My brain would not let go of the idea of Batstarion, so I had to write this up. As you'll see in the story, the reason why he's a bat obviously isn't canon, but I thought the idea was fun. Oh, also, I know there's no scroll of animal speaking, but I'm making one for this story. It's just easier than having everyone take a sip of a potion.
Also, some notes: All the origin characters are in camp already, and there isn't a Tav in this story. Wyll has not been turned into a demon yet. The group is essentially on their way to the Goblin camp. Astarion hasn't revealed to the camp that he's a vampire.
And one last thing: I had a lot of trouble with the reactions from the other companions. I looked into how they react during an Origin run, but that seems to change for them depending on how much time has passed and what sort of scenario has played out (for instance, if you tell Shadowheart, she's surprised and had no idea, but if you bite someone, she admits that the signs are obvious and that she noticed). I finally landed on one, but I thought I'd give this background in case anyone thought their reactions were odd or off.
I don't usually put this here, but I'd like to add a warning for self-harm. Not in a suicidal way or anything like that, but someone does cut themselves towards the end. Again, not in a suicidal way, but I figured I should add a warning just in case.
And finally, please ignore the stupid ass title. Despite struggling with this simple one-shot for over a month, a better title never came to me.
When the group went to bed the night before, none of them expected to wake up to an empty bedroll by the campfire. Of course, no one was alarmed initially. There were a number of reasons any of them might slip away from camp, from bathing in the river to just getting some alone time in the early morning air. Regardless of why, no one thought anything of it until they were all dressed and ready, and the rogue was still nowhere to be seen. There wasn't even a sign of him in his tent or at the nearby river. In fact, all of his possessions were still in his tent, including the padded leather he usually wore.
With one member of their party missing, the remaining adventurers stood gathered around what was left of their campfire to discuss the situation. "Alright," Karlach started, looking around at the others. "Any ideas where he might have run off to?" She'd only been with the group for a few days at that point, so she didn't know the elf well enough to have any guesses of her own.
"I do recall seeing him stalking towards the woods once or twice at night," Gale spoke up. "But he always returned before morning. I figured he just had some trouble sleeping- er, meditating and went for a walk." He also had another theory as to why he was stalking off into the night, but he'd keep it to himself for the moment. He didn't want to cause any unnecessary concern.
"You think he got himself into trouble while taking a late-night stroll?" Shadowheart asked.
"It's not impossible," Wyll agreed. "There's that Goblin camp somewhere around here, and I heard a few rumors in the Grove about an Owlbear out in the forest."
"Shit," the tiefling cursed, brow creasing with concern. "I hope for his sake he just got lost."
"This is a waste of time," Lae'zel growled, growing impatient with the lack of solutions that were coming from the conversation. "Someone should take his place in the party, and they should continue searching for the Creche. Those remaining will form another party to search for the missing istik."
Shadowheart eyed the githyanki with surprise. "I'm shocked you actually want to look for him," she remarked. Not that she wanted to leave the rogue behind - Astarion had proved himself too useful for her to want to leave behind - but she'd known githyanki to be fairly cold-blooded. And Lae'zel had only cemented that fact in her mind thus far. Plus, as annoyingly flirty as he could be, his unusual personality provided her a laugh every now and then.
The githyanki sent her a harsh look for the comment. "You think I'd allow such a valuable asset to slip through our fingers?"
As Shadowheart went to reply, something stirred within the thin blanket that was still haphazardly laid out across the bedroll. No one took notice of the small, shifting lump - that is, until a squeak suddenly came from it. The argument that had been simmering stopped immediately as they all turned their attention to the source of the sound. The shape began to move up the covering, chittering the entire time, until a little, white head poked out from underneath.
"A bat?" Wyll stared at the creature with confusion as it pulled the rest of itself out, allowing them to see it in full. It had the appearance of any other bat, save for its strange coloration. Not only was its fur white, but now they all noticed the piercing red eyes, too. It seemed particularly fluffy as well, almost like a cotton ball. To their surprise, it didn't become alarmed to see them or attempt to fly off. It didn't even seem bothered by their presence, actually. It just made its way up onto the pillow, as if positioning itself, before it start squeaking once more, and they could've sworn it appeared to be gesturing with its wings the same way one would do with their hands.
"N'aw, look at him!" Karlach cried, a big, goofy grin spreading across her face as she bent down next to the bedroll to observe the little thing, seemingly unbothered by its strange behavior or appearance. It had ceased its chatter and movements in favor of sending the tiefling an unamused stare. A very adorable unamused stare. Its little expression of annoyance only seemed to fuel her excitement further if her giggling and tail-tip wriggling was anything to go by.
