Role-Playing Love w/ Ascended Astarion - My Dialogue Choices | Baldur's Gate 3

[@patka986]

I love that we have a completely different relationship dynamic with Ascended Astarion than we do with Spawn Astarion. I honestly prefer to play the romance with him that way. I'm glad I found a channel that appreciate both versions of our favorite vampire.🖤 Keep it up!

[@iamkittybg3]

Thank you very much for watching.🥰 I am glad that there are people who understand Ascended Astarion and share the love for him too.❤️🦇

[@wifeofhorror]

When Astarion is your comfort character.

[@fulya354]

I'm really glad to find a safe space here for us both-routes Astarion lovers, thanks for the content! ❤

[@iamkittybg3]

@@fulya354 thank you too for being here ☺️🥰

[@yusuke6308]

5:25 I like this moment a lot because it shows Astarion is still vulnerable around you, still insecure, even after he ascends, and he is still looking for your support throughout his new journey as a vampire lord. antis like to say he became an empty, unfeeling beast who lost all manner of emotion and who doesn't love tav anymore. but to me this very line proves just how much he still trusts you and needs your support as a partner. he wants to meet your expectations of him. he wants to be powerful for tav!

[@iamkittybg3]

@@yusuke6308 he wants to protect Tav, give everything, share his power and be with them forever. Of course he loves Tav ❤️

[@morganskinflixhacker9096]

Before the patch he was very...cold. It was like a switch flipped and he looked at you like you were below him. I'm so glad they fixed that. This version is MUCH better.

[@iamkittybg3]

@@morganskinflixhacker9096 really? i didn't notice any difference in his look from the last patch 😳

[@starshinemoonbear]

Also the fact that back in act 1, he said that true vampires NEVER give their blood to their spawn. But he clearly gave Tav/Durge some of his to become his consort, AND he wants her to drink his blood. Like 🥴

[@samantham.8265]

I'm gonna be uncomfortably real with yall in the comments for a sec, because I have something to say in support of your points here I was badly abused growing up and developed a pretty gnarly set of personality disorders because of it. For most of my life, I had severe BPD. I've been with my partner for 15 years, since we were both minors. For the first like, 12 years of our relationship, I was unaware and unhealed of my BPD. For the most recent 3 years, I've been a lot better. All this to say that I see a lot of myself in Astarion's behaviour. The way I loved my partner before I healed my trauma was a LOT like how A Astarion behaves. I agree 100% that it's ridiculous how antis say he doesn't love her anymore. I think he absolutely does. It's just that he's loving her as the worst version of himself, now. I loved my partner from shortly after I set eyes on him. But it was a really immature, unhealthy love. Like ascended Star is with Tav/Durge, I was obsessed with my partner. He was the only person who's opinion I gave a damn about. I thought of him and craved him constantly. I was controlling, because it really bothered me and challenged my insecurities if we didn't run our relationship under terms I preferred. I had a terrrrible jealousy problem. I wanted all of his time and attention. I considered myself his, and him, mine. And when he triggered my trauma, I reflexively treated him like shit. It's a lot different, now. Healthier in every way. Like it ends up being with Spawn Astarion, lol. It's definitely love - it's what love can unfortunately come to look like, when it's twisted and gnarled by a lack of intervention and accountability. It was really min-maxed, to use game terms. The good parts were fucking incredible - and the bad times were often downright soul sucking, for us both. Add to aaaaaall that the fact that Star is now a full blown Vampire. He basically told us in Act 1 what was gonna happen to his character. Narcissism, secrecy, jealousy, power-hunger. He said that Vampires loathe to make a Spawn a full Vamp, because they're the worst competition and threat. He even said that in the rare case that a Vampire DOES make their Spawn another full Vamp, that they're unlikely to admit that, so the other Vampire doesn't get any big ideas. And then Larian depicted him engaging in a detailed, lore-accurate depiction of him turning you into his Vampire Bride/Groom - NOT just a Spawn. And, just like he foreshadowed in Act 1, he just doesn't admit it to you. He is obsessed with you and crazy about you and wants to possess you, so he let's you think you're his thrall, instead of letting you know you actually have free will. So that he won't risk losing you. Like I said, he definitely still loves you. It's just that now you're getting the shorties most toxic version of his love that you could get. The cycle of abuse really sucks! Thanks for coming to my unplanned Ted talk, lmao

