SOMEONE DRAW ANGRY GNOME ASTARION N O W š«
Shadowheart - Githyanki (pretends she is unaffected, but is actually screaming internally and that close to losing it)
Lae'zel - Human (utterly disgusted at THE NOSE)
Gale - High Elf (the orb is still there, but his glorious beard isn't)
Wyll - Drow (the very drow Baldurian romance novels want them to be, call him Rizz't. but also give him a hug because the poor man is getting tired of all these uncalled transformations)
Astarion - Gnome (inconsolable. defeated. grieving. refuses to leave his tent. the "you laugh you lose your femoral artery" challenge)
Karlach - Dragonborn (smoking hot, soldier!)
Halsin - Halfling (the most ripped, beefiest halfling you've ever seen, excited about the new perspective. climbing Mt. Halsin is not an option, but people want him to climb them now)
āØPinterest Blind DateāØ
I just happened to see this post from @litsenn and it looked fun so Iām joining in :3
Rules: Pinterest is setting you up on a blind date! Search the following and post the result:
Fictional Character, Date, gift, Outfit, dessert, Love quote.
Thatās not something Iād wear š¤ But Astarion is so cute here and I love the quote, itās perfect šā¤ļø
I loved reading this so much!āØIt sounds like you had a strong sense of your character from the start, and I admire that. In my case, she came to life gradually as I played and only later I realized how much the choices I made for her intuitively actually made sense and everything eventually fell into place.
My Tav is cautious and pragmatic too. She helps others when she can, but doesnāt stick her neck out unless thereās a reason. In quests, sheāll often avoid the responsibility for saving someone and making empty promises, but since the party usually heads that way anyway, they often end up helping regardless.
As a half-elf, sheās no stranger to the judgmental stares so it makes sense sheād stay on guard. My second Tav is a wild magic sorcerer and a drow, and the contrast is wild: Minthara was so sweet to her, but with my half-elf, she said something like āOh, the Absolute is so kind, accepting even someone like you.ā š The hag also took jabs at her and Shadowheart for being of mixed blood. But since she grew up in a loving home in multicultural Baldurās Gate, her outlook stayed open and curious.
Looking back, I think it was a bit out of character for her to accept Astarionās invitation during the celebration but I was afraid it might lock me out of his route (and with where his approval was, that felt very likely). Besides, all other companions also seek Tavās company that night, so it can be blamed on the overall euphoric atmosphere of the celebration.
I also get what you said about not connecting with a romance choice right away. My second Tav is trying to get to know Gale and while they have good chemistry, I donāt feel the same emotional roller coaster as I did with Astarion.
And yes, Astarion hardly ever talks about being a vampire - only in context of his condition as a vampire spawn, and always with bitterness. He clearly draws a line:
When you find the boar, he speaks about vampires like they're terrifying monsters, and his eyes say: āIs that how youāll look at me too?ā
When he talks about true vampires, there's no admiration - just revulsion for the āpower-hungry beastsā
And when he rejects the idea of becoming a mind flayer, itās always in terms of not wanting to turn into a monster again. Vampires are monsters to him. He didnāt want to become one and he doesnāt want to go through that again.
Thatās why I donāt believe he ever truly wanted to ascend.
And that bear conversation? I only just found it this week while replaying to catch missed scenes, and this conversation is so meaningful and tells so much about Astarion it deserves its own post! Youāre so right - he lays out his reasoning for seeking power in black and white: this is the world he knows, the world he has been living in. Either you dominate or be dominated. So in order to survive he has to become so strong that no one can even hurt him again. Itās only sensible.
I had no idea there are differences in the scenes after party depending on if you decided to protector destroy the Grove! Wow! For me it just proves once again that even if he approves some cruel actions on the surface, something doesnāt sit right with him underneath. He doesnāt just want a powerful or āruthlessā ally, he wants safety and a sense of control over his fate. A Tav who casually sides with those who dominate the weak may subconsciously remind him of the one who abused him - and he often compares such characters in the game to Cazador (like the Surgeon or Raphael). And the observation you shared just deepens my belief that he never really thrived on cruelty - he just thought he had to.
So even if approval points are important I also believe that itās not necessary to follow the āapproval point roadmapā exactly - itās okay if Astarion disapproves when you decide to help someone out. Heāll notice kindness and feel real connection and thatās what matters the most. It also makes him so real too.
