Is Astarion Indifferent to Yenna's Fate? | Baldur’s Gate 3

[@Toonkid4life1]

I think he doesn't like to be vulnerable or to appear soft. its like a defense mechanism for him. I didn't have to be evil at all during my play through, snarky and very resourseful tho, but i somehow ended up romancing him and discovered that... he is kinda morally grey. He isn't against doing good just for the sake of it (entirely).... until after he gets exposed to the group overtime, he just doesn't like being used. So he always expects a favor or payment for any decency. With arabella, i noticed he made a comment about the poor girl not catching a break when we found her folks. He also has a soft spot for Mol when we've run into her. I think he sees the fact that kids also.. don't have many choices or options... kinda like him and how cazador talks down to him, not just as a slave but a 'boy'. When the kids don't give up and try to make their way in the world, or in yenna's case make herself useful in camp to earn her keep, i think he sees himself in them.... i honest to god think its that. He doesn't want a reminder, kinda like his 'spawn siblings', but deep down wishes someone had shown him that compassion just once in those 200 yrs. He doesn't want to witness it, doesn't want to get close cause of what it reminds him of... but because it does... it still gets to him. I see that with Scratch too when i fought scratches owners for him, when i said scratch doesn't belong to anyone... to him scratch is a creature that gets to be free & happy. He cares if scratch dies too. I think its a personal turmoil in him for his own desires, securities and discovering who he wants to be outside of what he was forced to be for survival.

[@Fairbrooke]

I like how you described it all and I can agree with everything. I'll just add that Astarion may feel guilty about kidnapping the Gur children when he was still in Cazador's service. Of course, he won't show any remorse, but I think he has it, especially when we hear his reaction to Orin kidnapping Yenna. His words "Children have a habit of disappearing in this city" may be a reference to his past misdeed. I like to think that Astarion does feel guilty about kidnapping the Gur children, and that's one of the reasons he has a soft spot for them.

[@crazyboi4621]

yes, I was thinking exactly that, great comment

[@andaredvex]

@@Fairbrooke Exactly my thoughts.

[@t0ry_centauri]

​@@Fairbrooke Astarion says "the world doesn't need to know my shame" when you talk to the Gur children in Cazador's dungeon, so he does feel guilty. I honestly think it's a miracle he has empathy left in him after being constantly punished for showing it.

[@thethirdrichard7787]

HE FEELS BAD ABOUT THE GUR KIDS OMG.

[@thethirdrichard7787]

yeah i think it's his guilt over his role in kidnapping Gandrel's kids. he couldn't control himself but Gandrel will consistently hold him responsible and blame him. So will Ulma. no one cares enough except Tav to find the truth of his enslavement.

[@sabrinajohnson3758]

He does also approve when you tell Auntie Ethel in act 3 that you won't let her take Vanra, which is saving an innocent kid. As well as he very clearly (imo) feels guilt over taking the Gur children. He also is literally the ONLY companion that acknowledges that Jaheria is kind of a bad mother if you find her house in the city. Everyone else just continues to idolize her.

[@iamkittybg3]

I think Astarion is a kind person inside and often tries to hide it behind masks and jokes, but I'm sure he cares about Yena or in general about the children 🥹

[@eggchomp]

He’s such a tsundere 😭 “not that i care… b-baka!”

[@yulanma6924]

That's exactly my thought regarding Astarion :-D. First thing that came to my mind: Tsundere!!!!

[@crazyboi4621]

maybe that's a stretch, but kids are usually helpless and reliant on their parents, same way that astarion absolutely hates to live. Maybe that strikes something in him. And Yenna is really well mannered, so maybe that makes him like her even more. Either way, great video, I really enjoyed that :)

[@Fairbrooke]

I think that if not for all children, then at least for Yenna Astarion has a soft spot 🙂 Thank you! I'm glad you like this vid ❤

[@thethirdrichard7787]

love your editing with all the text an explanations!!

[@Fairbrooke]

🥰 (and I don't know either)

[@littlelady79KK]

I alway say play as a small person. And Astarion will suprise you many times. I started a gnom run for the comedy. Ended with omg he so cute to my Princess i can't 😭 ( even A Astarion is cute to her ) Thats why i love this Charakter he is so much more ❤. And it always breaks my heart if i read someone kills him 😢.

[@Fairbrooke]

I admit, I've never played a Tav/Durge that was a small race. But I like watching YT videos where dwarf or halfling players give Astarion kisses/hugs. It's so adorable ❤

[@jantaria4393]

Listen, I had no choice. it was a Lae'zel Origin Run. It was the 2nd night when he tried to feed, so not even 48 hrs after he did the knive thing at the beach... I was playing as Lae'zel. There was really no wiggle room for RPGingbout out out of it. it was devastating. I cried. I wholeheartedly agree with you, but I had no choice. 😢

[@littlelady79KK]

@@jantaria4393 thats why i don't play Lae'zel 😬

[@jantaria4393]

@@littlelady79KK in my defense, to play her was somehow the only way to keep her alive tip the end.

[@Fairbrooke]

1:50 Guys, but why is Astarion the only companion who will approve of any choice you make regarding Yenna (bad or good)? Is he that chaotic?

