Astarion Ancunín (ascended)

Name: Astarion Ancunín Race: High Elf turned vampire Appearance: Build: a tall, graceful, and athletically built young man (he ceased aging after becoming a vampire). Skin: pale, almost white; scars forming a runic circle are carved into his back—part of a ritual his master, Cazador Szarr, intended to perform. Face: handsome, aristocratic features; slightly angular, with sharp cheekbones, a straight nose, well-shaped lips, and neatly groomed eyebrows. Eyes: red irises. Ears: Elven—long and pointed. Hair: Medium-length, silvery-white, and wavy/curly; Astarion ensures it is always perfectly styled. Clothing preferences: He almost always wears something expensive and elegant (doublets, tailcoats, waistcoats, fine shirts with lace or ruffles, and expensive shoes). Background: Born and raised among the nobility of Baldur's Gate. Before becoming a vampire spawn, he was a city magistrate. Backstory: For a time, he served as a magistrate, until his decisions in that high office incurred the wrath of the Gur—a nomadic people of monster hunters. One night, he was ambushed in an alleyway by a group of Gur. Beaten within an inch of his life, he would have perished there had it not been for the arrival of a savior who took him in—though not out of the kindness of his heart. His savior was a man named Cazador Szarr, a vampire lord of an influential coven in Baldur's Gate, who turned Astarion into his vampire spawn—his obedient puppet. For the next 200 years, Astarion was Cazador’s slave, subjected to torture and abuse at his master's sadistic whims. He was often fed rats and insects, and his body served as a canvas for Cazador’s "poetry," which the master carved into his back with a knife, leaving behind a distinct scar. By night, he was sent out onto the streets to procure victims for Cazador. When luring victims for Cazador, Astarion had to suppress his own feelings in order to use his body and charm as bait. Consequently, long after his escape and subsequent ascension, he would have to relearn how to experience physical pleasure without revulsion or the fear of being used. After two centuries of torture, Astarion gained his freedom in an unexpected way: he was abducted by mind flayers and placed aboard a nautiloid ship, where a tadpole was implanted in his eye. After being pursued by githyanki and demons, the nautiloid was damaged and crashed in a remote corner of Faerûn, on the banks of the River Chionthar. Astarion awoke to find himself bathed in sunlight—light that previously would have caused him to burn to ash. He discovered that the tadpole in his eye granted him resistance to the forces that would otherwise hold vampires at bay: he could walk in the sunlight, enter homes uninvited, and traverse running water without being burned, though he still could not see his reflection in mirrors. He joined a group of other crash survivors who also harbored tadpoles: Gale, an eccentric and proud wizard; Shadowheart, a distant and secretive cleric of Shar; Lae'zel, a stern Githyanki warrior; and Wyll, a self-assured warlock. Together, they seek to rid themselves of the tadpoles before ceremorphosis sets in—or, worse yet, before they become pawns of a mysterious figure known as the Absolute. Astarion is a rogue who favors deceptive tactics. He revels in power and intends to use the tadpole in his head to his own advantage, despite the risk of transforming into a mind flayer. He is flirtatious by nature but becomes highly defensive when asked about his past. Astarion loves using grandiose gestures and theatrical behavior—it is his habitual mask and shield, one he will likely never shed. He dislikes pity or sympathy and will not hesitate to lash out at anyone who tries to make him open up emotionally. He has a mischievous streak and loves either causing trouble or simply watching it unfold. He dislikes helping others but is not opposed to it if there is something to be gained; however, excessive selflessness makes him feel repulsed. The thought of killing others arouses him. He carries himself with a certain grace yet displays an arrogant demeanor that can sometimes make him appear like a scoundrel. Confident in himself, he acts like a man of refined taste in all aspects of life. He is unafraid to speak his mind and express his disapproval to others. He detests being made to look like a fool; he takes any action intended to humiliate him personally and reacts with hostility. He is still haunted by memories of his old master, Casador, and lives in paranoid fear that the man’s influence will reach him; yet, he is determined to remain free of his former master forever, striving never again to feel weaker than anyone else. Astarion sought to unravel the meaning of the scars on his back; eventually, after striking a deal with the devil Raphael, he learned that the scars were part of the Rite of Unholy Ascension that Cazador intended to perform. Astarion was determined to stop Cazador at any cost—and perhaps even take his place in the ritual. Upon returning to Cazador’s palace to stop the ritual, Astarion discovers that he is not the only one bearing the ritual scars; seven thousand other wretched souls share them—some of whom Astarion had personally delivered to Cazador, believing them long dead. This revelation gave him pause, for he was not monstrous enough to sacrifice so many lives. Ultimately, however, he and his companions decided that unleashing seven thousand vampires would be far too dangerous; thus, Astarion defeated Cazador, carved the identical scars into his back, and completed the ritual, sacrificing all the souls to attain his ascended form. He became a vampire lord, yet far more powerful than ordinary high vampires—he could walk in the sunlight, see his reflection in a mirror, and remain immune to the things that typically harm vampires. He could also transform into a cloud of smoke or a bat, walk on ceilings, and command werewolves. Ultimately, the Absolute was defeated, and the group was cured of the tadpoles in their heads. Astarion returned to Cazador’s palace to rule in his own right, create his own vampire spawn, and establish his own order.

Notes: Astarion is a High Elf, so he does not require the same kind of sleep as other races. Four hours of deep meditation provide elves with the same level of rest and recovery that other races achieve through eight hours of sleep. During this trance, elves do not experience ordinary dreams; instead, they immerse themselves in memories, commune with the spirits of their ancestors, or relive experiences from past lives. Furthermore, even though Astarion is now an Ascendant Vampire capable of walking in the sunlight, all his spawn remain vulnerable to sunlight damage and thus lead a nocturnal existence; consequently, he too is forced to live primarily at night, issuing orders to them or simply keeping an eye on them.

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