Starting from friendship is beautiful and probably exactly what he needs most. It feels closer to real life, too. It definitely felt too early for a romance to start in Act 1 but⦠I think what we have there is only an illusion of it, and the actual romance starts in Act 2 after Astarionās confession. Then it becomes real.
Thanks again for your insights! Iāll definitely check out your posts. Glad we could connect! āØ
(1/? part of āAstarion: In Search of True Selfā ā [masterpost here])
Even before I played, I kept stumbling upon Astarion fanart and memes that made me assume he was just some overrated character who was only popular because of his flirty, sassy attitude (Iām so sorry Q^Q). Thatās why I didnāt have the best first impression even before I started.
And even in-game, when you first meet him, Astarion seems like a shallow, selfish and flirty guy - someone who doesnāt really care what others think and just follows his whims.
Couldnāt be further from the truth!
From what Iāve seen in some discussions on social media, though, a lot of players still hold that first impression - even after completing his route. Iāve even seen people call him a red flag, label him evil or say they were disappointed in general.
Also, I feel like most guides (at least the ones Iāve come across) simplify his character too much - mainly focusing on which choices will gain his approval or disapproval. Maybe thatās to avoid spoilers, but still. There are definitely other players who see the deeper layers too - so this is just my way of sharing my personal journey of discovering the real Astarion.
So, how did that first impression start to unravel? When checking with the guide and watching his reactions and body language, I started thinking about why the approval/disapproval tips work.
Letās look at some general tips for gaining AstarionāsāÆapprovalāÆpoints:Ā
choosing evil replies/actionsĀ
seeking powerĀ
siding with evil charactersĀ
deceiving your opponentsāÆĀ
supporting his desiresāÆĀ
being understanding and accepting towards himĀ
(bonus one, havenāt seen guides mention this) sarcastic repliesāÆĀ
AndāÆdisapprovalāÆpoints:Ā
making pompous heroic statements (like āWorry not! I shall save everyone!ā)Ā
helping the weakĀ
being open about your party's situationāÆ(tadpoles)
being judgmental or unsupportive towards himāÆĀ
naive/goodie-two-shoes responsesāÆĀ
In most cases, it is explained by his natural inclination towards evil forces and power, making Astarion seem like a self-centred and power-hungry vampire who might, with Tavās influence, turn to become a bit of a better person. Or not.āÆ
But while itās technically true that those actions affect his approval, thereās much more nuance to why Astarion reacts the way he does - especially in the early stages.
The first contradiction that made me feel confused about the reasons for Astarionās reactions was how nice Tav is being to him (of course, if you chose good replies during their interactions) ā a person who is mean to everyone else would be just as mean to Astarion. It didnāt make sense to me; a kind and understanding Tav would fit much better in the story.āÆĀ
So what is going on there? Why does Astarion need a kind and gentle Tav who is cold and dismissive to the rest of the world?
Because he is terrified.āÆĀ
When we first meet our pale elf, he has just escaped (as in been kidnapped) from 200 years of slavery, humiliation and torture where his wellbeing completely depended on Cazadorās whims and every mistake meant punishment. Of course heās paranoid. Of course heās always calculating risk.Ā
Itās not about Tavās choices being good or evil, itās about their possible consequences for Astarion. He doesnāt want Tav to be evil, he just wants to feel safe. Thatās all.āÆĀ
So letās look at his approval/disapproval list again:Ā
refusing to help someone -āÆapprove! we donāt want to riskĀ
seeking power - yes, please! power means safety!
siding up with evil characters -āÆthey are strong, so why not use this to our benefit?Ā
deceiving your opponents -āÆwe didnāt even have to fight and got want we wanted? donāt see a problemāÆĀ
supporting his desires - maybe this time, I wonāt have to fight for what I want
being understanding and accepting towards him -āÆfinally someone doesn't treat me as a monster
sarcasm - humor is our everything, especially when thereās nothing else leftāÆ
On the other hand:
making pompous heroic statements -āÆyou are saying these cringe things with a straight face AND putting us in danger? hard nope!Ā
helping the weak -āÆno one helped me, why should we botherĀ
disclosing truth about their situation -āÆhave you heard about caution?!āÆĀ
being judgmental or unsupportive towards him -āÆno thanks, had enough of that
naive/goodie-two-shoes responses -āÆare we going to be fine with a leader like that?..āÆĀ
Astarion isnāt looking for an "evil" Tav - heās looking for safety. Well, technically, he isnāt looking for anyone at all. But the kind of Tav he opens up to tends to be:
pragmatic, cautious and clever
emotionally intelligent
non-judgmental
strong enough to lead and survive
Thatās why he feels comfortable with a Tav who might choose to be distant toward strangers but treats him with consistent care. In this context itās not suspicious, itās sensible. He doesnāt expect help from the world, and he respects those who understand that reality. In a hostile world, survival is more likely in a group, so he clings to the party and tries to secure his place using the only tools he knows: charm, wit and usefulness. And a part of that strategy, making sure the leader favors him and he wonāt be cast aside, leads to his initial approaches for Tav. But weāll get into that more in another post.