[@sneakypenguin2861]

If we look at the alignments in 5e, chaotic is neither good nor bad in terms of what they like or don't like to do. If you're a chaotic good character, it means you do anything and everything for what you DEEM to be good (i.e. stealing to feed yourself), chaotic evil do anything and everything to be what you deem to be bad (killing people for no reason, rather than a selective agenda) and chaotic neutral is where sometimes you do good things or bad things based on what you fancy doing at the time. Alignment is also completely changeable. Looking at this, i think Astarion starts chaotic evil (all vampires, true or spawn, are evil when waking as a vampire regardless of there prior alignments) but i believe based on the choices made he can transform into chaotic neutral (i didn't do any evil actions, but lots of chaotic ones because thats my playstyle for D&D in general) and he showed the same types of "hidden" affection for the children and animals we came across. The other subtlety is that when Astarion is being genuine with actions but not necessarily words he clears his throat or stammers, and makes casual jokes. If he is being cold or overly performative its disingenuous (whether hes lying to protect himself or to be chaotic depends on the situation) I think Astarion is written and performed so fantastically, he's sort of a bit of everything that D&D should be! ❤

[@Fairbrooke]

@@sneakypenguin2861 Thank you for this answer and explanation! I am not very familiar with the D&D rules, and I have never played traditional D&D. I also had difficulty understanding alignments, i.e. what it means to be chaotic good or chaotic neutral. I think what confused me the most here was Astarion giving +1 for every decision you made (bad or good). For a moment I even thought I did not understand the mechanics of giving approval points, because how can you agree to everything? But considering Astarion's character and the fact that his alignment is fluid, I understand that in the conversation with Yenna, Astarion adapts to your type of play. I mean, if you play as evil and tell Yenna to get lost, Astarion resonates with your behavior and approves of such action. If you play as a good alignment and help the girl, Astarion will approve of it as well, because your character is a reflection of the correct behavior in a given situation for him.

[@mimi8808]

Gameplay. You can either be playing a character that wants to Ascend him (evil) or not (good) so Astarion approves both depending on how you are playing.

[@scrubmaster5153]

I think he just approves of anything that doesn’t involve you inviting her to camp. I also think the reason why he doesn’t want her at camp is because he’s expecting his siblings to come at any point, and doesn’t want her to be in danger.

[@aramrose2172]

It may not look like it, but Astarion was still a child by Elf standards (he was in his late 30s I think & the age where Elves reach adulthood is 100) when he was turned by Cazador. On the surface he seems like he doesn't like children, but he acts like a dick because it's a defense mechanism (no excuse yes, but I digress), but in actuality he sympathizes with them.

[@Fairbrooke]

So Astarion is like a child in the body of a 39 year old human male (considering the elven aging process).

[@Elazul.Lapislazuli]

@@Fairbrooke elves in DnD mature similar to humans. but their conection to the spirits only forms around 100 year. So Astarion is more like somebody in his late teens. Not a child but not yet a adult eighter.

[@edwincasey6905]

Random but your character reminds me of Serana from Skyrim ahaha it’s cute!❤

[@Fairbrooke]

I've never played Skyrim so I had to google Serana. You're right, they are really similar 😄

[@cerulee]

I play a very pragmatic Tav who would also not want a child at their camp when danger is always around the corner and she'd probably send Yenna off with a basket of food and weapons, and then promptly get yelled at by Gale or Wyll 😅

[@anabanana4526]

I figure since he used to be a magistrate, he has insight on injustices. Harming/kidnapping a child is a grave one as they are helpless. Also, deep down, he probably knew that inviting a child into their group would force him to care about yet another person. He isn't evil, but he is self protective so him saying one apathetic thing but then suddenly saying or doing another that contrasts that is a norm of his.

[@enibeni2071]

The first time (being meaning to the child) you were alone with Astarion. The second time (being kind to the child) you were with Astarion Shadowheart, etc.

[@enibeni2071]

About the last part of your video: If I remember correctly, in BG3 there is a scene where Astarion's past is revealed, he kidnaped children for Cazador. I think he remembers what he has done, he feels remorse and shame about it...therefore...He feels bad, remorse...about the disappearance of the red-haired child.

[@Fairbrooke]

Yes and yes, but why did you mention it? (I mean your first comment)

[@OkayestChemist]

I think there might be some measure of guilt involved since he was the one who kidnapped the Gur kids. At least that’s how I interpret it after I saw the dialogue after Orin kidnaps Yenna.

[@Fairbrooke]

@@OkayestChemist Yeah, that's how I interpret his words after kidnapping Yenna too. This guy has been feeling guilty all these years for kidnapping the Gur children.

[@pagetvido1850]

I interpreted it as Astarion and Minthara being cruel to be kind. A camp of adventurers fighting the Illithids and the city tyrant is not safe for kids. So he is cruel to be kind to Yenna, which honestly, is better for her wellbeing than any other characters reaction. Even Minthara seemed saddened by the childs fate. I'm rather shocked any characters thought it was a good idea. Poor kid ends up getting kidnapped if she stays with them.

[@Fairbrooke]

Yes, I know what you mean. After Yenna was kidnapped, not only was Astarion concerned about her fate, but Minthara also said something like "we have to find that poor child."

[@daftne11]

If Yenna is who Orin kidnaps then Astarion gets very concerned and tries to convince Tav to kill Gortash to save Yenna. “Not that I care, it’s just that children have a habit of disappearing in the city. Let’s not let anymore slip away.”

[@ApplePi3.]

If you keep rejecting her, does she still keep coming? Even if you're in the tavern?

[@Fairbrooke]

When I didn't let Yenna stay at the camp, she came back later cooking a meal for you (scene with Orin). But I don't know what will happen if you don't invite Yenna to the camp and Orin kidnaps someone else. Will I never see Yenna again then? If anyone knows, please let me know.

[@jantaria4393]

My evil Durge sent her away every evening. And every evening she came back and asked again. Orin still took her, since all other options were in my party (bc everyone else was... not there...)

[@Mistress_death]

;-; Its to sweet

[@emoaf8555]

the most r tarded char 🤣