Call of the Blood

Haunted dream on the first long rest

Call of the Blood is a personal quest for  Astarion's origin, replacing ⁠The Pale Elf. It starts immediately in the Prologue.

“

Hello, darling. Don't be shy, I promise not to bite until we've been formally introduced. My name's Astarion, and I've spent a century stalking the night, hunting for pretty morsels just like you.
A man called Cazador made me what I am, kept me like a pet, and forced me to do his bidding. No more. The tadpole's influence broke his dominance over me, and now I can finally pursue the one thing I've hungered for these long, dark years.
Revenge.
I'm going back to Baldur's Gate, to track Cazador down in his lair. I'll be the last thing the bastard ever sees.

„

— Astarion, introducing himself in the Character Creation Menu

Objectives

Objectives and journal entries may vary pending story decisions and outcomes.

Face your hunger.

• "I'm... alive? Well - I'm not on fire - which is something for a vampire spawn standing in the sun. And I'm free! Free from those vile mind flayers and free from Cazador Szarr. But it won't be long before my old master realises I'm missing, so I had better find out what in the hells is going on and quickly."
• "Even in my dreams, I'm not safe from Cazador. He haunts me - taunts me! But I'm free of him here. And free of his rules: I can feed on whatever, or whoever, I want."
• "I decided not to feed on any of my travelling companions. They may not have appreciated my attentions, so best not to ruffle any feathers. Anyway, who knows where they've been?"
• "As I no longer have to feed on rats, I tried tasting one of my companions. It almost went too well - I nearly lost control, but did stop myself before I had a corpse on my hands."
• "As I no longer have to feed on rats, I tried tasting one of my companions. It went a little too well - I lost control and drained them dry. This will complicate matters..."
• "As I no longer have to feed on rats, I tried tasting a travelling companion. It almost went disastrously - they woke up to my fangs at their neck, but were surprisingly understanding once I explained the situation. And now that they know what I am, perhaps they can help if anyone comes after me."
• "As I no longer have to feed on rats, I tried tasting a travelling companion. It almost went disastrously - they woke up, but were convinced it was just a bad dream. I got lucky this time, but hiding what I am will only get more difficult the longer we're together..."
• "As I no longer have to feed on rats, I tried tasting a travelling companion. It went... poorly. They awoke to my fangs at their neck and, despite my very reasonable explanation, seem wary of me now. Still, at least I no longer have to hide what I am."
• "As I no longer have to feed on rats, I tried tasting a travelling companion. It went... poorly. They awoke to my fangs at their neck and, despite my very reasonable explanation, declared they could no longer trust me. They have left the camp and - honestly? Good riddance."
• "As I no longer have to feed on rats, I tried tasting a travelling companion. Unfortunately, I bit Gale, who tasted absolutely foul! The gods only know what's wrong with him. Not only was I left hungry, but now my secret is out. Everyone knows what I truly am."
• "As I no longer have to feed on rats, I tried tasting a travelling companion. Unfortunately, I bit Gale, who tasted absolutely foul! What else did I expect, biting a living bomb? Not only was I left hungry, but now my secret is out. Everyone knows what I truly am."
• "I decided to tell my travelling companions that I'm a vampire spawn. No one tried to drive a stake through my heart, so I guess they took it as well as can be expected."
• "I bit someone in front of my companions, which caused a stir to say the least. So now they know what I am - for better or for worse. Thank the gods I don't have to hide it anymore, though."
• "My companions came to speak to me - it seems they figured out my little secret. They're more observant than I gave them credit for, but it means I am done hiding my vampirism. From them, at least."
• "There was a monster hunter lurking in a hag's swamp who claimed he was sent to capture me and drag me back to Baldur's Gate. Is this some ploy of Cazador's, or do I have other unfinished business in the city?"
• "I killed the monster hunter, of course. One less threat to worry about."
• "It seems this monster hunter served someone named Ulma. Not a name I recognise, although I hardly stop to introduce myself to monster hunters. Whatever's afoot, this 'Ulma' will have some answers."

Seek Raphael.

• "Cazador returned to haunt my dreams last night. I relived the night he spent carving symbols into my back. I don't know if it's the tadpole's influence or my own imagination, but I swear they were Infernal runes he carved. If anyone can help me translate them, the cambion Raphael can. I need to find him."

Await the secrets of the scars.