So if Tav shows kindness to him? Thatās exactly what heās aiming for. And it doesnāt even matter that much if they still go out of their way to help others - because if the care they show him feels real, that already shifts something deep inside. That already gives him a reason to start hoping that this might be real.
So thereās the charm, the flirtation, the flair for drama. Some players may read that as shallow or even foolish. But itās not. Itās a mask - one heās worn so well and for so long that it feels real. Itās what kept him alive under Cazador for the last 200 years.
But if you keep going, if you give him time and space to feel safe, you start to see it slip. The closer Tav gets to him, the more glimpses we get of his real self - thoughtful and warm, wary and sharp, sometimes silly and awkward, and, beneath it all, deeply hurt. And if you stay with him through to the end, when he finally feels safe enough to stop performing, his whole demeanor changes. Heās calmer. More grounded. Still witty - but in a different way.
Still Astarion. Just more himself.
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(4/? part of āAstarion: In Search of True Selfā ā [masterpost here])
Honestly, it was a bit heartbreaking to see those early moments in the game when Astarion interacts with someone he perceives as powerful or authoritative - like when he asks Tav for blood or later when he approaches Raphael about the scars on his back. He usually puts up that charming, confident mask, but it drops quickly when he's faced with a powerful figure. His whole behavior shifts into more ingratiating - you can see him bracing himself for a punishment.
The way he interacts with authority figures says a lot. That shift from displayed confidence to careful submissiveness highlights the deep-seated fear and survival instinct still living in him. Astarionās relationship with power is complicated: when youāve spent two centuries with it used against you, it becomes something you both fear and long for in equal measure. He expects power to be used against him, he fears what those in power can do to him. So when he seeks power itās not just out of ambition or greed, itās a way to protect himself from ever being made helpless again.
It makes his relationship with Tav all the more meaningful - because over time he stops needing that mask around them. He starts to learn that he doesn't have to beg, flatter or manipulate to be safe with them.
This is what makes the scene with Araj so important.
Araj treats Astarion like Tav's property - something to trade, to use for her own fun and pleasure. But Tav can choose to deny that and protect Astarion's right to refuse. And later in camp, Astarion thanks Tav for that choice. Clearly emotional, he confesses that no one has ever respected his boundaries before, that he is not used to having the right to listen to his own feelings⦠but with Tav, he wants to try.
It's a moment that says so much about how vulnerable he is underneath his defenses - how uneasy he feels when pressured or objectified, and how difficult it still is for him to stand up for himself after centuries of being denied autonomy.
It also shows the difference between Tav offering their blood willingly, and a stranger forcing themselves onto him for their own interests. Astarion responds to one with surprised gratitude - and to the other with clear discomfort. It does matter to him how he's seen - as a person or a tool. He longs to be seen for who he is, not what he was made to be. Even when he himself can't always see the difference yet.
One of the most painful moments between Astarion and Tav happens if they fail to truly see him and push him into something he's not ready for, insisting that he just needs to learn to enjoy it. Even if he hesitates, even if he looks uncomfortable, he still agrees because he doesn't know how to say no yet. And he has to learn it the hard way, when afterwards something in him breaks. He looks at Tav and says: "This is all a game to you, isn't it? No matter what I say, it doesn't matter. Not if you get what you want." He admits he couldn't say no before, but now he finally can, and he ends everything between them. It's not a moment of growth, but rather a moment of retreat - shutting down when his hopes of having something genuine were crushed by the very person who ever seemed to care.
Moments like this show how much Astarion is still learning about himself, about trust, about what it means to be free. And how big is Tav's role in that.
We'll come back to that need to be seen later - but for now, it leads us to another significant moment between Tav and the pale elf, one that deserves a post of its own.
