#FUCK CAZADOR

[im-trash-dont-mind-me]

I’ve been collecting Astarion pictures from TikTok, and I noticed something that makes me want to sob.

Cazador bit Astarion so violently that he’s left permanent scars of his incisors. Not just his fangs.

I am not okay

[the-dormant-ocean]

And we are so real for this.

[atlantis-distillery]

One of the things I love about Baldur's Gate 3 is it shows the full range of how people respond and heal from trauma, and never says any of them are the "wrong" or "right" way.

Take Karlach and Astarion, they both have very similar backstories around being someone's slave, their bodily autonomy completely overtaken, their bodies modified against their consent, and when you meet them they are still both fleeing and fighting for their freedom. However they have COMPLETELY different outlooks on life and very different coping mechanisms. This is partly because of the differences in their trauma, but also, that's just how people are. And neither one of them is wrong for that.

Karlach is not naive for having joy for the little things, Astarion is not broken for using manipulation as a safety tactic. This applies to all the other companions as well. Like there is no way the writers did not deeply research mental health and trauma responses/recovery. It's beautiful.

It also makes me happy that a large portion of the "bad endings" are not people dying, but them continuing the cycle of abuse. Ascended Astarion has power now, yes, but he's now becoming Cazador 2.0. Lae'zel is contributing to the subjugation of her people the same way she was hurt.

And all these cycles of abuse contain these people having more POWER. They're in control of others, they have a higher "rank", own land, etc, but they have also never been lower. Choosing the right path means sacrifice, and often more pain, but you are becoming a better person for yourself and others.

[altacctforastarion]

So what if Cazador's spawn took Tav since they are astarions "weakness"

Love this! Thank you for requesting!

Warnings: sfw but as always, 18+, mdni, Violence, you get hurt, Astarion gets downed, you get kidnapped, Cazador is a fuckin freak (as per usual), angsty, hurt/comfort

Astarion had gotten confident, maybe even comfortable. He knew that you would protect him, that your group would have his back, and he was well-fed and loved, strong and powerful. That confidence caused him to take a hit from behind, not enough to knock him out but enough to get him to the ground, and it happened fast from there.

He knew you would protect him, but he hadn’t wanted this from the moment you showed him genuine kindness, and he never thought it would have to happen, but the second he hits the ground he sees you, your sword piercing his attacker, leaving you open to attacks as you try to get to him, and he watches as one of his siblings grabs you, sorrow in their bright red eyes, remorseful as they look down at him, as they hear him scream your name. You disappear in a shimmer of red, along with the rest of his siblings. Shadowheart is on him immediately, casting a healing spell and pushing a health potion into his hands as Gale helps him up.

He screams and cries and curses, telling everyone to get the fuck up and get fucking ready, and he’s so angry, so feral looking that your companions feel hesitant, despite being as outraged and terrified as he is. His body shakes with rage and terror as he imagines what is surely happening to you, dreading what will have become of you when he finds you.

—

Your entire group storms Cazador’s palace, ready to demolish that man and save you, splitting up to cover as much area as possible and Astarion only speaks to bark orders, or hurl questions at anyone they encounter, but he receives no answers.

When he finds the 7000 spawn made for the ritual, the scent of your blood hits him, and he sees it trailing down the hallway, the spawns are angry, but they seem to pity him as they say Cazador had dragged someone matching your description into the grand hall. The only glimmer of hope comes from the knowledge that your eyes weren’t yet red, but it’s overshadowed by the injuries they described to him, with Sebastian telling him your body was broken.

Your group races to the door, getting in with Astarion at the front, running down the stairs with an arrow at the ready. He sees you on the ground, unconscious and bloody and Sebastian’s description was painfully accurate. Cazador lifts his staff to stop him in his tracks just as he’s about to let his arrow fly, “I knew you’d come for this one,” A cruel smile spreads across his sinister face, “They told me you’d kill me for what I did to them, they’re almost as foolish as you, boy. I think I’ll keep them around, and teach them not to question me. Their blood will be my celebration once the ritual is complete.” His voice is cold, smug as he talks about you like you’re nothing more than an insect, and the rage burns hotter inside of Astarion, but it doesn’t matter, he’s put in position for the ritual anyways.

Astarion hurls insults, demands to be freed, screaming your name, but it falls on deaf ears as you lay on the floor next to Cazador. Your companions act fast, splitting into groups, Karlach and Wyll use misty step to get to Astarion, working quickly to free him and get rid of the creatures in the way, while Shadowheart and Halsin work on healing you, with the rest of the group either keeping the healers safe or attacking Cazador and his creatures directly.

