Not only that but it would be far easier to tell lure someone to the palace without sleeping with them beforehand. It doesn’t make sense. I can think of 100 lies off the top of my head to get someone to follow me to a random place, and Astarion is apparently a brilliant strategist in this book.

Of course abusers can change tactics but considering this is one of the primary sources of astarions trauma, not introducing the fact he was forced to and only showing him looking at sexual conquests fondly paints a different picture.

If cazador specifically didn’t care that he changed tactics to club his victims with Aurelia, clearly it wasn’t a requirement. He’s still a slave but his relationship to his victims was changed to make him culpable when he originally was not.

A) they only need bring victims to a collection point. He lures a bard saying they need one for a party. Any lie therefore will do B) he preferred longer coercions calling them craftsmanship C) when he changes tactics to club victims, you specifically said cazador said nothing of the change.

nad

itsnad.bsky.social

04 October 2026 19:56

I finished the book™ yesterday and… … no. I won't get into reasons here to avoid spoilers for others, but goddamn it feels so far removed from the game. There are parts that are decent, but the overall portrayal of Astarion, his thematics, and a certain other character borders on disrespectful.