The Dark Path

by Silarcta

M/M romance, hurt/comfort and dry/meta humour. What if the player could complete the Black Mass himself? It would seriously piss off Astarion and cause a massive problem in their relationship. Elamir (Tav) has always been kind of an arsehole, but never downright evil; he tries to claw his way to the light while Astarion continues to backstab him out of fear and self-preservation.

1. The Ritual

Summary: What if the player had the option of completing the Black Mass himself? It would seriously piss off Astarion and cause a massive problem in their relationship. Elamir (Tav) has always been kind of an arsehole, but never downright evil; he tries to claw his way to the light while Astarion continues to backstab him out of fear and self-preservation, and their companions look on in mild concern. Elamir would have felt a little more sorry if Astarion hadn't betrayed him first, though. Now, the two lovers are unable to stop hurting each other, but they also can't seem to stay apart. This rollercoaster of hurt/comfort is sprinkled with deadpan humour and meta jokes, and down the line there might be someone else who finds their Dark Path in this story, posing a new problem for the gang.

Notes: After eleven years, I am coming out of fanfiction retirement because this stupid fucking elf vampire is stupid fucking loveable, and I am obsessed. While I wrote this story to explore an alternate timeline where the player can become the vampire ascendant, I try to keep it focused on Astarion, not Elamir/Tav. That saucy little rogue is what we are here for. There will be many dark moments, but hopefully I can also get a few laughs. Prior knowledge of Astarion's questline (good and/or bad variant) is an advantage, especially for Part 1. Kudos and especially comments are highly appreciated!

Trigger warnings: Later chapters include more references to violence and torture/sexual abuse, but not in explicit detail beyond what is depicted in the game. Sexual content will be mature, but not obscenely graphic. I have chosen not to select the archive warning for character death, because any deaths in this story follow game logic, and we have plenty of revivify scrolls. There will be no main character permadeaths.

Spoiler warnings: Astarion's questline, Act 1, Act 2 and beginning of Act 3. The story will visit major quests in Act 3 as it progresses.

About Elamir (you can skip this part): Elamir is a drow half-elf and a min-maxed evocation wizard. He's a smug arse who always toes the line between doing the right thing and having a deliciously evil time (gaining Astarion's approval). Sometimes he has information he shouldn't have, and he doesn't know why (the power of save scumming), but it definitely will come back to bite him in the arse. Deep down he wants to do the right thing, but in this alternate timeline where the player can become the vampire ascendant, he is not so lucky.

Part 1: The Ritual

When Astarion returned to the Elfsong Tavern that evening, he found Gale, Lae'zel and Shadowheart relaxing on the sofas by the fire. Karlach was asleep under a book in her bunk, and the rest of their companions were out and about on their own business. He was fatigued and muddied, and the words fell out of him on their own before he could make up his mind on how to present them:

'It appears that our dear, self-appointed leader has been taken,' he announced to the room at large. Heads turned towards him, and he cleared his throat and plucked a leaf out of his hair while their stares burnt a hole in him. He casually flicked it away and put on his usual smile.

'You don't have to make a public declaration every time you and Elamir have sex,' said Gale.

'No, I mean he has been kidnapped. By Cazador's servants.'

'You fool', Lae'zel snarled. 'How weak must you be to allow your lover to be taken from you? And you did not even fight to the death. Pathetic.'

'We had not really put any labels on our relationship yet,' said Astarion. 'He is just someone who is neither a victim nor an enemy. And now he is gone, so I suppose we are nothing.'

'That's cold, even for you, Astarion.'

'Oh, why do you care, Gale? Elamir hated you.'

'I don't believe that's true. We only broke up because he apparently thinks I talk too much about my ex, which I have to concede is entirely fair.'

'No, you did not "break up",' Astarion scoffed. 'You were never even together to begin with! You just caught a serious case of feelings for the man who was not so subtly fucking me for the entire month we've been travelling together.'

'You make it sound as if he hasn't also been getting wild and hairy with Halsin,' Gale happily reminded him.

'With my permission.'

'Yes, Elamir has loudly and frequently fornicated with every man who is not Gale, but do not lose sight of the issue,' said Lae'zel. 'He has been captured by the enemy, and the fault sits entirely with Astarion.'

'Hmph! I would like to see you do better against Cazador's servants while your weapons and britches lie abandoned in a bush somewhere.'

'Easy: I would not be so stupid as to engage in intercourse while unarmed.'

'Well, it makes no difference now,' said Astarion. 'Whenever I brought Cazador victims, he would immediately whisk them away to his private chambers, wherefrom they would never return. It will be no different this time. Dreadful as it is, it would be for the better if we forget that Elamir ever existed.'

