"You were never burdened with intelligence, Petras, but your load seems especially late these days." You might as well just push him into the sun now, Astarion. You've already burned him to a crisp!
It’s kind of sad, Astarion claims no one cared about him, yet Dal sounds more like she was restrained by Cazador’s control, and her only happiness was that Astarion was gone, that he was ‘missing’. I know in his eyes they never cared, but thinking how they were all probably subjected to the exact same treatment he suffered (he was locked in a tomb for a year for saving one of his first captives) his siblings were the only ones who didn’t have a choice in not helping him. The closest to it all, yet the most helpless to help.
It’s actually a pretty accurate depiction of what happens in highly abusive families, IMO. You can’t find comfort in each other when you can’t help each other, relentless reminders of your own helplessness, and manipulators will constantly play you against each other so you can’t even bond over mutual suffering. Astarion was clearly the black sheep, and Leon the golden child held up against the others so they could resent him. They’re all victims, but they aren’t even spared the right to be victims in the same way.
I actually think Astarion actually cares about Dal and she cares about him. I don't think it was a mistake most of his anger was directed at Petras and not her, and that he exposes Petras to the sun and not her. Also, if you don't go through the ritual with him, he speaks directly to her over the others. @veronicashields4405 mentions how accurate the depiction is about highly abusive families, and I think they're right. To me, it seems clear that Dal is glad to see Astarion again, and a little worried for him now that he's back. I think the only reason she isn't running up to hug him is because of the abuse they've suffered has made they both weary of showing any real affection.
If you play him as an origin, she'll tell him all this without even needing to threaten Petras. When Petras protests, she says she trusts him and seems to realize Cazador is lying, the same way Leon later will if you convince him. Dal definitely seems to genuinely love her siblings. 😢 I feel like she definitely joined Astarion's Spawn Haven in the good epilogue.
@@FlowerSong606 There's probably a plot reason, probably something to do with why he's got a special purpose in the ritual while the siblings are fodder. I don't know yet, but I doubt it's arbitrary.
I was curious so I looked it up, the D&D Manual says the following about a vampire's sunlight sensitivity: "The vampire takes 20 radiant damage when it starts its turn in sunlight." With each turn taking 6 seconds, that would mean an average Vampire Spawn with 82 HP would last 5 turns/30 seconds before burning to a crisp. Add some high-level HP bonuses and additional precautions (sunscreen? lol), there is indeed a bit of hope 🥺 But still awful sadly!
Astarion is so “black sheep oldest sibling alienated from golden child younger siblings” coded. Edit: Astarion’s siblings are seemingly more monstrous in appearance than he is. Their eyes are glowing & completely red, all their teeth are sharpened completely rather than just their fangs, etc. I wonder if the starvation from Cazador advances the more ‘nosferatu’-esque features. Like the more well fed you are, the more human you can resemble and the less well-fed the worse you look physically.
The tadpole is definitely the reason his eyes don't look like theirs but the teeth? I have no idea. It kinda bugs me tbh, they are so obviously monsterous looking, Idk how they managed to lure anyone without them realizing they were vampires. Astarion's own appearance isn't exactly subtle either, but he at least does look like a relatively normal elf who could pass under dim lighting.
@caaniisleeeep from what I understand, they all lured people, at least 1000 each. If you approach Petras and Dal without Astarion present, Petras even tries to lure the player.
You can buy it at the Facemaker's clothing shop in the northwest of the Lower City. If it's not in the shopkeeper's inventory, just long rest and go back.
Does one of your characters have the Blood of Lathandar equipped? If so, the holy aura it gives off does damage to vampires so they teleport out of there instantly.
i haven't gotten to this part yet, but why do they have different eyes and teeth? is it just the tadpole like everything else? cuz astarion still have red eyes. . .but not like those kind of eyes.
Their eyes are different because they are being controlled/compelled by cazador. As for the teeth, I agree, it doesnt make sense, just going by bg3 characters, Astarion has full Vampire teeth, while the others have spawn teeth??... Honestly, I understand them keeping Astarions teeth somewhat "normal", because 1: He looks better..LOL 2: Make it (slightly) more "believable" that he isn't an actual vampire (when you first meet him) 3: IF you choose to ascend him, his teeth are just Vampire teeth. What I don't understand is why they bothered to make the "spawns" teeth different. That part makes no sense, none at all. Why would they all have tiefling teeth, but not Astarion??!!!.