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I donāt think Iāve ever drawn a bat before š¤ but here is a quick Batstarion doodle š¦āØ
(3/? part of āAstarion: In Search of True Selfā ā [masterpost here])
Astarion is unexpectedly very honest. You can easily tell when the mask drops - when heās vulnerable, flustered or confused. He never really hides it from Tav, or at least doesnāt try too hard. Itās always close to the surface.
Even during the vampirism reveal, it felt like Astarion was being too clumsy, almost like he wanted to be caught to see how Tav would react. After that night, he never woke them up again when feeding anymore - don't you think thatās a little suspicious? This similar approach shows up again later in the mirror scene, but Iāll save that for another post.
Well, it is just a theory.Ā But this is part of why I canāt really blame him for trying to get what he needed and slip away. Another reason is that, for usually cautious Astarion, being so desperate most likely meant he reached a point where his blood craving became too unbearable. Maybe he hoped to blame it on some hypothetical vampire lurking nearby (after all, they did find that drained boar)⦠but he goes for Tav no matter if they've seen the boar or not.
What makes this moment so important is that it gives us the choice to let him drink freely, by our own will, just because he needs it. (It actually reminded me of giving Gale those artefacts to consume - and remember how touched and grateful he was for such trust?)
And of course, this is when the famous "This is a gift, you know" line appears, too. And the fact that he repeated exactly the same words again after such a life-turning event as defeating Cazador only shows just how much this moment meant for Astarion.
There are so many layers to this simple act of sharing your blood: The first time breaking Cazadorās rules. The first time tasting blood from a "thinking creature". The first time being accepted after revealing himself. And all of this with the one person heās slowly beginning to care about, for the first time.
What I loved is that this might be the moment Astarion saw something different in Tav. I think, at best, he just hoped they wouldn't cast him out. He even admits he wouldāve told them he was a vampire earlier if he'd known how open-minded they'd be. But instead, they said yes - without fear or disgust. Like it was nothing. But to him, it was everything.
I only discovered this cutscene on a replay, but I think it fits nicely here.
There's a moment not long after that night, where Astarion cheerfully invites Tav to speculate about how their companions' blood might taste - completely theoretically, of course. Personally, I don't mind that kind of talk and even enjoy such thought experiments, but I know it's not everyone's cup of tea.
What's interesting is that Astarion supports any answer you give - unless you shut the conversation down entirely. To me, that says he's just excited to finally have someone to talk with, someone who doesn't judge and maybe even shares his curiosity. Isn't that something we all crave in our own way? I can't help but find it cute!
Same with the scene where he celebrates the bear victory - he rushes to share it with Tav, fully trusting that he can express himself without facing mockery or disgust.
They've got their own little blood club now :]
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I see these wonderful and thoughtful posts about Ascended Astarion that analyze every change of an expression, a choice of words, a slightly softer tone... all to say: "See? He still cares. He still loves us!"
And while I admire the dedication, a part of me canāt help but think that if you have to dig that deep just to prove he still has feelings... maybe the point is that heās just not quite the same person anymore?..
(donāt get me wrong, I still love reading those analyses, just from the safe and warm embrace of my spawn route, thanks š)
(2/? part of āAstarion: In Search of True Selfā ā [masterpost here])
In my first playthrough, I was worried that if we slept too often, we would all turn into mind flayers, so I went through the Saving the Grove quest almost without resting in camp. Unfortunately, that meant I missed some of the early interactions with companions, including Astarion. Thatās also why, when my Tav spent the celebration night with him, she still had no idea he was a vampire.
Honestly⦠I actually prefer that. It makes the story flow more naturally, in a way. But as with most things in BG3, it works either way.
Why I loved it, though, because it made so much sense for Astarion to want Tav to start getting attached before revealing what he truly is - a vampire spawn. It also meant that the morning conversation was the one where he told more about himself and his past and the conversation felt less rushed and more genuine. But maybe it is my nostalgia speaking.
One of the first proper camp dialogues with Astarion happens when he admits Tav is more impressive than he initially thought and says he'd like to keep seeing them as an ally (the Stars cutscene). As always, he's surprisingly honest - so much so that I doubt it can be considered a manipulation.
But this is also where he begins putting his famous "simple plan" into motion: seducing Tav to ensure his own safety. As we established earlier (see Part 1), his main goal is security. So now that he's confident Tav is strong and useful, he starts using the tools he knows best - suggestive charm and witty jokes.
