The terrible implication if you've had him in your team the entire time is that he's watched you save everyone else, has helped you save everyone else, and you've turned around and told him that he's not worth being saved. The gods abandoned him, and you did too.
I can't stand that evil piece of garbage. He's the only companion that approves of you kicking a squirrel into a tree. I never even considered not facing Cazador and leaving him a thralled Spawn... might be even more satisfying than letting him ascend and them helping the Gur kill him for abducting their children. He deserves the worst fate possible.
literally the moment i heard of cazazor I was 100% down to kill him. it's kinda funny in hindsight that a romanced astarion's whole plan at the start involved seducing you bc statically as soon as they heard about him both durge and tav were writing "Get His Ass" in glitter pen in the ol' dayplanner
I had the epiphany a few days ago that you could ignore Cazador, damn Astarion to stay his spawn, and then see him at this party. Well, honestly I’m surprised he’s here and not dead already. But seeing him tear up asking for help is just as heartbreaking.
That’s fucked up any way you see it. Yes, Astarion can be irritating, but any sense of empathy would make you realize that he’s just a victim trying to define freedom through power because that’s what he was taught. He’s living through what Cazador defined for him. He’s definitely not happy or satisfied. Saying that you think seeing him like this is a pleasant surprise is fucked up, unless you mean seeing Larian consider all the options and include this one.
@@kurokitsune5743 Except you CHOSE to ascend him and make him like that. So really, however you got treated by him in his ascended path is on you. Kinda fucked to be happy that an escaped, terrified slave is one mistake away from going back into slavery.
@@mysticmajestic2360 player isn't god-alike, you know. We're participating in story, not creating it from the ground. Ascended Astarion based on Astarion's personality. He's written to be that way. PC may encourage him to make this choice (for various reasons, half of them good-intended), but it's not like we directly choose for him to Ascend. He wants to do it initially, we affect his choice more when we DON'T let him ascend. And obviously we don't choose for him how to act after that. About the last part: a) terrified slave is fictional, feelings of players are real; b) it's not even about this version of Astarion, as I already said.
*you succeeded and had the best ending. First playthrough I did everything “right”. Astarion was by far the most miserable companion. By the time I got to Cazador, I killed him without bringing Astarion, just because I couldn’t stand Astarion whining all the time. Then, of course he mopes and whines because he “can’t ascend now.” Mother fucker I just saved you and stopped you from becoming even more of a monster. I didn’t even know this was a possible ending since I just staked him on my second playthrough. I didn’t want to deal with him. Now I’m tempted to play again just to get this ending myself. Or to give him to the Gur so Cazador can turn him into a zombie. Fuck Astarion.
Seeing the dagger behind his back made me laugh. Though, for a second I thought it was odd that he'd be ready to kill one of the companions he'd spent so much time with, but thinking about it more, it actually makes sense. He still doesnn't trust you, especially since you ignored his plea for help by not confronting Cazador. He really only gets to heal and grow as a person by stopping the ritual and killing Cazador. He's pretty much the same as when you met him because no one has given him a reason to change 😭
@dracostar5418 Okay, so I guess he's just extra cautious then. I don't have much to compare it to since I romanced him in my first game as Tav and I haven't finished my resisting Durge run yet.
Also, basically you know too much, so if you aren't going to help him kill Cazador, you're a threat. Hell, how does he know you won't just go make a deal with Caz?
@@dracostar5418smart man. I romance him every time so I never get this. It's cute imagining that he might have done this a few times with my Durge until he settled down!
Sad as it is to hear about his circumstances, it's pretty sweet to see that he's not bitter about you not having killed Cazador (unless you actually refuse to do it ofc)
@@lmd7369lack of empathy moment. Astarion disapproves of helping people early on because for 200 years he asked, prayed, begged etc for a savior. No one helped him, until he got swept up and if not for plot, go from vampire spawn to mind flayer. Good character development is a big part of this game
@@lmd7369I take it you never bothered to help him? In a version of the epilogue where he kills Cazador, doesn't ascend, and sends the other spawn to the underdark, he references saving gnomes from some of them. He grows past it if you show him that some people do actually care and want to help. He becomes someone who will also care and want to help.
@@tiph3802 Not the point. The point is Tav has nothing to apologize. I have multiple playthroughs and saved him most of the time. But it doesn't mean fighting Cazador is Tav's obligation. Stop this guilt tripping bullshit.
