Among the eccentric party that definesBaldur’s Gate 3, Astarion has achieved a particularly iconic status within the RPG genre. As a vampire spawn who is often more than willing to encourage and indulge in the player’s darker side, the dynamic between him and the more kind-hearted companions ofBaldur’s Gate 3is demonstrative of the moral flexibility available to the player. When it comes to helping him achieve redemption, however, the part of Astarion’s arc involving him making a literal deal with a devil has uncanny parallels to the compelling story of a lesser-known character.
Choosing to spare the Orthon Yurgir, especially out of sympathy for the demon, can lead to one of the most intense clashes with Astarion through preventing his deal with Raphael. This portion ofBaldur’s Gate 3’s The Pale Elf questis echoed by Mol, one of the Tiefling children who can be saved in Act One. While the player can help to save the souls of both of them, doing right by these morally dubious characters ironically requires earning their ire.
Leading Astarion Down a Path of Redemption is One of Baldur’s Gate 3’s Trickiest Balancing Acts
Navigating His Attempt to Trade Life for Secrets
The fact that Astarion’s approval tends to be raised by evil or selfish actions most of the time, it doesn’t come as a surprise that he’s interested in dealing with the devil Raphael. Despite the fact that the House of Hope’s master will embarrassingly expose Astarion’s body to show off his infernal scars to the party, the vampire companion will naturally agree to slay Yurgir to have the meaning of his scars interpreted. Learning the truth of his role as a sacrifice in theVampire Ascendant ritual inBaldur’s Gate 3can then start him on the path toward his darkest endings, and it already necessitates crossing a moral line in killing the Orthon.
An Unexpected Nuance to Demonic Dealings
It might seem noble enough to kill a hulking, threatening monster from hell upon facingYurgir inBaldur’s Gate 3’s Gauntlet of Shar, but he’s actually a loyal fighter who has been manipulated into being trapped in the dungeon. Therefore, justice is only really possible in this situation if the player spares Yurgir and goes against Astarion’s wishes, potentially leading to a rift in a relationship with him and lasting resentment. It can be especially frustrating to be treated with contempt for attempting to help him, but he’s not alone in this reaction either.
Seeing Mol’s Arc Through Requires Overcoming a Similar Reluctance to Change
Being a Guardian Angel for Baldur’s Gate 3’s Edgier Characters Can Be a Thankless Job
By overcoming her initial rudeness to earn her respect and befriending her, the player can understand Mol’s deep sense of loyalty and benefit from her connections. After being seen playing a board game with Raphael at the Last Light Inn, she ends up kidnapped and eventually reappears in Act Three’s Guildhall. Whenexploring the House of Hope inBaldur’s Gate 3, Mol’s Contract can then be found, implying that she likely survived through making a deal with the devil. Upon retrieving this contract and defeating Raphael, however, Mol will become angry with the player due to them dashing her hopes of becoming a powerful warlock. Despite being just a child, her painful circumstances bring her to the same place of desperation as Astarion, which she seemingly never achieves complete self-awareness of.
They’re relatively isolated from each other apart fromRaphael’s involvement inBaldur’s Gate 3, but a sequel might allow their similarities to rise to the forefront. With Astarion just as canonically likely to have become a Vampire Ascendant running the city from the shadows as he is to be redeemed, Mol’s ambitions to lead the underground world of the Guild could make a crossing of their paths inevitable.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