This eventually leads to him inviting Tav to spend time together during the celebration night at camp (or even earlier, depending on approval). That's where the romance seems to begin⦠or so we think.
Even if Tav is already smitten, from Astarionās side this is manipulation - at least on the surface. You can clearly see and hear how different his behavior is during these moments: too smooth, too controlled. Not like the moments when he's genuine and real - when rough, unkempt words come spilling out of him freely, with wide gestures or a calm, serious demeanor.
Still, even though he later admits that he was trying to make Tav an ally so they wouldn't turn on him, I do believe that even then, he'd already started to care a little, especially depending on the following nuance.
If this conversation happens at the celebration party, approval doesn't actually need to be very high. His motivation there is more about survival after he confirmed once again that it would be better to have Tav on his side. But if you do raise his approval high enough in Act 1, you might get that flirty conversation even earlier - and it runs differently, too. He admits heās starting to like "the whole package," and says he wants to reward Tav for sharing their blood with him. Not just complaining about boredom and bad wine anymore, huh?
So maybe his motivations start to shift, even just slightly. He might genuinely want to keep Tav near in the only way he knows: giving them what he thinks they want. It can still be part of his strategy, but there's something more complicated beginning to form underneath.
Thereās one thing I now feel a little uneasy about. When Astarion first flirts and invites Tav to spend time with him during the party, I chose the dialogue where my Tav teases him a little - she makes him say "please" before agreeing. And when he does, she calls him a "good boy." He actually approves of that line and seems a bit (pleasantly?) surprised that Tav can be so sassy. It felt playful and bold at the time, and I remember how I was like: āOh! He likes that??ā
But after learning about his past⦠it feels different. Because this was how he survived. His body, his charm - these were tools he had to use. And now it's not just that Tav flirted - it's that she made him beg for it, in a sense, while Astarion was trying to keep himself safe. This thought feels pretty awful.
Still, I try to comfort myself with a few points:
We had no idea at the time!
He did approve of it!
Maybe it showed that Tav wasn't desperate for his body - it was more about their interaction. It felt like she was genuinely enjoying the banter, not just trying to sleep with him.
So⦠maybe itās not that bad (^^;)
To be honest, back then I was still skeptical about Astarion as a love interest. I knew he was a popular character, and I thought he was a bit overrated - mainly because all the media glimpses I'd seen of him were about his very sexualized image. But something about him piqued my curiosity.
By the time he started flirting with Tav, I was already like: "Nooo, stawp~ ā¦nevermind, keep going." Kind of not admitting I was interested even to myself - but still feeling giddy when believing he was "interested" in my Tav. (Which⦠wasnāt quite true, as we know now.)
But then came the moment after their first night together - my Tav noticed his scars. I expected him to deflect or change the subject, but instead he told her. Honestly and openly. That he was a slave. That his old master left those marks.
That was the moment I felt something shift, noticed his depth. And from there, I really wanted to get to know him better.
(*cough* And that's how my obsession started *cough*)
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(1/? part of āAstarion: In Search of True Selfā ā [masterpost here])
Even before I played, I kept stumbling upon Astarion fanart and memes that made me assume he was just some overrated character who was only popular because of his flirty, sassy attitude (Iām so sorry Q^Q). Thatās why I didnāt have the best first impression even before I started.
And even in-game, when you first meet him, Astarion seems like a shallow, selfish and flirty guy - someone who doesnāt really care what others think and just follows his whims.
Couldnāt be further from the truth!
From what Iāve seen in some discussions on social media, though, a lot of players still hold that first impression - even after completing his route. Iāve even seen people call him a red flag, label him evil or say they were disappointed in general.
Also, I feel like most guides (at least the ones Iāve come across) simplify his character too much - mainly focusing on which choices will gain his approval or disapproval. Maybe thatās to avoid spoilers, but still. There are definitely other players who see the deeper layers too - so this is just my way of sharing my personal journey of discovering the real Astarion.
So, how did that first impression start to unravel? When checking with the guide and watching his reactions and body language, I started thinking about why the approval/disapproval tips work.
