Astarion

Astarion Ancunín is a fictional character from Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate video game series, which is based on the tabletop fantasy role-playing system of Dungeons & Dragons and set in the Forgotten Realms. Making his first appearance in 2023's Baldur's Gate 3, Astarion is available as a major playable character, either as the primary protagonist, or as a recruitable party member. He is a rogue, specializing in stealth, lockpicking, and sneak attacks. In the game, Astarion is kidnapped alongside several other party members and infected with an Illithid parasite and must search for a way to cure himself. Early in the story, he is revealed to be a vampire spawn, and his personal quest focuses on evading and hunting down his former master, Cazador Szarr.

Reception to Astarion has been universally positive. When he was initially encountered during Baldur's Gate 3's early access period, he quickly became a fan-favorite. His prominence on the game's box art and his major role in subsequent trailers and marketing made this evident. He also earned critical praise for his dry, sassy characterization, his intriguing backstory, and his sex appeal. Astarion is voiced by English actor Neil Newbon, who has also received praise, winning several awards for his performance, including the 2023 Golden Joystick Award for Best Supporting Performer, and Best Performance at the 2023 Game Awards.

Creation and development
Astarion was created by and primarily written by Baldur's Gate 3 senior writer Stephen Rooney, and is voiced and motion captured by English actor Neil Newbon. Discussing his process for bringing the character to life, Newbon stated that he was heavily influenced by commedia dell’arte, a comedic style of Italian theatre, and their inclusion of an amoral jester known as Arlecchino. Astarion's mannerisms were adapted from several of Newbon's friends and by several creative individuals, namely makeup artist Leendert Van Nimwegen, actor Giles Foreman, and cabaret performer Reuben Kaye. Newbon stated that he developed some of the vampiric aspects of Astarion's character from a local stray cat, explaining that "the way the cat moves, or the way the cat looks at you. The way the cat will allow you to come closer and then rip your hand off when it's bored 'cause that's enough. 'That's enough, now. No touching now, darling.'"

Newbon acknowledged the importance of the character and the exploration of abuse through his questline, stating that "People have come up to me and said that they've felt inspired to deal with their own trauma. As a survivor myself, I understand when they talk to me about it - what they mean. That they feel seen by the game, they feel understood by the characters. That is a testament to this amazing, beautiful masterpiece that Larian, Swen, the writing team have all put together and created." He also mentioned, in reference to being a method actor, that he forced himself to only use memories that were at least seven years old, as is a guideline for that school of acting.

Discussing what it was like to play Astarion, Newbon explained that he was given creative freedom with some heavy themes. He found it very fascinating to play a character who initially appears as a "decadent, manipulative, hedonistic vampire", but is actually deeply traumatised and wears a façade to protect himself from the pain and will do anything to keep his newfound freedom. He also praised the character's pansexuality, and discussed how an intimacy coordinator was available for all of the performers to help them bring the game's sex scenes to life.

Portraying the struggles of Astarion as a survivor of trauma and abuse was a difficult balance for Newbon, who admitted that "there [was] a lot of stuff that came very close to home" and that he had to take care to separate the aspects of his own life that he was bringing to the character to the truth of the actual character in the script, and reflected upon the care he and the developers took with his storyline, explaining "it's not a gimmick. He's not [traumatised] because it's 'just another idea for a character story' … this was a very fleshed out, deep, layered observation of a character in trouble and jeopardy, having gone through trauma—and then what they do to get out of that, and what they can do with their newfound sense of freedom, and what that means to them."

In developing Astarion's personality, Newbon said, "He was probably quite decadent in the past, perhaps abusing his power a little bit. I see him as being very intelligent — very erudite — and highly manipulative when he wants to be. Very vulnerable and traumatized, but also incredibly witty and funny. He's got etiquette, he's articulate, and he's very sophisticated. He's a lover of the arts without, I believe, having the talent to produce art himself. He's also rather good-looking, and he's not afraid to use that as a way to shield himself or to get what he wants. He's immoral, not amoral. I would say he's quite aware of morality. He just chooses not to [be moral], darling, you know?" When asked about how Astarion sees himself, Newbon continued, "I know how I see him. In the script, he does see himself in certain ways, but he's always very, very guarded about it. He's always careful not to give too much away because if he does that, then he starts losing power and can theoretically be manipulated. So, it's a very interesting situation for him to regard himself openly like that."

When asked how Astarion evolved over the course of shooting the game, Neil said, "I used a lot of tools to really explore the character under his circumstances. The needs and wants [were] very clear. To be free is super objective, but that's his ultimate aim, to be free, whatever the cost. That also helped me with the background that [the writers] gave me; he was a magistrate, he's a High Elf, he's of noble class. He's a Baldurian, and he's decadent, he's hedonistic, and he had this amazing life before being turned into a vampire. All of that feeds into the background work and it helps me create habits [for the character]."

