I know this scene is meant to be serious but the face Cazador is making before Astarion pushes him out of the coffin is so funny, like he looks like he's having a spa day or something.
Hahaha... thank you for giving us the other side of the coin as well... of course they are all supposed to be serious, but sometimes you can find some laughs even in the darkest places 🌈😅
So real...I know... I think about it every time I get there and have to play through it... Actors are good actors for a reason... they make us feel real feelings and emotions and make it look so realistic even tho we know it's a game... still it makes you wanna run to him and hug him and hold him... and help him...😔🖤
The cry at the end wasnt actually in the script. Neil (the actor for Astarion) came up with it on the fly in one take and Larian loved it sm they decided to keep it!
On my first playthrough, this was the only time during any companion's quest I attempted to talk them out of what they wanted. Astarion *needed* this one.
Oh... it does hit hard... I re-recorded some scenes around the fight here and Sebastian yesterday and it did hit me pretty hard, even tho I have done it so many times now... but because I had to explore all dialogs... it was just a bit too much... Will post it soon...
@@GoonManGuy Someone said in my comments, why does the main character of the game has a master and we have to kill him... like... for many many people Astarion is the main character of the game and Tav just helps him and guides him!
You can't tell me he can't sing, with that level of control over his tone, intonation, staccatos, crescendos, pitch, bass; gosh I'm just rambling at this point but Neil Newbon is truly amazing
Thank you! He is indeed! He is truly a great actor... you can't see this in film and tv... but games... have a special place in your heart and everything hits so differently... such a brilliant character and writing as well!
I just played this part of the game yesterday and chose to nudge him into not ascending...I feel like there was no way he could have made the decision without Tav cause he was so driven by his hatred for Cazador, and under the belief that taking all his power was the only way he could be free. This scene was so moving. And going into it blind without seeing any spoilers, I was ready to face his wrath afterwards but hearing him be grateful and optimistic for the future almost made me bawl Out of curiosity I loaded a save later and let him ascend just to see what happens after, instant regret :( just the tone he speaks to Tav immediately after changes so much, to having a possessive/superior edge. And that's okay if you're into that ofc. The voice actor did such a fantastic job showing that subtle change in his speech, because I recall a point during the interaction with the drow twins that he calls Tav "pet", and it sounds loving. But when he uses the same term after ascending it sounds so demeaning and he even mocks Tav if Tav has an issue with it. What I loved the most was seeing him dare to be vulnerable and trusting again over the course of the relationship, so choosing the route that allows him to keep developing those aspects was the obvious choice for me
You are so right... letting him Ascend makes him a bit cruel... a bit looking down on people and Tav even tho he loves them still... later he offers to make Tav a vamp as well and if you use the tadpole to see his intentions its an ugly picture. He really thinks only for him. There are a few really nice scenes coming up for you with a non-ascended spawn Astarion. I'm glad you made the right decision!
@@thekitten9777 aww... i mostly meant the graveyard scene, but he is lovely and commenting on your actions from time to time and the ending is amazing.🖤🔥🍷
Did anyone else hear “I want to live” instead of the music here when Astarion starts crying? It really hit hard for me when that happened but I see no videos on RUclips where it’s the same. Best glitch ever if it was a glitch
If it really was a glitch for you, it is the best glitch ever. I don't think it usually happens, so probably you wont see it in the videos in YT. But it's cool that happened to you! 🔥😊
I have an exceptional relationship with him and idk if maybe it was because i spoke with him so often; but when i beat cazador i never had to persuade or talk asterion out of anything. He did it on his own.❤
Well done, That's nice. There is a point where he trusts you so much that if you were so consistent in telling him that he should not do it, then when he is at Cazador he just doesn't ascend and does the right thing. Like in real life. When people are so sure in something, they dont need anyone to persuade them 🤷♀❤
@@resonatinglo oh okay cool, I can't tell you how nervous I was lol. I was quick saving A LOT because I kept hearing that you would have to get a successful roll to stop and talk him out of it; and my character isn't very successful with charisma rolls so I was like bracing myself. So when it happened I was like yay!!! Lol
It would have been a poor choice. Asterion was already vulnerable and hurting. This was HIS moment. I don't think he would have liked the coddling right then at all. Later when you're alone, maybe. But he is in the throes of his long sought after victory, and would want it treated as such. He's WON, not to be pitied. He's remembering centuries of pain, and I can't imagine being grabbed and restrained would feel good then. He's already super vulnerable in front of all these people, interrupting his processing and showing pity would further lean into him being more vulnerable when he still has to get up again, decide WHAT to do with all this spawn, how much of a role hes going to take in all this, and where to go next. Asterion needed this all to be a moment of confirmation and action, not a slow down into grief.
It would lead to the same 'problem' as letting him Ascend does....in D&D becoming a full vampire twists your emotions negatively. Him staying a spawn is a much better ending and then going on a quest to find another way to let him walk in the sun.
Oh finally.. i reached the act 3 and the apice doing this mission with Astarion! I had in mind to not ascend him or let him ascend.. but in my heart the best decision is not ascend! Omg and this is my best decision to him.. I particularly love Astarion and l took care of him in my playthrough in act 1 - 3.. in all my gameplay I tinked is possible to "change" Astarion ideas about Tav because i like How he is falling in love slowly.. and im so very excited seeing him happy again and FREE! * and when he finally opened up to me it was the happiest moment for me, because I really fell in love with this character and seeing that he now has true feelings made me very happy, sorry for the text! I found your video shortly after making my decision and I knew that leaving it as it was, without the power, was the best option. * When he said he loved me my heart jumped 😭
If you are doing it for the first time, it definitely stirs a lot of feelings when he says the 3 little words... everyone's favourite. The more you play the deeper those feelings become... but also the easier it becomes for you to want to see more of him and let him ascend just to see new scenes and lines from him
@@resonatinglo ohh yes itsy firts time playing and o loved to not ascend him but now he isnt imune to sun 🥹 but im so glad to not ascend and see these three words and his happy finally
I wish you could be come a vampire spawn. I know you can let him be ascended but that is the evil path. This path he is going to have to watch you age then die....not really the happy ending
A little spoilers for what happens when he Ascends... I just finished an Ascended playthrough with him, after romancing him and then Ascending him and then at some point he offers to make you a vampire "like him" . He is kind of an Archvampire, so you are not technically spawn, cuz he is much more powerful, but you become immortal too and don't age. AND IF you choose the right options, he is not even evil. He says he loves you and he is so glad that you will spend your life with him and you can tell him that you want to travel the world and share it with him and he is happy to do so with you. I will soon post all the videos from this playthrough. Maybe in a week. Even tho, he is hungry for power, he is happy and content that he got what he wants and he becomes kinda sweet again... Or I just love him so much that I don't think of him as evil... P.S. Of course you can be mean to him and tell him that he has become an A*shole and you don't wanna be with him... Then he is EVIL yes :D
@@resonatinglo With the Ascension your sending the others to torment in hell. I was hoping since Cazador was weak you or Shadowheart could command Cazador to turn you into one. Then Asterion could kill him. That way you aren't going down a dark path, Asterion gets his revenge and you and him get to be together.
