So Saint Chubblot used his Speak with the Computer magicks to extract a whole lot of new voice lines for everyone that are not still in the game. Astarion has so much more to share, but his lines were sadly out of order -- a small problem that I fixed below :-3
These lines contain massive spoilers for his plotline (although nothing that clever translators and AO3 writers couldn't have predicted) and some fantastic one liners, as well as more insight into his character. Don't read below this line if you want to wait for the full game.
ON DRINKING YOUR BLOOD
"Hello... you wicked little thing." (affectionate)
"There you are. I was just thinking about you, and that delicious moment we shared the other night."
"All these years I have only fed on beasts. Drinking the blood of thinking creatures is a different thing entirely."
"Not at all! Blood is life's essence, and some creatures have so much more life than others."
"The very same. I've had this condition for two centuries, but, truth be told **little cough** ...you're my first."
"I admit I got curious. Cazador fed me bugs and rats, and when you're used to drinking from a sewer, even PLONK is a marked improvement."
"You're comparing PLONK to vintage wine. You can make merry with either, but they're not the same."
"The very same. It obviously put me off your neck, but now I can't help but wonder how others taste."
"I appreciate your restraint, it would have spoiled the mood. You were my first, after all."
"I'm not going to bite any of them. They don't seem as accomodating as you are."
"Oh, I'm flattered. Who knew you had such taste."
"Anyway, last night it was an aberration. It will never happen again."
"A pity. You are tastier than you know, and you were my first."
"You think I'd kill you, just like that?! Darling, I would never."
"I admit I might have been a little eager, but can you blame me? You were my first."
"It seems I was wrong. Pity. You look delicious in the moonlight."
ON HOW YOUR COMPANION'S BLOOD TASTES
"You can rest easy, I don't intend to repeat performance. Although I do wonder how the others might taste."
"Don't get me thinking about the others, though... how they might taste."
"I don't think they'd volunteer, of course. But it doesn't make me any less curious."
"Not that anyone's volunteered. It's just an idle fancy."
"Absolutely. A mere thought experiment."
"Oh, you're a sweetheart, but you don't need to worry. I'm just thinking out loud."
"So, in the spirit of theoretical questions, if you had to take a bite from one of them, who would it be?"
"Don't worry. There's enough of me to go around."
"I just mean a sip of their blood, no mastication required."
Lae'zel: "But the Gith? What in the hells would she taste like?" "Mmmh, a meal that would put up a fight! An adventurous choice."
Shadowheart: "Shadowheart? I have no idea. How do you think our little enigma would taste?" "Take Shadowheart, for example. She strikes me as having a heavy, enigmatic flavour. Vintage port on two legs."
Wyll: "And, Wyll -- well, I'm not quite sure. Well, how do you think he tastes?" "Take Wyll, for example -- a man of the people. Very palatable, like a sweet cider." "Interesting. Personally, I found that he tastes a little too sweet."
Gale: "Take Gale, for example. He strikes me as someone whose blood is rich, refined, like well-aged brandy." "I'm all too familiar with Gale's blood, unfortunately. I can't recommend it."
Helia: "But Helia, a werewolf? What could she possibly taste of?" "Take Helia, for example. She seems sweet, but underneath it all it's a wild strength. Like a fine rhum."
Karlach: "But Karlach -- a tiefling seasoned by Hell's fire -- what could she possibly taste like? "Take Karlach, for example. Her blood aged in the Hells. She's potent. Like a fiery whisky."
Minsc: "But Minsc? Can you even imagine what flows through those veins?" "Take Minsc, for example: All power, no refinement. There may as well be bootlegged whisky in those veins. Ugh."
Someone: "Uh, hahaha. Can you imagine? I mean... no."
Someone: "Ha! Almost there. But not my first choice in drink."
Someone female: "A fine choice. She is enticing, healed, but she doesn't [???])"
Someone female: "Delightful. She's an interesting mix."
BEAR SNACK TIME!!!
"There's nothing that tasty lurking out in the woods, but I'll make do. Sweet dreams."
"Oh, that? A scratch. I ran afoul a bear."
"Yeah, I'm still rather tender now that you mention it."
"He took a little of my blood. I took all of his."
"I have drunk - not alcohol, of course! A bear!"
"Thankfully, I've had my needs met this evening. I found a bear."
"Anyway, the bear would sustain me, and it's a marked improvement over the rats and flies Cazador would feed me."
"It's nothing compared to... well, other things I could be dining on, but significantly better than the bats and rats Cazador'd serve me."
