#gandrel bg3

[littlestarbigfangs]

[That bad, huh?] "That bad."

[albaharu]

(Sound on!) Here with subs

this is what i heard. when he is like "idk im sure a vampire spawn could rip your throat haha but what would i know"

[we-ask-beforewe-bite]

Ulma: So, the impossible spawn walks among us in the blazing sun. We have been looking for you. Elijah: If you want to throw him on that pyre, I fully support that. Ulma: I promise you, the thought did cross my mind. The last time your friend came to our camp, he stole our children. Our future.

* for the record, he was joking *

[ Full transcript ⇩ ]

Ulma: Rech te i hathran roost. Gandrel: My friend from the hag swamp. You join us as we honour our fallen dead - you are a bright light on a dark day. Even you, my erstwhile quarry. Astarion: Oh - eh... hello again? Ulma: Frey vald isk durovna. Frey vald isk ablast. Astarion: I feel we're intruding. We should leave. Quickly. Gandrel: Calm yourself - you will not be harmed. Our leader has called off the hunt. She wishes to speak to you. Ulma: Im orak ne tay. Krasin ne trah! So, the impossible spawn walks among us in the blazing sun. We have been looking for you. Elijah: If you want to throw him on that pyre, I fully support that. Ulma: I promise you, the thought did cross my mind. The last time your friend came to our camp, he stole our children. Our future. Gandrel: When I was hunting you, I was to bring you back here. To interrogate you, discover how to save our children, and then destroy you. Ulma: But things have changed. You have changed. Is it true you left your master? That you broke the spell that binds you to him? Astarion: Well, I mean... kind of? It's a long story, honestly. Elijah: It was more dumb luck than any skill on his part. Ulma: One is just as important as the other, I find. And our luck has been poor. We have tried to save our children once already, attacking Cazador Szarr's palace at first light. Even then, it was too well defended. But if his own spawn approached? Someone he thought he could control? He would throw his doors open and welcome you in. And once inside, you could do what we could not. You could save the children you damned. Astarion: You don't know Cazador like I do - he's merciless. You want me to march into the lion's den and save your children, but I promise you, they're already dead. Elijah: How can you be so sure, Astarion? Astarion: I spent two hundred years bringing him victims. Each and everyone was whisked away to be fed on that night. Ulma: But you never saw him feed yourself? He could keep prisoners for days before killing them. Gandrel: I know our plight is grim, but if there is even a chance to save them, we must take it. Ulma: If our children are truly gone, then we ask for blood. I know you can understand that, spawn. Elijah: You owe them revenge, Astarion. If nothing else, you owe them that. Astarion: I suppose... Yes. Yes, revenge I can do. Ulma: Thank you, from me and all my people. If you can do this, we will be in your debt. You have lived a life of violence and sin. You have stolen lives, broken families, and caused immeasurable grief. Doing this will not right those wrongs. Astarion: If you're trying to encourage me, you're failing abysmally. Ulma: But it will be a start. You may still be redeemed. Please, go. Time is short, but we will see you again when it is done.

[darkjusticiar]

There's this face Astarion makes sometimes and I'm not entirely sure what emotion he's trying to convey but he fails at it regardless. ID in alt text

[kirain]

Why would you pick Gale over Astarion? Man's a walking 🚩

Okay. 😒

This is the third anonymous message I've received regarding my Gale romance, and I genuinely don't get it. This isn't even a Gale-oriented blog, plus I've already answered it. I like him better. That's all there is to it. I've seen other users get hit with this question, too; as if Astarion's the only "right" choice, and it's never even warranted. I haven't said a bad word about Astarion or anyone who romances him, but the irony of you calling Gale a red flag, then shaming me for not choosing Astarion is mind-blowing. If Gale's a red flag, Astarion's an entire bunting.

Since you've pushed me, I would rather romance any of these NPCs before canonically choosing the vampire:

Hope that answers your question, anon. 👌

I was trying not to let it happen, but this fandom has effectively ruined any appreciation I might've had for the character. At this point, I'm just sick of hearing about him, especially in comparison to Gale. Everything isn't about Astarion, anon. Believe it or not, there are other really great characters, but fans like you just can't get through the day without propping him up above all others.