• "I met Raphael at Last Light Inn and asked him about the scars on my back. He seemed intrigued, but said he'd need time to consider my offer. He implied I'd see him again soon, but when - or where - I can't say. Nothing to do but explore this shadow-blighted land until I find him again."
• "Raphael made an appearance at Last Light Inn, but disappeared before I could ask him about the scars on my back. There's nothing to do but explore this shadow-blighted land until he pops up again."

Do the devil's work.

• "I found Raphael at the entrance of a mausoleum. He agreed to tell me about my scars, if I kill the orthon - an infernal beast - living beneath the mausoleum for him."

Wait...

• "Raphael's orthon is dead, which means it's up to the devil to fulfil his part of the bargain. I just need to wait for him to contact me and tell me all about these scars gracing my back."

Take the long road home.

• "According to Raphael, Cazador has been preparing a ritual with me and his other vampire spawn at its centre. He means to sacrifice us so he can become the Vampire Ascendant - free to walk in the sun's light and free from the hunger that consumes us. If I'm ever to be free, I have to return to Baldur's Gate and stop him."
• "Raphael's gone, and with him my chance to learn about the scars on my back. If I want to know the truth, I'll have to find it in Baldur's Gate."
• "Instead of killing the orthon, I helped the Infernal thing. I reneged on our deal, so Raphael won't tell me a thing about my scars now. If I want answers, I'll have to go back to the source - Baldur's Gate and Cazador's mansion."

Find Cazador Szarr.

• "Baldur's Gate - home, sweet home! Cazador's palace is in the Lower City. And hopefully the answers I seek are in Cazador's palace."
• "I met Ulma, the leader of a tribe of monster hunters who lost their children to Cazador. (Well, I took their children, but on Cazador's orders.) Ulma said that if I can help their children and kill Cazador, she would call off the hunt for me. I agreed to try."
• "I met Ulma, the leader of a tribe of monster hunters who lost their children to Cazador. (Well, I took their children, but on Cazador's orders.) Ulma said that if I can help their children and kill Cazador, she would call off the hunt for me, but negotiations broke down and a fight broke out."
• "Ulma, the leader of the monster hunters, is dead. Baldur's Gate just got a little bit brighter."
• "I found Petras and Dalyria, two of my vampire spawn 'siblings', in Fraygo's Flophouse - an old hunting spot of ours. They told me that Cazador is almost ready to perform a ritual that would grant him incredible power, but he still needs me before he can begin. They said it would take place in a secret defiled chapel beneath the Szarr Palace before turning to mist and disappearing."
• "Some of my brothers and sisters appeared at my camp, trying to take me 'home' to Cazador. They failed."
• "Some of my brothers and sisters appeared at my camp and succeeded in taking me 'home' to Cazador. Now I'm back in the palace I spent nearly two centuries in. All I have to do is escape, find Cazador, and destroy him forever."

Find Cazador Szarr.

• "After everything, I'm back in Cazador's palace. Now I just need to find the bastard..."
• "An elevator brought me into the depths of the palace, revealing secret dungeons I never knew existed."
• "I always thought that Cazador killed every victim I brought him, but no. Sebastian was one of my first, but Cazador turned him into a spawn and left him to starve in these secret dungeons. How many other spawn are trapped down here? Hundreds? Thousands?"
• "The 'Rite of Profane Ascension': that's the name a scroll gave to Cazador's ritual. He plans to sacrifice thousands of vampire spawn in exchange for tremendous power - power he does not deserve to have."
• "It seems the staff Cazador carries can control the prison. With it, I can decide the fates of all the vampire spawn he's locked down here."
• "Some of my brothers and sisters appeared at my camp and succeeded in taking me "home" to Cazador. Now I'm back in the palace I spent nearly two centuries in. All I have to do is escape, find Cazador, and destroy him forever."

Face Cazador Szarr.

• "This is it - I found my old, wretched master. All I have to do now is end him."
• "I found Cazador, but wasn't able to resist his blood magic. He dragged me into the ritual - now my companions are my only hope to survive this."
• "Cazador's been defeated and is trying to recover in his sarcophagus. I can't let that happen - this is my chance to change my fate forever."

