Don't you really see that the devnote "He is powerful, he is free" is simply an instruction, telling the actors what emotions to convey in that scene? Nothing more. And yes, Astarion is technically powerful and free, no one denies that. But if you delve deeper into the narrative, beyond a poor level of reading, then it becomes pretty clear that Astarion did not break the chains, he firmly put them on himself and continued the vicious cycle that began centuries ago. His story isn't about the possibility of walking in the sun and gaining power. If you think otherwise, sadly, you simply don't understand the character.
Interesting. Then here's a counter question (rhetorical, I understand that anonymous users are not obliged to answer, and you did not write the questions I listed below, this is in no way a complaint against you personally, but since we're on the topic of devnots, why not combine them into one topic). Why don't anti's understand that the concept of “spawn” is just a technical term? That the Bride is technically also a vampire's offspring in the DnD lore, only a special spawn - there can only be one Bride, the vampire creator cannot physically control the Bride, unlike ordinary spawn, there is a special bond between them, they can feel each other's strong emotions, The Bride develops vampire powers along with their creator, etc. But:
So I'll digress a little to discuss this devnot for starters. “Spawn” here is a technical term. Astarion creates a new vampire (his bride).
Flag in dialog files: Astarion_InParty_Asked_BecameConsort
In D&D, a “consort” is the spouse of a god (without political influence). For elves in D&D, this term is always used when referring to the spouse of a ruler or deity. Lolth was Corellon's consort until they quarreled and Lolth was banished. Currently, Corellon Larethian's consort is Angharradh. Deep Sashelas, the aquatic elf deity, has a consort, the goddess Trishina. Also, “consort” among elves generally refers to a close companion or partner, often in a romantic or political context, but it can also denote a favored individual. And in the broader elven culture, especially among sun and moon elves, “consort” can also refer to a life partner, a soulmate. In our history, “consort” also means “the ruler's spouse.” For example, Josephine was Napoleon's consort, and in Jacques-Louis David's painting entitled “The Coronation of Napoleon,” Josephine also kneels before her spouse as he places the crown on her head. “Consort” is a gender-neutral term and refers to the spouse of the Ascended Lord, his Bride.
This topic is discussed in detail in the video:
Ascended Astarion's BRIDE Is Not Just a Theory - Confirmed FACTS! BG3
Did Astarion Makes Us a SPAWN or a Vampire Bride?
And here:
💬 9 🔁 19 ❤️ 98 · «Vampires differ in their motivations when creating offspring. Some fledglings do it accidentally, not yet understanding
The final argument against the Bride's canonicity is that those who want to see Tav as a spawn in the game, in the sense of “A vampire's spawn is less than a slave. They're a puppet,” refer to the fact that Tav is mentioned as a “spawn” in the devnotes. Nothing more. At the same time, the script does not “confirm” this, but shows the opposite, and technically as well. A normal spawn CANNOT be created as shown in the game on the night of conversion. This completely contradicts the DnD lore. If Larian wanted to show the process of conversion into a spawn, they would have done so. A black screen with the narrator's voice would have been enough, nothing complicated, even without a cutscene, but the game shows a conversion scene corresponding to the Dark Kiss ritual. Astarion, on the other hand, recounts in gruesome detail how his conversion into a spawn took place: "I remember how it hurt when I turned into a vampire. My body writhed and warped while I was utterly helpless, the grip of death owned my heart as it beat its last.“ The bride experiences ”the most euphoric, ecstatic experience.“ ”It will only hurt a bit, the pleasure will be far greater than the pain." (c) Astarion
“To actually create the bride, the vampire bestows what is known as the "Dark Kiss. It samples the blood of its mortal paramour - once, twice, thrice - draining her almost to the point of death. This process causes the subject no pain; in fact, it has been described as the most euphoric, ecstatic experience, in comparison to which all other pleasures fade into insignificance.” © "Van Richten's Guide To Vampires"
And the bride does not remember the conversion process, just as Tav does not remember it. The Dark Kiss ritual is described in the Dungeon Masters' Guide: “RR3 Ravenloft Van Richten's Guide to Vampires (2e)” for D&D by Wizards of the Coast. Since then, the rules for creating a vampire bride have not been changed or rewritten, so these rules are still valid. Also, there was a direct reference to "Van Richten's Guide To Vampires" in "Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft" (pages 182-183) in 2021 (5e) by Wizards of the Coast.
