I donβt remember where, but I think it was right here on Tumblr that I read about a sort of challenge a while agoβto say why we like Spawn Astarion.
Well, since I think itβs a really nice thing to doβ¦
Here are all the reasons why I love Spawn Astarion.
Heβs an elf. Iβve always had a weakness for those elegant, slender, and ethereal creatures (no, not you, Halsin, lol). High elves, wood elves, wild elves, drowβlove them all. And Astarion is a high elf with the most wonderful stuck-up attitude. I adore him.
Heβs a beautiful man. Or at least, I think he is. I love his physicality. Sure, heβs got a great body, but what I especially adore is his angular face. Sharp ears, cheekbones, nose, jawline, chin. I love the elongated and captivating shape of his eyes, and those curls on his head. His hair is gorgeous, and even if he hates poetry (well, after having one carved into his back by Cazador, itβs understandable), I find it absolutely beautiful how his curls wrap around his ears! And also at the nape of his neck and on his forehead! xD
The way he moves and speaks. Of course, this is also thanks to the brilliant performance of Neil Newbonβprops to him! I could watch Astarion for hours, talking about this or that, gesturing with those elegant hands and tilting his head from side to side. And when he puts his hands on his hips? Aww. And how can we not mention the expressiveness of his face, shifting incredibly between moments of vulnerability and defensiveness, especially in Act 1. In any case, heβs hugely entertaining, as well as just visually stunning to look atβhe truly belongs on a stage, as Shadowheart would say (though maybe not the one with the noose, please!). And those abandoned puppy eyes? End of the world. I canβt resist him.
His sarcasm and dark humor. Lol. He kills me. Sometimes heβs inappropriate, idiotic, or downright an assholeβbut apparently, Iβm a terrible person because I laugh anyway. Heβs such a fun companion, and he never fails to entertain me during the game, especially in his banter with the other party members, which is often hilarious.
His disapproval. Oh yes. I still remember my first playthroughβ the more he disapproved, the more I wanted to understand why. And I felt personally attacked, thinking: βLook at this bastard, nothing ever pleases him.β But it added just the right amount of spice to my adventure and my relationship with him. It pushed me to ask questions, to want to engage with him, to understand his reasons and have him understand mine. Like a real person you disagree with. That dynamic always fascinated meβour differences.
Our arguments. I loved arguing with him, even when we saw things differently. I enjoyed playing along when we joked about how weβd prefer to die or which of our companions to feed on. It was fun. And it was even more engaging when things got seriousβwhen we talked about Cazador and how cruel he was, or Astarionβs hunger for power, about bending others to his will, the heroes who never saved him, his willingness to deceive and doom his siblingsβ¦ I loved every word, every clash, every sharp line, every time he made me grit my teeth. And I especially loved how it made me feelβthe patience, the attention, the caution with which I picked every single reply, never backing down just to please him, contradicting him whenever I felt it necessary. And at the same time, the fear of losing him for good if I made the wrong moveβbecause I had sensed how fragile he really was.
The surprise! Yes, when he proposed spending the night together despite all the times we had been on opposite sides. I didnβt expect it, and it made me curious. And sure, at that point in the story thereβs a personal motive for Astarionβbut we know that the offer only comes if he trusts Tav/Durge enough.
The contrast between the monster and the elf. I think this is one of the most beautiful aspectsβhis duality. The unbearable dichotomy heβs trapped in. Astarion suffers from being seen and treated as a monster. On one side, he leans into his vampiric natureβhis thirst for blood and power (the latter driven by fear as well). But on the other, thereβs this deep desire for redemption, for connection, to be understood and accepted, for real intimacy, to belong, to have a place in the world. And all those internal battles make him incredibly dear to me.
Heβs morally complex. His view of the worldβand the people in itβis very dark, especially early on. Personally, Iβm not a fan of the spotless hero typeβI usually find them flat and boring, especially when theyβre not well written. The Gary Stu kind is just unbearable. Thankfully, thatβs not the case with Larianβs charactersβthe writing is top-notch. But when you combine a well-written character with moral grayness, thatβs my perfect character. Again, I love the contrast between good and evil, right and wrong. And Astarion is always walking that razorβs edge, constantly pulled between those two forces that often leave him conflicted. And to be honest, I also believe sometimes the ends do justify the means. Within limits, of course. xD
His backstory. I love characters with tragic, tormented pastsβespecially when they manage to reach some form of a happy ending. And even more when theyβre written as well as Astarion, with such deep themes and psychological complexity that make him feel incredibly real.
Projection. I wonβt go into details, but Iβve been to dark places too, and Iβve had even darker thoughts. Iβve hurt people as wellβeven if I didnβt know or wasnβt able to do better at the time. I just didnβt have the tools. The positive note is that, like Astarion in the Spawn ending, Iβve managed to accept a whole series of unpleasant events, emotions, and feelingsβand learned to live with them. Whether I like it or not, theyβre mine, they make me who I am, and I keep them with me. And now Iβm in a much better placeβsafe, loved, and seen for who I am, flaws, strengths, and all. And I love being able to offer my pixelated vampire boyfriend that same opportunity.