Quest Complete

• "I am the Vampire Ascendant! I am born anew, with all the power Cazador wanted. All that remains is to dispose of the mind flayer's parasite nesting in my skull and then I will be truly free."
• "It's over. Cazador is dead, the ritual is ruined, and the spawn have been set free. They will find a place for themselves in the Underdark, while I enjoy the time I still have in the sun. But once I'm free of this mind flayer tadpole, I too will return to the shadows."
• "It's over. Cazador is dead, the ritual is ruined, and the spawn Cazador imprisoned have been destroyed. They'll never know the taste of blood. I, meanwhile, will savour the time I have left in the sun. Once I'm rid of the mind flayer tadpole, I'll have no choice but to return to the shadows."
• "It's over. Cazador is dead, the ritual is ruined, and the spawn Cazador imprisoned will remain in their cells forevermore. They'll never know the taste of blood, but they'll not have death's release either. I, meanwhile, will savour the time I have left in the sun. Once I'm rid of the mind flayer tadpole, I'll have no choice but to return to the shadows."
• "Well, it's time to decide the fate of the world. Cazador will have to wait for now, but I will have my justice someday."

Playing as Astarion Origin

As a playable character, Astarion is naturally locked out of multiple interaction cutscenes that may occur when playing as any other character (including Custom (Tav) and the  Dark Urge). Many cutscenes concerning various interactions with other companions, NPCs and the environment, are left intact in their core. Most, though, are augmented with Astarion's own feelings and memories, voiced by the Narrator within the dialogue. Astarion also has several unique cutscenes which are connected to his vampiric nature and his story.

Act One

Realizing his freedom

The very first long rest in Act One (if not having left the crash site yet) shows Astarion contemplating his newfound freedom:*Just yesterday you were seducing a young noble, luring him to your master's lair.* *Today? You'd been kidnapped by mind flayers, chased through Hell by dragons, and thrown out of a burning ship.* *And you felt the sun on your skin...* *You should have burst into flames.* Astarion can choose to think about his experience in the sun, his master, the tadpole, or try to push it all away from his mind and rest.

Dreaming of Cazador

Having at least one companion unlocks a dream sequence in which which Astarion wanders a forest, haunted by the voice of his former master,  Cazador Szarr. Cazador recites the strict rules he imposed on Astarion and the other vampire spawn under his control. Astarion searches for the source of the voice and finally finds his master in a misty clearing. Regardless of the dialogue options chosen, the result is the same: Astarion realizes that he can now do something that Cazador cannot, probably due to the illithid tadpole. This leads him to question whether Cazador's other rules - including the ban on "feeding on thinking creatures" - have also lost their hold since Astarion's abduction and infection.

Vampirism acceptance

After the nighttime dream described above, during the same long rest, Astarion may attempt to bite a companion. Doing this safely requires a sequence of rolls:  DC 10 Stealth check to go unnoticed, and  DC 5 Wisdom check to stop drinking in time. Failing the latter kills the target, resulting in the permanent loss of that companion. If both rolls are successful, the drained victim wakes up with  Bloodless condition and complains about it, not understanding the reason, while Astarion gains the same  Happy condition, in a companion in the playthrough after getting fed. However, there is no possibility to discuss the nighttime endeavour in the dialogue with the victim. Failing the Stealth check forces Astarion to explain himself and requires additional rolls ( DC 10 Persuasion check or  DC 20 Deception check) to smooth things over. Failure results in the companion leaving the party permanently, while success leads to the companion confronting Astarion about his identity the next morning.

The Blood-drinking interaction has two exceptions:  Gale, whose blood is disgusting to taste due to the Netherese blight, and  Karlach all the way before the second upgrade of her heart, because knowing her story, Astarion feels reluctant to bite her altogether. This is one of the few examples where Astarion shows sympathy to another without prompting.

Until Astarion's vampirism is revealed, he has the option to voluntarily confess his secret to his companions; most of whom state they suspected it all along. Companions' reactions depend on Approval level and ability check outcomes. Afterwards, Astarion's condition is known within the party and he may use the  Vampire Bite freely and unquestioned. Unlike a companion playthrough, Origin Astarion does not have the option to arrange regular feedings with a party member.

However, this mechanism is not bereft of some logical omissions. For example, in the romance scene with  Shadowheart near waterfall, it is possible for Astarion to tell her "of your death - how you'd been attacked by a Gur tribe and 'saved' by Cazador" and still continue to conceal his vampiric nature from her and the rest of the group.

The  Vampire Bite ability is available to Astarion from the beginning of Act One. However, if a companion witnesses him biting someone, they initiate a dialogue and demand that Astarion explain himself. Caught red-handed, Astarion may choose to confess or deny everything, but the latter option requires various ability checks.