@@resonatingloHe does not turn you into a "true vampire". The dialog option is there and he tells you he will someday. You are still technically his spawn. While he says he loves you, all throughout the story he repeatedly drops hints at how no vampire will ever turn their spawn, give up control, and will always be corrupted by power. He warns you over and over about what he could become. He will be happy after he chooses to not ascend and is grateful - he starts to recover and move on. In contrast, if he does ascend, he starts to get arrogant and haughty. There is no happiness, no peace, just power. This is the bad ending, but it comes in degrees. It is decidedly worse when you say negative things and break up with him, but by choosing the ascension almost all of his personal growth gets walked back. Almost immediately, he starts to show signs of being drunk on power. He even makes you kneel before him. Now, some people are into dom/sub play and find this erotic, but from a place of romance or friendship it is a considerably darker path. You may be together forever, but that's only as long as he doesn't continue to devolve. Given his dialogue throughout the game though, it seems likely that he will. He's a broken man carrying around centuries of trauma and choosing to not have him ascend is the only way he begins to heal. The love I have for the character and the role play taken in game makes it easy to want to have your characters be together forever but the cost is too high. I know it's not that deep, but I think it's a strange take to try to romanticize his ascension.
You can prolong your life in a different way in dnd. Both druids and wizards can do it but there’s a wish spell. Just many options out there to have a happy end with Spawn 😊
@@Yume03 Interesting. But vampires live forever right... In the whole grand scheme of things, if they really live forever, won't the earth eventually be populated only by vampires who have eventually turned everyone else...? I guess the elves would be there too, living 400-700 years each...
OK BUT NEITHER ENDING IS GOOD😭😭😭 Like personally I think him ascending would be the better option IF IT DIDN’T MAKE HIM SUCH AN ASSHOLE UGH! Because with the non ascension route, some of the spawn admit they don’t even want to live, not only that guaranteed not all 7,000 are truthful and will keep their promise to only feed on animals, ALSO THEYRE GONNA MAKE ANY ANIMAL IN THE UNDERDARK GO EXTINCT WITH THAT MANY OF THEM. Not only that Astarion once again loses everything that made his life worth living except for Tav…the person who took it all away..I just wish there was a way to let him ascend or like intimidate Cazador into making him a full fledged vampire instead, like he’s literally got his persuasion and deception through the roof your telling me he couldn’t think of ANYTHING? Come onnn.
I think the writing in all of his endings is made to fit him. Yes, of course we feel that neither is good, because he is in general fked whatever happens, but was was like that from the beginning 😅
Ascending him sends the 7000 souls to Hell for an eternity of torment. Some of them may be evil but theres no way it's worth doing that to all the innocents because some MIGHT be bad. Regardless of what happens afterwords ascending is the bad ending. Also Cazador was treated by his master the way Astarion was treated by Cazador. It's implied theres a cycle that wont stop until something changes. If you ascend Astarion he will just be another part of it.
I will never get over the tonal whiplash between this scene and Astarion taking you to his grave the very same evening to consumate your relationship once more. Though I couldn't bring myself to release the spawn, reasoning that whatever they would do would be on my head.
Yep, I agree. This night changes everything, and changes the tone of it all... but also I think the grave night is just made sifter on purpose, for him to be gentle no matter what 👌🌹
I'm curious about something. Even if Astarion doesn't become ascendant why didn't he just drink Cazador's blood to become a full vampire? He would get more power without damning himself. Unless that is an option and I just haven't seen it of course.
To get a true vampire you need to receive master's blood WILLINGLY from your master. He can't just stab him and drink his blood. I mean he can, but nothing will happen. I've had this discussion with a few DnD DMasters and this is basically the explanation summarised... the magic doesnt work if it's not willingly given in like a ritual thing...
Idk what choice to make 😢 this is my first play through and I want it to be good but I seen all the possible endings and idk which I want to choose *SPOILER ALERT* If you choose this ending is there a way to still save him from the sun when you reach that point?
No, no way to save him. Don't worry about spoilers, just ask. If he doesn't have a tadpole and is not ascended the sun harms him of course so he has to keep to the shadows. :) My advise will be, just roll with any choice and if you don't like it, just do it differently on the next playthough... you don't play this game once and leave 🌹😇
@@MissGlassButterfly he can not turn you. he can turn you only if he ascend. So with this ending , you stay normal mortal and he stays vampire spawn, immortal, but lesser vampire kinda
@@MissGlassButterflynot necessarily there’s many ways to prolong your life in dnd. Powerful druids can for example stop aging. Also wizards like Elminster. I can’t imagine Ascending him bc he turns into a different person after that. The Sun vulnerability is a bummer but definitely worth it for me ❤.
Does he choose the right thing if you let him decide? I did that with lae’zel and she chose to let Voss live. I like it more when I can only intervene when it involves tpk. When my bf played it he didn’t bring the companions on their quests when he did them and he missed out on some of the best dialogue in game.
It depends on what you have supported him before I would say. If you were against the ascention and all that power the whole campaign, maybe he will choose it, but not tested it
I remember some bug being also if you didn’t interact as astarion he would also default to ascension regardless of what you told him (he would fight you if you refused to help with the ritual) I don’t know if they fixed that
Please tell me. He still hasn't recovered from the parasite, has he? Will he be able to continue to travel with me under the sun? Or will it now begin to cause him damage? 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
Spoilers for the end of the game: Once you defeat the netherbrain and choose to destroy all the tadpoles, you'll meet Astarion in a cutscene where the sun starts burning him and he runs away to find a shadow, but he survives.