@helenamarkos666 you can get the quest to kill Cazador from the Gur even without Astarion (ironically this happened to me in my Astarion playthrough bc he died and I accidentally triggered a conversation at the Gur camp before I could revive him)
@@aerieleah533 same she glitched out for me after i missed her in the cage, and my friend told me i missed so much story... I missed HER perspective on the story but the whole gith stuff wasnt gone
You can also face Cazador without Astarion and once he's in the coffin you get the option to kill him or leave. Implying he's still alive, just in his healing sleep
I was waiting for someone to post what would happen if you did this. I feel like it would make more sense for him to be a angrier, or even leave your party if you get to a certain point w/o going after Cazador. Like how if you go to fight Ketheric without going to free Mizora Wyll will get mad at you since it's his only chance to get out of his contract. He knows he can't be free until Cazador is dead, and he has no chance once the tadpole is gone...why would he want to help us cure ourselves of the tadpole knowing he's going to have to fear going back to his old master AND is going to be even weaker when facing him?
This is such a weird ending tho. There is no way Cazador hasn't done the ritual yet. He can use other, new spawns for the last part. Why would he withhold
something 7 original spawns and 7000 souls so Astarion probably has a thousand souls linked to him through the partial contract on his back. Cazador probably no longer remembers how to carve Astarion's scars hence he cannot complete the ritual we without him.
@@captain_hardcog he could and would replace Astarion. If you examine his palace, you'll find out he planned it, but it didn't work out. And I would say it couldn't work out, because of Astarion personal quest and the posibility to ascend in place of Cazador. Cazador planned to ascend probably since the day he became vampire lord or maybe even sooner, before he killed Vellioth. Additionally, there's the scroll describing The Rite in Cazador's crypt. So he definitely knew all he needed.
Isnt it mentioned that you would need to sacrifice ALL of your spawn along with 7000 souls? So without Astarion, his missing spawn, he couldnt complete it.
@@michaelamorgan296 replacing a spawn is in the game. (SPOILERS) It's part of Astarion's quest. You can either redeem him or ascend after defeating Cazador. If you choose to ascend him, Astarion will transfer his part of the contract to Cazador's back. Also- there is a journal of Cazador's chamberlain to be found in his chambers. It says in it, that he will drink a poison to fake his death, so he won't be able to replace Astarion. Cazador definitely tossed Astarion and looked for a replacement. He didn't find it, because otherwise Astarion wouldn't be able to ascend- it was part of his quest, so it skips the logic a little bit.
I can't bring myself to do any less than seek the best possible endings for my companions lol. I get way too attached and would feel guilty if I got this ending XD
I feel so confused because I killed cazador and it even says so in his journal quest line and the epilogue letter. I still got this ending for him so I’m sure it’s a bug right?
Don't trigger the Ascension Rite by getting close to Caz..Attack him from a distance, BEFORE he starts it and gets the big power boost.🙂Daylight, Sunbeam , Ottos Irresistible Dance, $pirit Guardians will help.😉 If you get too close , the ritual cutscene begins automatically and Caz will rip Astarion out of the party into stasis ,leaving you a man down for the battle 😬
They can, and you can see it in action when his siblings try to kidnap him back to Cazador's palace in Act 3--Cazador's order takes control of them even if you convince them to side against him. I think all of his prior orders were broken when he got the tadpole, so he's free for as long as Cazador can't find him and issue new orders.
In my absolute contempt for Astarion I see this is the best possible ending. I thought helping the Gur kill him to avenge their children was good... but this is perfection.
Okay I'm sorry but... Really? How is it we have Ascended vs Spawn Astarion civil war, and the developers going out of their way to Shane the former artificially.... When this and the results of handling him over to the monster hunter are possible
His trauma was severe, yes, but it doesn't absolve him of his actions. He does deserve opportunities to grow and be better, and he does deserve help in that, but he also needs to take accountability for the fact that he hurts others, and seems to enjoy it.
The terrible implication if you've had him in your team the entire time is that he's watched you save everyone else, has helped you save everyone else, and you've turned around and told him that he's not worth being saved. The gods abandoned him, and you did too.
It’s so painful! I hate it
The camera change to the dagger behind his back had me dying. Good old Astarion.