[@MandieCat]

I get hate a lot for liking the Ascended Astarion romance so it was nice to find this channel

[@KuroPhina]

It is absolutely OK to enjoy the AA romance! It's my preferred route but I think both are perfect romances for different types of roleplay. Just remember that you are not alone and there are more people that enjoy AA than you realise

[@iamkittybg3]

@@MandieCat I still get hate for posting content with AA and liking him, but I also see people who think the same with me and enjoy AA. So you are not alone. I like both versions of Astarion and create all content about him, but I love Ascended Astarion as much as spawn, don’t think he’s an abuser and don’t ashamed of it ❤️

[@littlelady79KK]

Yeah you're not alone i enjoy him too ❤.

[@Nakumiya]

I love him too! I feel like a lot of haters have never even played his romance and only get their infos from short youtube videos where he acts rude after the player character was rude first. I like both routes but like AA a lot more.

[@KuroPhina]

@@Nakumiya Most people have definitely formed their opinions based on YT shorts and Reddit posts. People have a bad habit of forming opinions based on limited information or information that seems to be shared by the majority.

[@Nirraart]

Oh my God! And there is no such a thing as a "cycle of abuse" in your OWN goddamnit role playing! Oh my! How can it be? 😌 He adores his consort, loves them and cherish them. This is what I see in your role playing, Kitty. You are the owner of your own love story and none has rights to interrupt it. Beautiful couple! Love their outfits btw.

[@iamkittybg3]

No abuse at all. Just love, care and tenderness. 🥰❤☺

[@raelaurenmccoy803]

I love this! I had actually been wondering what to choose to get him to say that he has everything except you! I also agree with a previous comment that most of the dialogue choices come off as your character trying to guilt trip him. Like, I get being concerned about his shift in tone if you as the player didn't pick up on it before, but for most of us that choose this route we already knew that he never changed. He is like this as a Spawn but just masks it with the flowery words. Now, he doesn't have to mince his words. I love you, you gave me everything, be with me forever. Simple. ❤

[@iamkittybg3]

@@raelaurenmccoy803 thank you, I'm glad you notice it too ❤️☺️

[@mellowcuddlekins]

i agree, also spawn can't even put a name on our relationship with him because he still feels insecure and it really breaks my heart. But when he is ascended he is open and honest with what he wants and what is our relationship to him.

[@raelaurenmccoy803]

@@mellowcuddlekins and he says it in many ways... I hate to see doubt cast on your face. Fear not. You are mine. How 7000 souls were the cost to carve out his future and he wants you to be part of it. Aeterna Amantes. Lovers forever. We are sovereigns. My soul endeavor now is to make this world yours and mine. Alone. We could have everything. Baldur's Gate is a city of opportunity like no other and I don't intend to let one like this pass US by. You need not fear anything. I will protect you. You're the one that I want. The one that I love. I'm willing to share all of this with you... I could go on... But I'm pretty sure y'all know the rest... 😂 Hell, right after you erase Cazador he says We did it, our lives will never be the same again, and we'll have everything.

[@mellowcuddlekins]

@@raelaurenmccoy803 yeah, he is confident and bold when he is ascended and i love it for him. I adore him ascended or not though lol.

