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 the player to kill it. 'Easily. Stand Back' = The player moves forward towards the bushes. Astarion guides them saying, “There, can you see it?”. The player keeps searching, and out from the bushes comes a boar running away. If the player passes a perception check, the player will quickly notice the flash of a dagger. Turning around, they see Astarion branding a knife. He demands information, as he saw the player 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 the player’s tadpole.

As the player character 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 the player with, “''Shh. Not a sound. Not if you want to keep that darling neck of yours.''” Astarion mentions how he saw the player roaming free on the ship, and believes the player to be with the mind flayers. Even if the player 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 the player’s tadpole.
 * -| ‘Kill it yourself’ or Leave =

After the player’s mind and Astartion’s connect via the tadpole, Astarion will realise that the player 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 the player brings up they’re also baldurian, Astarion will say how they clearly move in different circles. Astarion will then ask the player character if they know anything about the tadpole, to which the player can reveal the ceremorphosis process - the tadpole will turn them into mind flayers. “''Turn us into - ha. Hahaha! Of course it will turn me into a monster. What else did I expect?''” After this, the player 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 Astartion, “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 the player, “''You have a manner of irresistible desperation about you. I like it.''”

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

- Astarion to the player after being allowed to drink their blood.

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

- Astarion to the player 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 the player, 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