Astarion Romance

Astarion Romance is the non-binary ship between Astarion and Tav from the Baldur's Gate fandom.

Act 1
The player character can first meet Astarion after the prologue, near some Nautiloid ship wreckage. Here he’ll be calling for help, calling the player over. When conversation is initiated, Astarion will say he spotted an Intellect Devourer in the bushes and ask Tav to kill it. 'Easily. Stand Back' = Tav moves forward towards the bushes. Astarion guides them saying, “There, can you see it?”. Tav keeps searching, and out from the bushes comes a boar running away. If Tav passes a perception check, they quickly notice the flash of a dagger. Turning around, they see Astarion branding a knife. He demands information, as he saw Tav roaming free on the ship, and assumes that they must be working with the mind flayers. When he’s about to question further, his tadpole reacts to Tav’s tadpole.

As Tav begins to walk away, Astarion sneaks up behind them, putting a knife to their neck, then dragging them to the ground with him. He then threatens them with, “''Shh. Not a sound. Not if you want to keep that darling neck of yours.''” Astarion mentions how he saw Tav roaming free on the ship, and believes them to be with the mind flayers. Even if Tav tries to explain they themself were a prisoner on the ship, Astarion will assume they’re lying. When he’s about to question further, his tadpole reacts to Tav’s tadpole.
 * -| ‘Kill it yourself’ or Leave =

With this connection, Astarion will realise that Tav wasn’t part of the mind flayers, and lower his weapon/let the player go (if they didn’t break free) saying, “''And I was about to decorate the ground with your innards. Apologies.''” He then introduces himself, and mentions he was taken from Baldur’s Gate. If Tav brings up they’re also baldurian, Astarion will say how they clearly move in different circles. Astarion will then ask Tav if they know anything about the tadpole, to which they can reveal the ceremorphosis process - the tadpole will turn everyone affected into mind flayers. “''Turn us into - ha. Hahaha! Of course it will turn me into a monster. What else did I expect?''” After this, Tav can get the chance to suggest that they should travel together in hopes of fixing the tadpole problem. He’ll say how he was ready to go alone, but going with a group may work better. With this, Astarion can join as a companion.

If the player character is The Dark Urge, when he joins the narrator will bring up their dark urges about Astarion, “As he joins your side, your mind dances with thoughts of a perfect pretty corpse.” Also immediately talking to Astarion after he joins will have him comment on them, “''You have a manner of irresistible desperation about you. I like it.''”

First Long Rest

On a long rest not long after he joins, speaking to him at camp will have him talk about how camping out like this is new and ‘a little novel’ to him. He’ll say how he’s in ‘no place to rest’ with how much has happened to him that day, and that he’ll stay awake and keep watch. If Tav expresses trust, “''Thank you. I’ll sleep better for that''”, Astarion will approve and wish Tav ‘sweet dreams’. Expressing distrust, “''We’ll both stay up. I’m not ready to turn my back on a stranger”, will have Astarion disapprove and he will joke, “If you want to spend time with me you only have to say so.''”

If the player character is The Dark Urge, while they’re in bed, Tav may think about who they are, why they have these urges, and if they should give in or not to the dark urge. The morning after, Tav can speak to Astarion, where he will notice how they look unwell. 'I have almost no memory' or 'Something awful is brewing within...' =


 * -| 'Overwhelming violent desires fester in my skull' =

If Tav expands on their urges, Astarion believes that they've been 'dealt a vile hand', but thinks that Tav should give into their violent desires as "Nobody should deny themselves of their true nature." If Tav chooses not to expand on their urges as Astarion isn't taking it seriously, Astarion will say "What did you *think* I was going to say? 'Oh come here, I'll kiss you better?"

Bite Scene

If the player finds clues within the world towards Astarion’s vampirism, during a long rest, he may attempt to drink blood from Tav while they’re asleep. That night, Tav is struggling to sleep, as according to the Narrator, they’re ‘flitting between dreams and nightmares’. When they wake up, Astarion’s face is close to their neck, with bared teeth. Almost immediately after, Astarion notices Tav’s awakening and moves away from their neck with a “...Shit.” Both Tav and Astarion stand up, and Astarion claims that ‘it’s not what it looks like’. As he tries to explain himself, “''I wasn’t going to hurt you! I just needed - well, blood.''”, Tav realises that Astarion is a vampire. While Tav can choose to steak him here, continuing to converse with him will have him admit he doesn’t normally feed on people (or what he perceives as ‘people’), and instead normally feeds on animals. He claims that he’s ‘too slow’ right now and needs Tav’s blood to be stronger and fight better. Here, Tav’s tadpole and Astarion’s tadpole connect. If Tav asks why Astarion didn’t tell them about him being a vampire, he’ll say it was out of safety and that he wants Tav to trust him. Astarion also reassures Tav that they can still trust him. 'I do' = "I do. I believe you."