ON LIFE UNDER CAZADOR
"My past isn't exactly a happy story."
"I told you that I was a magistrate in Baldur's Gate, but that's only part of it."
"The mindflayers weren't my first kidnapping. A long time ago, I crossed Cazador, a powerful man in Baldur's Gate."
"He captured me. Kept me for years as his slave."
"Cazador gave me just enough to keep me... well, alive, for lack of a better word. But never more than that."
"I existed. That was enough for him. He reveled in having power over me."
"It's a poem. My old master considered himself an artist."
"And Cazador preferred a knife."
"Not a great improvement but at least they didn't mutilate me."
"Still, that was the past. I'll never have to grovel for him again."
"Then again, even he couldn't have known I'd be kidnapped. Whatever he planned, it's gone wrong, which gives us an advantage."
ON MONSTER HUNTERS
"Excuse me? Not every monster hunter we stumble across is trying to kill me!"
"They're not special. Just easy to buy and morally vacuous. Perfect lackeys."
ON HEROES
"Let them! Heroes are half the damn problem!"
"You can't look at the world and tell me I'm wrong!"
"The [STRONG] had two centuries to pluck me from torture! But no one came. No. It was the Mindflayers that rescued me."
"Heroes didn't save me from Cazador -- Mindflayers did."
ON MINDFLAYERS AND POWER
"That was my second kidnapping -- when the mind flayers snatched me up."
"The Mindflayers gave us power, but left us to our own devices. Whatever they had planned for us, they failed."
"They gave me a gift: the strength to take my own freedom. I'm EMBRACING this power. You should too."
"And now I'm left with this gift! The strength to take my own freedom! I'm not afraid to use it, and you shouldn't be either."
"No. These tadpoles are a gift that I intend to use to the fullest. You should do the same."
"Is it? What good is freedom if I'm always watching the shadows?"
"Oh, is that so? A little corruption sounds fun!"
"I spent centuries as the victim of a corrupt man. It was the Mindflayers that plucked me away from that."
"Well, look at us! We've never been so powerful!"
"No. I'll be safe when I'm powerful enought to GRIND Cazador into the dust."
"Exactly! I can be better than him. Stronger. More powerful. MORE!"
"Powerful enough to do whatever the hell I want."
"Because those with power CAN DO WHATEVER THE HELL THEY WANT!"
MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL
"Mirrors aren't much use, but being reflected in someone else's eyes?" "Honestly. What do you see when you look at me?" "And what do you see, exactly?" "I want to know what the world sees when they look at me. What you see." "But failing any of those, I would always settle for shallow praise."
"I don't know. I can't remember." "My face is just some dark shape in my past. Another thing I've lost." "Not that I've seen this face. Not since it grew fangs and my eyes turned red." "Another quirk of my affliction." "To you, maybe. To me it's just another thing Cazador took."
"It does. The only benefit to a mirror when you have my... condition." "It doesn't quite make up for the lack of a reflection, mind you."
"Petty vanity, preening in the looking glass? Of course I miss it." "It's an indulgence, I'll grant you. But a weakness? A well-presented face can open a lot of doors." "Being able to walk in the sunlight opens a lot of doors for me. Maybe some coffins too. Mwehehehe."
"Aging?! What do you mean, "aging"?!" "I'm a vampire! FOREVER YOUNG!" "Excuse me! I'm an eternally young vampire, not a dating grandmother!" "What are you talking about? My skin isn't... is it?"
"This is meant to be flattery, not [poetry] / [perjury]? "Just tell me I'm beautiful and we can call it a day." "Very good... now could you just tell me I'm beautiful, and we can call it a day?"
"How... sweet." [flat] "Well. This has been very useful. Thank you." [put out] "Is that a burn? What a treat." [snarky] "Oh, PARDON. I didn't want to inconvenience you with my AGES-OLD CURSE." "Gods above! Would it kill you to just pay me a compliment?" [angry]
"Oh... you are a sweetheart. But while you are here, maybe there's something else you could look at."
"I need to get some beauty sleep. It seems I need it, if I'm to catch up with the competition."
"Let's leave it there, shall we? It's been a long day and I've had all the compliments I can take."
ON TRANSLATING THE INFERNAL "POEM"
"It's a sonnet about minding your own damn business."
"It's my back, my skin, my business."
"Well, if you must know, I've been trying to make out the scars on my back."
"It matters! It's carved into my back, whatever this is, it's part of me."
"It doesn't look like a poem. It doesn't look like anything I recognize."
"I can't read it with a mirror, and it seems I can't read it with my hands either."
