Astarion was born as a noble elf and worked as a magistrate in the city of Baldur's Gate. After making a judicial decision that angered a group of Gur, he was beaten nearly to death. At that moment, the powerful vampire Cazador Szarr appeared and offered a "second chance." In reality, he transformed Astarion into a vampire spawn, condemning him to slavery for about 200 years. During these two centuries, Cazador forced him to seduce people and bring them to the palace to serve as food or victims. Astarion was unable to disobey his master's orders and suffered constant torture when he failed or tried to resist. In one of these punishments, Cazador carved runes on his back, which are later revealed to be part of a dark ritual. Everything changes when Astarion is captured by mind flayers and infected with a parasite (tadpole). Because of this parasite, Cazador's influence over him is temporarily interrupted. For the first time in centuries, he can walk in sunlight, enter houses uninvited, and make his own decisions.