Nah I could never do this to him. The moment I get to Act 3, my main goal is to kill Cazador as fast as possible
Same. Whenever i get to act 3 i literally always skip everything and rush to kill that asshole.
I can't stand that evil piece of garbage. He's the only companion that approves of you kicking a squirrel into a tree. I never even considered not facing Cazador and leaving him a thralled Spawn... might be even more satisfying than letting him ascend and them helping the Gur kill him for abducting their children. He deserves the worst fate possible.
literally the moment i heard of cazazor I was 100% down to kill him. it's kinda funny in hindsight that a romanced astarion's whole plan at the start involved seducing you bc statically as soon as they heard about him both durge and tav were writing "Get His Ass" in glitter pen in the ol' dayplanner
This!
I’d love to ask how you did it 3 moves isn’t enough time when I’m getting gangbanged by ghouls and bats and wolves
I had the epiphany a few days ago that you could ignore Cazador, damn Astarion to stay his spawn, and then see him at this party. Well, honestly I’m surprised he’s here and not dead already. But seeing him tear up asking for help is just as heartbreaking.
This is seriously so f*ed up, but I'm glad at least he is hiding. If you get this ending for him you failed the game xD
Or your previous play included Ascended Astarion and you're still irritated. I didn't know this ending exist, but it was a quite pleasant surprise.
That’s fucked up any way you see it. Yes, Astarion can be irritating, but any sense of empathy would make you realize that he’s just a victim trying to define freedom through power because that’s what he was taught. He’s living through what Cazador defined for him. He’s definitely not happy or satisfied. Saying that you think seeing him like this is a pleasant surprise is fucked up, unless you mean seeing Larian consider all the options and include this one.
@@kurokitsune5743 Except you CHOSE to ascend him and make him like that. So really, however you got treated by him in his ascended path is on you. Kinda fucked to be happy that an escaped, terrified slave is one mistake away from going back into slavery.
@@mysticmajestic2360 player isn't god-alike, you know. We're participating in story, not creating it from the ground. Ascended Astarion based on Astarion's personality. He's written to be that way. PC may encourage him to make this choice (for various reasons, half of them good-intended), but it's not like we directly choose for him to Ascend. He wants to do it initially, we affect his choice more when we DON'T let him ascend. And obviously we don't choose for him how to act after that.
About the last part:
a) terrified slave is fictional, feelings of players are real;
b) it's not even about this version of Astarion, as I already said.
*you succeeded and had the best ending.
First playthrough I did everything “right”. Astarion was by far the most miserable companion. By the time I got to Cazador, I killed him without bringing Astarion, just because I couldn’t stand Astarion whining all the time. Then, of course he mopes and whines because he “can’t ascend now.” Mother fucker I just saved you and stopped you from becoming even more of a monster.
I didn’t even know this was a possible ending since I just staked him on my second playthrough. I didn’t want to deal with him.
Now I’m tempted to play again just to get this ending myself. Or to give him to the Gur so Cazador can turn him into a zombie.
Fuck Astarion.
Yikes. At least he didn’t get sacrificed, but I feel so bad for him. He’ll never feel safe unless Cazador is dead.
Seeing the dagger behind his back made me laugh. Though, for a second I thought it was odd that he'd be ready to kill one of the companions he'd spent so much time with, but thinking about it more, it actually makes sense. He still doesnn't trust you, especially since you ignored his plea for help by not confronting Cazador. He really only gets to heal and grow as a person by stopping the ritual and killing Cazador. He's pretty much the same as when you met him because no one has given him a reason to change 😭
He does hold his dagger even if you killed Cazador and he stayed spawn. Its just something if you play Durge and resisted Bhaal.
@dracostar5418 Okay, so I guess he's just extra cautious then. I don't have much to compare it to since I romanced him in my first game as Tav and I haven't finished my resisting Durge run yet.
Also, basically you know too much, so if you aren't going to help him kill Cazador, you're a threat. Hell, how does he know you won't just go make a deal with Caz?
@@dracostar5418smart man. I romance him every time so I never get this. It's cute imagining that he might have done this a few times with my Durge until he settled down!
2:14 wait. Are those tears in his eyes?😢 poor baby...😭 he is afraid of Cazador so much...
Yeah, very good animation work omg
Ohh I want to hug him close to me 😢
With good reason. Gods, I could never.