"I've been tracing the scars in my back with my fingers, trying to read them by touch, but I can't. They may as well be written in Rashimi."
"Yes, but you can read it. You can tell me what it says."
"CAN YOU READ WHAT'S ON MY DAMN BACK?!?! ...please."
"Ha, ha (sarcastic) -- tell me what it says!"
"Still, you are not the only person in the world who can read Infernal. I'll do this on my own. As I always do."
"Two centuries carrying this, and I can finally see it."
"Cazador said the scars were his gift. A poem to carry with me."
"But why would he write a poem in Infernal? Why would he write anything in Infernal?"
"There we are. Cazador was only figuratively hellish, though there weren't any devils hanging around the crypt."
"It's not a poem. Well, that can't be good."
"An Infernal pact... but not even the whole text."
"But if this is part of a contract, it must be powerful. Valuable. Or both."
"But what could a devil have offered Cazador? He had wealth, power, control! What more could you possibly want?"
"No wonder he wants me back."
"An excellent question. I wasn't his only spawn, so it's possible there are others with scars like these."
"No, no, let's keep this between ourselves. At least until we know what it means."
ON OTHER DELIGHTS
"I'm a man of tremendous appetites."
"Hardly! There's also gold, sex, revenge... quite the list, really."
ON ARABELLA'S FATE
"I've passed judgment on plenty of thieves. Death is a harsh sentence."
"Certainly. Why not simply take a hand? Much more forgiving."
"How benevolent of you."
ON THE WORLD
"Vast world out there."
"Plenty left to see."
"I've seen so little of the world. Still, there's time now."
"The world looks so small. Like you could just reach out, and take it."
ON BEING NICE
"I have no objection to being nice, of course -- once I have the power to bend others to my will."
"Oh, you meant "be kinder" - pet bunnies, that sort of thing."
Last edited by BeeBee; 02/03/2104:21 AM. Reason: better reflect content
Darn it, I can't figure out whether I love this elf or hate him. Hatove? Lovate? Argh! Need the full game to find out!
Well, even in these voice files Astarion is still leaving out a VERY important part of the story: how and why, exactly, did he cross Cazador?
Did he double-book the same barber to make sure he looked fabulous at a High City ball and Mr. Szarr took it personally? Or is it something rather more sinister? IMO that's the secret that will make or break his fanbase after the game is out.
I'm definitely expecting some kind of dramatic reveal once we reach Baldur's Gate and (I assume) confront Cazador - something beyond finding out what, exactly, is on Astarion's back. And you're right, that's probably going to be the point at which Astarion does or doesn't (for me) transition from "entertainingly despicable" to "just plain despicable". Right now Larian's doing a good job of toeing that line with him.
And Shadowheart's ---- asteroid-sized spoilers below.
GENERAL
"Principles won't save us. Not this time."
"Just bite your tongue for now."
"For whom do I even fight anymore? An ally in need."
ON HEALING SOMEONE
"Beasts and murderers -- not sure they appreciate the healing touch."
"Healed, but she doesn't look much happier."
ON HOW TO GET CLOSER TO SHADOWHEART
"What? Some advice on how to make me more bearable? Alright, if you'd like."
"I'm not half as mysterious as you might think. Respect my privacy, my opinion, keep us focused on finding a cure."
"Respect my mission, my beliefs. Keep us focused on finding a cure."
"If you do that, well, I see no reason why we shouldn't get closer."
"Well, since then' there's been a few occasions where you've given me doubt. Said things, or done things."
"True, but I thought you might not want to linger with me. We haven't always seen eye to eye after all."
"No, but I thought you might be keen to get away from me. We have't always seen eye to eye after all."
"Don't. We can't pretend to be someone we're not, either of us. It'll just end badly."
"You're putting words in my mouth. I never said I disliked you, it's just... we have some work to do to get on each other's good sides."
"Oh, you do, don't you? I'm not just so dewy-eyed tiefling maiden you just saved, you'll need to do a lot more legwork before I commit to any hip work."
"I hesitated, probably because I was coming to realize what a poor match we are for each other!"
"Maybe you would, but I'm not cruel enough to get your hopes up, in spite of what some might believe."
"Sad, now? Don't worry, there'll be plenty of fun for you tonight. Just not in my tent."
"Let's just forget that little encounter ever happened, shall we?"
"Let's just take things in as they come."
"We are desperate, thrown in together by fate. We might both want to see things that aren't truly there."
ON YOUR ROMANCE CHOICE (OR LACK THEREOF) AT THE PARTY
"But enough about me! I saw Wyll looking at you. I bet he'd like a word... or more."