Letās look at some general tips for gaining AstarionāsāÆapprovalāÆpoints:Ā
choosing evil replies/actionsĀ
seeking powerĀ
siding with evil charactersĀ
deceiving your opponentsāÆĀ
supporting his desiresāÆĀ
being understanding and accepting towards himĀ
(bonus one, havenāt seen guides mention this) sarcastic repliesāÆĀ
AndāÆdisapprovalāÆpoints:Ā
making pompous heroic statements (like āWorry not! I shall save everyone!ā)Ā
helping the weakĀ
being open about your party's situationāÆ(tadpoles)
being judgmental or unsupportive towards himāÆĀ
naive/goodie-two-shoes responsesāÆĀ
In most cases, it is explained by his natural inclination towards evil forces and power, making Astarion seem like a self-centred and power-hungry vampire who might, with Tavās influence, turn to become a bit of a better person. Or not.āÆ
But while itās technically true that those actions affect his approval, thereās much more nuance to why Astarion reacts the way he does - especially in the early stages.
The first contradiction that made me feel confused about the reasons for Astarionās reactions was how nice Tav is being to him (of course, if you chose good replies during their interactions) ā a person who is mean to everyone else would be just as mean to Astarion. It didnāt make sense to me; a kind and understanding Tav would fit much better in the story.āÆĀ
So what is going on there? Why does Astarion need a kind and gentle Tav who is cold and dismissive to the rest of the world?
Because he is terrified.āÆĀ
When we first meet our pale elf, he has just escaped (as in been kidnapped) from 200 years of slavery, humiliation and torture where his wellbeing completely depended on Cazadorās whims and every mistake meant punishment. Of course heās paranoid. Of course heās always calculating risk.Ā
Itās not about Tavās choices being good or evil, itās about their possible consequences for Astarion. He doesnāt want Tav to be evil, he just wants to feel safe. Thatās all.āÆĀ
So letās look at his approval/disapproval list again:Ā
refusing to help someone -āÆapprove! we donāt want to riskĀ
seeking power - yes, please! power means safety!
siding up with evil characters -āÆthey are strong, so why not use this to our benefit?Ā
deceiving your opponents -āÆwe didnāt even have to fight and got want we wanted? donāt see a problemāÆĀ
supporting his desires - maybe this time, I wonāt have to fight for what I want
being understanding and accepting towards him -āÆfinally someone doesn't treat me as a monster
sarcasm - humor is our everything, especially when thereās nothing else leftāÆ
On the other hand:
making pompous heroic statements -āÆyou are saying these cringe things with a straight face AND putting us in danger? hard nope!Ā
helping the weak -āÆno one helped me, why should we botherĀ
disclosing truth about their situation -āÆhave you heard about caution?!āÆĀ
being judgmental or unsupportive towards him -āÆno thanks, had enough of that
naive/goodie-two-shoes responses -āÆare we going to be fine with a leader like that?..āÆĀ
Astarion isnāt looking for an "evil" Tav - heās looking for safety. Well, technically, he isnāt looking for anyone at all. But the kind of Tav he opens up to tends to be:
pragmatic, cautious and clever
emotionally intelligent
non-judgmental
strong enough to lead and survive
Thatās why he feels comfortable with a Tav who might choose to be distant toward strangers but treats him with consistent care. In this context itās not suspicious, itās sensible. He doesnāt expect help from the world, and he respects those who understand that reality. In a hostile world, survival is more likely in a group, so he clings to the party and tries to secure his place using the only tools he knows: charm, wit and usefulness. And a part of that strategy, making sure the leader favors him and he wonāt be cast aside, leads to his initial approaches for Tav. But weāll get into that more in another post.
So if Tav shows kindness to him? Thatās exactly what heās aiming for. And it doesnāt even matter that much if they still go out of their way to help others - because if the care they show him feels real, that already shifts something deep inside. That already gives him a reason to start hoping that this might be real.
So thereās the charm, the flirtation, the flair for drama. Some players may read that as shallow or even foolish. But itās not. Itās a mask - one heās worn so well and for so long that it feels real. Itās what kept him alive under Cazador for the last 200 years.
But if you keep going, if you give him time and space to feel safe, you start to see it slip. The closer Tav gets to him, the more glimpses we get of his real self - thoughtful and warm, wary and sharp, sometimes silly and awkward, and, beneath it all, deeply hurt. And if you stay with him through to the end, when he finally feels safe enough to stop performing, his whole demeanor changes. Heās calmer. More grounded. Still witty - but in a different way.
Still Astarion. Just more himself.
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I absolutely love the fact that you can suggest Astarion some herbal tea to help him relax on their first night when playing as a druid
Love my class :3
He seems both touched and amused hehe
I like this armor design but that silly branch keeps getting in the way šš„²
Still I love these āŗļø
Finding good angles is so difficult there but itās still so fun~