If I'm not playing as a Paladin, then I ascend him. It's just so damn statisfying to see Cazador get a taste of his own medicine. Although I wish we could get more assertive lines with ascended Astarion, because my super dominant artillerist artificer (I got a mod that adds the artificer class) takes shit from absolutely no one. He dates Lae'zel and dominates her.
I was fully ready to save scum to get this outcome, but i actually rolled a success on insight, and a crit success to persuade him not to ascend. Game said we deserved it ❤
I'd love the idea of an option to sacrifice Cazador (and only him, neither Astarion, nor his siblings, and nor 7000 victims) to Mephistopheles as "appeasement" offering. That would mean he would have to suffer eternally in Mephistopheles' hell, which he would deserve as anything else (since he was willing to condemn to this fate all his "children" and 7000 innocent victims in exchange for power). While turning him into vampire pincushion by raging Astarion is satisfying, this would make the vengeance even sweeter, and give him nice karma.
@@resonatinglo Yep, but I'm not sure if him just being killed (not as ritual's sacrifice) means he will be claimed by Mephistopheles (I thought only those who died both as sacrifices and during ritual were claimed by Mephistopheles after death), and if Astarion just "casualy" kills him, that won't count.
Call me a wuss, but I allowed Astarion ascend. But I had barely made it out of the boss room before I started to regret it. Fortunately, I saved before opening the coffin. So I loaded it and went with this. I didn’t like what Astarion became.
if you barely walked out and then reloaded , then you haven't really seen what Ascended Astarion is like. In any case, there are always more campaigns to be played and new Tav-s to be made. One of the times you can just let him Ascend and see what he is like and use his powers for the end battle
At this point I was saving every 2 minutes, sometimes I hard save before every quest, just to be sure. It's good to go back and re-play what you haven't done. You get a better picture of the chars imho
@@resonatinglo They really aren’t comparable in any other way except for the occasional funny quip. But I noticed multiple parallels between them in both scenes, in no small thanks to the amazing performances by both they’re respective actors. I just wish there was an option to comfort Astarion like how Joel comforted Ellie.
@@resonatinglo maybe Larian will add that in a future update. I know he needs his moment of relief and release but it breaks my heart that I don’t even have the option to comfort him
@@resonatinglo only character in my party that doesn't fully approve of me because I've been too heroic and he only liked it when I talked bad guys into their own demise, but if you give a street kid coin, that's a nono xD So the bar is just a little more then neutral
@@DarkThunder150 he is chaotic neutral, yes, but with his own story of course. You can always do another campaign and align with his views if you need different dialog... or watch all my videos :D
It didn't give me the choice on my first playthrough either. I didnt know you CAN have a choice until I started making vids and people asked me about it. Anyway I think you dont have a choice if you have always supported him in every dialog before about the ascention. It starts in act 2 when Raphael mentions it and then Astarion is like, oh I can steal the power. If you support him there and in every conversation after, I think then you get no choice... But have not tested it 🤷♀
I hated Astarion before I knew his story tbh. Not just because of how some of his fans portrayed him but because I thought he was outright evil. Don't get me wrong, he was, but his journey was one of the best, well fleshed-out plots in the entire game. Now I don't wanna romance him, I just want to be his only good friend 😭
I let him ascend, but that might have been a mistake. Letting him ascend is ultimately better for him but persuading him to not gives more emotion and closure.
I don't think there's anything that is "better" for him. Why would ascending him be better? Because he would walk in the sun? But being a spawn he keeps his own mind, instead of becoming an immortal monster... so which is "better" for him changes depending on your roleplay and gameplay through out your campaign... nothing more 😇😊
@@albaalmodovar6208 I did this one of my playthroughs; you will end up confronting the Gur and telling them you killed the spawn. With a persuasion check, you can convince the gur that it was for the best. If you fail the role, you fight the gur.
I did so many campaigns and sometimes I had different options and have tried to record everything... I am sad and stupid that I didn't write how I got there and now almost a year later I don't remember what has to happen before to get those specific things... for most of my video... I am sorry
@@resonatinglo From the sacrifices. When you free them and they come walking up to Astarion. They have fully red-covered (blood covered?) bodies, and their neck and heads are perfectly clean. In my game they were normal skin toned. See 4:34 for an example.
@@TheBlarggle Oooo, no no... this was a bug/form of censuring naked tities... but they removed it later in the patches... this video is probably from patch 2...
Is there any chance to lower that roll's difficulty (18)? I'm looking for it since the first playthrough. I mean, with the way you can just tell Lae'Zel and SH "do what you want to do" and hope they chose the right path I was hoping you can do the same with Astarion. OR at least have to roll against let's say 10, not 18. Because sure you can have a char with high persuasion or have 4 inspirations or save/load as many times as you want, but the sole difficulty of that check just... doesn't feel right. Such a big number makes me feel like I screwed somewhere - maybe with allowing Astarion to drink other peoples blood or not letting him drink mine often enough or maybe with even not being a good enough person myself considering story choices (though I definitely was good enough for SH to throw the spear, lol). Did anyone ever see a better dialogue option here?
Honestly, fitting with the story, a DC18 is reasonable. Astarion, while not a bad guy, is deeply twisted by a couple centuries of severe PTSD, and here he is at the cusp of getting everything he could ever ask for. It should be hard to keep him from it, because in the moment it is literally the only thing he wants. I get dice rolls can be a pain if you want a specific result, but if you're going organically with how it turns out, this should be a very hard sell.
@@chell007 I felt very unfair many times on this playthough playing with Barbarian Tav and not having any Cha or buffs... just 1 Guidance ... but I think the point of the 18 roll is that he really Really REALLY doesn't want to do it and you have to be VERY persuasive hense the 18DC. BUT non the less if you REALLY want it, you have ways to roll above ... be it with reloads...