[@raelaurenmccoy803]

​@@mellowcuddlekins Late, but I feel the same. I prefer to ascend because (his swag 😅) but it depends on what kind of character I'm playing because sometimes I go into thinking I'll romance Gale this run...(Currently) Then I'm hit with the... Darling, I've been thinking about you... 😩 No! Not this run too! I always cave! 😂

[@KuroPhina]

I absolutely love the romance dynamic/story with Ascended Astarion! I've completed the game with both romances and think both are good romances for different style of roleplay/characters. I do have a very strong preference for Ascended Astarion, though. Some of the player dialogue options feel very restrictive on roleplay which I think is unfortunate but otherwise I think it's a really fun path. I also love the prophecy you get in that Bhaal area (I can't remember the name but it's about you dying in your lovers arms as the world collapses).

[@iamkittybg3]

@@KuroPhina Indeed, I wish there were more responses to him for better roleplay. 🥹 I also like how he responds to this in the Bhaal area: "how romantic". ❤️ And it is actually quite romantic. 😁☺️

[@KuroPhina]

@@iamkittybg3 I do wish some of the scenes were written with better options for the character dialogue responses, I have no issues with any of Astarions responses themselves. I just hate having to sit there thinking, "well none of these options are what my character would say.... so which can I try and make work the most?" Yeah, I love that your characters are cuddling each other whilst the world is ending, it's definitely romantic. I'll be honest I wasn't too sure how I felt with the AA romance at first? Like I thought he was more "cold" compared to UA but finishing two AA runs (about to finish my third!), I definitely think he would be affectionate and cuddly behind closed doors. xD

[@KiinDovah-z5i]

I enjoyed this video because there are dialogues that I had not heard and the dialogues you chose are just perfect. It leads us to look differently at the relationship between TAV or Dark Urge and Ascended Astarion. I find that the dialogues you put forward, show more of Astarion's love for your character. It's a very beautiful video, keep it up ! ;-)

[@iamkittybg3]

Thank you very much for watching.❤️ I wanted to show in this video the loving side of the ascended Astarion and how I see this romance🥰

[@KiinDovah-z5i]

@@iamkittybg3 Well I think it's a success :-) Be proud of your work, it's incredible. I hope you publish more !

[@Nakumiya]

I’m so glad I found more people who like Ascended Astarion. I thought I’d lost my mind when I ascended him and… liked him? Long ass text ahead, I'm sorry, I just need to get my thoughts over AA off my chest somewhere. 😅 I only started playing a few months ago and already have an embarrassing amount of hours in my game. I finished the game once and am in act 3 with a second character. Being a huge vampire fan since my childhood (since the tender age of 8 lol), I of course immediately started romancing that pale elf. With both my chars yes, haha. With my first character, a Lolth Drow Spore Druid I ascended Astarion. I was so nervous doing so because absolutely everywhere I heard people say he’s so abusive, he belittles Tav, abuses her, locks her up, you can’t leave etc etc etc. So, I kept a save from before the ritual, so in case I end up hating him I could go back and keep him as Spawn. And believe me, I was watching like a hawk for any signs of abuse. Immediately after the ritual you can see he is practically high with power. He was a spawn for 200 years, being beaten and tortured by Cazador almost daily. Now suddenly he has this immense power that’s even greater than Cazador’s ever was. He hears “the whispers of the night” and you can see he is slightly overwhelmed. He also says he no longer feels the gnawing hunger he felt for 200 years and all the feeling he was unable to really feel are coming back. An ascended vampire, which is Larian’s own creation, is not like a normal vampire. He can walk in the sun, see his reflection, walk into homes uninvited and yes, can feel. Back at the Elfsong Tavern he told my Tav he is surprised she helped him go through with it and asked her what she wanted. I really dislike the line “I want you, your body” but it’s what I picked because I didn’t want to outright ask to be turned and wanted to see if he’d offer it to her. And he did. So they shared one last night with her as mortal, which, while hot AF, was more tender that I thought it would be, with him kissing her shoulder. I love how he always looked at her face, as if checking if she’s enjoying it. Then the whole bite scene, where he tells her to kneel. She completely failed the wisdom check to read his mind which got her a “bad girl” because he could feel her in his head. Now, how many abusers are fine with people rifling through their emails or phones? Any human abuser would probably flip the f*ck out and either storm out or get physical. When you do pass the check though, you can see him thinking you’ll degrade yourself if you stay with him. Lots of people are thinking that AA thinks Tav is beneath him because of this, but in the German version of that line you can see he thinks HE is beneath Tav and that she could do better. Tav then asked him to be gentle and he was. He gave her a kiss on the hand and then carefully bit her wrist. Then he told her she’d given him everything and thanked her (I see a lot of Spawn fans argue Spawn thanks you… well AA does too… so our favorite pale elf is thankfully either way?) and then bit her for the third and final time. The next morning, he was in awe how beautiful Tav is and that she will be beautiful forever. Yes, he does lie about being able to read her mind or control her. It’s his insecurity again, which even ascending didn’t cure. He does however state he gave her one drop of blood to drink and how he transformed her is completely different than the regular spawn ritual with being buried and not getting any blood. I heard Larian didn’t get the license to outright say it’s the bride / groom ritual. We also met Araj again, and this time he said, “if she tries anything, don’t worry, I’ll protect you.” After defeating the brain, he asked Tav what she wanted to do, being on board with travelling as well, even though the guy just inherited a whole palace. At Withers’ party they show up smiling at each other. Asking him THEN to break up doesn’t make sense to me and would have completely broken immersion for me. Instead, he encouraged Tav to see her friends, didn’t even comment on my Tav kissing Halsin either (who she was also romancing), patiently waiting for her to see everyone and while he walked around trying the wine. He also practiced turning into a bat which was cute AF. And you can also hear from his voice that he’s mellowed out from being high with all that power. I’m excited to finish my current playthrough with Spawn Astarion, but honestly, I adore Ascended Astarion and think I'll ascend him every time from now on.