A few hours ago, as I was considering how to respond to this message, I bumped into this drama on a post about Shadowheart. Long story short, the uploader made a positive video where their Tav hugs Shadowheart during her personal quest, then someone came in to talk about how Astarion is "so much better" and expressed their desire to hug him during his personal quest.

Enough is enough. Seriously. I could go on and on about why Gale is actually a green flag, but I feel like I've done that extensively on this blog. And people like you will probably just disregard it anyway, because you don't like him. At the end of that day, that's really your motivation behind this, isn't it? You don't like Gale and you feel invalidated by people who do. I'm sorry, but that's a you problem. Don't go after people just because they prefer a different character. It's ridiculous.

And you know what the saddest part of this is? Astarion was next on my list to be romanced. I made a cute half-elf Durge character just for him. I wanted to do a redeemed run, since I've heard it's really rewarding ... but now I kind of don't care. Thanks for that, anon.

[utopianoverlord]

[swordsbardkat]

"They are only weak compared to their masters. During the day, we have the advantage. But at night, when they hunt? You will not find a more deadly quarry."

"Yes, I'm sure they can sneak right up on you."

[silver-horse]

Gandrel: Nothing so dramatic. I'm hunting for a vampire spawn.

[teiasviago]

[gortashs-skidmark]

ACT 1 Talking to Gandrel but you’re incredibly read on different species, including Vampires.

“I’m looking for a Vampire Spawn named Astarion” - G

“Damn. It’s not hard to spot a vampire, or their spawn. They’re typically pale cast and have red eyes, glossy nails, uncanny appearance, if he’s an elf perhaps his face is disfigured from Elven Vampirism, it’s typically not a pretty transformation.” - Tav

Astarion is fucking offended “oh really, you can spot a vampire at any time? I call bullshit” - A

“ i mean, they carry the same vulnerabilities as their master- and Cazador is a Master Vampire or Vampire Lord right? Just an A-typical kind of vampire blood type. He wouldn’t be able to walk in the sun, touch running water, no shadow or reflection. Hey- you know what? The Shadowfell hosts a shit ton of vampires, they’re undead so they’re unaffected. Maybe you should check there..?” - Tav

“My! You’re well read on these monsters! Perhaps if the hag falls through I’ll check there, but I’m not looking forward to hostile lands” - G

“-yes. The Shadowfell. Check there I’m sure he’s in a hurry!” - A

“-though- if Cazador is a Cerebral Vampire, he could walk in the sun. What do you think Asssss- AASIMAR.” - Tav

“I think it’s none of our business” - A

“…also they don’t need to breathe…”- Tav

He took a faux deep breathe to make his anxiety clear “Well let’s stop bothering the monster hunter, I’m sure he’s busy and we’ve got a pregnant woman to save” - A

“Okay. Damn. You’re pushy today” - Tav (Tav knows he’s vampire spawn, it was clear when they met)

Astarion was pissed off for the next week.

[knightingale-errant]

gandrel: yeah I'm looking for a vampire spawn - his names astarion

these fucking idiots:

[octoberspirit]

BG3 text posts with some minor characters this time. Sorry about Vellioth. :P

[we-ask-beforewe-bite]

Elijah: [to Astarion] You're asking a lot of questions. Astarion: There's a lot to know. I've crossed paths with your people before, you know. It wasn't a good experience. Elijah: That bad, huh? Astarion: That bad. Let's go, we've wasted enough time talking.

[Outcome to not knowing Astarion is a vampire. 1,2,3]

[ Full transcript ⇩ ]

Gandrel: Ah, stranger. Forgive the aroma. Narrator: You catch a waft of something foul, metallic and sickly-sweet. Gandrel: Powdered iron-vine. An old hunter's trick - most monsters will think twice before making a meal of me. Astarion: You're a monster hunter? I'm surprised - I thought all Gur were vagrant cut-throats. Elijah: Say nothing. Gandrel: And more! We steal chickens, curse your crops, seduce your daughters - the list goes on. I wish I had half the power settled folk think my people possess. Alas, I am a simple wanderer. A simple wanderer and monster hunter. But I'm not witchdoctor or cut throat. Elijah: If I were a cut-throat, I wouldn't admit it either. Gandrel: True. And I have no proof to offer but my word. If you wish it, our paths need not cross again. I'm hunting a vampire spawn, and it is a little too bright for you to be my prey. I fear he's gone to ground. I hope the hag of these lands can help me flush him out, if I can afford her blood price. Astarion: A vampire spawn? Why? Elijah: You're asking why a monster hunter would hunt a monster? Gandrel: Just so. Vampires are godless parasites - we do not need a reason to destroy them. But in this case, it is a sacred mission from the head of my tribe. She sent me here to capture the beast and return it to her. Astarion: Capture? And bring it where? Gandrel: Balders Gate. My people wait for me there. Elijah: [to Astarion] You're asking a lot of questions. Astarion: There's a lot to know. I've crossed paths with your people before, you know. It wasn't a good experience. Elijah: That bad, huh? Astarion: That bad. Let's go, we've wasted enough time talking.