I do agree that we should’ve been given the possibility to do this without rolls (like Shadowheart or Lae’zel- I really liked how they decided on their own without interference) especially when playing good Tav/Urge… but considering the facts that Astarion went through worse trauma than any of the other companions combined and had been conditioned to view power as the ultimate salvation, it does kinda make sense that you need to pass this higher roll. what would be a good sort of middle ground to me here is to have more options to choose from… instead of having only 1 ‘better’ one against 2 ‘bad’ ones. maybe telling him there are other ways we could help him, appealing to his feelings of remorse for the victims, etc.. if your Tav hasn’t been indulging him in his power-hungriness it should’ve had some sort of impact. if we picked No, I won’t help you - this instead of making him angry and leaving could’ve had all the possible reasons why we don’t want him to do it…
Yep. He is fkd from the start... he kinda has no happy ending. Maybe the thing that make it a happy thing in the end is if Tav romanced him and keeps him a spawn, then he is "weak" but happy. But if Tav is just a friend, then there's no good ending for him essentially 🤷♀
@zitadenes2109 As much as you are right, Cazador's name is however spelled as "Szarr", which is more similar to Hungarian "Szárr" or "Szár" in pronunciation, which as you have guessed it already, is the closest to the word "cár" that translates to "uralkodó". ...I mean, it is still similar to "lábszár" aka thigh(s), that can be funny too ngl :)
up to a long debate. I’d say go ahead with the ascension if you’re not romancing him. but playing a good Tav, romancing him and nudging him towards a path of him being better/selfless is a better choice when it comes to his character growth ( he is definitely different and actually disapproving things he would either not care or approve of at the beginning of the game). by choosing ascension you just reaffirm to him that having power is the most important thing in the world + he treats Tav as a possession when romanced. the main problem I see is that with this good ending the player isn’t rewarded with anything.. Astarion doesn’t get anything for doing this selfless act, no extra dialogue.. I’d love to have the option to look for some sort of solution to help him walk in the sun while still in act 3… not just as a one dialogue option at the end of the game. it just made me feel all shitty to watch him run away from the sun and nobody giving a F.
@@asmalltalk Agreed. It's so frustrating I'm having to finish the story for myself by writing a fanfiction where the gang finds a way for him to walk in the sun.
@@asmalltalkI think if there was a whole upper city this could be more of a viable option, but as is, there just doesn't feel like there's enough room to include looking for a cure in Act 3 :{
It didn't give me the choice on my first playthrough either. I didnt know you CAN have a choice until I started making vids and people asked me about it. Anyway I think you dont have a choice if you have always supported him in every dialog before about the ascention. It starts in act 2 when Raphael mentions it and then Astarion is like, oh I can steal the power. If you support him there and in every conversation after, I think then you get no choice... But have not tested it 🤷♀
![Yeat & Summrs - GO2WORK [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/NEFEwfPcXRA/mqdefault.jpg)
I know this scene is meant to be serious but the face Cazador is making before Astarion pushes him out of the coffin is so funny, like he looks like he's having a spa day or something.
Hahaha... thank you for giving us the other side of the coin as well... of course they are all supposed to be serious, but sometimes you can find some laughs even in the darkest places 🌈😅
Lmfaooo
This scene had me in tears. The trauma cry at the end... feels real.
So real...I know... I think about it every time I get there and have to play through it...
Actors are good actors for a reason... they make us feel real feelings and emotions and make it look so realistic even tho we know it's a game... still it makes you wanna run to him and hug him and hold him... and help him...😔🖤
I was never huge on Astarion as a character, but this scene got me pretty good. Teared up and everything.
The cry at the end wasnt actually in the script. Neil (the actor for Astarion) came up with it on the fly in one take and Larian loved it sm they decided to keep it!
On my first playthrough, this was the only time during any companion's quest I attempted to talk them out of what they wanted. Astarion *needed* this one.
YES! But he just needs a little bit of help and he is there right with you. 😇
I actually just let him choose on his own and he chose this ending.
@@wolfmcculloch1237 Obviously you didn't do Dark Urge run! Ew!
@jakubs.5966 Didn't need to, my coplayer had that part handled.
"I am so much more than what you made me." So gripping.
Oh... it does hit hard... I re-recorded some scenes around the fight here and Sebastian yesterday and it did hit me pretty hard, even tho I have done it so many times now... but because I had to explore all dialogs... it was just a bit too much...
Will post it soon...
@@resonatinglo bless
That’s it! Astarion is the one delivering us the theme of the game. It applies to all the origin characters.
@@GoonManGuy Someone said in my comments, why does the main character of the game has a master and we have to kill him... like... for many many people Astarion is the main character of the game and Tav just helps him and guides him!
This was the scene were it clicked in my head; "Oooh, yep, that's why Neil won the award. Yup. I hear it. I hear it now."
There are many scenes where you can see it, but mostly the tragic ones and the ones showing "real" human/elf emotions. This is one of them for sure
Personally he won it way back in Act 1 for me.
What in the sweet hells were you thinking?! Activating that lance - I was RIGHT. THERE!"
I like how he just rips him out
All that rage for all those years... 🖤
0:04 my alarm clock going off at 5:30am
I know the feeling 🌹
You can't tell me he can't sing, with that level of control over his tone, intonation, staccatos, crescendos, pitch, bass; gosh I'm just rambling at this point but Neil Newbon is truly amazing
Thank you! He is indeed!
He is truly a great actor... you can't see this in film and tv... but games... have a special place in your heart and everything hits so differently... such a brilliant character and writing as well!
I just played this part of the game yesterday and chose to nudge him into not ascending...I feel like there was no way he could have made the decision without Tav cause he was so driven by his hatred for Cazador, and under the belief that taking all his power was the only way he could be free. This scene was so moving. And going into it blind without seeing any spoilers, I was ready to face his wrath afterwards but hearing him be grateful and optimistic for the future almost made me bawl
Out of curiosity I loaded a save later and let him ascend just to see what happens after, instant regret :( just the tone he speaks to Tav immediately after changes so
much, to having a possessive/superior edge. And that's okay if you're into that ofc. The voice actor did such a fantastic job showing that subtle change in his speech, because I recall a point during the interaction with the drow twins that he calls Tav "pet", and it sounds loving. But when he uses the same term after ascending it sounds so demeaning and he even mocks Tav if Tav has an issue with it. What I loved the most was seeing him dare to be vulnerable and trusting again over the course of the relationship, so choosing the route that allows him to keep developing those aspects was the obvious choice for me
You are so right... letting him Ascend makes him a bit cruel... a bit looking down on people and Tav even tho he loves them still... later he offers to make Tav a vamp as well and if you use the tadpole to see his intentions its an ugly picture. He really thinks only for him. There are a few really nice scenes coming up for you with a non-ascended spawn Astarion. I'm glad you made the right decision!
