I was thinking about why Astarion and Wyll hit it off right away and are pretty good companions. The whole monster vs. monster hunter thing should mean they have a constant distate for each other like Shadowheart and Lae'zel. But they don't. Instead, they are like snarky old people that been friends for a while or siblings annoyed with each other. I think it's because Astarion sees his mortal self in Wyll. And Wyll very quickly understands how Astarion became the person he is today because it's a path Wyll is starting to go down. Follow me, walk with me here... <div class="intiny"> (let me cook!) </div> I don't think Astarion was a corrupt magistrate. Personally, even if a particular scene involving Ansur didn't lend evidence to my thought, I would still believe this. I mean, think about it. Corrupt magistrate becomes a monster and learns better after being abused is so boring. Tired trope, yawn, next. I think it's compelling if Astarion did his job perfectly. Not that he was a good person just that he's perfectly normal in his mortal life. Not too good and righteous but not bad either. And that's the problem. <div class="spacer"></div> It would be interesting if Astarion as a magistrate refuses to let his personal anecdotes, life experience, or bias enter his courtroom. He's there to administer the law. And that is all he will do to a fault. He cannot be swayed by anything even when he probably should. If it is against the law then it is against the law. He will dole out the proper punishment and that is that. If you want to appeal then you do it through the proper legal system and he will hear you out because that's his job. But he doesn't want to hear anything outside of that. *You stole bread to feed your family?* Petty theft and not malicious, pay a fine or spend a few days in jail. *You broke something in someone's store but can prove it was an accident?* Buy the broken item and the store owner needs to get out of his court. *You think someone stole your customers through defamation of your business?* No proof, no witnesses, then he doesn't care if your ledgers show a significant drop right when the other business opened. A follower of the law so rigidly that it's a fault. <div class="spacer"></div> <div class="intiny"> And maybe this method of operation is working for him... until the Gur and Cazador. </div> <div class="spacer"></div> The Gur have been noticing their children going missing and have great reason to believe it's Cazador(Astarion isn't Cazador's first spawn but one of his firsts so probably the 2nd or 3rd spawn created by my buest guess of canon timeline. so all the children being taken are from the one or two spawn created before him). Astarion agrees to listen to their case because missing children is a big deal. But there simply isn't enough proof that it is Cazador. There's not really any proof aside from the missing children. What if Astarion didn't give any sort of verdict either way? No arrest of Cazador but no dismissal of the case either. That would be a concern to someone like Cazador. The Gur on one side and Astarion on the other would be a two-front battle that would more than likely have him lose. So, he plans on killing two birds with one stone (because everything in game heavily hints that he totally sent the Gur to get Astarion and beat him to near death). <div class="spacer"></div> Fast forward through the years of abuse and lack of autonomy all the way up until the nautiloid. Astarion has learned that following the law exactly got him in this mess. Being a good person isn't real because good people (like Cazador who saved him) always want something and will turn out to be bad in the end. Not a single god, good or evil, cared to help him so he should stop praying. He also learned punishments don't always fit the crime -- down to the fact that some people get punished for a crime they never committed -- therefore all criminals should be punished to the highest degree to deter them and others. <div class="spacer"></div> <div class="ttbv"> what does that have to do with wyll? </div> When Astarion meets Wyll, I feel like the only thing he can see is an idealistic version of his mortal self. Wyll is so determined to bring justice, serve the law to criminals, be a hero. Even with his faults and issues, at his core, Wyll Ravengard is a good and optimistic man. But Astarion knows what the ending looks like for good men. And in real time, we see Wyll learn the same lesson Astarion did all those years ago. Especially in regards to Karlach. Really, Wyll learned this a while ago when his dad threw him out but the way he talks about it kind of hints that he didn't receive this lesson at that time. Astarion and Wyll are mirrors. Wyll is Astarion. Mizora is his Cazador. Duke Ravengard is his Gur. Being turned into a tiefling/devil is his vampirism. <div class="spacer"></div> And when Wyll's entire world view is shattered after sparing Karlach, he understands Astarion now. But also, a small beauty is that Wyll will never get as dark in his thoughts as Astarion. Not because he's more optimistic or strong-willed. But because Astarion is in his traveling party. He sees Astarion improve as the game goes on. And not just Astarion. All companions -- including Tav -- are just trying their best after being dealt some shitty cards. And I think that probably keeps Wyll going. Both Wyll and Astarion can accept that good does still exist in the world every time Tav/Resist!Durge refuses to give up on them. And Wyll knows that it means he's right. Good and heroism does exist and because of that Wyll can start to accept the shit that happened to him because he already has confirmation that he'll be fine and make it out in the end. And on the flip side, Astarion can accept that he was kind of wrong. Not every good in the world is false or comes with a catch or will sour. <div class="spacer"></div> I really like that so many of the companions are mirrors to each other or puzzle pieces for each other. The way Wyll and Astarion work is one of my favorite companion mirroring. Idk, I just love them.