[@iamkittybg3]

Thank you for being honest here.❤️ I agree with everything above. I am so glad that people can share their good stories about Ascended Astarion. It shows once again that those who write what an abuser he is did not ascend him in reality, and those who do, in 99% of cases understand that he is not an abuser and loves Tav.🥰

[@Nakumiya]

@@iamkittybg3 and thank YOU for having this channel. It's really tiring having to defend liking him, though I do think it's a small but very loud minority of Spawn fans or BG3 fans who dislike Astarion as a whole who come on to Astarion videos. I have had one guy try to outright forbid me to ascend him ever again (which of my bills is he paying to try and tell me what to do? xD). I also noticed Ascended Astarion made sure to reassure my Tav after making her a vampire and THEN talked about his new powers. He is dominant, yes, but protective and always getting consent. My Tav didn't approve of being called pet and he never did it again.

[@iamkittybg3]

@@Nakumiya I have no problem with the word "pet" anymore, because my British friends explained to me that in British English it is a sweet and affectionate word. But he really doesn't call Tav that anymore.😁 "My love" and "my treasure" are more than enough for me.🥰

[@Nakumiya]

@@iamkittybg3 I love that "Yes, my treasure?" line of his! He looks so adorable when saying that (and also looks completely smitten with Tav). I personally like "pet" as, well, pet name, since I know it's used in British English (my bestie is British), but played it as my Tav not liking it.

[@iamkittybg3]

@@Nakumiya When he says "yes, my treasure," he looks like a shy schoolboy who's just been spoken to for the first time by his crush. 😁❤️🥰

[@如月靈]

Oh my god, I really love both you wear whites are like wedding dresses. So lovely😍

[@iamkittybg3]

@@如月靈 that's true, I really wanted to convey that they are in wedding dresses 🥰☺️

[@littlelady79KK]

I love him too. Perhaps too much my lord Astarion ❤🥰

[@iamkittybg3]

I love any Astarion.❤ He's Astarion after all 🥰🥰❤

[@littlelady79KK]

@@iamkittybg3 yes i loke bith to . With my gnom Charakter i go the spawn Route. My Tiefling goes the Ascended Route. I don't know but it seems right for me 😁😂

[@iamkittybg3]

definitely yes ❤️❤️❤️

[@lyxaja86]

I love and enjoy your channel so much, as well as I love and enjoy Spawn and Ascended Astarion. It's always a pleasure to see new videos/content on your channel. Besides you and your Tav look so much alike.