@@resonatinglo yeah exactly that. Aww I look forward to the nice scenes, I had the graveyard scene and it was so lovely😍
@@thekitten9777 aww... i mostly meant the graveyard scene, but he is lovely and commenting on your actions from time to time and the ending is amazing.🖤🔥🍷
Did anyone else hear “I want to live” instead of the music here when Astarion starts crying? It really hit hard for me when that happened but I see no videos on RUclips where it’s the same. Best glitch ever if it was a glitch
If it really was a glitch for you, it is the best glitch ever. I don't think it usually happens, so probably you wont see it in the videos in YT. But it's cool that happened to you! 🔥😊
I did! Made me tear up
I have an exceptional relationship with him and idk if maybe it was because i spoke with him so often; but when i beat cazador i never had to persuade or talk asterion out of anything. He did it on his own.❤
Well done, That's nice. There is a point where he trusts you so much that if you were so consistent in telling him that he should not do it, then when he is at Cazador he just doesn't ascend and does the right thing. Like in real life. When people are so sure in something, they dont need anyone to persuade them 🤷♀❤
So you also had an option in the dialogues like "trust his choice"?
@@str_bl maybe, I can't really remember.
@@resonatinglo oh okay cool, I can't tell you how nervous I was lol. I was quick saving A LOT because I kept hearing that you would have to get a successful roll to stop and talk him out of it; and my character isn't very successful with charisma rolls so I was like bracing myself. So when it happened I was like yay!!! Lol
@@kennedyflint6140 nice
By the hells why tav just stand, nor support nor hug
Riiight! If only we had the option... we would go running...🖤🖤
Sometimes you need a hug, sometimes you need people to stay back so you can process your maelstrom of emotions.
It would have been a poor choice. Asterion was already vulnerable and hurting. This was HIS moment. I don't think he would have liked the coddling right then at all. Later when you're alone, maybe. But he is in the throes of his long sought after victory, and would want it treated as such. He's WON, not to be pitied. He's remembering centuries of pain, and I can't imagine being grabbed and restrained would feel good then. He's already super vulnerable in front of all these people, interrupting his processing and showing pity would further lean into him being more vulnerable when he still has to get up again, decide WHAT to do with all this spawn, how much of a role hes going to take in all this, and where to go next.
Asterion needed this all to be a moment of confirmation and action, not a slow down into grief.
Should have been able to trade his blood willingly to astarion for freedom in return for his life and then betray and kill him after
hah, interesting proposition ... they may still add new stuff... some day 😊
It would lead to the same 'problem' as letting him Ascend does....in D&D becoming a full vampire twists your emotions negatively. Him staying a spawn is a much better ending and then going on a quest to find another way to let him walk in the sun.
Oh finally.. i reached the act 3 and the apice doing this mission with Astarion! I had in mind to not ascend him or let him ascend.. but in my heart the best decision is not ascend! Omg and this is my best decision to him.. I particularly love Astarion and l took care of him in my playthrough in act 1 - 3.. in all my gameplay I tinked is possible to "change" Astarion ideas about Tav because i like How he is falling in love slowly.. and im so very excited seeing him happy again and FREE! * and when he finally opened up to me it was the happiest moment for me, because I really fell in love with this character and seeing that he now has true feelings made me very happy, sorry for the text! I found your video shortly after making my decision and I knew that leaving it as it was, without the power, was the best option. *
When he said he loved me my heart jumped 😭
If you are doing it for the first time, it definitely stirs a lot of feelings when he says the 3 little words... everyone's favourite.
The more you play the deeper those feelings become... but also the easier it becomes for you to want to see more of him and let him ascend just to see new scenes and lines from him
@@resonatinglo ohh yes itsy firts time playing and o loved to not ascend him but now he isnt imune to sun 🥹 but im so glad to not ascend and see these three words and his happy finally
@@y_Emily if you can replay it a few times, try a few different romances or Astarion again a few times. Try dark urge, It's a very very good game 🖤
I wish you could be come a vampire spawn. I know you can let him be ascended but that is the evil path. This path he is going to have to watch you age then die....not really the happy ending
A little spoilers for what happens when he Ascends...
I just finished an Ascended playthrough with him, after romancing him and then Ascending him and then at some point he offers to make you a vampire "like him" . He is kind of an Archvampire, so you are not technically spawn, cuz he is much more powerful, but you become immortal too and don't age. AND IF you choose the right options, he is not even evil. He says he loves you and he is so glad that you will spend your life with him and you can tell him that you want to travel the world and share it with him and he is happy to do so with you. I will soon post all the videos from this playthrough. Maybe in a week. Even tho, he is hungry for power, he is happy and content that he got what he wants and he becomes kinda sweet again...
Or I just love him so much that I don't think of him as evil...
P.S. Of course you can be mean to him and tell him that he has become an A*shole and you don't wanna be with him... Then he is EVIL yes :D
@@resonatinglo With the Ascension your sending the others to torment in hell. I was hoping since Cazador was weak you or Shadowheart could command Cazador to turn you into one. Then Asterion could kill him. That way you aren't going down a dark path, Asterion gets his revenge and you and him get to be together.
@@resonatingloHe does not turn you into a "true vampire". The dialog option is there and he tells you he will someday. You are still technically his spawn. While he says he loves you, all throughout the story he repeatedly drops hints at how no vampire will ever turn their spawn, give up control, and will always be corrupted by power. He warns you over and over about what he could become. He will be happy after he chooses to not ascend and is grateful - he starts to recover and move on. In contrast, if he does ascend, he starts to get arrogant and haughty. There is no happiness, no peace, just power. This is the bad ending, but it comes in degrees. It is decidedly worse when you say negative things and break up with him, but by choosing the ascension almost all of his personal growth gets walked back. Almost immediately, he starts to show signs of being drunk on power. He even makes you kneel before him. Now, some people are into dom/sub play and find this erotic, but from a place of romance or friendship it is a considerably darker path. You may be together forever, but that's only as long as he doesn't continue to devolve. Given his dialogue throughout the game though, it seems likely that he will. He's a broken man carrying around centuries of trauma and choosing to not have him ascend is the only way he begins to heal. The love I have for the character and the role play taken in game makes it easy to want to have your characters be together forever but the cost is too high.