Stephen Rooney, writer of Astarion, was asked about where the idea for the character came from and responded, "It very quickly became clear what was at the core of [Astarion's] story. We have a vampire who is a vampire spawn, which we had to do because [he couldn't be] an actual vampire; [they're] very powerful creatures in Dungeons and Dragons. So, we had to make him a vampire spawn, which means he would have to have a master, which means that he would have to be removed from his master. So, you end up in this situation where this character is, in theory, very powerful, and is chasing that power and that freedom, but is also incredibly weak and incredibly vulnerable. Playing off of that dichotomy between a hunger for power and a very real vulnerability." Rooney continued with, "We hit on what was cool and interesting and what was at the emotional core of that character very early on. We knew very early on where [Astarion's] starting point was, and it was fairly clear what his end point was going to be."

When asked about the main characteristics that had to be represented [in Astarion], Rooney said the following: "When you meet Astarion in the game, the first thing he does is pull a knife on you. He has a certain appreciation for violence, I guess. I think it's important to have that, but he's a vampire, he's all about those darker sides of humanity. But at the same time, he's really fun! It was important to me that that is also represented. Those are the two sides [to him], he's gonna stab you, but will he have a smile on his face as he does it? I don't know, that's kind of him in a nutshell."

Gameplay
As a rogue, Astarion wears light armor and is proficient with several bladed weapons, including daggers, rapiers and longswords, as well as longbows and crossbows. Astarion is skilled in acrobatics, deception, perception, performance, persuasion, sleight of hand, and stealth, making him well-suited to several tasks, including picking locks and disarming traps, which are invaluable early on in the game if the player has not also created a rogue character. As a High Elf, he naturally has the ability to cast a Fire Bolt but does not have any other magical abilities. As a vampire spawn, Astarion has a unique Vampire Bite ability which drains an enemy of some of their health and transfers it to Astarion, though this ability is not unlocked until the player finds out that Astarion is a vampire during the story. Depending on the outcome of his personal quest, he may gain an upgraded version of this ability, known as Ascendant Bite, and the power to transform into a cloud of mist.

Baldur's Gate 3
Astarion is a High Elf rogue who is also a vampire spawn first introduced in Baldur's Gate 3. Players can choose to play Astarion as an origin character or he can be recruited in the party as a companion. If he his not selected as the player character, Astarion can be found in the wilderness near the crashed Nautiloid ship and requests that the player help him kill a nearby monster. When it is revealed to be a simple boar, Astarion draws his dagger and threatens to attack the player, believing them to be in league with the Mind Flayers who kidnapped him and placed him aboard the Nautiloid, though he relents after the Mind Flayer parasite infecting them both clears things up. Astarion can then join the party in the search for a cure for the parasites, or be left on his own. While adventuring, Astarion will often offer commentary on various events, and upon the player's actions, generally approving from displays of power and cruelty, snarkiness or mockery, and receives inspiration points when the player successfully deceives someone. Additionally, he approves of the player making choices that support independence or autonomy, and when they help certain characters in need. Astarion will disapprove of displays of weakness and certain acts of kindness that offer no reward. He also resents players who attempt to control or restrict him in some way.

Players can learn more about Astarion and influence his development through his companion quest, The Pale Elf, which is triggered automatically when he is recruited. Following a rest at camp, the player will seek Astarion sneaking off somewhere during the night and a dead boar drained of its blood will be found shortly after. Astarion can persuaded to reveal that a vampire is responsible for this, and will state that he did not want to frighten the party. The player will later awaken with Astarion crouched over them, and he will confess that he is a vampire spawn who is weak from hunger. The player can allow him to drink some of their blood, but will have to convince or force him to stop, or they can immediately kill him. They must then make a deal with Astarion over whether he is allowed to feed on their enemies or must stick to non-intelligent creatures. Through dialogue at camp or in the party, Astarion can reveal more about past, such as information about his master, Cazador Szarr, who tormented him and his six vampire siblings for two hundred years. He expresses joy that his capture by the Mind Flayers has freed him from Cazador's clutches, and that the parasite has eliminated his vampiric weakness to sunlight, and advocates for learning to control the parasites rather than destroy them. If the player enters into a romance with Astarion or has high approval with him, they will learn about the strange scars that Cazador had carved into his back, though he does not know what they mean. During the adventure, it is possible for Astarion to make a deal with the devil Raphael to decipher the meaning of his scars, where he reveals they are part of a seven part contract with the archdevil Mephistopheles. The party may come into contact with a monster hunter who claims to be looking for Astarion, who can be deceived, killed, or allowed to take Astarion away. There is also an optional interaction with Araj Oblodra, a blood alchemist who has a particular interest in vampires, and asks Astarion if he will bite her. He is disgusted by the prospect of using his body as a tool once more and forcing him to go through with this will significantly damage a player's friendship or romantic relationship with him, while standing up for him and allowing him to make his own decision will grant approval.