[@iamkittybg3]

@@lyxaja86 Thank you very much for watching my videos. ❤️ I am very glad that you like it. 🥰❤️

[@Gallagher13]

that's it. I'm buying Baldur's gate 3

[@iamkittybg3]

@@Gallagher13 yay! 🎉

[@Gallagher13]

@@iamkittybg3 I bought it.

[@himalayansalt32]

I'm sorry but THIS RED OUTFIT SUITS ARAJ SO WELL!!!

[@iamkittybg3]

@@himalayansalt32 I thought I was hallucinating that her suit had changed color since act 2 😂 or not? 👀🤣

[@himalayansalt32]

@@iamkittybg3 idk, but it matches her red glittery eye shadow make up I probably should get a medal for complimenting Araj lmao Now it kinda makes sense that she has a kink for vampirism and wears read, in addition to her field of sanguine arts

[@mimi8808]

Personally I HC the vampire bride/groom theory.

[@iamkittybg3]

@@mimi8808 me too! I'm sure there's a big reference to this in the game and he makes Tav his bride ❤️

[@mimi8808]

@@iamkittybg3 I think so many things point to it, from the way their transformation is done, to the fact that Astarion isn't sure what powers his consort will have when the Tadpole is gone, to him giving them his blood and saying their experience will be different than his, to no mention of any drawbacks at the epilogue party. If Tav/Durge go with Karlach he says he isn't a controlling monster and allowed them to go but his breakup dialogue show someone who tries to enact control. So I do think that shows he can't compel his consort. Vampire brides/grooms are fledglings but are much more powerful than spawn and they are linked to their maker. Astarion also says he doesn't plan to die if his consort doesn't, hinting at that link, etc etc. I think it's left open because if people want to rp the bride/groom they have all the clues and if they want to rp a spawn under his control it's ambiguous enough that they can.

[@antagonistlover]

I'm a simple person, I see AA, I go to the comments to mock moralists 😈 since there are none here yet, I'll just leave 🥰😻😍 then.

[@iamkittybg3]

@@antagonistlover I appreciate you for this ❤️😁

[@mellowcuddlekins]

Agh.. most of the choices are awful. It feels like the game is forcing us be an ass to him and i hate it. But you made lovely choices. i love your videos.

[@iamkittybg3]

Awww, thanks for watching.🥰❤ I also don't like that there are more bad answers for him. This is unfair and interferes with the real role-play.🥹

[@mellowcuddlekins]

@@iamkittybg3 i want to butter him up lol. i wish we could do that. i love him so much ascended or spawn, it does not matter.

[@iamkittybg3]

haha the same ❤️

[@britt6184]

Exactly my thoughts. I hate most of the player dialogue after Astarion ascends even though it's my preferred route. It's like let us enjoy being evil with our evil love interest.

[@mokianka]

Completely agree with everything said here, the game has mixed messages for choosing him. Don't see the harm in letting us have some fun. He deserves everything and so do we. ❤

[@moona_ttv]

Love it keep making content sweetie! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@iamkittybg3]

@@moona_ttv I’ll never stop 🥰 thank you ❤️❤️❤️

[@moona_ttv]

@@iamkittybg3 💖💖

[@yuttasparrow0private]

Единственное, что мне не нравится, это вот это его "Это то, что ты хочешь услышать" - так и не поняла к чему это! А ещё он как будто переживает когда говорит "только не уходи далеко" 🤗 Как будто ещё боится что Тав уйдет. Потом так подозрительно "Но ты же и не захочешь, да?"))