“I had to punch a hole in the coffin and claw my way through six feet of dirt. Then when I finally broke the surface, retching up dirt and congealed blood, Cazador was waiting.” – Astarion describes how his transformation into a spawn took place, according to the rules of D&D. Here's what the script says. “After the vampire's bite has reduced your hit point maximum to zero, you must be buried in the ground, where you'll rise as a vampire spawn the following night.” (Playing As a Vampire in D&D). So, if you delve deeper into the script and know the lore of D&D, “beyond a poor level of reading,” it becomes pretty clear that Tav simply cannot physically be an ordinary spawn, since Tav's transformation process is shown to correspond to that of the Bride, not an ordinary spawn. And the process of Astarion's transformation—Astarion talks about it in full accordance with the D&D rules regarding transformation into a spawn. And if you don't believe any analyses or interpretations of the Dark Kiss ritual, and you're afraid that you're becoming an ordinary spawn, since the word “Bride” is not used in the devnotes, but “spawn” is written instead, do one simple thing. Bite Astarion in the game after the conversion and drink his blood. That's it — you can no longer be an ordinary spawn after that. "It's simple. Just find a vampire that will drink your blood and turn you into a vampire spawn: their obedient puppet. In theory, the next step is to drink their blood. Once you've done that, you're free and a true vampire.“ ”The problem is once you're a vampire spawn, they completely control you. They have to allow you to bite them. And why would they do that? Vampires are power-hungry creatures. They won't lose a servant to create a competitor." © Astarion. Astarion allows you to bite him in the game. If someone prefers not to believe his words (as usual, Astarion's words are constantly devalued, and players are tried to be made to believe in some nonsense, often called “narrative,” which has no compelling evidence in the game's plot): “I can't wait to taste your lips after you've tasted me”, “Don't you worry. You have supped of my blood. It will be no trouble to extend a fragment of my protection to you.” Just bite him yourself. In the game. The “bite” ability appears for Tav after conversion.
In the Forgotten Realms there are over 30 types of vampiric creatures. In the Monster Manual 3.5, the ritual for creating a vampire spawn is as follows: first, the vampire must use their bite to reduce the player to zero hit points, because death is required for this. In the second stage of the process, the victim must be buried immediately. There may be some variations, but usually this must happen within the first few hours of death. And grave earth is mandatory. “If a vampire did not receive a formal burial, it must lie beneath a foot of earth at the place of its transition to undeath.” (Playing As a Vampire in D&D). There is not even a scrap of earth in the cutscene - there is no “ordinary spawn.” And Tav must remember everything. Step three - they must break their coffin and dig their way to the surface. And although the Vampire's Bride is technically a real vampire, they are bound to their creator and cannot leave them and break their bond, unlike the classic ordinary real vampire, who is not physically bound to the creator and can serve the Lord of the clan, but can also leave the clan and turn against the Lord. But there are no puppets here, obeying the orders of their Master. You are literally an eternal couple.
But this devnot:
It conveys emotions and accurately describes what is happening in the game's plot. And how is it possible to be free “technically” and not be free at all? Free means free. But let's delve deeper into the plot...
“I... I can't feel it. That ache in my stomach, that hunger - it's gone. I'm free. I'm finally free! Oh it feels delicious.” – Astarion's first words after completing the ritual.
“Seven thousand souls have given me the power to carve out my own future, and I want you to be part of it.”
Ascended Astarion was able to freely decide his own future. The opportunity to build HIS own future. (“We have a beautiful, bloody future to look forward to, my love. I can't be sure what it holds for us, but I know one thing. This is going to be fun.”)