If Astarion continues to conceal his nature from other party members throughout Act One, they confront him about his identity as he nears Act Two. At this point, Astarion's secret comes out regardless; choosing to lie upsets his companions and can result in significant approval changes (e.g., lying to Gale costs  -30).

Meeting Gandrel

Dialogue with  Gandrel in the Sunlit Wetlands unravels mostly the same, save for two details: Astarion's own memories of his and other spawns' assault on the Gur camp, and an in-dialogue attempt to subtly explain this, appealing to irresistible obeyance to Cazador's orders. Nevertheless, journal entries on the event still contain Astarion's guesses on whether the hunter was sent by his master, even if the party has interrogated Gandrel's corpse to find out it is not true.

Act Two

Reassessing his scars

This is another unique long rest cutscene for Astarion as an Origin, which replaces the cutscenes with him as a companion in which the player character learns about the scars on his back. It occurs as early as possible after entering the Shadow-Cursed Lands, but can be queued after all other due cutscenes, like subsequent appearances of the  Dream Guardian or  Mizora.

Sleepless, Astarion recalls the horrific night when Cazador carved a "poem" into his skin. However, going through the agonizing flashback presents two in-dialogue  DC 14 Intelligence checks to either push the memory away and finally rest, or to surmount the pain and analyze Cazador's carvings. If he chooses the latter and succeeds, Astarion recognizes the runes as Infernal, though their meaning remains unknown to him.

Meeting Raphael

The episodes encountering  Raphael (either in Last Light Inn or near the entrance to the Thorm Mausoleum) have been left almost intact as compared to the walkthrough with Astarion as a companion. The only difference is that the player character has to catch the moment themselves and choose a dialogue option to request Raphael's help on deciphering the scars: in case of playing as an Origin, the cambion does not turn the talk to it automatically, only giving hints on being able to help.

When playing Astarion as an Origin, it is crucial to succeed both  DC 10 Persuasion check and  DC 10 Insight check while speaking to Raphael near the mausoleum, because only this sequence opens the option to ask the devil again about the infernal scars. Any failed roll, as well as not choosing the option to ask about them, denies Astarion from striking a deal to kill  Yurgir in exchange for the information. After Raphael disappears, none of companions react to the information about the scars, or have anything to comment, including those who might be romanced in the current walkthrough.

If the deal was stroke and successfully fulfilled, Raphael reveals the very same information to Astarion Origin, as he would have done to him as a companion, but the subsequent dialogue with another player character is, naturally, absent. Most other companions' reactions are similarly changed to match the conversation style and not discussing the third-person matter.

The only exception is  Minthara, if she has been recruited to the moment. Unlike all others, she asks Astarion back whether he has enough ambitions to try and take Cazador's place in the ritual. At this point, choosing the option "I just want him dead" lowers her approval by 1.

Araj Oblodra

Encounter with  Araj Oblodra in Moonrise Towers has its unique features when Astarion is played as an Origin. Like in case with him as a companion, she starts the conversation offering to exchange a blood-based potion for a potion of the player character's blood. The difference is that after hearing her last name Astarion, despite not being a  Drow, makes a  DC 14 History check. Success allows him to remember the reason for the purge of the drow House Oblodra a hundred years ago. He also realises that she wants a portion of blood precisely from a True Soul, as a person having illithid traits in their veins. Accenting on this makes Araj Oblodra offer not only the potion, but also 200  gold in exchange for silence on the matter.

After discussing her experiments, Araj still turns the conversation to Astarion's nature. As an Origin, he may choose himself whether to bite her or not. Despite getting the same (as a companion) result from tasting Araj's blood, the dialogue naturally does not envision any persuasion or companions' approval, let alone ruining the romantic relationship. Thus, for Astarion as an Origin it is completely safe (if unpleasant) to obtain both  Elixir of Elven Elegance and  Potion of Everlasting Vigour.

Act Three

Meeting other spawn

The party can meet  Pale Petras and  Dalyria in Fraygo's Flophouse. The dialogue and the cutscene play out similarly to Astarion's companion route. The only distinction here is that, when holding Petras near the window, Astarion can get approval (or disapproval) from various companions - either for letting his sibling go or continuing to roast him in the sun. These points are not available for any other player character if Astarion is a recruited companion, regardless of the chosen option.