The pronunciation of Baldur's Gate 3 character Astarion's surname, "Ancunín," has been a long-standing mystery for players, with no in-game dialogue offering a definitive answer. However, a newly released sample from the tie-in audiobook, Baldur's Gate 3: Astarion, has provided the first official spoken version of the name, delivered by Astarion's voice actor, Neil Newbon. This revelation has sparked debate among the game's dedicated fanbase.
Previously, players could only speculate on the pronunciation, with many settling on variations like "an-KYU-nin." The audiobook sample, however, suggests a pronunciation closer to "an-soo-neen." This divergence has divided the community, with some players readily accepting the new pronunciation while others question it. The confusion appears to stem from the accent mark over the 'í' in "Ancunín," which, when viewed on Astarion's in-game gravestone, can subtly alter the pronunciation of the "nin" ending to "neen." The exact pronunciation of the "c" remains a point of contention, contributing to the split between "soo" and "koo" interpretations.
The Baldur's Gate 3: Astarion audiobook, penned by T. Kingfisher and narrated by Newbon, serves as a prequel exploring Astarion's time as a vampire spawn under Cazador Szarr. The book is slated for release on September 29. An initial five-minute audio sample is already available, offering a glimpse into Astarion's early vampiric experiences.
Beyond the pronunciation debate, the prequel novel itself has generated discussion within the community. Kingfisher collaborated with Stephen Rooney, Astarion's original writer at Larian Studios, to ensure lore consistency. The book is expected to resolve some fan-held questions, such as the identity of a "darling boy" Astarion mentions, potentially revealing him as "Sebastian." However, other narrative choices, like Astarion referring to Cazador as "Father" instead of "Master," have proven more contentious.
New characters are also introduced in the novel, including Hahn den Suriel, an Aasimar paladin who aids Astarion. The early audio sample hints at Astarion facing significant challenges, underscoring the need for any allies he might find. For now, the focus remains on clarifying Astarion's surname pronunciation, a detail Newbon has now officially addressed after years of player speculation.