[@iamkittybg3]

Я знаю, все смущаются от "Это то, что ты хочешь услышать", но когда я впервые услышала это, то я подумала, что он про то, что он не сделает больно. Типа "я никогда не сделаю тебе больно, ты же это хочешь услышать? ну да, потому что люблю." 🙃 Поэтому потом, когда я видела, что это притягивают к "я люблю тебя", то я такая: "что? это не об этом". 😂 А про то, что Тав не уйдет далеко: ну я считаю, что это отсылка к тому, что он Тав невестой сделал и у них связь))

[@yuttasparrow0private]

@@iamkittybg3 может быть… просто слова так сгруппированы на экране, что непонятно становится. Я знаю многие говорят что это манипуляция, но блин, что это за говеная манипуляция, если он сам после нее и говорит «это то что ты хочешь услышать?»😅 Может быть, а невесты разве ограничены в передвижениях как-то? Но в любом случае это очень мило, он как будто переживает просто что она все равно уйдет)) и сам себя успокаивает, типа да не, ну ты же не захочешь уходить, я ж такой классный

[@iamkittybg3]

@@yuttasparrow0private просто он до этого еще три раза говорит, что любит, поэтому у меня это вопросов не вызывает)) манипулирует он в первом акте и это видно, а тут он реально искренне говорит то, во что верит)) Да, невеста и вампир связаны ритуальными узами и если кто-то из них получит урон ментальный или физический, то второй почувствует)) Но в игре этого нет, я думаю это как отсылка в диалоге просто к этому☺

[@AlexKhodja]

​@@iamkittybg3 Мм не думала в таком ключе) Но все равно его тон смущает даже так. У меня была мысль, что он говорит так, потому что ему не очень нравится произносить "я любовь тебя", это в его восприятии как раз таки способ манипуляции. Вспомните как он на празднике демонстрировал нам, то как он заманивал сладкими речами жертв к Казадору - "вот словечко которое всем нравится "я люблю тебя"" То еть он часто произносил это что бы очаровать потенциальную жертву и возможно теперь не ассоциируется с чем то хорошим и светлым. А на вопрос я думала ты научишься любить меня отвечает "я готов дать тебе все это. Что это как не любовь?" Он хочет выразить свое отношение к ГГ чем то более весомым чем просто слова. Ну то есть можно интерпретировать его тон и слова так "Я предлагает тебе нечто большее чем просто "Я люблю тебя", но если тебе хочется я произнесу их, но они не выразят моих чувств в той мере как я хочу их выразить"

[@iamkittybg3]

@@AlexKhodja тоже имеет место быть)) его «это то, что ты хочешь услышать» реально можно по-разному интерпретировать и воспринимать)) мне оно сразу показалось в хорошем ключе, как я уже до этого написала)) ну и еще что он еще раз это проговаривает Тав, чтобы она убедилась)) все таки он это говорит уверенно, уж точно не манипулятивно, как в первом акте)) ну и да, вы правы, для него поделиться всем с Тав - и есть показатель любви, который для него значит больше, чем слова ☺️

[@starshinemoonbear]

What does he say if you tell him “I’m not your pet”???

[@iamkittybg3]

He says that he’s joking and then makes a proposal to become his consort

[@starshinemoonbear]

@@iamkittybg3Aahh thank you so much!

[@Akimi96]

Is there a reason why i try to post a specific comment and that get erase right away?

[@iamkittybg3]

@@Akimi96 idk, something happens with YT today 🤷🏻‍♀️ and sometimes YT doesn't allow comments with some words that it considers unacceptable. I can't do anything about it, sorry🥲

[@Akimi96]

@@iamkittybg3 sad, without sharing a link, i wanted to talk about fb groupe that is specific to AA for those who feel lonely in their madness XD

[@Akimi96]

@@iamkittybg3 cause i saw some comment here they talked about it (That they happy to found a safeplace about AA)