You're walking the streets of Baldur's Gate at night when the heavy metallic scent hits you. You turn the corner to see a young high elf in severe pain and bleeding out. His outfit, though messed up and bloody, says he's important in the city. You also feel a dark presence is nearby.

Astarion feels pain through his entire body but also an increasing numbness. The taste and smell of blood is nauseating to him but he has no energy after what the group of Gur did to him, beating him near to death.