"I'm sure there's someone out there looking for you. You should have seen the look Wyll was giving you earlier."
Now enough about me -- did you see the way Astarion's been looking at you? Hungry in more ways than usual, maybe.
"And yes, I'm sure there'll be someone out there for you. I've seen the way Astarion's been stealing glances at you. Hungry in more ways than usual, maybe."
"Enough about me! I saw Lae'zel looking at you a little less murderously than usual."
"And yes, I'm sure there's someone out there for you. Lae'zel, for example, I saw her looking at you a little less murderously than usual."
"Now, enough about me! Have you seen the way Gale's been stealing looks at you? Go on, see if he wants something or... someone."
"And yes, I'm sure there's someone out there for you. Gale's been stealing a glance or three in your direction."
"Friends can't keep each other warm at night. But yes, it's good that we have each other."
"Besides, I'm sure there'll be plenty of people who'll be glad to celebrate most thoroughly with you."
"I mean, you saved the Grove. I think you'll find you're quite popular if you look around."
"No, enough about me. You should go see who would like to spend the night with the saviour of the Grove."
"Have fun, and don't be a stranger."
SHAR SPELLS
"Darkness, cloak me."
"Onwards. In Shar's name."
"Shar's cloak is better than any armour."
"Soft of step and sharp of blade."
"Quick and quiet, as I was taught."
"Shar conceals me."
"Quiet. Gentle. Like a shadow stealing the light."
"I draw on her power unseen, Shar, let me speak your healing words."
"Make the wounds a forgotten memory."
"Anything worth saying is worth saying in secret."
"Let darkness take them."
"Wits and blades, always sharp, closer to Shar with every step."
"Unseen like a hunter prowling the night."
"Darkness take you."
"Strike unseen, twice as deadly."
"Let her hand guide my strike."
"Unseen by all but the Dark Lady."
"None shall see me until it is too late."
"Let pain be the first thing you know of me."
"Guide my strike, Dark Lady."
"My faith will guide me."
"A blessing from the shadows."
"Shar guide my hand."
ON SHAR WORSHIP
"I will prove myself worthy of Shar."
"Whatever fault, I will remember my teachings." (trembling)
"I must prove myself. Spill blood in Her name."
"I am Shar's seventh's. In all things, Onward in Her name."
"Secrecy above all, as I was taught."
"Each death I offer to Shar."
"I live for her alone."
"All my skills I owe to Her."
"I serve."
ON SHAR WITH NIGHTMARE-LEVEL CREEPY LITTLE GIRL VOICE,
"Lady Shar, give me a sign."
"The Darkness holds all the answers."
"A clandestine word, of course."
"Hide their loss until it's too late."
"Let their loss turn them to you, Shar."
"The Dark Lady rewards me."
ON SELUNE
"I am Her seventh, cloaked in silver."
"Selune, arm me with your silver light."
"The Moonmaiden smiles upon me."
"In the Moonmaiden's name."
"I would strike through -- but in who's name?"
"Cower from her light!"
ON THOUGHTS
"Hm. Are my thoughts mine or the parasite's?"
"Then how do I make them stop? What do I do?"
TRAPPED
"Oh, what's going on?" (breathless)
(gasping for air) "Gotta get up. Got to keep moving."
" I've been trying to get out of this sink since the moment I woke! There's no way I-!" (desperate)
"I'm telling you, there's nothing!! I've been trying to get out ever since I woke but-"
"There's NOTHING! I'm telling you! I fell all over this DAMN THING!"
"You're NOT LISTENING! I've tried EVERYTHING already, there's nothing I can do FROM HERE!"
"Free! (gasping for air) I need to catch my breath."
I'm definitely expecting some kind of dramatic reveal once we reach Baldur's Gate and (I assume) confront Cazador - something beyond finding out what, exactly, is on Astarion's back. And you're right, that's probably going to be the point at which Astarion does or doesn't (for me) transition from "entertainingly despicable" to "just plain despicable". Right now Larian's doing a good job of toeing that line with him.
He's so gorgeous and SO entertaining, though. The only other companion that makes me laugh that hard is Lae'zel -- but for entirely different reasons.
He's so gorgeous and SO entertaining, though. The only other companion that makes me laugh that hard is Lae'zel -- but for entirely different reasons.
Oh, I agree. I'd prefer to keep him around for the whole game, he's all sorts of fun, and I love my Astarion/Gale/Lae'zel trio - I drag 'em everywhere. I can't wait to see what else the dataminers come up with about these folks!