On the UA path: “I’ll have to. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it”
UA is free from Cazador, and that's it. Yes, it's important to him, and he'll definitely feel better than he did when Cazador was still alive. But they lured him with the promise of a full life, gave him a taste of it, and then took that full life away again. UA will never even know what freedom from hunger is. And that is definitely more important than imposing any fantasies about any “cycles.”
"Come on, I have a whole new world to explore." - Astarion can now freely enjoy life and all its pleasures.
“Besides, I'll need something to protect me from the sun if things don't work out with our parasite friends. This ritual could set me free.” - these are Astarion's words before the ritual, when he learns of this possibility.
“It's the ultimate freedom. Freedom from the hunger, freedom to live a real life in the sun - no tadpole required. And if I were to ascend instead of him: freedom from Cazador, once and for all.”
“And if I can take this power from him, it would set me free. Truly free.”
“This would be true freedom.”
“I could get rid of the worm in my head and still walk in the sun. I'd finally be free of the hunger.”
Before the ritual itself, Astarion says:
“But if they die and I ascend, I won't have to rely on the parasite to walk in the sun. I'll be free - truly, completely free. Isn't that what you want?”
“Isn't that what you want?” – he asks this, and you can hear the pain and doubt in his voice at that moment. If Tav's manipulative persuasion does not work, then:
“As for those wretches in the cells - if I don't get my freedom, neither do they.”
I don't get my freedom - Astarion was not allowed to obtain true freedom, and so let these spawns suffer too.
If Tav kills Cazador without Astarion:
“What do you mean 'dead'? How? Why?!
Free? I'm not free - I'm trapped!
I'll never be anything but a spawn now. You've sentenced me to an eternity in darkness.
Tell me honestly, did you kill him for my sake or to stop me completing the ritual myself?”
And here, his lines clearly show where Astarion is truly trapped. Next to Tav, who categorically declares: “This power will trap you, just like it trapped Cazador.” Because even here, when Tav reads his thoughts before the ritual, it is clear:
“All he can see is the power of the ritual, and the freedom that power brings. The freedom to do anything – to be anything.”
This also echoes what is written in the devnotes after Ascension:
The trap is being close to someone who thinks it's just “you think.” For whom it doesn't matter what Astarion himself thinks. The person who sentenced him to an eternity in darkness. Having a relationship with someone like Tav on the path of the UA, and even more so, being emotionally dependent on them (“I will endeavour to please”) is, in my personal opinion, really like putting chains on yourself.
“With the sweet little 'disappointed I'm not getting cuddly Astarion' pout. I can't take it. I can't be what you want to see in me.”
“I had a chance to live forever in the sun. To be free of the hunger that wracks me day and night.
Gratitude? For this?
Because he was my master or because you thought I couldn't resist finishing the ritual myself?
Because you robbed me of the chance to do it.
You stole my chance at vengeance - my chance to become more than some wretched spawn.”
“My chance to become more than some wretched spawn” = “Unmaking what you made me” (what Astarion says to Cazador before the ritual). The ritual frees Astarion from what Cazador did to him. From being “some wretched spawn,” from being “Just an expendable frail spawn who will burn to a crisp soon enough.”
Ascended Astarion about freedom in the epilogue:
“It feels so good. Freedom - true freedom. Finally.”
UA in dialogue after refusing the ritual:
“Of course now that I'm free from one threat, we'll have to face the other: the tadpoles that let me walk in the light.”
Without the ritual, Astarion is free from ONLY ONE threat. It is an incomplete freedom.
Also, immediately after the Ascension:
“I feel alive, hahaha!”
Without the ritual, Astarion will say, “I want to feel alive again,” immediately after killing Cazador. He only WANTS to feel alive again. But what he feels now is this:
“I just feel numb.”
And in the scene at the graveyard: “It's time to try living again.” Just TRY. Is there a difference between FEELING alive and just wanting or trying to feel alive again? Where Astarion did not “break the chains” was on the path of UA. The chains of hunger, the chains of darkness and shadows, the chains of existence as an undead (without the colors of life, with dulled senses and the smell of the undead), the chains of other people's wishes, other people's “rules” — what others want from him. What ‘chains’ did he “put on himself” after the Ascension? Proof, please. Name where your “chains” are in the game's plot.
