Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Story & Character Discussion Astarion's Scene in Main Story Ending Feels Tone Deaf (Obviously Spoilers)

After completing a fairly stereotypical "good" playthrough of this fantastic game, I was actually shocked at how tone deaf Astarion's scene post-final boss was. For reference, my Astarion rejects the Rite of Profane Ascension and let the spawn go free in the Underdark. The scene I am referring specifically to is where he suddenly becomes vulnerable to the sun again, panics, and runs away yelling. Wyll makes some quip about never seeing him again and him never seeing the sun again. This happens mere moments after a very cathartic (and apparently false) "realization" that the aftermath of the tadpoles left him with his sunlight resistance. The tone of the scene seemed to play it as a joke to me.

I have two grievances with this scene narratively, and they are not equal in weight. The first is preference - it feels very fairy messed up to m, as the player, to pull the rug out from under Astarion after literally adding in dialogue that would give a plausible narrative reason for him to remain invulnerable to the sunlight. This is especially frustrating because it feels like it would be a good moral reward to him for overcoming his desire for power and instead embracing true freedom. His soul is free from Cazador's ownership and now his body is free from (mostly) the curse of being a vampire. This seems far more satisfying to me as a story - and I probably wouldn't feel so cheated if they didn't seem to intentionally start to go that route, only to pull back into a joke.

I'm aware the above is my personal preference for storytelling. While I think it makes a better story (and weirdly seemed to be almost written in?), if that is not Larian's vision for the character, that is fine. If Larian thinks that the price of him rejecting that power is that he must continue to live as a regular vampire spawn, that is a reasonable and realistic (if bittersweet) take on the character's story.

My second grievance is that, given the apparent vision for his character in that ending, the entire scene of him panicking and running inside, never to be seen again, feels like it was written to be a joke. This feels like such a slap in the face to his entire story of being an abuse victim and survivor, who chose to forgo the safety of absolute power in order to not harm other abuse victims. If you want him to be punished with the cold reality of living as a vampire spawn, that is fine. Please treat the fact that he will never have a normal life, will constantly be an outcast on the edge of society despite his newfound freedom, with the same gravitas as the rest of his story. It can be bittersweet, it can be painful, but it feels exceedingly disrespectful for it to be treated as a joke in his final moments on screen.

It left such a bad taste in my mouth that I reached out to friends who also finished the game with a similar journey for Astarion. Each one also felt like that scene seemed to be written with the intent of being a joke, and each one felt like it undermined the gravity of his struggle.

1. He should've drank Cazador and become a full vampire. This means still vulnerable to sun and all, but no longer a spawn. I was *certain* it would happen this way, it only made sense, and it would've been more satisfying if he did that instead of just stabbing Cazador. I much more enjoyed the scene where I let him ascend (I tried both ways to see which way he seem happier, lol) and he did get an actual revenge on Cazador that lasted long enough for him to get his catharis - if you don't know, he gets to carve the same symbol on Cazador's back as he had carved on his. I'd like to see him, in the non-ascension route, to have the option to drink from him instead.

2. After he's burned in the sun and starts running, I'd *really* like the choice of "Run after Astarion" to go and make sure he's okay. There, in some shadow or sewer, or whatever, to have the heart-to-heart with him (as a friend or as a lover) about his future. I really did miss the chance to try and cheer him up in such a pivotal moment. Seeing him "some time after" in some random place wasn't quite it, the moment has lost its dramatism and weight. It could even be an interesting place to ask him to turn you so you can go be vampires together in one dark hole or another. But that'd require #1 to be fixed first (I say fixed cause I genuinely was shocked it didn't go that way, not drinking Caza was illogical!).


I do believe him losing the ability to be in the sun works for his story, but it should be played differently. And not getting to go after him and having any talk if you're not romancing him? That'd make me so sad I hope it gets expanded.

completing the ritual and him becoming a super vampire

All they really had to do was have a character throw a clock over him and help inside or something. Just to show they gave a crap. In my play through, most other companions said they were proud of him for giving up the power at the end of his story arc.

player characters who have sunlight sensitivities? Particularly ones who are also spawn? Nothing?