The breakdown after Cazadorβs death. My God, that scene. That release. The moment where Astarion stabs and screams is already powerfully rawβyou feel the rage, the tension, the bottled-up hatred. But thenβhe collapses to the ground and cries. Fuck. That moment is everything. A whirlwind of emotions so deep and intense I could almost feel them as my own. A cathartic release of everything he had held in for too longβpain, sorrow, grief, relief, hope. God, how I love that moment. And I wish I could hug him, wrap him up, comfort himβbut it wouldnβt be right. Because that moment is his. He earned it. And he needs it. Anyone who has suffered that much deserves a moment like thatβwhen it all comes out and slips away, leaving emptiness in its place, as terrifying as that may be.
βThis is a gift. Thank you. I wonβt forget it.β What can I say? This is a conversation that begins in Act 1, with the first act of trust Tav/Durge offers Astarion, and concludes at the end of his questβin the good ending. Tav/Durge never saw him as a monster. They always trusted him. They knew he still had so much to giveβhe could be different. Better than Cazador. And the way I played it, constantly clashing with Astarion from the start over our differing worldviewsβhearing those words wasnβt just satisfying. It was everything. Because just as I wanted to know him, understand him, and he became a part of meβhe also knew me, understood me, and I became a part of him. And we met in the middle. That, fuck, is the perfect simulation of a healthy relationship between two people. And itβs beautiful. Just thinking about it makes my heart race.
βI feel safe with you. Seen.β Itβs pretty self-explanatory, but Iβll say just a couple of things. These are powerful concepts. Especially when weβre talking about someone who has been through everything, and finally finds someone who makes him feel safe. Someone who wonβt hurt him. Thatβs huge. And the concept of being seen? I think thatβs the most fundamental desire every person on this planet has. And Astarion waited 200 years to feel that. Itβs moving. And so deeply fulfilling to hear.
Spawn Astarionβs kisses. The sweetness. That soft side of him that comes out. The way he looks at Tav/Durge as he leans inβhis face relaxed, his eyes shining, that smile on his lips. Love, in its most tender form.
Unique dialogues from Spawn Astarion. Iβm referring in particular to the confrontation with the Gur after Cazadorβs death, and to the moment when Durge wants to leave him out of fear of causing him harm. I find the way he handles these situations absolutely beautifulβit perfectly shows how much heβs grown, and how willing he is to open up to others, to consider their feelings. Even those he once saw as old, despised βenemies,β to whom he spares the pain of watching their children turned into ravenous vampire spawn. That line always moves meβI think it hits incredibly hard, especially given the context and his history with the Gur tribe. And then, of course, thereβs the confrontation with Tav/Durge after the betrayal involving Mizora, which again shows how much heβs grownβeven in terms of self-perception, understanding his limits, and asserting his right to say no. And what he says at the top of the Netherbrain, when Durge tries to claim it for Bhaal, perfectly reflects how his priorities have shifted since breaking free from Cazadorβs mindset.
Self-acceptance. It's such an important, healthy concept. Astarion is perfect just the way he is. He has nothing to fear in that regardβhe can simply exist and express himself. He doesn't need more power; vulnerability is okay, being fallible is okay, being full of flaws is okay. Being afraid is okay. You're still worthy of love. And the world isn't this terrible place where you have to crush others to surviveβyou can find your place among others, with others, and live with others. And it's beautiful to see how Spawn Astarion begins to internalize these ideas.
Facing his fears instead of indulging them. Iβve done the opposite for so long that I can honestly sayβitβs usually a terrible idea. Because most of the time it means running away and giving something up. But Spawn Astarion doesnβt do thatβhe fights. He chooses the hard, uphill path of self-discovery and acceptance. With all the consequences that come with itβno matter how painful, like losing the sun or dealing with the gnawing hunger. Itβs an act of immense strength and courage.
He takes responsibility and makes amends. Thatβs called redemption. And yes, he couldnβt refuse to obey Cazadorβs ordersβhe had no choiceβbut when the ritual is within reach, the choice is entirely his. The lives of his former targets and his brothers and sisters are in his handsβan enormous burden on his shoulders. And in the moment he gives it up, he rights a wrong both suffered and inflicted. He saves himself and all the other vampire spawn, freeing them from Cazadorβs influence and from the path the vampire lord had laid out for them.
He becomes an antihero. Yes, Astarion is better than Cazador. Heβs become kinder, more open toward others, more willing to help, and more optimistic about life. But he hasnβt become a saintβheβs still a bloodsucker, and deep down heβs still the lovable rogue I fell in love with, always ready to say something inappropriate, foolish, or even cruel. And to take advantage of situations when he can. I adore him! But heβs still a charming scoundrel with a whole world of possibilities to explore, and plenty of room to growβboth in his relationships with others and in the one he has with himself.
Thereβs probably more, but I think Iβve written plenty alreadyβand Iβve got a real life and a family breathing down my neck, lol. Letβs just say these are the main reasons why I love Spawn Astarion, why my relationship with him has become so precious to me, and why itβs so damn hard to romance any other companion in camp when that damned vampire is around. Lol.














