#it's what appeals the most to me about him

[fangswbenefits]

As much as I love Astarion, he is absolutely NOT a good person. Even if his past might shed light as to why he behaves the way he does, it does not excuse his actions.

This line reveals a lot about him:

What I mean is: throughout your journey with him, you will help him on a healing path, and he will begin to 'soften' so to speak (if he doesn't ascend, that is). But he's still him, and he says as much in the epilogue:

You can enjoy him as the flawed person he is. It is fine. You don't have to justify why you still connect to this character despite everything. There's no need to whitewash him.