The other adventurers eyed the pair with interest and shock as the bat began to squeak again, though this time they were tinged with aggravation. They didn't need a druid to tell them that something was amiss with this animal. The noises it was making seemed to be in a pattern of sorts and the movements of its wings were too frequent and deliberate. "Hey, is it just me, or does it sound like he's trying to tell us something?" Karlach asked, still beaming at her new friend. Before anyone else could agree or disagree, the bat responded with a nod. "Well, alright then," she chuckled. "Anyone got a potion of animal speaking on 'em?"
"No need. I've got something better," Gale replied with a grin as he produced a scroll from his pack. Unfurling it, he scanned over the passages briefly before finally speaking the casting words. "Bestia Loquela!" In an instant, the scroll glowed with magic energy, which flowed out from it towards the adventurers. It swirled around each of them before finally curling around their heads and fading away. With its power used, the scroll's glow dimmed until no light remained and the paper vanished with a brief flash.
"Well, did it work? Can you all understand me?" a new yet very familiar voice asked from down below.
"Astarion?" the wizard gawked at the critter. "Is that you?" Try as he might, he couldn't hide his amusement and a chuckle slipped out with his question.
The rogue turned a harsh glare on his companion, though his current form made it come across more cute than intimidating. He already wasn't in the greatest mood after waking up as a bat. He was not about to put up with anyone finding his predicament funny. "Yes, it's me, as unfortunate as that is," he replied exasperatedly.
"Any chance you know how it happened?" Wyll prompted, moving to stand beside Karlach. He already suspected the answer was no. After all, it seemed like he only just woke up. But it couldn't hurt to ask. The worst he'd get was a snappy retort.
"Knowing Astarion, he probably upset a wizard while we weren't looking," Shadowheart offered as an amused grin spread across her features.
"It's hurtful that you'd assume I did anything," the rogue placed a wing over his heart in false hurt. "But, for your information, I didn't do anything to anyone, and no one did this to me, either."
"So what? You just turned into one?" Karlach half-joked.
"Uh, well… Yes?" an uneasy smile made its way onto his face as they all stared at him, awaiting a more proper explanation. "But before I can explain how, I need to go into another little… quirk about myself that I've neglected to mention up until now." But before he opened that can of worms, he wanted to get into a safer position. He felt a little too vulnerable down on the ground when everyone else was so much bigger. It didn't take him long to spy a perfect perch, and with a flap of his wings, he took to the air, aiming for his own tent. The others quickly followed, likely figuring that he was attempting to run away, but they realized that wasn't the case when he settled on the pole that jutted furthest away from his tent.
"Just what are you doing?" Lae'zel asked with growing annoyance. The way he was beating around the bush was beginning to irritate her greatly.
"Nothing. Just putting myself in a less vulnerable position," he replied flippantly, earning a few suspicious looks. "Before I continue, I do hope you'll all keep an open mind and wait for me to fully explain the situation."
"Astarion, just what have you been hiding from us?" Gale asked with an air of caution. The way he was acting was making him a bit nervous. He supposed they all had their own personal demons, and it seemed Astarion's were finally going to come to light.
"Oh, nothing terrible," he answered dismissively, conveniently avoiding looking any of them in the face. "It's just that I'm, uh- Gods, what's the best way to put this?" the rogue paused to cradle his chin with one of his wings as he thought. After a moment, he realized that there was no good way to put it and that he'd need to just come out and say it. "You see, I'm what you would call a vampire," he finally continued, a nervous chuckle following as he braced himself for the worst.
However, to his surprise, the worst wasn't nearly as bad as he was expecting. He had braced himself for cries of shock, the harsh sounds of swords being drawn, threats, maybe even a stake or two. But none of that came.
"Ah, I was wondering when you were gonna come clean about that," Karlach was the first to speak up with a growing smile that brimmed with pride, and her words left him shocked. Out of all of them, she was the one he least expected to pick up on him.
"Oh, you noticed, too?" Wyll turned to the tiefling with slight surprise.
"It seems we all noticed," Lae'zel responded after a quick glance at the others. Though the wizard and cleric had yet to say anything, she could see it written on their faces. "Not entirely unexpected. Only those truly daft would fail to pick up on the signs after a day or two."
Astarion kept glancing between his companions with a look of utter bewilderment. "Wait, so you all knew and none of you thought to confront me?" he asked after managing to find his voice again.
