Astarion's Personal Quest in Act 2 - The Pale Elf | Part 3 of Astarion Romance Series

[@Linyela]

Although Astarion initially disaporoves of you chatting too much, if you make the orthon kill himself, astarion will aprove, which gives you more aproval then it took away, so you'll still end up with a higher score.

[@Lyneea]

I just let astarion talk to him, so I dont get disaprove from him 😂

[@tameelah3839]

The way he acts with the news in a way I can understand from my own past. The desperation to be free, of not going back, of not being forced to do things out of your control. You want it so badly, his emotions when dealing with the past remind me of how I felt any time I had to deal with my ex. You play defense for so long you don't know anything else. I also felt a lot of emotions I had not for the first time in 7 years so they were a bit wild. Perhaps his snippy attitude after the cemetary is due to this? All I can hope for is his disregard for his spawn brothers and sisters changes for the better.

[@Mmogurl]

Yeah, now that you mention it.. it reminds me too that from my own past I have experienced this weirdness of falling back in line with someone abusive... It wasn't an ex, but an aunt of mine who was really over the top with punishment. She shoved me on a pitch black porch once and locked me in.. and I was terrified of the dark at the time since I was barely 6 yrs old. Maybe 5.. She also used to act incredibly irrational at times.. freaking out over the smallest things. Then, I hadn't seen her for years and visited herr as an adult.. and wouldn't you know.. I started acting exactly like a child again. All the same erratic behaviors she made me feel when I was younger came pouring out and I thought they had been long gone. So yeah, I can definitely relate too.

[@oOVanillaMelOo]

I agree with you and I feel like Astarion’s attitude has completely changed from Act 1. To me he feels like a mouse trapped with both his legs held (one is from Cazador and the other from the tadpole), trapped again in a boxe where the only source of light seems like the only possible exit. So to him, there’s only three choices; go back to cazador, risk being transformed into a mindflayer or make a deal with a devil…. And now, he has another option ; to take Cazador’s soon to be power and be free of all these traps holding him down. So of course he’s going to go for it… he feels so trapped and in pain right now that he doesn’t care if he has to eat his own legs out (still on the mouse metaphor) to get to the light. So in one way I completely understand his reactions, his nervousness and his choices, but on the other, like Tav said, I wish I could help him through it instead of enabling him.. 😢

[@JuJu_MeMe]

No HONKS this time? 😝I really feel that after the confession scene he really lets loose with the emotions and does not hide them behind smooth words and seduction. There is a good chunk of character development in Act 2 which I really liked. There is also more of the innocent side of a relationship, like just kissing and talking about we and us. On another note: Is it just me or are the mini dialogues kinda cute when someone is dying? I was in a tough fight, my Player Character was almost taken out and Astarion was shouting: You can't die here. Get up, damn it!, sounding really worried. 😅

[@Mmogurl]

There will be a million honks in the next video xD And yes!! I love the dialogue when you die.. He'll be like nooo you can't die on me!! Tav does the same thing and I love it!

[@katielouise3]

Goostarion

[@isbammoi3358]

I agree with you and the other comments regarding it being a defense and a fear sorta response. Why care? Why think so hard? Can't feel or think to much, havent had to, have always shut all that off to get a job done, just need freedom, just need power. Also omg the moth 😂

[@Mmogurl]

Hahahah! Yeah, I wondered if I should keep that in the video or what, but then whenI heard how ridiculous it sounded when I smacked my head... I had to keep it in xD

[@isbammoi3358]

@@Mmogurl great choice, it was hysterical. Your edits often really get me laughing

[@tami3456]

Fun fact: if you play as a sorcerer you'll have an arcana check and if it's successful your Tav will recognize the language from the poem

[@Ashley1Black]

The same goes for Warlock. I am trying to remember if I needed an Arcana check or just knew because of my pact.

[@natie3322]

My Paladin did too.

