time and watching dialogue with him I must gonna say that every line from him is my favourite

[@kezzymoful]

It's times like this i wish Larian would add more hug scenes with Astarion including in act 3 where you persuade him to remain a spawn

[@Nakumiya]

Or let us hug him the same way we can kiss him.

[@silverink1824]

I would have thought they should have added more platonic hugs. The hug didn't mean much other than you're a part of this group type platonic hug Dialogue where it's like neutral. I'm not really rejecting you. I just don't see you that way

[@elwoodfenriself]

I got the game mostly cause of him, then i was playing it and missed out on romancing him and had to go back, the things i do just for this vamp 😂 and id got to act 3, went to an earlier save at level 3

[@Creophagous]

I have never played this game, but seen these clips on KZbin. They look interesting.

[@littlelady79KK]

He iy so sweet. Evertime i say to me its time to romance Shadowheart or Gale. But no. Astarion shows up and i m lost 😂❤

[@iamkittybg3]

@@littlelady79KK I don't want to romance anyone else😅❤️

[@SweetieEvie]

@@iamkittybg3 I don’t want to either. We’re stuck permanently as his it seems. Wonder how many love him for him, like we do? How many fans care about him and his happiness? Vampires are tricky, they are a kink. He acknowledges that himself as it helps in seduction. So how many players accept him for him and go out of their way to understand his character, in spite of the mob who say Ascended is evil, toxic, abusive and more horrible things?

[@iamkittybg3]

@@SweetieEvie Oh, on the one hand, it always seemed to me that Astarion had a lot of fans, because I'm in his media bubble and haven't seen fans of other characters, but when Larian published statistics, it turned out that Shadowheart is in first place in terms of the number of romances, then Karlach and Laezel, after that Gale and only then Astarion 😳😅

[@SweetieEvie]

@ wtf?! I did not expect him to be so low! Everywhere I see BG3 Astarion is one of the most popular. 😱

[@iamkittybg3]

@@SweetieEvie yeah, people think so because they are in his bubble too 😅 Larian posted this statistic about a year ago 😁

[@Pixel.Foxx.]

The way he looks when he says “really?” Just breaks & melts my heart at the same time 😭🤍 I open my mind to him so he can see how much I care for himself ❤❤

[@ashthesas2302]

This is why I can't romance anyone else. All the characters deserve love, don't get me wrong, but Astarion is just so broken it hurts 😅

[@TheAzuregreen]

I remember when i got to the drow thinking "so youll bite my neck for free but wont do it for a potion" and told him to dont do it if he wants but we missing out on a potion, he bites her when you say that After he said all this i felt like shit lol made my character apologise, i like the fact you can make amends

[@MoonBear0420]

Is this his unromanced dialogue?

[@braydenjewell]

Mann I’m still ye to have a play through where I haven’t killed Astarion :/