''Astarion Approves


 * -| 'You tried to *bite* me' =

If Tav doesn’t allow Astarion to drink their blood, he will understand, and stalk off into the night to find an animal to drink from.

If Tav does allow Astarion to drink their blood, he will approve. Astarion will then suggest to Tav to ‘make ourselves comfortable’. Tav will lie back down on their bedroll, where Astarion leans over their body to bite into their neck. “''It’s like a shard of ice into your neck - a quick, sharp pain that fades into throbbing numbness. Your breath catches, your pulse quickens.''” As Astarion drinks, he doesn’t stop, requiring Tav to either persuade him off or push him off. Success of either will have him come off, but failure of either (or letting him continue) will have him drink more of Tav’s blood. Once again Tav needs to either persuade or use force. Failure this time will have Tav die (Though they can be revived). If Tav gets Astarion to stop drinking, he’ll come off looking noticeably happier. He describes the experience as ‘amazing’ and how his mind feels clear. He’ll explain he’ll still need to feed on something else. Before he leaves, he’ll say "This is a gift, you know. I won't forget it." He then saunters away with the Narrator describing him being stronger and more confident.

This moment gets more context playing as Astarion as an origin character. The equivalent scene starts with Astarion having a nightmare. Alone in the woods, the words of his former Master, Cazador, reach him. They are the rules Astarion were forced to abide by.

“''First, thou shalt not drink the blood of thinking creatures. Second, thou shalt obey me in all things. Third, thou shalt not leave my side unless directed. Four, thou shalt know that thou art mine.''”

Throughout the sequence, Astarion is frightened of Cazador. The Narrator states that despite the fear, Astarion keeps smiling ‘as [he] so often did before’. After Cazador finishes the rules, he appears in front of Astarion. If Astarion tells Cazador he is free, Cazador will berate him, stating “''Free? Lie to yourself, boy, but not to me.''” If Astarion asks for forgiveness, Cazador will call him pathetic, but glad Astarion knows his place. If Astarion tries to attack Cazador, the attack will miss. Cazador’s final words to Astarion in the nightmare are “You are mine, forever.” Astarion then awakens shaken up, with immediate thoughts of getting back to his former master out of fear. After thinking about it, Astarion wonders if being free from harm by sunlight also means freedom from Cazador - free from his rules. He thinks upon the first rule, ‘thou shalt not drink the blood of thinking creatures’, before looking upon his sleeping companions. Astarion can then choose a companion to drink blood from.

The morning after the bite (assuming Tav wasn’t killed), Tav can talk to Astarion about it, and Astarion will ask them how they feel. All responses will have Astarion comment on how Tav should be glad he isn’t a true vampire, as true vampires can transform people into their vampire spawn, like Astarion. If Tav asks if being a vampire spawn is why he can walk in the sunlight, he’ll explain that he should be harmed by the sun but isn’t currently likely due to the tadpole. He also mentions the other activities that he shouldn’t be able to do as a vampire that he can do now before stating, “As for my other quirks - well, we can figure those out in time.” in a joking way. He can also thank Tav for being 'sensible' about him being a vampire. After the other companions join the conversation to express their thoughts on Astarion being a vampire, Tav can say how “We need him, like it or not.” Tav can also express trust: “I trust him, he won’t hurt us.” or adamantly defend him, “If you don’t like it, you can leave.", with the latter two gaining approval from Astarion.

After this first bite, Tav is able to allow Astarion to feed on them at night for an in-game buff.

Quotes
"This is a gift, you know. I won't forget it."

- Astarion to Tav after being allowed to drink their blood.

"This is a gift, you know. Thank you - I won't forget it."

- Astarion to Tav after his personal questline (Spawn Ending).

"Look, I had a plan. A nice, simple plan - seduce you, sleep with you, manipulate your feelings so you'd never turn on me. All you had to do was fall for it. And all I had to do was not fall for you...which is where my nice, simple plan fell apart"

- Astarion admitting he's been manipulating Tav, as well as admitting he's fallen for them.

Fanon
Astarion is one of the most popular romance options in Baldur's Gate 3, and like the other romance options within the game, can be romanced by a character of any gender or race.

On AO3, Astarion/Tav is the most written ship in the Baldur's Gate (Video Games) tag.

Fandom

 * FAN FICTION