@@nekonekomikan my guess is that certain sentient undead, like vampires, whose brains are still firing neurons are one thing, a fully dead corpse, I think the parasites would abandon the host like they did with the dying man in act 1.
@Broskisnowskiabout that, at first, i thought jergal was implying something else, but after what emperor did to duke stelmane vs what he always said to us, all comes clear, he, balduran really died, the intelligence of that mind flayer only interested continuing the former memories, but the soul itself already gone, and, comet prince was right all along. We should be died by his royal guards.
@@m.d.1836 Actually, old dnd vampires had a specific thing where the host soul is essentially overridden by the "vampiric soul" but the original soul is there first until slowly the process is complete and both souls essentially merge. Its why only "outsiders" like demons/elementals can't be vampires, no soul to overtake. It's also WHY resurrecting the corpse of a vampire will not resurrect the vampire. The "soul" is mostly long gone - or you rez the wrong guy. It's an entire plotline in a webcomic: Giant in the Playground. It's also why Astarion has such a 180 as a vampire ascendant and why he has barely any memories of his past life. He's... in the middle of the process, so to speak until the ritual is complete. A similiar method happens for mind flayers, but instead of the soul being overriden it's the mind - the soul is explicitly destroyed as per the lore in bg3 (and old lore, since when ACTUAL psionics were a thing, ceremorphisis was explicitly done so the tadpole can consume the host's psionic essence - which is as bad as destroying someone's soul). Which is why gnomes need a different method of ceremoprhisis due to their minds being... wonky as hell. It's also why demons can be ceremorphisized, they might not have a soul but they DO have a brain. And I guess our party roster is the mid-point between that process. Also there are also vampiric mind flayers, but that was more an eder brain contracting vampirism and then spreading it through ceremorphisis. So I guess both being in the process of being turned into a vampire, and a mind flayer had a weird reaction - where Astarion's original soul is temporarily able to resurface a LITTLE bit to stop some of a spawn's weakness, but since Astarion isn't a "full vampire" where their soul is just a malefic black orb of necrotic energy. It also didn't utterly destroy him.
I love the guy walking in the background at 3:18. People in Faerun have really learned how to mind their own fuckin' business.
Everyone accept the main character. We just can’t stay out of other people’s business 😂
"Do-do-do-do 🎶 don't mind me I'm just opening every cupboard door extremely loudly to drown out your conspiring" - that dwarf in the background
Especially vampire spawn’s bickering, or they become snack😂
Normal day at the Flophouse
"You were never burdened with intelligence, Petras, but your load seems especially late these days."
You might as well just push him into the sun now, Astarion. You've already burned him to a crisp!
fuckin loved that line. astarion understands that reading is fundamental
That's a vicious mockery if I've ever heard one lol
@@emmasilver2332 🤣 I love this! YES!
It’s kind of sad, Astarion claims no one cared about him, yet Dal sounds more like she was restrained by Cazador’s control, and her only happiness was that Astarion was gone, that he was ‘missing’.
I know in his eyes they never cared, but thinking how they were all probably subjected to the exact same treatment he suffered (he was locked in a tomb for a year for saving one of his first captives) his siblings were the only ones who didn’t have a choice in not helping him. The closest to it all, yet the most helpless to help.
It’s actually a pretty accurate depiction of what happens in highly abusive families, IMO. You can’t find comfort in each other when you can’t help each other, relentless reminders of your own helplessness, and manipulators will constantly play you against each other so you can’t even bond over mutual suffering. Astarion was clearly the black sheep, and Leon the golden child held up against the others so they could resent him. They’re all victims, but they aren’t even spared the right to be victims in the same way.
I actually think Astarion actually cares about Dal and she cares about him. I don't think it was a mistake most of his anger was directed at Petras and not her, and that he exposes Petras to the sun and not her. Also, if you don't go through the ritual with him, he speaks directly to her over the others. @veronicashields4405 mentions how accurate the depiction is about highly abusive families, and I think they're right. To me, it seems clear that Dal is glad to see Astarion again, and a little worried for him now that he's back. I think the only reason she isn't running up to hug him is because of the abuse they've suffered has made they both weary of showing any real affection.
