I never see this version, I always choose persuasion to show him how ritual can destroy him and make him lose himself. I must admit it's heartbreaking and interesting how broken and betrayed he feels when Tav just refuses, without persuasion and explanation. Without this he sees only betrayal that the person he trusted so much left him at the most important moment of his life, where his fate is decided. He is so blinded by the power he has just lost and the safety it could have given him, that he does not forgive even those victims. I understand this, he spent 200 years as Cazador's slave and experienced terrible things so only thing he sees in this situation without proper explaination is that he can't trust anyone, not that Tav truly saved him because of her refusal. It's really sad but yes, this is another ending his story that can be obtained. And Cazador's death is still satisfying😅
I totally agree, at first I thought that the option of "not helping him" in that particular situation meant not "not helping" in general, but "not helping with the ritual", because that's what he intended to do, at least that's what he said earlier, of course I doubted that decision, considering the other options with skill checks, but they seemed pretty suspicious at the time, so I reassured myself that I was making the right decision, but once again my confidence was shaken after he started begging me for help. But since in the previous playthroughs I had already helped him both ascend and just kill Cazador, I decided to do things differently this time and see where it would lead me.
Does he bother asking anyone else if you’re not romancing him? I get that he’d ask you if you’re romancing him, but otherwise it’s fascinating to think that he wouldn’t even try asking anyone else. You’re the only one he trusts with this. But also UGH i could never choose these options
Superior ending to the raw astarion storyline. This is way the story should have ended assuming the player character didnt exist. At the last second, his blindness to the good he could do alienates him from the allies he's accumulated, and in the end he is abandoned by those he manipulated and is left a bitter shell of a man for his trouble. Makes it all the more fulfilling to do that actual best ending and build that relationship enough to break his lust for power without it feeling like you managed to win the obligatory skill check to not lose party member A.
Totally agree with the last point regarding the skill check. Sometimes this point hits the atmosphere very hard and, to me, spoils the reality of what's happening. I mean that the player with just one successful die roll can completely change the perception of a team member, as if at the snap of a finger, without any explanation of his point of view or an elementary confrontation from the opponent. The team member just instantly accepts the other's point of view, which may radically conflict with all the principles of that character's existence. If we talk about the finale of the Astarion's personal quest, then it seems to me an ideal, or rather logical, if Cazador wins. I will explain why - throughout the game, Astarion, as a team member, supports only bad player's decisions, whether it is murder, theft, deception, escape, and so on. Yes, this is his nature, such behavior is close to him, this is how he had to live for the last two centuries, but this is not what he really wanted, this is all what he was forced to do and in one of the dialogues he confirms it. After implanting the larva, he received a new and probably last chance for salvation along with the ability to walk under the sun, and being freed from the control and influence of the Cazador, even temporarily, but enough to go into action. However, he does nothing on his own to change his life, it is clear that no one requires split-second decisions, but a simple doubts when choosing a path would be enough to see that Astarion at least thought about self-development, improving his position and finding himself as a new unit of society. But no, we do not see this, of course, it is very difficult to distinguish his true intentions and feelings under the mask of a professional manipulator, but, nevertheless, at the end he chooses to follow a simple path, not to face his demons - he states this openly in one of the dialogues. He believes that fate has given him a gift, he does not want to see a problem in a new situation, or rather to realize it, he considers it as a way out, while the rest of the team suffer because of the larva and its possible consequences and sincerely dream of getting rid of an unwanted guest in the brain. As a result, we come to the fact that, as expected, Cazador turns out to be stronger. This man single-handedly developed a plan for ascension more than a hundred years ago, successfully hid from everyone, and didn't give a single reason for doubt. That's why Astarion's rebellion makes him laugh, and he sees him only as "a pathetic little boy". Alone, nothing would have worked out for Astarion, and even with a loyal and devoted team behind, having a real opportunity to end his tormentor, he chooses the way of overtaking the power. And all because he is afraid to be honest with himself, afraid to admit that he is really weak and stopped fighting for his life a long time ago. That's why he craves to become one of a kind, but in fact he becomes a new version of Cazador, even though he denies it. This outcome is easier, because in this case he won't have to face the real himself and continue to fight for his place under the sun.