Sad as it is to hear about his circumstances, it's pretty sweet to see that he's not bitter about you not having killed Cazador (unless you actually refuse to do it ofc)
Go BACK AND APOLOGIZE!
Apologies for what? Astarion doesn’t care about the gnome slaves, so why should I care about a vampire slave? Just because he’s good-looking?
@@lmd7369lack of empathy moment. Astarion disapproves of helping people early on because for 200 years he asked, prayed, begged etc for a savior. No one helped him, until he got swept up and if not for plot, go from vampire spawn to mind flayer. Good character development is a big part of this game
True. The only reason I killed cazador is for those 7k spawns@@lmd7369
@@lmd7369I take it you never bothered to help him? In a version of the epilogue where he kills Cazador, doesn't ascend, and sends the other spawn to the underdark, he references saving gnomes from some of them. He grows past it if you show him that some people do actually care and want to help. He becomes someone who will also care and want to help.
@@tiph3802 Not the point. The point is Tav has nothing to apologize. I have multiple playthroughs and saved him most of the time. But it doesn't mean fighting Cazador is Tav's obligation. Stop this guilt tripping bullshit.
“I’ve always been alone. I don’t see why that would change now.” 😭😭😭 frick
You save scum back to act 3 and kill cazador RIGHT NOW
K
He looks so sad, wearing a smiling, seductive mask, just like in the beginning :(
Ow, poor Astarion. YOU GO GET CAZADOR RIGHT NOW YOU HEARTLESS DRAGONBORN. Save our tragic, terrified vamp boy. ;-(
holy crap i didn't know this was possible ty for exploring the options but holy crap my poor heart
How DARE you betray our Little Star like that! SHAME! *ding ding* *ding ding* SHAME!
Saying no to his plea of help at the party is just UGH I COULD NEVER
Oh no😢 hes a fugitive and eating rats again
I would raze all of Faerun for Astarion I stg.
larian studios wants me dead actually
No way they just threw in "Bhaal's taint" in your dialogue options, surely they know what they're doing
Poor boy, how dare you not help this bean 😭
❤ "By the gods, this evening can't end soon enough" 😂
NOOOO MY BABYYYYYYYY
I didn’t think it was possible to move forward with the game without confronting Cazador?
@helenamarkos666 you can get the quest to kill Cazador from the Gur even without Astarion (ironically this happened to me in my Astarion playthrough bc he died and I accidentally triggered a conversation at the Gur camp before I could revive him)
you don't have to do ANYTHING to move forward. The only required bosses are the ones tied to the crown of Karsus.
@@thearoy3338indeed. My first playthrough i straight up skipped most of La'zael's questline.
@@aerieleah533 same she glitched out for me after i missed her in the cage, and my friend told me i missed so much story... I missed HER perspective on the story but the whole gith stuff wasnt gone
You can also face Cazador without Astarion and once he's in the coffin you get the option to kill him or leave. Implying he's still alive, just in his healing sleep
God i hate seeing him like this 😭 astarion my baby boy
wow, wow. damn this is the worst. I could never do this to him.
I have watched every evil to this game. This is somehow worse.
This is so so sad….. my heart breaks so much for him…. 😭😭😭😭 my baby
Why cant you run after him if you are romancing him, he should be your priority
I was waiting for someone to post what would happen if you did this. I feel like it would make more sense for him to be a angrier, or even leave your party if you get to a certain point w/o going after Cazador. Like how if you go to fight Ketheric without going to free Mizora Wyll will get mad at you since it's his only chance to get out of his contract.
He knows he can't be free until Cazador is dead, and he has no chance once the tadpole is gone...why would he want to help us cure ourselves of the tadpole knowing he's going to have to fear going back to his old master AND is going to be even weaker when facing him?
2:14 that face😭😭😭
This is such a weird ending tho.
There is no way Cazador hasn't done the ritual yet. He can use other, new spawns for the last part. Why would he withhold
something 7 original spawns and 7000 souls so Astarion probably has a thousand souls linked to him through the partial contract on his back. Cazador probably no longer remembers how to carve Astarion's scars hence he cannot complete the ritual we without him.
