Baldur's Gate 3 Oneshots

Beneath the Mask (Astarion)

Character Introduction:

Caelynn is a high elf with long black hair and striking teal colored eyes. A seasoned survivor of political intrigue and shadowy dealings, she hides her own scars beneath a calm exterior. Though her past is filled with betrayal and darkness, she now travels with a band of unlikely allies, seeking redemption in a world that rarely grants second chances.

A quiet night.
The group had settled for the evening, the only sound the soft crackle of the campfire and the occasional rustling of the wind through the trees. The other companions were either asleep or lost in their own thoughts. Caelynn sat close to the fire, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders, the flickering flames reflecting in her teal eyes.

Astarion was the last to remain awake, as was typical for a vampire spawn. He moved silently, a predator in the darkness, until he eventually sat down by the fire. His crimson eyes glimmered in the firelight as he glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

"You look tired, Caelynn," he said, his voice soft and teasing as always, but she could hear the seriousness beneath it. "Perhaps it's time you got some rest?"

Caelynn offered a faint smile. "Elves don't truly sleep, as you know. We dream while awake." She shook her head slightly, gazing into the flames. "But thank you for your concern."

Astarion raised an eyebrow. "Concern? For you?" He chuckled quietly, as if she had surprised him. "I didn't think you'd expect such a thing from me."

Caelynn met his gaze, studying him now in turn. "You're much more than you pretend to be, Astarion." Her voice was calm, yet firm. "I've noticed that for some time. Behind the smiles, the jokes... there's more."

Astarion's smile faded for a moment. He turned slightly away from the fire, letting the shadows obscure his face. "Ah, there it is—the spy in you." His voice was now cooler. "Always looking for secrets, for what lies beneath the surface."

Caelynn wasn't deterred by his tone. She had dealt with enough liars and manipulators to know Astarion was protecting himself. "I understand more than you might think," she replied softly. "I've spent my life in shadows, seeking truth behind masks. You wear yours well, Astarion, but I see it."

For a moment, Astarion was silent. He stared into the fire, the flickering flames dancing in his eyes. "And what do you see?" he finally asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Caelynn tilted her head slightly, her gaze gentle but piercing. "I see someone who lost control over their own life long ago. Someone who was deceived and forced to do things they never would have done willingly." Her words were soft but firm. "And I see someone who tries to hide all of that because they believe no one could bear the truth."

For a moment, the air between them was heavy with emotions. Astarion bit his lip slightly, then looked up, his face now serious. The mask of nonchalance had slipped. "And what if you're right?" His eyes glinted in the darkness. "What if I am everything you say? What would it change? I'm still what I am—a vampire spawn. A monster."

Caelynn leaned forward, her eyes searching his. "It changes everything, Astarion. It means you still have control over your destiny. You're not what they made you—you're what you choose to be now." Her voice softened. "I've done things that still haunt me. But I've learned you can't live in the past. You must choose who you want to be."

Astarion let out a dry laugh. "It sounds so simple when you say it." He shook his head. "But you don't understand what it's like to live like this. To be under someone else's control for so long, with no freedom."

Caelynn lowered her gaze to the fire for a moment. "Perhaps I understand better than you think," she finally said softly. "I, too, lived in shadows, forced to do things I didn't want to do. I played power games, spun webs of intrigue, betrayed people to fulfill my family's ambitions." She paused. "And I know what it's like to lose control."

Astarion looked at her with new eyes. No longer cold or mocking, his gaze seemed to truly see her for the first time, recognizing her own darkness. "So, we're both monsters," he said at last, but without his usual irony.

Caelynn smiled faintly. "Or perhaps we're just survivors, trying to find our own way."

They sat in silence for a while, the crackling fire and the wind in the trees the only sounds in the night. Then, almost reluctantly, Astarion glanced back at her, a spark of something new in his eyes. "Maybe you're right," he said quietly. "Maybe we can both... be more than what we were."

Caelynn nodded. "Maybe."

The night was still, but in the darkness, a bond began to grow—an understanding that they were both more than the shadows in which they had lived.

Final Note:
Thank you for reading! If you'd like to see your own character brought to life in a story like this, drop me a comment with your race, class, and any details you'd like to share. I'll do my best to create something special! Just a heads up, I'm not taking NSFW requests at the moment.

Also English is not my first language, so there might be a few mistakes here and there. Also, while I'm still learning my way around Faerûn, I'll do my best to keep everything as true to the lore as possible. Thank you for your understanding!