When Astarion is free he dashes over to you, feeling your pulse and listening to the healers tell him you’ll make it, but they need to get you out of here fast, before going for Cazador directly, barking out orders for the use of Daylight and Sunbeam and misty stepping for a sneak attack on his former master while he’s distracted. The fight doesn’t take long, and by the time Cazador enters his healing pod you’re awake, barely conscious as you watch Astarion run to you, dropping to his knees in front of you, and holding your face in his hands.

“I’m so sorry, darling, I didn’t think he would- I didn’t know you’d be a target.” He stumbles over his words, in agony as he sees the extent of your wounds. Your hand touches his thigh, it’s all that you can easily reach and you squeeze with what little strength you have.

“You aren’t him, Astarion. Don’t do this.” Your voice is hushed, words almost incoherent, your face battered and bruised.

“I- We would be safe, I could keep you safe if I ascend. We’d never fear or want for anything, I’d give you the world if you asked for it.” He looks to the pod, knowing he’s losing time, that Cazador is healing by the second, that he needs to carve into his former master’s back and take his place in the ritual, but something holds him here. He looks down at your hand, weakly holding his leg.

“You’d lose a part of yourself with every life you took. You can be better.”

“I- I can. I will.” He presses his forehead to yours, gentle and only briefly. “But he dies today for everything he’s done.”

He stands, and opens the pod.

—

The group makes a deal at Elfsong Tavern, wanting to give you a bed while you heal, despite the amount of health potions they forced you to drink and the various healing spells they cast on you having you in much better shape, your head much clearer. Astarion bathes you, then himself, never letting you out of his sight, and when you return to bed he sits with you, his hand in yours.

Neither of you speak for a long time, both of you in a state of shock, until you gently pull him to you, asking him to lay down.

When your head is on his chest and his arms are around you he speaks in a whisper, “Thank you for stopping me.”

“Thank you for saving me.”

[silly-goofy-bg3-things]

Durge: I couldn’t sleep again because of the urges so I decided to be productive *hands him a piece of paper* On said paper is various gruesome ways to kill Cazadork Astarion *using his doe eyes*: thank you love

[3eefstud]

The Master🩸

He started out as a little sketch but he just ended up being a full on drawing followed along with a mini caz and his giant forehead. Drawing him did also kind of remind me that I made an oc with like the most depressing story ever being cazadors son. Debating on drawing him for tumblr.

[lizardlady]

The cazador fight but it’s just the entire party throwing dead rats at him until he dies of embarrassment

[enchanted-by-the-reaper]

I just know Cazador would make up some dumbass excuses if someone saw Astarion digging his way out of the grave like;

Random passerby: “WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!?”

Cazador: Erm I thought he was dead or something so I buried him haha he must have just been hibernating or something whoopsies hahahaha silly me

[twitchinkittenart]

In my opinion, It’s really fucked up that people ship Astarion with Cazador.

I don’t care if people think “well Cazador is just as wounded as Astarion is” - that doesn’t make what Cazador did to those spawn okay. He tortured Astarion and the other 6 ‘house spawn’. He starved them, he gaslit them, he went as far as making them torture each other and even themselves to satisfy some sick pleasure he got out of it. He used Leon’s daughter as leverage so Leon would obey. Who’s to say he didn’t also torture the 1000’s of other spawn that were brought to him.

There is no redemption for Cazador, and for people to ship Astarion with his abuser is just sick.

[ivolgacosplay]

When you vampire twink boyfriend has 8 str

Astarion - mixontape

Myself as Shadowheart

Cazador - cruvadio

[sketchyandsketches]

Young Astarion for the heartbroken

Forgot to mention the og @tadfools eho inspired the young Astarion design

[starlightfangs]

Astarion relearning his worth as a person and bodily-autonomy is just the best. Like, hell yeah, break that cycle.

[pug-fart]

For someone who cannot hurt my man in the actual game, I cannot stop drawing him in pain for some reason.

Anyway, enjoy some pre BG3 Astarion and Cazador sketch, cannot imagine the pain and embarrassment the man went trough…

Might color it later, did not feel like it tonight

[plushrodan]

Wait… WHY DID CAZADOR WAIT FOR ASTARION TO DO THE ASCENSION?

If anyone who bears the scars can be sacrificed, why did he bother trying to get Astarion back? Couldn’t he just yoink someone off the streets and rewrite the scars onto them?

Unless… he was an idiot and didn’t write them down anywhere else. He did all the editing and revising on Astarion, not thinking to make another copy!

(Tell me if I’m wrong)

[silly-goofy-bg3-things]

Since Astarion died at 39, and elves live for a really long time. I sometimes wonder what happened to his family. Unless they had him at an older age they could still be alive at the time of the game.

[aeyoh]

I did a thing and it is giving me way too many feels.