[@KarlaGonzalez-fy9wu]

Cleric did too

[@tami3456]

@@KarlaGonzalez-fy9wu that's cool, it's good to know other classes have that option too 😀

[@natchii1542]

Bard did it as well lmao

[@Ashley1Black]

Thank you for the guide. I watched the spoiler-free part first to know where to find Raphael and returned to watch the rest after I'd done the quest myself. I love to hear your reactions and thoughts. I love the videos where you show us all the options and your opinions on them.

[@hazelhz1880]

Thank you sooo much for this!! I just got to act 3 and spoke to Astarion straight away and I freaked out when he said he 'doesn't need me anymore and there nothing between us' or something like that. I was SCAVENGING through the internet to find out what I did wrong but watching this video made me so happy that I don't have to go all the way back on my saves from MOTNHS AGO!! Looks like I did everything in this video and its all good THANKS GOD! Although I don't understand why he reacted like that :((( I know my dialogue choices and decisions throughout the game have not always been approved by Astarion but still.. Anyway, thanks again for this video, YOU'RE A GOD SENT!!

[@athandle_handle]

Yessss Astarion cutscenes for my brainrot 🩶🩶🩶

[@tehanu3030]

It's weird, i did not get the same outburst, he has not mentioned wanting to do the ritual himself at all. I have exceptional relationship with him now, maybe thats why? Also everyone in camp is also soo sorry for Astarion when talking to them afterwards, and they want to help him, its so sweet.

[@Ashley1Black]

Especially Karlach. I was surprised how passionate she was about it. I didn't think she liked him at all. Though Karlach has a big heart.

[@domenceuspriest]

I love how the companions can really grow together! I saw a video of someone who killed Astarion early on, and the companions were so apathetic about it - it was sad but also hilarious how they just shrugged and went, "vampires suck, amirite?" But over time, they all have sympathetic and thoughtful things to say about what the others are dealing with.

[@elishajones1286]

If you go through the persuasion checks with Yuiger and Astarion disapproves initially, but if you pass the check to get Yuiger to destroy himself, Astarion gives you approval with that and even has a fun little line about it.

[@seras1231]

I can't wait for part three of this!

[@kirstenwyatt9675]

I kinda love the way you are pronouncing Raphael, mostly because it would drive him up the wall.

[@Keeli129]

So far I have talked bosses to kill the self twice and I love it lol

[@damnitnanet122]

Astarion comes across as wanting power to be able to have control over his life finally. He wants freedom overall and the safety that comes from love and caring so he is used to falling into coping mechanisms instead of accepting the love he deserves when it comes his way and healing fully.

[@damnitnanet122]

As a sorcerer, you pass an arcana check and draw it out for him in the dirt

[@somanychickens384]

This is super interesting! In my playthrough I rejected Astarian twice romantically but we’re still on friendly(ish) terms. He seems genuinely annoyed by how disgustingly *good* my cleric is. (He’s tried multiple times to get her to agree to seek power with him and the banter is hilarious.) When this quest came about he started talking to Raphael at the mausoleum without my Tav even getting a word in. When I talked to him at camp after we completed the mission he was annoyed and sassy that I didn’t agree that he should complete the ritual himself, but I get the impression that when it comes down to it I might be able to convince him to do the right thing.

[@Mmogurl]

Oh! Awesome! Thanks for this information because I've been curious how this comes about otherwise if you don't romance him! I wonder if Raphael is still at Last Light if you don't have the quest prompt too but it's cool to know that if that fails.. you can still get the quest later at the Mausoleum. I also know from my hub's game, that if you don't have Astarion in your party when you go to the Mausoleum.. that the quest will update saying you missed your chance and will find Raphael in Baldur's gate! Crazy, huh!?