I know it's not that deep, but I think it's a strange take to try to romanticize his ascension.
You can prolong your life in a different way in dnd. Both druids and wizards can do it but there’s a wish spell. Just many options out there to have a happy end with Spawn 😊
@@Yume03 Interesting. But vampires live forever right...
In the whole grand scheme of things, if they really live forever, won't the earth eventually be populated only by vampires who have eventually turned everyone else...?
I guess the elves would be there too, living 400-700 years each...
Adds a new meaning to redshirts
I think that was a big for that patch... dunno what happened, but it was long time ago
I don't know why but at 3:12 they added a music now... such a shame it was so nice just this way. I hope it's a bug.
This video is made in the first month of the game ... there are things that are different now I am sure 😅😩
OK BUT NEITHER ENDING IS GOOD😭😭😭 Like personally I think him ascending would be the better option IF IT DIDN’T MAKE HIM SUCH AN ASSHOLE UGH! Because with the non ascension route, some of the spawn admit they don’t even want to live, not only that guaranteed not all 7,000 are truthful and will keep their promise to only feed on animals, ALSO THEYRE GONNA MAKE ANY ANIMAL IN THE UNDERDARK GO EXTINCT WITH THAT MANY OF THEM. Not only that Astarion once again loses everything that made his life worth living except for Tav…the person who took it all away..I just wish there was a way to let him ascend or like intimidate Cazador into making him a full fledged vampire instead, like he’s literally got his persuasion and deception through the roof your telling me he couldn’t think of ANYTHING? Come onnn.
I think the writing in all of his endings is made to fit him. Yes, of course we feel that neither is good, because he is in general fked whatever happens, but was was like that from the beginning 😅
Welcome to boulders gate, there is no perfect solution
@@dflaming1371 indeed
@@dflaming1371 all are bad and good at the same time
Ascending him sends the 7000 souls to Hell for an eternity of torment. Some of them may be evil but theres no way it's worth doing that to all the innocents because some MIGHT be bad. Regardless of what happens afterwords ascending is the bad ending.
Also Cazador was treated by his master the way Astarion was treated by Cazador. It's implied theres a cycle that wont stop until something changes. If you ascend Astarion he will just be another part of it.
Holy shit amazing acting
Indeed. Neil Newbon is going an amazing job as his VA
He is such a tragic character. The writers need to be compensated handsomely for the way they wrote this whole game.
I hope they are. I think we have no idea of their salaries, but they better be :D
I will never get over the tonal whiplash between this scene and Astarion taking you to his grave the very same evening to consumate your relationship once more. Though I couldn't bring myself to release the spawn, reasoning that whatever they would do would be on my head.
Yep, I agree. This night changes everything, and changes the tone of it all... but also I think the grave night is just made sifter on purpose, for him to be gentle no matter what 👌🌹
His Questline is why Astarion is my favorite character
exactly
I'm curious about something. Even if Astarion doesn't become ascendant why didn't he just drink Cazador's blood to become a full vampire? He would get more power without damning himself. Unless that is an option and I just haven't seen it of course.
To get a true vampire you need to receive master's blood WILLINGLY from your master. He can't just stab him and drink his blood. I mean he can, but nothing will happen.
I've had this discussion with a few DnD DMasters and this is basically the explanation summarised... the magic doesnt work if it's not willingly given in like a ritual thing...
That's true accensing of the character in my eyes. Love the redemption ark. Love that guy.
Nicely said... true ascending!
Idk what choice to make 😢 this is my first play through and I want it to be good but I seen all the possible endings and idk which I want to choose
*SPOILER ALERT*
If you choose this ending is there a way to still save him from the sun when you reach that point?
No, no way to save him. Don't worry about spoilers, just ask.
If he doesn't have a tadpole and is not ascended the sun harms him of course so he has to keep to the shadows. :) My advise will be, just roll with any choice and if you don't like it, just do it differently on the next playthough... you don't play this game once and leave 🌹😇
@resonatinglo if you choose this ending can he not turn you? Do you stay mortal?
@@MissGlassButterfly he can not turn you. he can turn you only if he ascend. So with this ending , you stay normal mortal and he stays vampire spawn, immortal, but lesser vampire kinda
@@resonatinglo and hed have to watch his love grow old and die 😭
@@MissGlassButterflynot necessarily there’s many ways to prolong your life in dnd. Powerful druids can for example stop aging. Also wizards like Elminster.
I can’t imagine Ascending him bc he turns into a different person after that. The Sun vulnerability is a bummer but definitely worth it for me ❤.
Does he choose the right thing if you let him decide? I did that with lae’zel and she chose to let Voss live. I like it more when I can only intervene when it involves tpk. When my bf played it he didn’t bring the companions on their quests when he did them and he missed out on some of the best dialogue in game.
It depends on what you have supported him before I would say. If you were against the ascention and all that power the whole campaign, maybe he will choose it, but not tested it
I remember some bug being also if you didn’t interact as astarion he would also default to ascension regardless of what you told him (he would fight you if you refused to help with the ritual) I don’t know if they fixed that
Please tell me. He still hasn't recovered from the parasite, has he? Will he be able to continue to travel with me under the sun? Or will it now begin to cause him damage? 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
If he is good, there's no sun. That's the prise. Sun means bad 🦇
You get this scene before the parasite is cured. He can still travel with you after this, for as long as the parasite protects him.
Spoilers for the end of the game:
Once you defeat the netherbrain and choose to destroy all the tadpoles, you'll meet Astarion in a cutscene where the sun starts burning him and he runs away to find a shadow, but he survives.