During the game's third act, the party can come across two of Cazador's spawn in a bunkhouse, who reveal that preparations for a ritual known as the Black Mass are underway, and that they believe they will gain significant power and "ascend" once it is completed. The party can also find a monster hunter camp, where their leader suggests that Astarion has done immense damage to her tribe, including stealing their children, and demands justice by having Astarion sneak into Cazador's mansion to free the children, or to get vengeance if they are already dead. Several of Astarion's fellow spawn can attempt to kidnap him during a rest at camp, and will take him to the mansion if successful, where he will be tortured by Cazador's servant Godey until rescued. If not captured, Astarion and the rest of the party can infiltrate the mansion themselves, and find that the Black Mass has already begun. Upon gaining entry to Cazador's study, Astarion is shocked to discover an entire underground dungeon that holds the monster hunter camp's children (who have all been turned into spawn), and a collection of other prisoners, including Sebastian, one of the victims Astarion brought to Cazador. Astarion is horrified, believing that the people he and his siblings had been sent to hunt were long dead. The party eventually confronts Cazador, who reveals that the scars on the backs of his seven original spawn will be used to sacrifice them and the other prisoners, allowing him to gain enough power to ascend.

Once Cazador is defeated, he returns to his coffin in an attempt to heal. The player is then tasked with influencing how Astarion's story ends. If they support Astarion's initial lust for power, he completes the Black Mass ritual himself, sacrificing Cazador, his vampire siblings, and the seven thousand prisoners, becoming a vampire ascendant. Astarion's personality will significantly change if he ascends, becoming arrogant, controlling, and threatening even to players he is in a relationship with, though he will revel his newfound power and the chance to finally have the upper hand following years of abuse at Cazador's hands. Astarion will request that a player he is in a relationship with became his spawn and he will break up with them if they refuse. If he is successfully persuaded not to complete the ritual, Astarion brutally kills Cazador before falling to his knees sobbing, finally free of the control of his master, but resigned to live out the rest of his days as a spawn. The player then may choose to advise Astarion over whether to release the prisoners, kill them, or leave them in the cells. Astarion notes that they have never learned to control their hunger, so releasing them could unleash a horde of bloodthirsty spawn into the city and advocates for killing or leaving them. If released, Astarion will task his six siblings with leading the others and helping them control their urges, noting that they all deserve a chance to live with their newfound freedom. Following the completion of his quest, an Astarion who did not ascend will take romanced players to visit his grave, and will confess that he loves them.

Following the final battle at the conclusion of the game, Astarion will become vulnerable to sunlight again when the parasites are destroyed if he did not become a vampire ascendant and will run off to seek shelter. If the player is in a relationship with Astarion, they can pledge to help him find a permanent cure. His behaviour during the epilogue is dependent on the choice made during his companion quest: if the ritual was completed, Astarion will boast about becoming Baldurs Gate's puppet master and generally looks down on the player and the rest of the party, brushing off comparisons to Cazador. If Astarion remained a spawn, he continues to act sarcastically and flamboyantly, bragging about his time as an adventurer and exhibiting a renewed sense of self that is accepting of his own identity and nature.

Other media
Outside of video games, the character was included on cards for Magic: the Gathering's "Commander Legends: The Battle For Baldur's Gate" set, appearing on both a regular and a special "showcase" card.

Critical reception
When Baldur's Gate 3 was released, Astarion instantly became a fan-favorite character, with NBC News and CNN reporting that videos featuring him had received over half a billion views on TikTok, with fans citing his heartthrob features, sassy quips and enjoyable romance arc as some of their primary reasons for their enjoyment of the character. Additionally, other players stated that they identified with his story as a survivor of trauma and abuse, and considered him a comfort character for those with similar experiences. Discussing reaction to the character, Neil Newbon, Astarion's voice actor, noted “it is incredibly touching to have people come up to me and say, ‘Astarion’s story made me feel seen,’ and that I was not prepared for — that was something, which was amazing and wild and beautiful.”

Astarion is highly regarded among the other party members in Baldur's Gate 3, ranking highly on numerous best character lists. Jessica Fillby of Dexerto placed him in S-tier alongside Karlach and Shadowheart, stating: “it’s hard to resist Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3, whether that’s the vampiric charm or the pure charisma he holds. Either way, Astarion is funny, extremely flirtatious, and the right amount of trouble to get any D&D player interested.” Writing for Den of Geek, Matthew Byrd ranked Astarion as the game's fourth best companion, explaining that “Astarion’s story is not only compelling, but it’s one of the few companion stories that are interesting right out of the gate rather than after you’ve invested considerable time into getting to know a character. Astarion’s story is never quite what you think it’s going to be, and I mean that in the best way possible.” Katelyn Mitchell Jewett of Game Rant declared Astarion one of the game's best companions, citing his complex and compelling story, his usefulness as a party member, his romance plotline, and his unique take on the central conflict.” Writing for the same publication, Carrie Talbot praised the characterization of Astarion, and the writing and performance of Rooney and Newbon, for revolutionizing the morality system in roleplaying games. In 2024, a poll conducted by BAFTA with around 4,000 respondents named Astarion as the seventeenth most iconic video-game character of all time.