'We should still try to rescue him, should we not?' Gale asked. 'You wanted to kill Cazador anyway. Shouldn't you have all the more reason to want to hurry over there now?'

'You know, Gale, everyone thinks Elamir was a better wizard than you,' said Astarion with a disdainful glare.

'Only because he keeps all the best gear for himself. See this?' Gale pointed to his attire, a pointy-shouldered, figure-hugging robe with a spiderweb pattern on the chest. 'It's the same robe we looted from that mad arachnomancer back in the Blighted Village. I know we have several better ones stashed away here somewhere.'

'He was an arse.' Having observed the bickering in silence until now, Shadowheart had finally spoken up. 'He told those children in the Grove that they were going to die, he poked an injured bird to death, and he let Lae'zel antagonise a poor man for information…'

'Oh, but that was fun,' Astarion sighed mournfully.

'That Tiefling should kneel for his betters,' said Lae'zel.

'… He told a hag about our tadpoles and almost got us killed when he marched us into her lair. Tormented that prisoner in the Goblin Camp. Had us stand by and watch as that freaky priest of Loviatar flagellated him.'

'That did make me feel a little violated,' said Gale.

'Oh, I don't know. It certainly made me feel something,' said Astarion.

'He convinced that brother and sister to go fight an owlbear,' Shadowheart continued. 'Murdered a Gur in cold blood just because he had the audacity to hunt Astarion for very valid reasons.'

'Aw, he did, didn't he? That was actually quite sweet of him.'

'He also demanded that I say "please",' Lae'zel added. 'For once you make a good point, Shadowheart. Why should we waste our resources on recovering Elamir's probably dead and festering body? In fact, we should not bother with Cazador at all. He is not a part of our mission, and Elamir is the one who convinced us to let Astarion skulk about our camp to begin with. Lose them both, that is the only pragmatic solution.'

'H-hey, now!'

Whilst Astarion spluttered uselessly, Karlach pulled herself up from bed and gave them all a fright by slamming her hands down on the back of the sofa where they were all sitting.

'I'm sorry, did you say Elamir's been caught by Cazador and you sorry lot want to abandon him?' she asked, grinning from ear to ear. 'We are talking about the guy who time and time again rescued every tiefling in the Grove, who helped Halsin root out the bad druids and break the shadow-curse, who consistently takes in every kid in need and somehow, whilst being a total bellend, always manages to save the day with next to no casualties? That guy? Who never once let himself be tempted to make deals with devils or mind flayers, and has gone out of his way to help us all with our personal problems?'

Astarion's conflicted expression fell into a frown. 'Right. He did do all those good, unsexy things.'

'And he gave you that wicked necromancer book, Astarion.'

'Ah, I forgot about that.' Astarion grimaced. 'Shit.'

Karlach leaned her head in her hands and smiled at them all with thinly veiled disappointment, cheerful in that stern and threatening way only she and mothers knew.

'What did you do, Astarion?' she asked, looming.

'Well, I…' He groaned and squirmed under the weight of the truth, pried out by Karlach's severe tone. 'Look, we did get ambushed, and I was forced to flee and leave Elamir behind. But maybe, just maybe, I had a feeling my "brothers and sisters" would be looking for me in that park. I was hoping to broker some kind of deal for my life in exchange for Elamir's, but I should have known better, shouldn't I? Cazador would never give up on what's his. And now Elamir is gone, and… And I feel bad about it, alright? Is that what you want to hear? It's not the first time I sent someone I cared about to Cazador before, but I had no choice back then. He compelled me to bring him victims, and I did. Old habits die hard, I suppose…I was not thinking clearly. In my desperation for freedom, I forgot all those things he did just to brighten my day.'

'Like in Grymforge, when he watched impassively as Nere killed every Deep Gnome slave right in front of us?' Shadowheart asked.

'Yes, it's the little things you don't think about, isn't it?' Astarion sighed. 'And he was not "impassive", he was clearly taking great delight in their screams of agony. Oh, I remember him at Moonrise Tower too, how he told that wretched drow to bugger off. He really did go out of his way for me, didn't he?'

'Tsk'va. This betrayal is unacceptable.' Lae'zel drew her sword. 'A swift death is too good for you, Astarion.'

'Wait! Wait. You want to save him, do you not? I will show you the way into Cazador's palace!' he cried, quickly scooting away from her. 'If we go now, it might not be too late after all, but you need me.'

It took a lot of convincing, but once everyone else agreed to let Astarion live, and Lae'zel had tired herself out chasing him around the room, she finally calmed down and allowed that it was Elamir's decision whether to murder him or not. In the end, Astarion led her, Gale and Karlach to Cazador's palace. Shadowheart was not interested in going out on a limb for someone who had made her sit on her hands for most of the adventure, and she was also certain that Elamir had stolen some of her clothes. Everyone respected her decision to remain behind, because they had all seen Elamir swanning about camp in a black, skin-tight suit with Shar's symbols on it.

