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In Act 3 ofBaldur’s Gate 3, several character arcs come to a head—one of which is that of Astarion, the vampire spawn enslaved by the Vampire Lord Cazador for two centuries. Upon entering the city, you’ll be able to assist Astarion in confronting Cazador, who intends to execute a dark ritual by sacrificing seven thousand spawn to amplify his own power.
After subduing Cazador, Astarion will ask you to help him use the ritual for his own ascension. Granting Astarion this power, however, will have profound narrative and mechanical consequences. This article outlines every outcome of this choice so that you can make the best decision for your playthrough.
Option 1: Let Him Become Vampire Ascendant
After tearing Cazador from his sarcophagus,Astarion will ask you toconnect your tadpolesso that he can see the infernal carvings on his back, and carve them into Cazador’s in order touse the Vampire Lord as a replacement in the ritual.
Agreeing to this will lead to Astarion doing exactly that, and all seven thousand spawn, as well as Cazador and Astarion’s six “brothers and sisters”,will be sacrificed, leading to Astarion becoming aVampire Ascendant.
The Gather Your Allies Quest
The questGather Your Allieswill also receive the following update:
After leaving Cazador’s ritual grounds, you will encounter some Gur—the same ones you may have encountered inthe Outer Cityearlier. you’re able to choose toside with them and kill Astarion, orside with Astarion and kill them. The questInvestigate Cazador’s Palacewill be updated accordingly.
The Narrative Consequences Of Astarion’s Ascension
However, Astarion’s personality will also bepermanently altered. Despite being vocally grateful to you, he will quickly becomemuch more arrogant and power-hungry,even noting in the following conversation hisdesire to subjugate the world, now that he has obtained this power.
If you are currently romancing him, he also becomes much morepossessive. You can ask Astarion to turn you into asunlight-immune vampire spawnduring your nextLong Rest; however, he will refuse to and skirt around the subject ofturning you into a full vampire, implying that he has become like Cazador in more ways than one.
Option 2: Persuade Astarion To Stop
You’ll be able to undergo aDC 18 Persuasion checkto persuade Astarion to be a better person than Cazador.
If you are currently romancing Astarion, you will also have the option of making aDC 20 Insight at advantage,then a loweredDC 15 Persuasion checkinstead to talk him down.
This will cause him tokill Cazadorin a violent rage butremain in your partyon good terms.
Following this, you will need todecide what to dowith theseven thousand vampire spawnstuck in the cells within Cazador’s dungeon.
The Narrative Consequences Of Astarion Killing Cazador After Persuasion
Astarion will become much more “good-aligned” after this, thanking you for being patient with him and helping himbecome a better person. He will acknowledge that the power of being aVampire Ascendantwould havecorrupted himand trapped him like it did to Cazador.
This will also unlockseveral new scenes with Astarionif you are romancing him, in which he attempts to move on from his past.
That said, at the end of the adventure, Astarion will once again become susceptible to all theweaknesses of vampire spawn, such assunlightandrunning water.
Option 3: Refuse To Help Astarion Ascend
you’re able to outright refuse to help Astarion ascend with theI’m not doing thisoption, thendoubling downwhen he begs you to reconsider. Exasperated,Astarion will kill Cazadorin the same way as above.
However, after this, regardless of your approval rating and relationship status with Astarion, he willpermanently leave your party.
Option 4: Interrupt The Ritual
After choosing to help Astarion with the ritual, you will have another opportunity tochange your mindafter he has carved the Infernal runes into Cazador’s skin—by killing Cazador in the middle of the ritual.
This will thoroughlyenrage Astarion, who will immediately turn hostile andattack you. There is no way to talk him down, and you willhave to defeat him, after which he willno longer be part of your party.
Baldur’s Gate 3
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Baldur’s Gate 3 is the long-awaited next chapter in the Dungeons & Dragons-based series of RPGs. Developed by Divinity creator Larian Studios, it puts you in the middle of a mind flayer invasion of Faerûn, over a century after the events of its predecessor.
