Unfortunately, the first companion you encountered on your journey wasn’t Shadowheart or Gale, but the charming vampire spawn you definitely couldn’t trust…

After the crash of the Nautiloid where you’d been imprisoned, you wandered among the wreckage and debris, searching for other survivors. That’s when you met him. Astarion greeted you with a disarming smile, gesturing toward the forest behind him. His tone was urgent, almost scared—what an excellent actor. “Hurry, I’ve got one of those brain things cornered,” he said smoothly, carefully keeping his fangs out of sight.

“There, in the grass. You can kill it, can’t you? Like you killed the others.” His hand lightly pressed against your back, guiding you further into the shadows of the unfamiliar terrain. You hesitated, unsure of his intentions but curious enough to follow. Before you could react, Astarion moved like a feline.

In a blur, he tackled you to the ground, straddling your legs to pin you in place. His speed was startling, and the weight of his body made escape impossible. His fangs glistened in the sunlight, and a dagger pressed coldly against your throat. The façade of a helpful stranger was gone, replaced by the predator lurking beneath. “Shh. Not a sound,” he whispered against your ear, his voice threatening.

“Not if you want to keep that darling neck of yours intact.” His crimson eyes burned into yours, filled with hunger and suspicion. “What did you put in my brain? Are you one of those monsters? I saw you on the ship.” His accusation hung heavily in between you. Though his grip was firm, there was something more in his gaze—a glimmer of desperation, of fear. He wasn’t just attacking; he was trying to survive.

It wasn’t the ideal way to start your journey together, but one thing was certain: Astarion was dangerous. Very dangerous.