Gandrel

Gandrel is a human Gur monster hunter who can be found just to the Southwest of the Riverside Teahouse waypoint. He has come to the Sunlit Wetlands to ask Auntie Ethel for help with his current hunt.

“

I wish I had half the power settled folk think my people possess. Alas, I am a simple wanderer.

„

— Gandrel

Involvement

Act One

If passing a dialogue Skill Check or if Astarion is in the party, Gandrel will reveal he is hunting for Astarion. Gandrel believes he has information about a vampire spawn attack on a village and the abduction of a child.

The party can choose to give Astarion up, or protect him. Giving up Astarion will, earn his disapproval and permanently remove him from the party.

Holding Astarion back from killing Gandrel will earn Astarion's disapproval. If spared, Gandrel will happily trade with the party, though he offers little besides some Arrows, Torches, Potions of Healing and a Supply Pack.

If talking with Gandrel and choosing not to betray Astarion, it is neccessary to arrange it so Astarion dies, then the party can speak with Gandrel again, and they will not have the option to disclose who Astarion was. If Astarion is revived, and he is in proximity, the party will get the option to betray Astarion again.

Act Three

Gandrel is not killed in Act One, he will appear with the Gur caravan in Act Three. If the party turned Astarion over to him in Act One, he will be hostile and the rest of the Gur will be dead, having been slaughtered by Cazador when the vampire lord reclaimed Astarion for his diabolic ritual. If the party did not turn over Astarion, then he will be at the elevator up from Cazador's Dungeon alongside the other Gur once the fight with Cazador has been concluded.

After this, if the party chose to free the thralls, he can be found in the Lower City Sewers with his children, Kass and Chessa. The party can speak to him regarding his children's hunger.

Combat

Attacks and abilities

 Boar Companion ()

Gain a beast companion that accompanies you on your adventures and fights alongside you.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

Recharge: Short rest

 Hail of Thorns ()

Normal weapon damage +

1d10 (1~10) Piercing

Shoot a volley of thorns. The thorns deal weapon damage to the target and then explode. The explosion deals an additional 1d10Piercing damage to the target and surrounding creatures. On miss, the thorns still explode. On save, targets still take half damage from the explosion.

DEX Save

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

AoE: 2 m / 7 ft (Radius)

 Hunter's Mark ()

Mark a creature as your quarry to deal an additional 1d6Weapon damage whenever you hit it with a weapon attack.

If the target dies before the spell ends, you can use  Reapply Hunter's Mark to mark a new creature.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

 Main Hand Attack ()   –  Dagger

Normal weapon damage Make a melee attack with your equipped weapon.

 Melee: 1.5 m / 5  ft

 Misty Step ()

Surrounded by silver mist, you teleport to an unoccupied space you can see.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

 Ranged Attack ()   –  Gandrel's Aspiration

Normal weapon damage Make a ranged attack with your equipped weapon.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

 Sacred Munitions ()

Infuse your crossbow bolts with holy energy. For the rest of your turn, your ranged weapon attacks inflict  Turned against Undead.

 Range: Self

Recharge: Short rest

Tactics

Despite fighting alone, Gandrel is a capable combatant thanks to his high Strength, Dexterity, Hit Points, and his ability to use an  Extra Attack. He can also use any arrows in his inventory to hit party members who are bunched up. These become even more effective when he is low on health, as he will deal constant Critical Hits through his  Scar of Fury passive. He can also use a variety of ranger spells, which can often apply negative conditions or deal AoE damage.

Beyond killing him through a cutscene, it is best to take this monster hunter by surprise. Since he relies on ranged attacks, keeping him constantly  threatened will lower his attacks' chances to hit; though at lower levels he will likely land attacks anyway. If Astarion is in the party, Gandrel will focus attacks on him above everyone else, making Astarion a guaranteed distraction. Although a formidable foe,  ensnaring him, or knocking him  prone are effective ways to limit his mobility and keep him in melee range. Buying up all his arrows and potions beforehand, will prevent him from using them against you.

Notable loot

• Arrow of Acid x2
• Arrow of Fire x2
• Gandrel's Aspiration
• Potion of Healing x2

Notes

• If Astarion is in the party when meeting Gandrel, but he has not yet revealed that he is a vampire spawn, it is possible to follow a dialogue tree to have Astarion kill Gandrel within a cutscene.
• If admitting to know Astarion, but refusing to reveal his location, Gandrel remarks, good naturedly, that Astarion has quite the friend in you.

External links

Gandrel on the Forgotten Realms Wiki