'This is it. Cazador's private chambers,' said Astarion, and ripped the curtains aside.

'That looks like an elevator to me,' said Gale.

'Strange… The other spawn and I were never allowed into Cazador's rooms. I don't know what I expected, but it was certainly not this.'

'I don't think it's all that strange for a vampire to live in a basement, do you?' Karlach asked.

'Since when were you the expert?' Astarion huffed. He stepped out onto the arcane elevator and crossed his arms over his chest. 'Now, prepare yourself for what we are about to find. Even if Elamir is still alive, it is more than likely that Cazador has already started feeding on him. He will look pale and ashen, his body will be frail, and his lips will be tainted blue from the cold, but no matter how wretched he will appear…'

'He is half drow, that's what he usually looks like,' said Gale.

'…No matter how wretched he will appear,' Astarion continued, 'there is hope, because he talked Karlach into become a cleric. You did bring your restoration spells, did you not?'

'Yes, and I got this sick morning star that's been blessed by Lathander, so I can smash Cazador's face in with style and radiant damage.'

'Terrific. Keep that thing five thousand miles away from me at all times.'

'Metric or imperial miles?'

'Oh, which do you think!'

The elevator reached the bottom. The cold, geometric stonework and the massive hallways were a surprise to everyone. Astarion was taken aback by the sheer size of it all. For this to have been hiding under his feet for the past two centuries was a bit of a surprise. What other secrets had Cazador kept from him, he wondered?

Cages. Cages filled with his victims, his conquests, each and every one of them dating back to the very beginning of his undead existence, transformed into starved, ghoulish vampire spawn. At the very front of the crowd stood a lanky half-elf with pallid, blue-grey skin and long, black hair swept to one side. His black finery with its beautiful gold embroidery was stained with blood. There was a particularly large splotch around the collar and shoulder.

'Fuck, yes! He's alive. He looks mad as the seven Hells, but he's alive,' said Karlach.

'Shit. I don't think he is.' Astarion looked and sounded genuinely shocked and remorseful as he walked up to the bars and met Elamir's gaze. One sinister red eye and one false, blue eye stared back at him in open displeasure that veiled whatever else was going on in that strange head of his. 'Cazador turned you and everyone else into spawn. I had no idea. I thought…'

'You thought you sent everyone to their deaths, because that's so much better,' said Gale. 'Hi, Elamir. We're the rescue party.'

'You doing okay, bud?' Karlach asked.

'He is obviously seething with a lust for vengeance,' said Lae'zel. 'I shall take great pleasure in watching as he disembowels his treacherous former lover.'

'We are not putting labels on this relationship yet!' Astarion cried.

'Shut up,' said Elamir. 'All of you. Cazador has started the ritual; he is our first priority. We will deal with everything else afterwards.' He was glaring daggers at Astarion the entire time.

'Ah, yes, the ritual, exactly, that is our priority,' said Astarion with a nervous laugh. 'Just sit tight, and we will release all of you once Cazador is dead.'

Elamir grabbed the bars with clenched fists and spoke as calmly as possible through gritted teeth. 'Hand me a potion of Arcane Restoration. I know you have them because I make you carry them for me.'

Astarion made a resigned noise and handed him the bottle through the bars. Elamir drank it, then cast Gaseous Form on himself and floated through the bars. Once he was out of the cage and back to solid form, he stalked over to retrieve his equipment from a chest. The others followed in stunned silence, stopping at a distance to watch as Elamir downed more potions to restore himself before the battle.

'So… You're both vampires now,' said Karlach in a quiet mutter.

'Vampire spawn,' Astarion replied. He raised his voice and called out. 'Darling, do you think it's such a good idea for you to head directly into battle with no rest? We can handle this, I am sure.'

'Astarion,' an exhausted voice called out from the cages.

'Ah! Sebastian!?'

It was another stab in the heart. A face he had once adored, but been compelled to relinquish to Cazador. He should have died so long ago. And his hair was really reminiscent of Elamir's; did he have a type?

'I have had time to chat with him and plenty of your other victims,' Elamir said cooly. 'You should get some new pick-up lines. We all agree that the poor souls you seduce into their deaths deserve some original material.'

'Now, hold on! I take offense to that, and also, it's not like that. I swear, I…'

'Speak with Sebastian and the others if you must, but be quick. Cazador will not wait much longer,' Elamir told him, now dabbing at the blood on his coat with a handkerchief.