[@somanychickens384]

Holy moly… The level of work that Larian put into all these contingencies is just insane O_o

[@ayumiyoshiki4428]

I just started watching your videos on him a few days ago and I love just how full of infos your videos are! Your voice is so soothing to me lol I'm playing my first run in multiplayer which is why the story for me as the second player gets a bit messy sometimes, so this is super helpful because I couldn't talk to Raphael in Act 2 and I started to wonder if I must have missed something or if his personal quest is short in Act2, so thank you so much! I'm super excited for my solo playthrough and I love playing Tiefling as well!! Again, I love the videos you make, make sure not to overwork yourself but I'm sure our Darling Astarion bites the stress away lol ❤

[@Kitsichu]

Just finally got to act Two and just promoted him asking to find Raphael. So thank you so much for this ❤

[@nocturna76]

when i got to this part in the game i started suffering true anxiety, wondering if all the haters would be proven right. without spoiling any specifics though, i assure you, a good ending for astarion is possible, so don't lose hope just yet

[@terijimenez4357]

Omg love Astarion, and love your content! Keep up the great work! Btw ( do u ever plan on posting a full walkthrough or stream of ur astarion romance now that the full games out?)

[@Mmogurl]

Thank you! Well I have started a playlist that I mentioned at the end of this video.. it's called Astarion's Romance in BG3 and it has all the latest content updated for launch entailing everything with his romance. This is only the 3rd video :) I'm going to be streaming the Halsin romance.. first but there's no reason I can't stream Astarion at some point later on down the road! Making a guide might be difficult because the game is so long.. but this playlist will be the closest thing to a guide in terms of showing all of the scenes in order at least.

[@terijimenez4357]

@Mmogurl awesome, I can't wait!! I'm constantly checking for new updates from you. This is my go to place to gush about Astarion with other like minded friends. Thanks again for all your hard work, u rock!!

[@Nayukhuut]

Still early in the video and look forward to watching all of it. Just wanted to mention that the option to tell him his scars are in Infernal is not Tiefling only. I got it after the romance scene with a Drow Sorcerer. I can't remember what check it was, but I wanna say Arcana? It was one of those ones that happened automatically and I have to admit I was distracted at the time. :P I did not get the option to translate for him later on, though. Basically my character could identify which language the scars were written in, but could not actually read them. Reading them IS Tiefling only. Least until they add Comprehend Languages. :( Thank you for posting all these btw. I always really love your videos. :)

[@emotionalnpc]

I can fix him 😭 I just got to Baldur’s Gate and I’ve been going along with this “I’ll help you finish the ritual hehe”, but I don’t want him to complete it at all. I hope when it comes to it I can convince him otherwise without a 30 persuasion roll lol.

[@MarieCurtis92]

I couldn't help myself, I've seen spoilers... but I can be a good girl and keep my big mouth shut. I just couldn't wait until Sept. 6th and beyond to find out, not when the answers to all my burning questions were being thrown at me by youtube's lovely algorithm. Yes, I'm blaming youtube for my general weakness, lol.

[@Mmogurl]

Hahah.. So far I've seen one horrible spoiler in a thumbnail that pissed me off, but since then I'm avoided looking it up like the plague. I couldn't imagine having to wait until Sept though!

[@MarieCurtis92]

@@Mmogurl Avoiding spoilers while maintaining an active presence online must be so damn hard. I don't think I could do it, especially with all the spoiler heavy thumbnails.

[@DD_Fanatic]

I need an Act 3 guide, he seems like he's not into romance anymore even though I've done EVERYTHING to keep his approval up, I'm not forcing him into anything he doesn't want to do, he is even beginning to be almost nice to people. I haven't dealt with Cazzador yet..... That might be it.

[@domenceuspriest]

He can have high approval and be in a romance, but not interested in sex (because he's working through things). I read that as long as he still greats you with "Darling" and similar warmth, and is okay with kisses, you're doing okay. Dealing with Cazador will progress your relationship significantly.

[@ShinigamiMischief15]

I was so annoyed when I found out you needed to ask Astarion about his scars to get the scene. But I read that if you talk to Raphael at the inn it comes up at the next long rest. However, it happened to me after the first long rest in Act 2 (Mizora arrived and then immediately after, Astarion was like “this is a great time to take off my shirt”). And apparently if you don’t romance him either or get the campsite one, when you speak to Raphael in front of the Thorm mausoleum, Raphael will mention the scars, Tav will be confused, and Raphael will magic ALL of astarions clothes off 😉 to show the scars. So I think there are a few ways to get the quest

[@nickscarlato216]

Not here yet in the game but taking a moment to leave a like and a comment. Will return when I get to Act 2....though I'm so tempted to watch now haha.