[bareee]

Meetin’ Grandrel, Mark edition.

Least the first part, less I keep gettin distracted and the second part I’ve had in mind never sees the light of day..I put off finishin this thing for far too long, but keep gettin distracted by da other ideas ahhhh (Who can catch where I stopped and then finished it later on? XD)

Either way, Mark would neeeever hand over a brat to an old pal thats huntin him down…. Least he wouldn’t if both sides weren’t telling him everythin’ and somethin smelled fishy bout dis situation.. I still find it funny that Gale and Karlach liked if you keep Star safe. Karlach is understandable, but Gale? Da hell?

[kirain]

What do you think of Gandrel? First time I played I let Astarion kill him and thought it was funny, but I super regretted it later. I've done 4 play through of bg3 and I haven't let him kill him ever since.

Real. I genuinely hate how many people let Astarion kill him for a sliver of approval they don't even need. Gandrel is a good man, simply looking for his daughters—the daughters Astarion kidnapped. The first time I played, I didn't have Astarion with me when I met him. I heard him out, but ultimately told him to stay away from my friend. Then, out of curiosity, I reloaded and brought Astarion with me. I didn't even get a chance to finish the conversation before he stabbed the man in the eye. Obviously, I reloaded again and let Gandrel live. I wasn't willing to let Astarion murder him over blatant racism.

And it was racism. In D&D, the Gur are a nomadic people of mostly dusk-skinned monster hunters and fortune tellers. They're private and honourable, their alignment usually good or neutral. They have a bad reputation only amongst settled people (living in cities or towns), who view them as shifty and untrustworthy solely because they don't live like the majority of the population. They're regarded as cut-throat and unclean, for no reason other than them being nomadic. You need only listen to Astarion's stereotypical description of them to know he hated them long before Cazador came along.

In Early Access there used to be a line of dialogue where, if you pushed Astarion for details about the night he turned, he admitted the Gur attacked him because they were dissatisfied with a ruling he passed regarding their people. This was because Astarion was initially written to be a corrupt magistrate. In the new release, however, that line and backstory are gone, likely because Larian was worried players would have a harder time sympathising with him—because he is outwardly racist. He even quips about eating Kobolds, because to him they're "animals". But they're not animals. They're a playable race in D&D. They're sentient. He simply sees them as lesser beings. And he feels the same way about gnomes, too. 😒

Now obviously he gets over that prejudice if you romance him as a gnome (or any small race), but some people tend to defend all of Astarion's worst traits, to an almost unhealthy degree. His racism is not excusable. It should be criticised, in the same way you can criticise his hatred of the Gur. Personally, when he told me about the attack, I told him he couldn't hold all Gur responsible. He didn't like that, of course, but I stuck to it, and by Act 3 he agreed to help save their children. In my opinion, that's the best way to help Astarion become a better person. He needs pushback and a friendly, morally good influence.

Plus, the Gur weren't wrong for hunting him. It wasn't his fault, but he did steal their children. Gandrel wasn't lying about that. If you pass a persuasion check when you meet him, he'll tell you he's looking for "the monster who stole our children", and the reason he refuses to tell you anything at first is because he doesn't want to put you in danger. He even warns you about Ethel and offers to trade supplies. He's a good man, as most of his people are. In fact, the whole tribe is extremely reasonable when interacting with you, even if you set 7000 hungry spawn loose on the Sword Coast. If you do so, Gandrel can later be found in the sewers, lamenting over his daughters.

So to anyone who let Astarion kill Gandrel: if you do another playthrough, maybe give the poor guy a chance? He's just a worried father looking for his kids. 😔

[zerky]

When you tell your traumatized vampire boyfriend he’s safe with you 🥺

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