If you play him as an origin, she'll tell him all this without even needing to threaten Petras. When Petras protests, she says she trusts him and seems to realize Cazador is lying, the same way Leon later will if you convince him. Dal definitely seems to genuinely love her siblings. 😢 I feel like she definitely joined Astarion's Spawn Haven in the good epilogue.
Astarion being all cute and shit and his brother looking like his forehead keeps the rain off his feet.
He is also the only spawn that doesn't have hallow red eyes and shark teeth 😂
@@FlowerSong606 There's probably a plot reason, probably something to do with why he's got a special purpose in the ritual while the siblings are fodder. I don't know yet, but I doubt it's arbitrary.
@@ANPC-pi9vu I think it's because the tadpole freed him from Cazadors control.
He looks like vampire Shrek
@@moononthewindynight27 I KNEW he looked familiar!
Well.. seeing how long his brother lasted in direct sunlight gives me hope for dear ol' Astarion after certain events 😊
I was curious so I looked it up, the D&D Manual says the following about a vampire's sunlight sensitivity: "The vampire takes 20 radiant damage when it starts its turn in sunlight."
With each turn taking 6 seconds, that would mean an average Vampire Spawn with 82 HP would last 5 turns/30 seconds before burning to a crisp. Add some high-level HP bonuses and additional precautions (sunscreen? lol), there is indeed a bit of hope 🥺 But still awful sadly!
@DeziCh
Glad to have that kind of confirmation - it's a comfort that he very likely makes it and the implications is that he'll remain a friend.
he's still perfectly find in the ending scene you get with your partner if you romance him. Don't worry
I found Astarion extremely hot when he grabbed his dumb brother to the sunlight 😌😌I probably need help😂
He looked devastatingly handsome when he said "You have no idea what I can do."
The growl of "Now" at 1:48 really does something to my brain.
I mean it ALSO shows how vicious and serious he can be. Especially in his threats.
At first I didn’t like Astarion because he killed my avatar cus I fucked the skill check. But I’m starting to like him more and more
Poor guy was exhausted and starving, tbf.
Astarion is so “black sheep oldest sibling alienated from golden child younger siblings” coded.
Edit: Astarion’s siblings are seemingly more monstrous in appearance than he is. Their eyes are glowing & completely red, all their teeth are sharpened completely rather than just their fangs, etc. I wonder if the starvation from Cazador advances the more ‘nosferatu’-esque features. Like the more well fed you are, the more human you can resemble and the less well-fed the worse you look physically.
If I remember right, this is actually canon from 5e lore. Feral vampires look more monstrous than well-fed.
I assumed it was part of the tadpoles influence that Astarion looked less vampiric then his siblings, you’re probably right though
The tadpole is definitely the reason his eyes don't look like theirs but the teeth? I have no idea. It kinda bugs me tbh, they are so obviously monsterous looking, Idk how they managed to lure anyone without them realizing they were vampires. Astarion's own appearance isn't exactly subtle either, but he at least does look like a relatively normal elf who could pass under dim lighting.
@primrosett I mean, apparently it was Astarion's job to lure people in
@caaniisleeeep from what I understand, they all lured people, at least 1000 each. If you approach Petras and Dal without Astarion present, Petras even tries to lure the player.
Dude in the background is just walking around like "nope I didn't hear a word of that"
I didn't know you could find these guys...I thought the black mass would already be starting...seems I missed a ting or two.
Wait petras has the EA outfit. Can i grab it off him i wonder....
You can buy it at the Facemaker's clothing shop in the northwest of the Lower City. If it's not in the shopkeeper's inventory, just long rest and go back.
if only he could he cured of vampirism
I wish we got to see more of his siblings. Two of them didn't even get any cutscene dialogue lol
but if we kill them cazador wont be able to ascend huh? 🤔🤔
i liek the verion of the scene where is wearing red. it make him look like less vampiric
How do you get this scene to trigger? I walked in the room with astarion in my party and they teleported out of there instantly
Does one of your characters have the Blood of Lathandar equipped? If so, the holy aura it gives off does damage to vampires so they teleport out of there instantly.