[@Mmogurl]

Thank you! Come back and watch once you've seen it! :)

[@noctoi]

OK I'm back and finished Act 2! I totally agree about the Cazador conversation. It really feels like the 'softened' Astarion conversation track didn't find the right path here. He's usually so anti slavery and pro autonomy, but here and the conversation about controlling the existing tadpole infected population seem SO abruptly out of character for him in my playthrough. Like he makes several comments relatively close to these conversations about how shitty and evil the Shar cult treats their "recruits" and then comes out with these musings about doing the same thing. There are SO many other pieces of dialogue in Act 2, that are utter perfection though, so I try to view these two scenes as Astarion getting in his own head too much and having internal freakouts that Tav happens to interrupt. Ugh seriously though, the whole damn game up to the first ten hours or so of Act 3 has been an utter revelation in how games SHOULD be. I'm just having such a blast 😄

[@Mmogurl]

COMPLETELY AGREE on the last bit about how games should be! And yeah that one line was super jarring where he just starts fussing at you.. like dang. It definitely felt like he was on the wrong track or maybe like you said.. got in his head LOL

[@monozuki]

This is quite interesting - I just did these scenes myself, and my Tav focused on steering Astarion towards freedon from Cazador i.e. bringing the fight to him, killing him and so allowing Astarion to have whatever freedom of the monster of his past he can get (with the Tav, if fate wills it!). For me, the post-scene chat options with Astarion had no of these.. darker, more malevolent options you had (nor the snarky opening line for that matter). We just made plans to poke around in Baldur's Gate, once there. Considering these, I'm now thinking that perhaps THIS here (the scene after killing the Yugiri, where Astarion asks Tav what they think) is a crossroads of sorts (probably one of a few before us), where we can indeed influence Astarion's way of thinking, steer him towards more or less malevolent thoughts, as it were. And the choice seems to be wash our hands off of it, make him think of replacing Cazador OR killing Cazador and being free, spawn or not. Which would make sense, too, because if there indeed is a way to help him have a good ending (in a long run and hopefully with Tav in tow) it would require many steps, many little nudges here and there.. rather than Tav telling him: you're good now, behave!

[@Mmogurl]

Well and ironically, I kept reminding him that sacrificing his siblings was wrong. So, I'm not sure why I got the snippyness besides maybe he didn't like the idea of losing the power? I'd have to go back and look at the scene again tho because I've been looking at so many different ones with him even with just the romance scene in Act 2.

[@monozuki]

@@Mmogurl I think it's the scene before, after Raphael drops the info bomb and slithers away, when Astarion asks Tav what they think - I went with "we have to kill Cazador because Astarion won't be free of him any other way" and Astarion agreed and asked for help, which I gave, obviously. So in a way Tav has steered Astarion away from thinking of power and focused him on getting himself free - with Tav giving support - instead. Then the following scene I got the usual "hello beautiful" and the option to ask what he intends to do about Cazador's ritual. So in effect a cut-down version (only the latter half) of your scene I guess. Looking at it structurally, I would assume asking him if he wants the power for himself "unlocks" the bonus "evil potato" option or something lol

[@nellysonn9508]

If you don’t want to play a tiefling you could also play a warlock. They also can read the infernal language

[@TheCoffeeCat]

Amazing video! And you're such a hoot too. Owl be damned! 😂😂😂

[@sean.alphonse]

I'm glad this is here. I got the scars part, but didn't have Astarion with me to meet Raphael so when I got to the point of "Raphael's Old Enemy" I found out I missed something. I'm not sure I want to redo hours and hours of gameplay and fights, but I'm curious what this will mean for him going forward especially in terms of romance but I guess I'll know for next time!