Because he promised Mephistopheles astarion specifically and the other 6. The 7k spawn are fodder
@@captain_hardcog he could and would replace Astarion. If you examine his palace, you'll find out he planned it, but it didn't work out. And I would say it couldn't work out, because of Astarion personal quest and the posibility to ascend in place of Cazador. Cazador planned to ascend probably since the day he became vampire lord or maybe even sooner, before he killed Vellioth. Additionally, there's the scroll describing The Rite in Cazador's crypt. So he definitely knew all he needed.
Isnt it mentioned that you would need to sacrifice ALL of your spawn along with 7000 souls? So without Astarion, his missing spawn, he couldnt complete it.
@@michaelamorgan296 replacing a spawn is in the game. (SPOILERS) It's part of Astarion's quest. You can either redeem him or ascend after defeating Cazador. If you choose to ascend him, Astarion will transfer his part of the contract to Cazador's back. Also- there is a journal of Cazador's chamberlain to be found in his chambers. It says in it, that he will drink a poison to fake his death, so he won't be able to replace Astarion.
Cazador definitely tossed Astarion and looked for a replacement. He didn't find it, because otherwise Astarion wouldn't be able to ascend- it was part of his quest, so it skips the logic a little bit.
When he put that dagger away - what the hell 😂
I can't bring myself to do any less than seek the best possible endings for my companions lol. I get way too attached and would feel guilty if I got this ending XD
Worst ending poor guy 😢
Noooo 😭
I killed Cazador but got the same scene.. Strange, maybe a bug
Did you pull him out off his coffin and kill him in that cut scene? Cause finishing the fight - he is not dead yet.
@@quelithe yes i did. I even received a letters from Sebastian and Ulma in epilogue where was mentioned that Cazador is dead and spawns are free
@@Noxeeql Weird. But I also still have some minor bugs in game, so it might be bugged.
Yeah the party scene is a little buggy. I can't talk to Wyll without the game thinking I'm Lae'zell lol
I feel so confused because I killed cazador and it even says so in his journal quest line and the epilogue letter. I still got this ending for him so I’m sure it’s a bug right?
Maybe you knocked him out by mistake?
You go back to Act 3 & kill Cazador rn
wow i hate this so much 😢 poor guy, such a terrible fate, especially cruel since he got those few months of real freedom.
Jesus Christ. Never
I wont ever not romance him I dont just want to be his friends I want to be his partner and friend ❤️ i mean my TAV/durge wants that
Does anyone know how this convo goes if you also romanced him?
Sucks does it, but I cant risk my honour run with that fucking boss fight
Don't trigger the Ascension Rite by getting close to Caz..Attack him from a distance, BEFORE he starts it and gets the big power boost.🙂Daylight, Sunbeam , Ottos Irresistible Dance, $pirit Guardians will help.😉
If you get too close , the ritual cutscene begins automatically and Caz will rip Astarion out of the party into stasis ,leaving you a man down for the battle 😬
I killed Cazador and I still got this epilogue for some reason.
so wampire spawn can't be controlled if he isn't seen?
They can, and you can see it in action when his siblings try to kidnap him back to Cazador's palace in Act 3--Cazador's order takes control of them even if you convince them to side against him. I think all of his prior orders were broken when he got the tadpole, so he's free for as long as Cazador can't find him and issue new orders.
In my absolute contempt for Astarion I see this is the best possible ending. I thought helping the Gur kill him to avenge their children was good... but this is perfection.
Okay I'm sorry but... Really? How is it we have Ascended vs Spawn Astarion civil war, and the developers going out of their way to Shane the former artificially.... When this and the results of handling him over to the monster hunter are possible
I don't like Astarion. He's not a very good person, whether he was made that way or not. But he does deserve to be free. This isn't right.
Tell me you've never had any capital T trauma in your life without telling me you've never had any capital T trauma in your life...
Hey, can I have your contact info? You know me so well, I'd like to compare notes.@@veganryori
@@veganryoriwhat?
@@veganryori You can be both traumatized and not a very good person. In fact, your trauma can make you a not-very-good person.
His trauma was severe, yes, but it doesn't absolve him of his actions. He does deserve opportunities to grow and be better, and he does deserve help in that, but he also needs to take accountability for the fact that he hurts others, and seems to enjoy it.
I wish i could team up with Cazador.
Haha best Astarion ending. Hell yes.
Lotta simps in this comment section
Spawn Astarion seems to have the worst endings for me, I’ll only ever ascend him
You are delulu lmao