@thetheroo yeah my character had it. That makes more sense now, thanks 👍
@thetheroo oh good thing I took that off shadowheart before it was a total coincidence I got to talk to them then 😂
@@thetherooidk about that, I had it on Shadowheart and still got this scene.
i haven't gotten to this part yet, but why do they have different eyes and teeth? is it just the tadpole like everything else? cuz astarion still have red eyes. . .but not like those kind of eyes.
Must be tadpole, spawn are supposed to look creepy asf,
Tho astarion was also able to lure people with his looks so maybe he always looked somewhat better
Probably why he was chosen to lure people for Cazador
Their eyes are different because they are being controlled/compelled by cazador. As for the teeth, I agree, it doesnt make sense, just going by bg3 characters, Astarion has full Vampire teeth, while the others have spawn teeth??...
Honestly, I understand them keeping Astarions teeth somewhat "normal", because
1: He looks better..LOL
2: Make it (slightly) more "believable" that he isn't an actual vampire (when you first meet him)
3: IF you choose to ascend him, his teeth are just Vampire teeth.
What I don't understand is why they bothered to make the "spawns" teeth different. That part makes no sense, none at all. Why would they all have tiefling teeth, but not Astarion??!!!.
@@FranWest.agree, even Cazador himself has that glowing eyes, I think it’s because he’s controlling spawns
Question: Can the parasite work undead flesh? Or are vampires different in this world?
Balthazar was undead and he had a parasite, so it seems to work fine
@@NanoLT What about an actual corpse? Just dead bodies in general? If undead are fair game for tadpoles, couldn't they just jumpstart our deceast?
@@nekonekomikan my guess is that certain sentient undead, like vampires, whose brains are still firing neurons are one thing, a fully dead corpse, I think the parasites would abandon the host like they did with the dying man in act 1.
@Broskisnowskiabout that, at first, i thought jergal was implying something else, but after what emperor did to duke stelmane vs what he always said to us, all comes clear, he, balduran really died, the intelligence of that mind flayer only interested continuing the former memories, but the soul itself already gone, and, comet prince was right all along. We should be died by his royal guards.
@@m.d.1836 Actually, old dnd vampires had a specific thing where the host soul is essentially overridden by the "vampiric soul" but the original soul is there first until slowly the process is complete and both souls essentially merge. Its why only "outsiders" like demons/elementals can't be vampires, no soul to overtake. It's also WHY resurrecting the corpse of a vampire will not resurrect the vampire. The "soul" is mostly long gone - or you rez the wrong guy. It's an entire plotline in a webcomic: Giant in the Playground.
It's also why Astarion has such a 180 as a vampire ascendant and why he has barely any memories of his past life. He's... in the middle of the process, so to speak until the ritual is complete.
A similiar method happens for mind flayers, but instead of the soul being overriden it's the mind - the soul is explicitly destroyed as per the lore in bg3 (and old lore, since when ACTUAL psionics were a thing, ceremorphisis was explicitly done so the tadpole can consume the host's psionic essence - which is as bad as destroying someone's soul). Which is why gnomes need a different method of ceremoprhisis due to their minds being... wonky as hell. It's also why demons can be ceremorphisized, they might not have a soul but they DO have a brain. And I guess our party roster is the mid-point between that process.
Also there are also vampiric mind flayers, but that was more an eder brain contracting vampirism and then spreading it through ceremorphisis.
So I guess both being in the process of being turned into a vampire, and a mind flayer had a weird reaction - where Astarion's original soul is temporarily able to resurface a LITTLE bit to stop some of a spawn's weakness, but since Astarion isn't a "full vampire" where their soul is just a malefic black orb of necrotic energy. It also didn't utterly destroy him.
Can I ask where did you get that armor for him, it looks amazing
Basket full of Equipment mod on NexusMods.
What armor is Astarion using?
what's his armor in the first clip?
if you mean which armour astarion is wearing in the clip, I've heard its a modded armour from the "basket full of equipment" mod on Nexus
So David Bowie
How did you meet his siblings? They just poofed into mist in my game 😭
Did you have blood of lathander equipped? Its light scares off them
@@ЮляКошель-ь5т yes Shart has it. aw damn. Thanks!
Why does Astarion look drunk when he talks? He looks up in the air sometimes or he'll bend over like he's bowing while talking.
His mo-cap actors gave him exaggerated motions to show how theatrical he could be
Where can you find these guys?
Fraygo’s Flophouse