[@noctoi]

Aaaaaah you beat me again!!! YOur'e like two BG3 sessions ahead of me every vid!! I'm going to torture myself and hold off watching until I've caught up, but damn it's nice to be able to squee along with someone who's having a similar run to me 😅 Gods his romance arc is so good (so far at least). Ugh, time to minimise before I get curious and read the comments. Back in a day or two😁

[@Mmogurl]

Hahaha! Well I'm not going to stay up all night tonight playing for once so I can get some rest.. so you might be able to catch up ;)

[@noctoi]

@@Mmogurl Enjoy your break! Can't wait to watch this vid! Your Astarion content is like a highlights reel of my game, it's SO FREAKING AWESOME to come back and watch again, even when the Tav is vastly different. I love hearing everyone's interpretations and ideas about his character and motivations. FML I'm such a dork and I don't even care. 😅😅

[@Nekrist._.]

5:51 An interesting fact: you can see the unique dialogue between Astarion and Raphael when you meet him outside the hospital. To do this, you need to skip the dialogue with Raphael at the beginning of Act 2 (I missed it by accident), but when you meet Raphael on the map, choose Astarion as your playable character. Then the entire dialogue will take place on his behalf, and you won’t have to choose options. The outcome will be the same - Raphael will ask to kill the devil, but Astarion's jokes were funny in his direction.

[@Phoenix_DarkMoon]

My Drow over here with the exact same brokenness and insecurities Astarion has. Thank you Drow society so she cant be a moral compass to him. Shes after her own power as well, becoming a Lich.

[@asmalltalk]

damn, I didn't get the dialogue about Astarion wishing to ask Raphael and I certainly didn't notice him in the Inn!

[@Julia-wl8ef]

same i just went to the shar temple and I got a similar scene there

[@Goldenrose838]

The Yirgir fight wasn't really that hard for me. My team was Astarion, Karlach, Shadow, and my Tav(who was a necromancer) I wasn't even really trying to come across the baddie but I was trying to fill out my map. I walked in through the back. I noticed them and turned around. Shadowheart had a big brain idea to follow the group but take a route straight through the camp. Which triggered a single fight with her and all those mobs. Shadowheart obviously didn't make it. I had Withers bring her back. Because I didn't know entirely what to expect from that battle yet, I went off to complete the rest of the temple. I came back and unintentionally triggered the battle again only this time the mobs weren't where they originally spawned but they were haphazardly all over the camp and a small entrance was in between us. The beast that Karlach is, easily took care of all the mobs one by one as they dashed for the door and the big man was in the back of the room. It took him a good 5 to 6 turns to get to us since he had to go down stairs or slops and whatnot. By that time, we had killed all the mobs and we took him out quite easily since it was a 4v1 battle at that point.

[@Feloniusfeline9]

Love your videos and how you say Raphael's name. At first when you said Raphael (Ray-feel), I thought you were saying Renfield because of your pronunciation and thought there was an additional quest that I missed. Thought it was some sort of Dracula easter egg. 😂

[@ColossalRay]

My drow also recognised it as infernal right off the bat as a racial dialogue option

[@ArtistAtPlay]

Mild spoilers for how it works if you didn’t romance Astarion: If you haven’t romanced Astarion and don’t have him in your party, when you go to the mausoleum Raphael will show up tell you to kill the thing inside and when he leaves you’ll get a notification that Raphael left without giving any info on Astarion. ( you can still learn it from the “siblings” later in act 3) thoigh, I loaded a save and brought Astarion with me. At that point he demanded answers from Raphael who says he will tell us what he can if we kill the thing inside. Once it’s dead Raphael shows up at camp and tell Astarion everything about the scars and Cazador’s plan.

[@dantederi5062]

I completely missed this part. I already got all the umbral gem and made yurgil kill himself. But I'm glad to know that I can do it later in act 3.

[@BlacksheepSwing]

I haven’t romanced him, he never mentioned it until we find Raphael but he didn’t show me.