"The thought had crossed my mind, but I know I don't like it when people pry about my private life. I figured you wouldn't, either," Shadowheart reasoned with a shrug of her shoulders. "I assume the others have similar reasons - or they simply didn't care to hear you admit it out loud when it's already obvious enough."
Wyll nodded in agreement. "So long as you weren't draining anyone dry during the night, I saw no reason to force it out of you."
He almost couldn't believe it. They'd had him figured out for a while now, and they didn't immediately stake him or cast him out of camp. Not just that, but their attitudes towards him hadn't changed a bit. He was sure no one knew up until just a few moments ago. It was unexpected to say the least, but more importantly, it was… comforting. It felt nice knowing that he wasn't under any sort of threat for just being what he was.
"So," Karlach's voice brought Astarion out of his thoughts, "I take it whatever's going on right now has to do with you being a vampire?"
"You'd be correct," he nodded. "Though, to be entirely transparent, I'm just a spawn, not a full vampire."
"Would you care to enlighten us on the distinction?" Gale prompted.
"Spawn are much like vampires when it comes to vulnerabilities and hunger, but we lack the power our masters have," he explained, fluttering down from his space atop the tent and landing on his table just off to the side. "Turning into mist, shape changing, summoning ghouls and wolves… All of those are things I, unfortunately, am incapable of doing."
Wyll crossed his arms and eyed Astarion with a frown. Everything he said lined up with what he knew about that particular monster, but one thing wasn't adding up. "So how did you change yourself into a bat? In your sleep, no less." He wasn't even sure true vampires could do that.
"Just another joy of being a spawn and not a true vampire," he forced a fanged smile and put on a sarcastic, cheery tone to emphasize his true feelings. "Vampires get more vicious when they haven't had enough to drink. Us spawn, on the other hand, have a chance of turning into this," he gestured towards himself with his wings. "I need blood to change back so… any donors?" he gazed around at his companions expectantly. Not that he would normally expect anyone to willingly give up their blood, but in this case, they had some personal stake in it.
There was a moment of silence as everyone seemed to look at someone else, hoping that they would offer up their own necks. "Sorry, fangs," Karlach said, appearing genuine in her words. "I'd give you some in a heartbeat, but there's no tellin' what my engine has done to it. I wouldn't want it to cook you from the inside out - or worse." There were any number of things that could happen, and the risk just didn't seem worth it when there were four others with perfectly normal blood.
"Don't look at me," Shadowheart took a step back. "Unless I absolutely must give up my blood, you won't be tasting it."
"I could part with some, but I'm afraid that drinking it would be like choking down a bitter potion," he informed, pointing at the scar that just barely peaked above the neckline of his robe to indicate that the orb was to blame.
"Tsk'va!" Lae'zel cursed. "We have wasted enough of our precious time on this matter." Without warning, her razor-sharp gaze was aimed at the bat, still perched on the tent. "I will allow you some of my blood, but do not think you'll be afforded such a luxury more than once." Her words left everyone stunned in silence.
"I'm sorry," Astarion blinked away his shock, "but did you just offer me some of your blood?"
"I did," she nodded slowly. "Like I said, we've wasted too much time on this. Arguing about who will be the one will only prolong the problem further. I'm merely being pragmatic." The githyanki started towards the table he'd perched himself on, and for a second, he thought she was just going to snatch him up and place him on her shoulder to drink straight from the source. However, she reached for the free silver cup that sat near the edge instead and withdrew her dagger. "That being said, I will not allow your fangs to pierce my flesh."
Raising the dagger, she winced as she slid it across the back of her hand before any of her companions could protest the action. With that done, she replaced her knife and positioned her injured hand above the silver cup, titling it down so that the red would run into it. She waited for the bleeding to slow before she finally removed her hand. Lae'zel placed it back on the table, directly in front of Astarion. "Go ahead, drink, and return to your normal form while I see to this wound."
Before anyone could say anything, she turned and headed straight for her tent, presumably to get a potion she'd stashed away. The rest of them stood there in silence, still trying to shake their shock. "Well," Karlach chuckled, "that was a surprise."
"It certainly was," Astarion agreed, not really finding much else to say on the matter. Or maybe he was just still too stunned by the sequence of events to think properly. His gaze returned to the silver cup now about half-full with githyanki blood. It was only then that a realization hit him. "Oh gods," he gasped, a sudden look of horror overtaking his adorable little features. "Does this mean I owe the githyanki?"
Ironically, I finally finished this story around the same time everyone started drawing Batstarion. I guess the drawings of the drunk little boy gave me the push I've been needing since October. Thank you, drunk little Batstarion!