It was painful for everyone to watch as Astarion acknowledged the feelings of affection that Cazador's dominion over him had pushed aside so easily. He seemed so small and weak in that moment, Elamir could not help but feel his anger subdued, if only a little.

'Gale,' he said. 'Get back to the Elfsong.'

'What now?'

'You heard me. We only need four people,' said Elamir.

'What is your obsession with four-people parties?' Gale asked.

'Someone has to look after our things.'

'Shadowheart is doing it! And Wyll, and Halsin, and Jaheira, and Minsc. Seriously?'

'Seriously. Four people only.'

'I doubt the wisdom of that decision—'

'We are wizards. Our spells are intelligence-based.'

'Can I at least see your fangs before I go?' Gale asked hopefully.

'No.'

'Aw.'

'You know, Elamir,' said Karlach as they watched Gale trudge back towards the elevator. 'Sometimes I think you're completely pants on head bonkers.'

'Do you have any level six spells left? Because I need you to summon a deva. It has to be a deva, they can Aid, and make sure it isn't positioned too far from me when the battle starts.' As he was speaking, Elamir cast his own summoning spells to bring forth a fire myrmidon and a friendly little intellect devourer. 'Astarion…'

'What is it now?' Astarion returned to the party, rubbing at his eye with the palm of his hands. 'Don't look at me! It's only dust allergies. They tend to develop when you spend so much time in crypts.'

'If you are quite finished, I need you to summon your ghouls.'

'Ghouls? Oh, yes. The ones I can summon because you, the romantic soul that you are, gave me a book for our first week anniversary.' He winked, trying to be cheeky and fun like they used to, but it fell flat.

'Should have given it to Gale,' Elamir muttered.

'You don't honestly mean that!'

'Enough of this meaningless prattle,' Lae'zel said. 'If we do not stand in front of Cazador within five minutes, my blade will be equally satisfied by any other vampire it might come across.'

Astarion looked at Elamir, and he could not help but feel that there was so much that needed to be said before they confronted Cazador, but he was terrified of postponing this fight for another minute, or he would lose his nerve. Elamir held his gaze for a moment, but said nothing, then turned away to lead the march into the ritual chamber.

It was a bloody and terrifying battle, but Elamir directed them as if he had fought this exact battle before. He knew to cast Haste on the deva so that it could swoop forward and release Astarion from Cazador's chains within the first six seconds of combat, and he knew to position all their summoned creatures in the ritual circles to weaken Cazador. Finally, they had Cazador beaten and covering, and Astarion stood over him, shirtless with dagger in hand, and he was trembling with rage and uncertainty.

'All this power could be mine. I would never need to fear anything,' he said, then turned towards Elamir, not knowing if he might find support there. 'If I am to complete this, I need your assistance.'

'Oh?' Elamir raised an amused eyebrow. 'Minutes ago, you told me to wait in the cell. Now you are preparing to sacrifice my cellmates. What a romantic soul you are.'

'I obviously would not have gone through with the ritual if it meant killing you, but you are here, with me. And think about it; if I become a powerful vampire lord, I can make your new life as a spawn that much better too. I can protect you.' He tried to put on a convincing smile, but with all the blood and adrenaline, he only looked deranged.

'What do you need to complete the ritual?' Elamir asked after a pause.

'His staff, and the symbol on my back. I need to see it.'

'Boys, I don't like this one bit,' said Karlach. 'This sort of power doesn't come without consequences.'

For Elamir, none but Astarion existed in that moment. Of course, he was upset that Astarion had abandoned him in the park, that only hours ago his life had been drained away by this pathetic man who was grovelling at their feet, and that he was doomed to live as a vampire spawn for the remainder of his existence. However, he had thought it an unfortunate and tragic accident, until their tadpoles connected, and he could see the extent of Astarion's betrayal. In a brief, thoughtless moment, Astarion had chosen his own life and freedom over everything they had shared. The revelation was devastating. Astarion had knowingly brought him into danger and left him. Now, if they survived this and removed the tadpoles, it meant never seeing the sun again, and everything else that Astarion had suffered for two centuries. That bastard knew better than anyone what horrors he had inflicted on him.

Elamir let Astarion finish carving the symbol into Cazador's back, but before he could initiate the ritual, Elamir ripped the staff out of his hands. Assassin and wizard, in terms of strength they were equals, and Astarion was taken by surprise.

'No! This power is mine,' Astarion screamed. 'Cazador's life is mine to take!'

'This is not an acceptable turn of events,' Lae'zel growled.

Elamir began to chant, and the chamber was ablaze with a storm of red light and crackling energy. The bodies of the sacrifices burst open, their souls were dragged to Hell, and Elamir transformed for the second time that day.