Every

"I've been out seeing the world, visiting cities charming dignitaries, and making friends up and down the Sword Coast. I'm spinning my web. Power grows slowly, but I have nothing but time now." "But the important thing is I am doing wonderfully. Finally having a life that's worth living."

So Ascended Astarion feels quite happy and ready to live life to the fullest, without limiting himself in anything. I see a lot of "analysis" about this being a bad ending, an unhappy one.

Astarion doesn't regret what he did. He also thanks Tav TWICE for helping him ascend. They can travel together. Enjoy food, walk in the sun, without feeling terribly hungry. Their hearts beat. Is this an unhappy ending, in your opinion? In my opinion, it's your headcanon that you consider this ending unhappy only to validate your spawn choice in the game. As if your spawn Astarion would suddenly become Ascended if you didn't try every day to come up with ways to denigrate the opposite ending. Accept that Astarion has two paths.

Yes, they're different, but he's still the same Astarion.

"Little love, whatever could be the matter?" "Ask me anything, and it will be yours." "Yes, my treasure?" "You want to talk? Oh, that's very cute." "Aeterna amantes. Lovers forever, until the world falls down." "We are sovereigns. My sole endeavour now is to make this world yours and mine alone."

And I can't wait for him to arrive now:

Step 1.

Accept something very simple:

Ascended Astarion exists because the writers wanted him to. It is a fully written route with its own scenes, dialogue, and character arc. Players choosing it is not some shocking accident. It is literally how role-playing games work.

Step 2.

Other people's projections are not your emotional responsibility. If someone looks at Ascended Astarion and immediately starts talking about toxic exes, abusive relationships, therapy sessions, or red flags - that is the movie playing in their head. That is their projection. Their fears. Their interpretation. What strangers decide to project onto a fictional vampire is entirely their business.

Step 3.

Enjoying dark fantasy is not a moral failure. It never has been. Vampires. Power. Obsession. Immortal devotion. Eternal love. Stories like this have existed for centuries. The internet did not suddenly become the authority that decides which fictional fantasies people are allowed to enjoy.

Step 4.

Some people create the most extreme interpretations imaginable: drawings, headcanons, and scenarios where Ascended Astarion is turned into something monstrous. A cage. A tyrant. A caricature of abuse. Those images say far more about the imagination of the person creating them than they do about the character himself. They are not canon. They are simply someone else's interpretation. Ascended Astarion is not like that in the game. He's not a tyrant or abuser. He loves his partner and that's what's actually in the game. There are no cages there.

Step 5.

If someone tries to shame you for liking Ascended Astarion, remember this: You are enjoying a vampire power fantasy in a role-playing game. They are emotionally distressed about other people's choices in a role-playing game.

Final Step.

Ascended Astarion fans are enjoying him. Other people shouldn't give a f😼ck about this.

I'm so happy, guys, that Funko is finally announcing the release of Ascended Astarion! This is incredibly cool news! 💃🏻🎉🦇

**Astarion approves**