I do badly wanna see the behind the scenes mocap of this scene. Just to know what it looked like filming this.
right.... would be so cool to watch a film with all mocaps of all scenes
If I'm not playing as a Paladin, then I ascend him. It's just so damn statisfying to see Cazador get a taste of his own medicine. Although I wish we could get more assertive lines with ascended Astarion, because my super dominant artillerist artificer (I got a mod that adds the artificer class) takes shit from absolutely no one. He dates Lae'zel and dominates her.
I love to show Cazador what we are really capable of as well 🤷♀😅
I was fully ready to save scum to get this outcome, but i actually rolled a success on insight, and a crit success to persuade him not to ascend. Game said we deserved it ❤
Nice!
But I don't think it's scumming to save and reload to get a curtain result or see a different outcome... I do it all the time for content 🤷♀😅🖤
I'd love the idea of an option to sacrifice Cazador (and only him, neither Astarion, nor his siblings, and nor 7000 victims) to Mephistopheles as "appeasement" offering. That would mean he would have to suffer eternally in Mephistopheles' hell, which he would deserve as anything else (since he was willing to condemn to this fate all his "children" and 7000 innocent victims in exchange for power). While turning him into vampire pincushion by raging Astarion is satisfying, this would make the vengeance even sweeter, and give him nice karma.
Well, technically you have that option. At least to kill him and not kill anyone else. Still let the 7000 spawn live and all the children etc.
@@resonatinglo Yep, but I'm not sure if him just being killed (not as ritual's sacrifice) means he will be claimed by Mephistopheles (I thought only those who died both as sacrifices and during ritual were claimed by Mephistopheles after death), and if Astarion just "casualy" kills him, that won't count.
@@mausolus8466 ok, yes, I see what you mean 👌🔥
Call me a wuss, but I allowed Astarion ascend. But I had barely made it out of the boss room before I started to regret it. Fortunately, I saved before opening the coffin. So I loaded it and went with this. I didn’t like what Astarion became.
if you barely walked out and then reloaded , then you haven't really seen what Ascended Astarion is like.
In any case, there are always more campaigns to be played and new Tav-s to be made. One of the times you can just let him Ascend and see what he is like and use his powers for the end battle
@@resonatinglo I saw enough to feel that Astarion was on fast track to becoming Cazador 2.0
I had NO idea you could stop him from ascending without him leaving the party. I should’ve saved before doing my dialogue options 😢
At this point I was saving every 2 minutes, sometimes I hard save before every quest, just to be sure.
It's good to go back and re-play what you haven't done. You get a better picture of the chars imho
Reminds me of Ellie killing David in TLOU
Wow, yep, there is some resemblance... I can see it ... never thought to compare the two, but yep. Ellie in the burning church... spoilers :D
@@resonatinglo They really aren’t comparable in any other way except for the occasional funny quip. But I noticed multiple parallels between them in both scenes, in no small thanks to the amazing performances by both they’re respective actors. I just wish there was an option to comfort Astarion like how Joel comforted Ellie.
@@nerdygal6133 True
@@resonatinglo maybe Larian will add that in a future update. I know he needs his moment of relief and release but it breaks my heart that I don’t even have the option to comfort him
@@nerdygal6133 Yep, there are a lot of fan art hugging him in that exact moment when he is on his knees... lovely stuff... but not in the game sadly
Hmm, I didn't have these options, either say yes and keep him in the party or say no and he leaves the party/becomes hostile :(
Hmm... I am sure it matters if he is romanced or not and what his approval is. So probably that's why you had different things
@@resonatinglo only character in my party that doesn't fully approve of me because I've been too heroic and he only liked it when I talked bad guys into their own demise,
but if you give a street kid coin, that's a nono xD
So the bar is just a little more then neutral
@@DarkThunder150 he is chaotic neutral, yes, but with his own story of course. You can always do another campaign and align with his views if you need different dialog... or watch all my videos :D
I don’t know if they fixed it but it’s a big depending on who you have interact with the coffin
It didn’t give me the choice did I do something wrong?
It didn't give me the choice on my first playthrough either. I didnt know you CAN have a choice until I started making vids and people asked me about it.
Anyway I think you dont have a choice if you have always supported him in every dialog before about the ascention. It starts in act 2 when Raphael mentions it and then Astarion is like, oh I can steal the power. If you support him there and in every conversation after, I think then you get no choice...
But have not tested it 🤷♀
Let it out old boy. Let it out lad
Indeed 🔥
I hated Astarion before I knew his story tbh. Not just because of how some of his fans portrayed him but because I thought he was outright evil.
Don't get me wrong, he was, but his journey was one of the best, well fleshed-out plots in the entire game. Now I don't wanna romance him, I just want to be his only good friend 😭
I thought he is posh and strange in the beginning... and then he tried to bite me act 1 and I was hooked 😅
@resonatinglo LOL so valid for that, vampires are dreamy
I let him ascend, but that might have been a mistake. Letting him ascend is ultimately better for him but persuading him to not gives more emotion and closure.
I don't think there's anything that is "better" for him. Why would ascending him be better? Because he would walk in the sun? But being a spawn he keeps his own mind, instead of becoming an immortal monster... so which is "better" for him changes depending on your roleplay and gameplay through out your campaign... nothing more 😇😊
@@resonatinglo based on how he acts after he would become drunk with power. he would become everything he hated about cazador.
@@erikphelan7508 And more... I know... It's almost sad
What happens is you kill them?
I'm sorry I dont understand this question
@@resonatinglo sorry, I meant, what happens if you convince astarion to not Ascend, but then you decide to kill the kids (the spawns)
@@albaalmodovar6208 I did this one of my playthroughs; you will end up confronting the Gur and telling them you killed the spawn. With a persuasion check, you can convince the gur that it was for the best. If you fail the role, you fight the gur.
@@LoveDeathTheKid thank you so much (both of you)
@@albaalmodovar6208 ooohhh... interesting point. I have no idea... i might reload that save just to try it and see what will happen
I had to keep playing Astarion tossing him, sorry not sorry lol
You do what you gotta do
Lol.... i thought killing the spawns was part of defeting cazador.... i killed them while suspended and then killed cazador.......oooops
oh no... ooops indeed 😁😅🤷♀
I never got this option. Why?
this game is so so complicated that even with my excel spreadsheet I can't follow all the lines... I am sorry
Why didn’t I get these options??