"I feel alive"= “The arousals and appetites of man will return to him” + “he will enjoy the luxuries of the living.”
If you want symbolism, then the sun is a symbol of freedom for Astarion. Astarion literally drinks it in, you can see that. And in the finale of UA, it is the sun that kills him, which to me looks like a symbol of rejection, how this “bright world” rejects Astarion as something “foreign,” as if showing that there is no place in it for someone like Astarion. The companions' lines have been fixed, but now they seem somewhat pompous and fake, in my opinion (after all, none of them ran after him or even thought to check if he was alive), but before, these lines mocked precisely that — the fact that Astarion is now forever deprived of the sun, and it causes him pain. And the fact that Tav stays with the companions also symbolizes that they are “with them, not with Him.” And the finale of The Sun King in Astarion's Origin—Astarion literally envelops himself in sunlight, shining himself, when power falls into his hands—he uses it to envelop himself in sunlight. And Astarion's line in the dialogue after refusing the ritual: "I should probably start getting used to the shadows again. Who knows how long I have left in the sun?" (he looks up wistfully), as well as his line: "Every day I yearned for the sun and mourned my curse to live in the shadows" — these are symbols of the real "chains."
Regarding these “cycles,” please watch this video by Kitty, which clearly shows how the Ascended Astarion breaks all of Vellioth's rules:
Ascended Astarion Breaks the Cycle and Here's Why | Baldur's Gate 3
And on the RPG_NoMeDiga channel, you can see a detailed analysis of how the Ascended Astarion is not at all like a Cazador and also breaks all the rules of a Cazador:
BG3 | Ascended Astarion is NOTHING like Cazador - Part 1 of 3
BG3 | Ascended Astarion is NOTHING like Cazador - Part 2 of 3
I would like to add that Astarion was never part of the Szarr family; he became the one who destroyed the Szarr clan. If he creates a clan, it will be the Ancunin clan, a new clan. The Szarr clan existed for centuries, but with Vellioth, the clan's decline seems to have begun. One of the slaves, Astarion, managed to escape thanks to a lucky “flap of a butterfly's wings” (well, or rather, the illithids flapped their tadpoles well; in short, what is called the “butterfly effect” in chaos theory), then he came with his beloved, with whom he was also brought together by this chaotic coincidence, and they took revenge on Cazador. Astarion destroyed all that remained of the Szarr clan and took the trophies of victory for himself. Vellioth raised Cazador as his heir, systematically destroying all the traits that Vellioth considered weaknesses. Cazador made Astarion a spawn and a slave so that he could become an “ingredient” for a future ritual. But in the end, he himself became an ingredient for Astarion's Ascension, which is very poetic. It feels like some people just made up their own “narrative” based on something that isn’t entirely clear, and deliberately left out key plot points. The story of the fall of the Szarr vampire clan—and Astarion, who was a slave to the last representative of this clan, Cazador, was his spawn, and became his death. It is a story of revenge, of how a former slave destroys his master, takes everything from him—it is a beautiful, rather classic, and exciting story of revenge, fall, and rise, especially considering the magistrate's backstory. Astarion regains his former self, only now he is much stronger, more powerful, and more majestic... He strove to rise, fell, went through hell, escaped, took revenge, rose again, only now to a much higher peak. It looks like the fulfillment of his desires and the victorious conclusion of his story. Astarion strives for power throughout the game, even before he learns about the ritual. At the same time, almost every line he utters suggests that this power is something you will enjoy together. Astarion needs two things to be happy in this life: freedom and power (and the chance to get rid of his spawn condition), and the only person close to him—his beloved, with whom he really wants to share this. Refusal of Ascension, after careful study of Astarion's storyline, looks like a contradiction of his entire storyline. Like a desire for him to be someone else, not who he wanted to be and who he is.