I haven't played the game yet , I 'm just devouring BG3 content one after another and it's the first time I saw Cazador's "Szarr" name .I had to stop the video because I cracked up laughing ..."szar" means "sh!t" in Hungarian 😂😅...Cazador Szarr= Shity Hunter ?!? 🤣🤪🤐 PS: As an astrology freak , I swear Astarion would have a very strong Scorpio Stellium(or 8th house) and Libra placements (or 7th house) .Maybe a little Leo or Capricorn too.A pinch of Virgo somewhere lost in his chart and a hint of 12th house issues 😛
I never see this version, I always choose persuasion to show him how ritual can destroy him and make him lose himself. I must admit it's heartbreaking and interesting how broken and betrayed he feels when Tav just refuses, without persuasion and explanation. Without this he sees only betrayal that the person he trusted so much left him at the most important moment of his life, where his fate is decided. He is so blinded by the power he has just lost and the safety it could have given him, that he does not forgive even those victims. I understand this, he spent 200 years as Cazador's slave and experienced terrible things so only thing he sees in this situation without proper explaination is that he can't trust anyone, not that Tav truly saved him because of her refusal. It's really sad but yes, this is another ending his story that can be obtained. And Cazador's death is still satisfying😅
I totally agree, at first I thought that the option of "not helping him" in that particular situation meant not "not helping" in general, but "not helping with the ritual", because that's what he intended to do, at least that's what he said earlier, of course I doubted that decision, considering the other options with skill checks, but they seemed pretty suspicious at the time, so I reassured myself that I was making the right decision, but once again my confidence was shaken after he started begging me for help. But since in the previous playthroughs I had already helped him both ascend and just kill Cazador, I decided to do things differently this time and see where it would lead me.
Does he bother asking anyone else if you’re not romancing him? I get that he’d ask you if you’re romancing him, but otherwise it’s fascinating to think that he wouldn’t even try asking anyone else. You’re the only one he trusts with this.
But also UGH i could never choose these options
2:08 is that an actual tear running down Astarion’s face😢 Wow this is so heartbreaking to see
Yep, your eyes don't deceive you
I got this when i failed a dice roll... lol. I was trying to keep him a spawn... had to reset. Lol
It was a very hard choice considering I did it on purpose, and it was even harder to say "no" once again after he said "please" 😢
@NiceTryEl and he gets those big puppy dog eyes! It's heart breaking :(
Superior ending to the raw astarion storyline. This is way the story should have ended assuming the player character didnt exist. At the last second, his blindness to the good he could do alienates him from the allies he's accumulated, and in the end he is abandoned by those he manipulated and is left a bitter shell of a man for his trouble.
Makes it all the more fulfilling to do that actual best ending and build that relationship enough to break his lust for power without it feeling like you managed to win the obligatory skill check to not lose party member A.
Totally agree with the last point regarding the skill check. Sometimes this point hits the atmosphere very hard and, to me, spoils the reality of what's happening. I mean that the player with just one successful die roll can completely change the perception of a team member, as if at the snap of a finger, without any explanation of his point of view or an elementary confrontation from the opponent. The team member just instantly accepts the other's point of view, which may radically conflict with all the principles of that character's existence.
If we talk about the finale of the Astarion's personal quest, then it seems to me an ideal, or rather logical, if Cazador wins. I will explain why - throughout the game, Astarion, as a team member, supports only bad player's decisions, whether it is murder, theft, deception, escape, and so on. Yes, this is his nature, such behavior is close to him, this is how he had to live for the last two centuries, but this is not what he really wanted, this is all what he was forced to do and in one of the dialogues he confirms it.
After implanting the larva, he received a new and probably last chance for salvation along with the ability to walk under the sun, and being freed from the control and influence of the Cazador, even temporarily, but enough to go into action. However, he does nothing on his own to change his life, it is clear that no one requires split-second decisions, but a simple doubts when choosing a path would be enough to see that Astarion at least thought about self-development, improving his position and finding himself as a new unit of society. But no, we do not see this, of course, it is very difficult to distinguish his true intentions and feelings under the mask of a professional manipulator, but, nevertheless, at the end he chooses to follow a simple path, not to face his demons - he states this openly in one of the dialogues. He believes that fate has given him a gift, he does not want to see a problem in a new situation, or rather to realize it, he considers it as a way out, while the rest of the team suffer because of the larva and its possible consequences and sincerely dream of getting rid of an unwanted guest in the brain.
As a result, we come to the fact that, as expected, Cazador turns out to be stronger. This man single-handedly developed a plan for ascension more than a hundred years ago, successfully hid from everyone, and didn't give a single reason for doubt. That's why Astarion's rebellion makes him laugh, and he sees him only as "a pathetic little boy". Alone, nothing would have worked out for Astarion, and even with a loyal and devoted team behind, having a real opportunity to end his tormentor, he chooses the way of overtaking the power. And all because he is afraid to be honest with himself, afraid to admit that he is really weak and stopped fighting for his life a long time ago. That's why he craves to become one of a kind, but in fact he becomes a new version of Cazador, even though he denies it. This outcome is easier, because in this case he won't have to face the real himself and continue to fight for his place under the sun.
Heartbreaking 💔
It hurts to hear his voice break into a wheeze
I haven't played the game yet , I 'm just devouring BG3 content one after another and it's the first time I saw Cazador's "Szarr" name .I had to stop the video because I cracked up laughing ..."szar" means "sh!t" in Hungarian 😂😅...Cazador Szarr= Shity Hunter ?!? 🤣🤪🤐
PS: As an astrology freak , I swear Astarion would have a very strong Scorpio Stellium(or 8th house) and Libra placements (or 7th house) .Maybe a little Leo or Capricorn too.A pinch of Virgo somewhere lost in his chart and a hint of 12th house issues 😛
That's okay, I didn't need my heart intact anyways 🥲