[@dragonfang4720]

Can someone explain this, after I kill orthon I go to rest and talk to Rafael then talk to astarion, he don’t have that dialogue option, did I do something wrong? Did I mess this up?

[@cuteandfluffypikachu3405]

I’m doing this quest but stuck on the awful trials they are a headache i can’t complete any of them so I can’t defeat orthon 😭😭

[@DemxnLxve]

For me I didn’t have to romance him or anything if the sort, the ! Just appeared one night at camp and that’s when it shows him trying to figure out what it says.

[@DragonGirl48]

Aaa i have a question, ive seen people say the npcs will talk to you about making the relationship official and id wanna know when this would happen or would i need perfect approval to trigger this? Im currently at the start of act 2 so idk if its too early 🤔

[@tehanu3030]

I think something happens later in act 2. just be nice with him and he will come and talk to you

[@Mixcky_Shadow]

At what point should i meet Araj the drow in this quest line when she asks astarion to bite her?

[@leonspistol6135]

Tysm

[@noctoi]

Ugh I'm so annoyed, I didn't long rest until I got to the Last Light in, and his scene triggered the second I got in the door. I missed ALLLL that dialogue!

[@ArcaneAzaleas]

Hmm. I have not trigger Astarion's personal missions at all. I'm playing a wood elf druid and I am already in act 2 and spoke to rapheal at the last light but I did not have Astarion in my group when I spoke with him. But I have triggered everyone else personal quests though, or at least heading down those roads. I know I'm not on bad terms with him but I have no idea why I haven't triggered it and I am not sure how this will play out. But I will definitely keep this in mind and try to keep updates on this. I do plan to romance him but in a different game as a human.

[@Mmogurl]

Yeah, you have to have Astarion in your group when you talk to Raphael and also have the prompt for him to want to look for Raphael to decipher the scars. Did you ever trigger a mention of the scars in the romance scene? I wondered how the heck this works if you never did.. because A) you didn't romance him or B) didn't pass an arcana check to know what it was. Still, I'd think eventually he'd be like, let's ask someone to find out what it is. I should experiment with this in another playthru once I'm done with my main game!

[@ArcaneAzaleas]

@@Mmogurl I did not romance him in this play through. I'm going for halsin lol. But still I may have to to see if there is an conversations I can still have with him to trigger something. I'm doing this as a blind run through. Well as blind as I can. But I haven't really had much side quests from him. Just everyone else. But who knows maybe they have a fail safe in the game when you get to baldur's gate. Like oh hey that guy that turned me wants me back can we kill him darling?

[@ArcaneAzaleas]

@@Mmogurl I thought you would like to know hut there is a fail safe. If you take Astarion with you to defeat that orthon Astartion will bring up the script on his back himself, while talking to Raphael.

[@lisgraa82]

You should try not to get a scene with Asterion showing you his scars early on. There's a REALLY funny cutscene with Raphael later in the game, if you do not know about the scars yet. :P

[@HlootooThunderhammer]

It’d be really cool if there was a more chaste route you could take with Astarion considering his true viewpoint on sex and intimacy after all his abuse. Like instead of sleeping with him, the player could instead opt to lay next to him.

[@yanchan777]

help! i did all the stuff from act 1 but raphael isnt at last light inn :(

[@Julia-wl8ef]

yea me neither i just went to the shar temple and he was there

[@ancqnin]

Having the problem rn.🥲

[@isabelle8284]

Does anybody know if you're able to get that scene if you haven't seen the scars yet? I don't wanna romance him so my attitude was very much "You keep that shirt on good Sir!"

[@lunabloodstone]

You should listen to the narrator outtakes. No spoilers but pure comedy. Also my Dark Urge character has very high approval and I am not even done with Act 1... umm he really likes a psychopath...so does Raphael.

[@vapidwhisper2845]

Please.... "RAW-fye-ELL"

[@OakandIV]

Astarion is evil. But, he’s also cute, so it’s OK. ;-)

[@thatspawnfromhell759]

Fuck I skipped it