I did so many campaigns and sometimes I had different options and have tried to record everything... I am sad and stupid that I didn't write how I got there and now almost a year later I don't remember what has to happen before to get those specific things... for most of my video... I am sorry
@@resonatinglo it’s ok I was just worried that I did something wrong and my only options are let him leave or ascend
What's with the weird blood bodysuits with the perfectly clean neck and head?
Hmm... I don't think they are very clean... do you mean Astarion or who? Cuz his face is clearly not clean
@@resonatinglo From the sacrifices. When you free them and they come walking up to Astarion. They have fully red-covered (blood covered?) bodies, and their neck and heads are perfectly clean. In my game they were normal skin toned. See 4:34 for an example.
@@TheBlarggle Oooo, no no... this was a bug/form of censuring naked tities... but they removed it later in the patches... this video is probably from patch 2...
@@resonatinglo Ah okay, that makes sense. Thanks for the replies!
@@TheBlarggle no worries, It does look strange, but i have seen this bug before in other videos from before, so it should be fine now if you play
Is there any chance to lower that roll's difficulty (18)? I'm looking for it since the first playthrough. I mean, with the way you can just tell Lae'Zel and SH "do what you want to do" and hope they chose the right path I was hoping you can do the same with Astarion. OR at least have to roll against let's say 10, not 18. Because sure you can have a char with high persuasion or have 4 inspirations or save/load as many times as you want, but the sole difficulty of that check just... doesn't feel right. Such a big number makes me feel like I screwed somewhere - maybe with allowing Astarion to drink other peoples blood or not letting him drink mine often enough or maybe with even not being a good enough person myself considering story choices (though I definitely was good enough for SH to throw the spear, lol). Did anyone ever see a better dialogue option here?
Honestly, fitting with the story, a DC18 is reasonable. Astarion, while not a bad guy, is deeply twisted by a couple centuries of severe PTSD, and here he is at the cusp of getting everything he could ever ask for. It should be hard to keep him from it, because in the moment it is literally the only thing he wants. I get dice rolls can be a pain if you want a specific result, but if you're going organically with how it turns out, this should be a very hard sell.
If I remember correctly, if you do the insight check (only available if you are lovers) it changes the roll to 15.
@@chell007 I felt very unfair many times on this playthough playing with Barbarian Tav and not having any Cha or buffs... just 1 Guidance ... but I think the point of the 18 roll is that he really Really REALLY doesn't want to do it and you have to be VERY persuasive hense the 18DC. BUT non the less if you REALLY want it, you have ways to roll above ... be it with reloads...
I do agree that we should’ve been given the possibility to do this without rolls (like Shadowheart or Lae’zel- I really liked how they decided on their own without interference) especially when playing good Tav/Urge… but considering the facts that Astarion went through worse trauma than any of the other companions combined and had been conditioned to view power as the ultimate salvation, it does kinda make sense that you need to pass this higher roll. what would be a good sort of middle ground to me here is to have more options to choose from… instead of having only 1 ‘better’ one against 2 ‘bad’ ones. maybe telling him there are other ways we could help him, appealing to his feelings of remorse for the victims, etc.. if your Tav hasn’t been indulging him in his power-hungriness it should’ve had some sort of impact. if we picked No, I won’t help you - this instead of making him angry and leaving could’ve had all the possible reasons why we don’t want him to do it…
You can kill one spawn in the battle and there will be no ritual
😃
🔥
I don’t get it, so if we don’t let him ascend, he’s stuck like that forever but if we do, he’s evil kind of bad story writing
Yep. He is fkd from the start... he kinda has no happy ending. Maybe the thing that make it a happy thing in the end is if Tav romanced him and keeps him a spawn, then he is "weak" but happy. But if Tav is just a friend, then there's no good ending for him essentially 🤷♀
Oh no. The censorship.
Yep... it was a bug in that patch... so strange
@@resonatinglo The humanity.
@@daviscampbell9020 🤷♀
Szar in hungarian means shit haha
And in most Slavic languages means King
@zitadenes2109 As much as you are right, Cazador's name is however spelled as "Szarr", which is more similar to Hungarian "Szárr" or "Szár" in pronunciation, which as you have guessed it already, is the closest to the word "cár" that translates to "uralkodó".
...I mean, it is still similar to "lábszár" aka thigh(s), that can be funny too ngl :)
I know, I know it's the good path... But I felt he really deserved the ascension. Besides, a ascended monk Astarion hits different.
up to a long debate. I’d say go ahead with the ascension if you’re not romancing him. but playing a good Tav, romancing him and nudging him towards a path of him being better/selfless is a better choice when it comes to his character growth ( he is definitely different and actually disapproving things he would either not care or approve of at the beginning of the game). by choosing ascension you just reaffirm to him that having power is the most important thing in the world + he treats Tav as a possession when romanced.
the main problem I see is that with this good ending the player isn’t rewarded with anything.. Astarion doesn’t get anything for doing this selfless act, no extra dialogue.. I’d love to have the option to look for some sort of solution to help him walk in the sun while still in act 3… not just as a one dialogue option at the end of the game. it just made me feel all shitty to watch him run away from the sun and nobody giving a F.
Good deeds is its own reward@@asmalltalk Also, I agree 😁
@@asmalltalk Agreed. It's so frustrating I'm having to finish the story for myself by writing a fanfiction where the gang finds a way for him to walk in the sun.
@@jenni5104 we need such fanfiction turned into a DLC because I’m not ready to let my man go like this
@@asmalltalkI think if there was a whole upper city this could be more of a viable option, but as is, there just doesn't feel like there's enough room to include looking for a cure in Act 3 :{
This is def not a good ending. Hes stuck in the dark forever
It depends, if you have seen all other endings, this one seems in the Lawful Good part 🫣
It didn’t give me the choice did I do something wrong?
It didn't give me the choice on my first playthrough either. I didnt know you CAN have a choice until I started making vids and people asked me about it.
Anyway I think you dont have a choice if you have always supported him in every dialog before about the ascention. It starts in act 2 when Raphael mentions it and then Astarion is like, oh I can steal the power. If you support him there and in every conversation after, I think then you get no choice...
But have not tested it 🤷♀
@@magdalena4072 probably